Sixteen
“Istill don’t think this is a wise decision.”
Shay stared out the rear window of Gideon’s Town Car at the Gold Coast historic mansion lit up with a cheerful glow. A steady stream of people climbed the front stone steps of the place she’d called home for nearly twenty-six years, entering for Trevor and Madison’s engagement party.
“You and Trevor might not be seeing eyeto eye right now, but I’m sure he wouldn’t want to celebrate his engagement without his sister,” Gideon said from beside her.
She glanced at him, irritation and something deeper, sadder pressing against her breastbone like a large boulder. “You won’t pass up an opportunity to turn the screw, will you?”
With his aloof mask firmly in place, he met her gaze, onyx eyes steady and unblinking.“No.”
She faced the window again, that heaviness gaining weight. It’d been a week since she’d walked out of her childhood home. A week since her and Gideon’s truce, which had stretched longer than the next morning. A week since she’d held Olivia as the woman broke down in her arms and revealed Trevor’s betrayal.
Yes, now Shay understood the motives behind Gideon’s blackmail. And a partof her couldn’t blame him. But another part—the part that remembered the man who’d played guitar for her, the man who’d cuddled her close in his bed after tearing her apart with pleasure—longed for him to put all of this aside.
For her.
To want her more than revenge.
She shut her eyes, making sure to keep her head turned away so he couldn’t glimpse the yearning that she was certainleaked into her expression. In spite of knowing it was the epitome of foolishness, she’d started to fall for Gideon.
No, that was a lie. The fall had started some time ago, at what moment, she couldn’t pinpoint. Maybe when he’d revealed his own pain to her in the back seat of the car. Maybe when he’d raced to Bridgette’s house and decided to place her comfort above putting on another episodeof the Gideon and Shay Show at the ballet. Maybe when he’d sat on that couch with his guitar and revealed a part of himself that he didn’t with most people.
Not that narrowing down the exact instant mattered.
The truth was she loved Gideon Knight.
His fierceness. His heart, which he tried to hide. His passion. His love for his family.
Yes, he was a hard man, a merciless man, butnever a cruel one. And when she looked at him, gazed into those midnight-and-stars eyes, she dreamed. She stupidly dreamed that he could love her as he’d once adored Madison before she’d scarred him with her disloyalty and infidelity.
Maybe she did believe in fairy tales, after all.
The door to the car opened, and with a sigh, she climbed out, murmuring a thank-you to the valet who stoodnext to it. Seconds later, Gideon’s body heat warmed her back, and his palm settled at the base of her spine. A spine she straightened.
No time for self-pity now.
She had the performance of a lifetime to give.
Because she was walking into the lion’s den knowing her arrival on Gideon’s arm would announce her decision to her brother—she’d chosen his enemy over family loyalty. That’show Trevor would see it.
And she wasn’t naive; there would be consequences to her decision. No job at RemingtonNeal. She would most likely have to find a place to live because she couldn’t stay with Bridgette forever. And, most importantly, Leida Investments and the businesses she’d invested in would be affected. Especially if Trevor followed through on his threat of tampering with the start-upsshe’d funded. She had savings, and she could use most of it to provide capital. But the possibility of having to scale back or rebuild her company was very real without her salary.
The cost of loving Gideon was high.
And, God help her, she was willing to pay it.
Gideon walked silently beside her, but the tension rolled off him, and it ratcheted higher when they entered her home andhanded their coats to a waiting servant.
She seamlessly fell back into the role of Chicago socialite and, pasting on a smile, mingled with the other guests. Many of whom didn’t seem surprised to see her with Gideon, so the gossip about them as a couple must’ve made the rounds. Still, they were aware of the enmity between Gideon and Trevor as business rivals, and watched her and Gideon withan avid, greedy curiosity.
Especially when a path seemed to open, and they stood only feet away from Trevor, Madison and Senator Reus. Shay looked up, and her gaze connected with her brother’s. Though he smiled for the benefit of those around them, fury blazed from his hazel eyes, so like hers. His glare shifted from her to Gideon, and a frightening rage hardened his expression before he controlledit.
“Stand tall, moonbeam,” Gideon murmured in her ear. His big palm slid up her back and under her hair, curling around the nape of her neck. “He can’t hurt you.”
But you can. The words rang in her head, her chest. Tipping her head back, she said, “That’s debatable. Cutting me off emotionally and financially and targeting my company definitely falls under the ‘hurting me’ category.”
“Correction, then,” he growled. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
