Still...nothing, not his caution, his preparation or even the pictures included in his private investigator’s file, could’ve prepared him for the impact of Shay Nealface-to-face.
His grandmother owned an antique locket that she’d brought with her from China. Inside was a black-and-white picture of her older sister, who’d died in childbirth. In the image, his great-aunt had been composed, stoic. But in her lovely features—in her eyes—there glimmered emotion, vitality.Life. It emanated through the aloof expression like dawn breaking through the last, clingingshadows of night.
And staring at Shay Neal had been like gazing upon that faded photo. Yes, she was gorgeous. No one could deny she was beautiful—the refined bone structure with high, proud cheekbones, the patrician nose with its flared nostrils, or the full curves of a mouth that belonged on a pin-up model and not a demure socialite. And he couldn’t deny that just for a moment, his wayward,rebellious mind had wondered if her gleaming golden brown skin was as butter-soft as it appeared.
But it’d been none of those features that had drawn him. Fueled an insane impulse to drag his chair closer and discover what scent rose from the corner where neck and shoulder met. Had his fingers itching to pluck the strings of his guitar and find the melody that would encapsulate her.
No,it was the intelligence, the spark, thefirein those arresting hazel eyes.
It made him mistrust her even more.
And then there was the niggling sense of familiarity that had hit him the moment he’d sat down at her table. As if they’d met before... But like he’d done last night, he dismissed the feeling. If he’d ever met Shay Neal, no way in hell he wouldn’t remember.
“She’s a Neal,Mom,” he said, shoving thoughts of her—of the unsettling effect she had on him—away. “She doesn’t have clean hands.”
“That’s probably the same logic Trevor employed when he went after your sister,” she pointed out, and the words struck him in the chest, burrowing into his heart.
“I’m nothing like him,” he ground out, lowering his arms and curling his fingers around the edge of the marbletop. “He stalked Livvie, lied to her, used her, then tossed her aside like yesterday’s trash. I’ve been completely up-front with Shay, laying my intentions out and offering her a choice. Trevor stole Livvie’s choice from her.” He broke off, tipping his head back and deliberately cooling his rising temper. “You might not agree with my methods, and I’m sorry for that. But I didn’t do anything whenhe damn near broke my sister, because you both asked me not to. I can’t let it go this time. I’m not going to allow Trevor Neal to continue mistreating women. By the time I’m finished with him, he will have nothing left, and no woman will fall victim to him again.”
It was the guilt that drove him.
Because it was his fault Trevor had sought out Olivia in the first place. If not for theirmutual hatred and ongoing feud, she would’ve been safe.
“Gideon.” His mother shifted forward, once more cupping his cheek. “You’re right. I don’t agree with your methods. I believe they will more than likely backfire, and not only will an innocent woman be hurt, but you will, too, son. If you have a conscience—which I know you do—there’s no way you can’t be affected by this path. And I wishyou would end it now before this goes too far.” She sighed, her gaze searching his. “But I also know you. And from the moment you refused to be born on your due date, I figured out you’re stubborn. I’m not going to change your mind, I get that. So just...please. Be careful.”
“Don’t worry about me. I have everything under control,” he assured her, hugging her close.
She didn’t reply, insteadsqueezed him tighter.
He hated disappointing her, but nothing,nothingcould dissuade him from his plans. Not her disapproval. Not Shay’s reluctance and refusal to give him a decision.
He had one purpose. To bring down Trevor Neal.
And hell couldn’t stop him from accomplishing it.
