Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Considering what?” he repeated his earlier question, after he’d shoveled down nearly three quarters of his portion in just a few minutes. The edge of his hunger had dissipated enough for him to recall the way she had left her previous statement hanging.
“Hmm?” She made a questioning sound while taking a thirsty gulp from the tall glass of cranberry juice.
“You said that you appreciated my kindness considering dot dot dot.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks pinkened delicately and she fiddled with her fork before lifting her shoulders in that shy, awkward way she sometimes had. “Uhm, considering you d-don’t like me. It was above and beyond.”
The slight stutter tore at his heart a little bit and shredded his conscience. Appetite suddenly lost, Gideon stared down at his plate of half-eaten eggs as he considered what he wanted to say in response to her words.
“Beth, the things I said that last time were unfair and harsh.”
“Did you mean them?” she asked, her voice and eyes steady, and Gideon heaved a heavy sigh.
“Every word,” he told her truthfully. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t regret them.”
“You were being honest,” she said with a tight smile. “I appreciated it. Just as I appreciate your honesty now.”
“Thing is,” he said, his voice soft and musing. “I don’t recall once saying that I don’t like you.”
“It w-was kind of implied.”
“Do you know what the most frustrating thing about you is, Lizzy-bit?” he asked, and her soft mouth pursed as she considered the question.
“The fact that I apparently have a really difficult name to remember?” The tart question made him grin and he shook his head.
“You’re all of those things I said you were two weeks ago. Cagey, frustrating, bossy, occasionally obnoxious as hell and yet, damned if I’m not finding myself more and more drawn to you. Because, in addition to those other things, you’re also gutsy, fascinating, interesting, sweet, and entertaining. I don’t not like you, Beth. And I know that you don’t not like me.”
Her lips kicked upwards at the corners, before—with seemingly little resistance from her—blossoming into a full-blown smile.
“You’re right, Gideon. I don’t not like you. You’re arrogant, annoying, and smug…but you’re also kind, generous, and a lot of fun to be around.”
“Look, the sex clearly complicated things—fucking phenomenal though it was—and clouded the issue. And I think,” Gideon sighed, unable to believe the words that were about to cross his lips. “It should stay off the table while we explore a possible friendship between us. And if we can’t quite manage a friendship, then we should at least try for a fond tolerant acquaintanceship.”
“I agree.”
Her beautiful, happy smile was contagious, and Gideon’s lips spread into a matching grin. He held his hand out toward her across the countertop and she took it without hesitation.
“Deal?” he asked, ignoring the surge of awareness when her flesh touched his. Their chemistry was going nowhere, it seemed, but Gideon was going to do his level best to ignore it.
Her eyes sparked with awareness and he watched her struggle to contain it as she appeared to reach a similar resolution about ignoring the sexual spark between them. Her voice was firm when she replied, “Deal!”
Chapter Twelve
“Hi,” Beth greeted shyly when Gideon crossed the cul-de-sac to join her and Cam on the curb in front of her house the following morning.
“We good?” Cam asked, eyeing them warily. “I know Cat said we were scrapping Gideon and Beth days but I wasn’t sure if she was fucking with me or not.”
Sneaky Cat had invited Gideon to lunch as well, and he was catching a ride with Cam because his bike was at their place. Cat had sent a nonchalant voice note just ten minutes ago informing Beth of the fact.
Beth couldn’t very well protest since she had told Cat that she and Gideon were turning over a new leaf and all that. But Beth knew that Cat’s motivation was a lot murkier than it appeared on the surface. The other woman was like a dog with a bone, she had caught a whiff of something deeper last night and she was going to watch them both like a hawk today while trying to get to the bottom of it. Beth would have to find a way to warn Gideon before they reached their destination.
“All fine,” Beth told Cam with a bright smile. Cam looked relieved by her response, but something about her wholly fake smile caught Gideon’s attention. He cocked his head curiously, a small frown settling between his straight brows.
“How are you feeling today?” he asked her.
“I’m one big ache,” she told him with a wince, and he grimaced.
“That’s not ideal.”
“The painkillers are helping.”
“Good.”
“You want to ride shotgun?” she asked him, and he nodded, still watching her closely.
“If you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.”
“Fuck me, this is weird,” Cam said with a grin, his gaze darting between them like a spectator’s eyes at a tennis match. “So you guys are really doing this, huh? How long do you think it’ll last?”