“Not today,” she repeated, voice infinitesimally firmer. Her eyes were sharp, and her grandson’s lips clamped shut. Grandma Mars ruled her family—and, by the looks of it, this town—with an iron fist. Her expression softened again as she turned to me, but I didn’t quite buy the kindly grandmother act. “Connor is excellent with computers.”
I smiled. “That’s a very useful skill.”
Gideon caught Connor’s eyes and gave him a solemn nod.Connor straightened, trying—and failing—to hide his glow at his older cousin’s wordless praise. He and his brother slunk away, and Grandma Mars put her hands on Gideon’s and my shoulders.
“Now,” she said. “You’ll need the keys.”
Gideon stiffened. “The keys?”
“To the cottage.”
“No.” Gideon’s refusal was unyielding, and Grandma Mars simply smiled.
She reached into her pocket and dangled a key ring between us. “Yes,” she replied.
“I’m staying at my place.”
I glanced between them, frowning. “What’s going on? What’s the cottage?”
“My dad’s old cottage,” Gideon gritted out. “We’re not staying there.”
“Do I need to remind you of the things you promised me?” Etta Mars asked sweetly.
My frown deepened as Gideon glared at a spot on the table. Etta Mars had something on Gideon. Was that why he’d married me? Gideon’s jaw bulged, but after a long moment, he took the keys from his grandmother.
“Good boy,” she said, and patted his shoulder. “You’ll stay there until the certificate is filed, and then we can reconsider. Now it’s getting late. Give me a kiss and go.”
Dutifully, Gideon got out of his chair and kissed his grandmother’s cheek. His fist was clenched around the keys. I stood and said goodbye to her, then grabbed my small purse from the back of my chair.
“See you both tomorrow,” she said. “Until then…” She smiled at the two of us, and the night looming ahead pressed against the edges of my consciousness.
“Tomorrow?” I asked.
“Family lunch,” Gideon provided. “Every Sunday.” He nodded at the older woman, looking utterly unhappy as his hand slid over the small of my back. I tried to hide the shiver that went through me. Tried and failed, apparently, because his eyes flicked over me. We made our slow way through the church basement, accepting well-wishes and goodbyes, and finally went up the steps and out the door. Gideon’s hand stayed on my back, fingers splayed, palm warm.
He dropped it when we got outside. The sun was low in the sky, the shadows deep. Cold rushed over me, and I wrapped my arms around myself. Had he been pretending to want to touch me? For whose benefit?
“I’ll follow you,” I said, nodding to my vehicle in the church parking lot. “Is the cottage far? Why didn’t you want to stay there?”
“Where’s your jacket?”
I jerked back at his harsh tone. “Excuse me?”
“You’re cold.”
I dropped my arms to my sides and blew out a breath. The evening wasn’tcold, exactly; the asphalt was still giving off heat from baking in the sun all day, but there was a chill in the air. A chill in my bones. My shoulders and arms were covered in goosebumps, but it didn’t stop me from saying, “I’m fine. I’ll be in my car in a minute.”
He grumbled something unintelligible and stripped off his suit jacket. I lifted my palms, protesting, but the warm weight of it landed on my shoulders before I could back away. Gideonjerked the lapels closer together, and I couldn’t help the small moan that slipped through my lips. The garment engulfed me in warmth and the scent of Gideon. The scent of safety.
His big hands were still on the lapels as I pushed my arms through the sleeves. He held me there, scowling, as I snuggled into the warmth he gave me. I looked up at him, wondering if there was a chance—any hope at all—that he felt a spark for me the way I did for him.
“Can you drive in those things?” Gideon demanded, glowering at my very beautiful shoes.
I clicked my tongue to hide my embarrassment. There was no spark. He found me as ridiculous and repulsive as he had when he first clapped eyes on me. I waved him off. “You know, I’m notcompletelyuseless.” I stomped past him, dress fluttering around my legs. “You’re treating me like I’m a liability, and it’s getting real old?—”
“Sadie.”
I clicked the fob to unlock the car and wrenched open the driver-side door. “I get that you didn’t want to marry me, but give me achance. I’m not some useless woman who can’t handle a car?—”
