Page 74 of Ruthless Touch

Taking her face in my hands, I press a kiss to her forehead as the reality that she’s leaving settles into me. “Thank you. Not just for this but for everything. I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did with this hotel without you.”

That makes her smile. “I know. Now keep it up and make it even better so whenever Alex complains about you, I’ll know it’s because he’s jealous of how great you’re doing here.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

She steps back away from me and takes a deep breath in, letting it out in a rush. “I know. Goodbye, Gideon.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Aria

My body hurts a tiny bit less this morning, but I still won’t be running any marathons anytime soon. I sit up slowly and swing my legs off the bed before gingerly standing up. When I don’t collapse, I count that as a win. Maybe I’ll be able to make it out to the living room.

I assume Gideon will send Sasha up sometime soon to check on me. After our talk last night, I’m feeling better about things with her. Yes, she loves the man I love, but that’s not an entirely bad thing. He cares about her, so I’m going to need to deal with that.

At least now I don’t think she wants me out of the picture.

A tray with a few muffins sits on the coffee table, along with a piece of paper. I make my way over to the sofa and sit down, happy it wasn’t a few feet more because I don’t know if I would have made it.

It takes a little effort to stretch and get the note, but I grab it and sit back to read what it says. Opening it, I see it’s in Gideon’s handwriting.

Eat these for breakfast and I’ll be up later this morning. I hope you feel better.

Love,

Gideon

I smile at the words Love, Gideon as reread his note once and then twice. Even today after all that’s happened he’s a man of few words. I can live with that as long as the words he says are full of love.

Leaning forward, I take what looks like a blueberry muffin off the silver tray and sit back to enjoy my breakfast. Delicious, like everything else the chefs make here at the hotel, it practically melts in my mouth, the blueberries exploding their sweet flavor on my tongue.

As I revel in the taste of my muffin, the front door opens behind me. I’m too achy to turn around to see who it is, so I simply say between bites of my breakfast, “I had a feeling Gideon would send you up this morning. If you haven’t eaten yet, definitely try one of these muffins. They’re incredible.”

A second later, I see not Sasha but Gideon walk around the sofa and stop next to me. Surprised, I look up at him and say, “I figured you would have sent Sasha up to babysit me.”

I mean it as a joke, but his expression is almost stony as he shakes his head. “No, all you get is me today.”

Reaching for his hand, I take it in mine as I wonder what’s wrong. “You look upset. What’s going on?”

Gideon sits down, still holding my hand as I wait to hear what’s happened. He doesn’t answer me immediately, but after a few moments, he sighs and says, “Sasha left this morning. She’s going to work for my brother at his club.”

My emotions unspool inside me at the news that Gideon’s assistant and the one person I know he’s had with him for years is gone. Was it because of me? Did she quit or did he have to let her go?

“Why? She didn’t leave because of me, did she? I didn’t want that, Gideon. You know that, right?”

Finally, his expression lightens, and he turns toward me to give me a smile. “I know that. She resigned because she felt it was best. I know she’s right, but I’m just a little surprised. I’ve had her by my side here for so long I don’t know what it will be like without her.”

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Gideon. I know how much she means to you.”

“Sasha was my right hand, but I have to accept she’s gone. From now on, it’s just you and me.”

He says that like it’s some consolation prize nobody would want. I kiss his neck and whisper against his skin, “I like that. Don’t you?”

Turning to face me, at long last he gives me a smile I know is genuine. “I love that. It’s why I accepted her resignation so easily.”

“You chose me over her? She’s your best friend, Gideon. I’m nobody, or worse, I’m the woman who’s caused you nothing but grief. Why would you do that?”

Staring into my eyes, he gives me the most wonderful answer I could dream of hearing. “Because I love you, Aria. Friends come and go, but someone like you doesn’t come along every day.”

---