I turn and walk inside and straight up to my room, where I start to shove my things into a bag.
Chapter Nine
Gideon
I want to run in after Lena, hug her to me, and tell her she’s not going any-fucking-where. Goddamn it, Ilikehaving her around. It’s been less than two days, but I’m already used to her presence. Her sass. Her smile. And fuck me if I don’t want to touch her.
I can’t.
But I want to.
“Gideon,” Willow begins, and I shake my head, rounding on her.
“What the fuck, Wills?”
“I came over to talk to you, and I found her here on the deck—”
“So you decided to attack her again before the sun is even up? Christ, did you let her take a sip of coffee first?”
“No.” Her shoulders slump, and she closes her eyes. “I mean, yes, she had coffee. No, I didn’t attack her. I was trying to explain why I feel the way I do, and of course she told me that she can’t explain what happened before.”
“You really have to let that shit go.” I push my hand through my sweat-soaked hair. “It’s been five fucking years, Wills. I have a great life here at the ranch. I like my career. I’m good at it, and I make a shit ton of money. So seriously,stop.”
“I had no intention of it escalating. Honest, I was talking to her, she was a little defensive—”
“I wonder why.”
“And then she was telling me that she’ll leave.”
“She’s not leaving.”
Willow’s lips thin as she watches me, and then her eyes narrow. “Wait. She’s not leaving now, or when whatever this is is over, or she’s not leavingever, Gideon?”
The question is a kick to the solar plexus.
Of course she’ll eventually move on from the ranch. She’s not mine to keep.
But that thought leaves a bad fucking taste in my mouth.
“For now, it’s my job to keep her safe, apparently even from my best friend. So let me make myselfcrystalclear. We’ll stay out of your way, and while she’s here, you’re not welcome at my place. She deserves to feel safe and comfortable, and apparently I can’t trust you for that.”
Willow shakes her head, but I keep talking.
“Go home, Wills.”
“Gid, I love you.”
“Yeah, I know. I love you too. Go home.”
Turning away, I push through my back door, head straight to the stairs and up to Lena’s room. The door stands open, and she’s stuffing things into the one duffel bag she brought with her.
She’s still wearing my army hoodie, which makes me want to bend her over that bed and fuck her. Hard. Then come all over her back, marking her.
Jesus.
“Lena, you’re not going anywhere.”No fucking way.
“They didn’t approve it?” Her pretty lavender eyes round, and something similar to despair takes up residence behind them, and it makes me want to punch a goddamn hole through the wall.
