Page 20 of More than Need

Dawson’s lips parted in shock. “Are you kidding me?”

Gideon coughed to cover his laugh, pressing a fist against his mouth to hide the smile threatening to overtake his face.

“You are just—you’re so fucking—” Dawson cut off with an aggravated growl.

“I’m just so what?” Riley asked. “I didn’t invite you here, not now and certainly not last night in your state. Your girlfriend isn’t welcome here, and neither are you. I owe neither of you anything, and your inability to respect my space is starting to get on my nerves.”

“I already told you she’s not my girlfriend,” Dawson said stiffly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Gideon laced his hands behind his head, stretching out and getting comfortable. Dawson’s brown eyes flicked down to Gideon’s chest and lower. He visibly swallowed, and theireyes met through a strange wall of heat. Gideon suddenly remembered their brief lip-lock last night. An accident. Did Dawson want to try it again?

“I don’t care,” Riley said dismissively. “About you. Or her. Say what you want to say, and after that, I sincerely hope I don’t ever see either one of you again.”

“You’re an asshole,” Dawson burst out.

“I’ve heard that.”

“Why can’t you just—why can’t—one conversation with her. Get to know her. Make a judgement based on whosheis, not what her parents did.”

Gideon appreciated that he’d switched to “her” parents and not “yours.” Riley might not acknowledge the distinction, but Gideon knew he’d noticed it. Not that it softened him any.

“No.”

“No,” Dawson repeated dully. “No. Right. Yeah, I should have expected that.” He stood and clicked his tongue against his teeth. “I have no idea how you can be related to Sadie. She’s her, and you… God, you’re a prick. A cold, unfeeling—” He scratched his eyebrow and then shrugged like he didn’t know what else to do, or how to respond. “Have a nice life or whatever.”

Dawson turned to leave, and Gideon stood, blocking his path. “Maybe let’s all calm down and speak like rational adults.” Gideon felt for him. The uncomfortable situation didn’t sit well with any of them.

“Let him leave.”

Gideon held up a finger. “We’re all coming from a place that wants to protect someone we care about. Let’s not be hasty with the name-calling and the exits like a six-year-old chucking a tantrum.”

Dawson’s face twisted angrily. “I am not chucking a—”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Gideon?”

Gideon checked his watch. “In a second.” Lucia hadn’t come to retrieve him yet. They had time. “Riley, is this a regret that you want to have?”

“What would I regret?” Riley asked, looking for all the world like he didn’t care about the situation. Good thing Gideon knew him better than that.

“Not knowing,” Gideon said simply. “This isn’t the same as if her parents wanted you in their life. That is a choice that’s kind of fucked-up, and I would never push that issue. But this? It’s not the same thing. Asister? She didn’t know. You didn’t know.”

“Whose side are you on?”

Gideon stiffened. “Yours,” he said flatly. “That doesn’t mean I have to kiss your ass, or let you make a mistake.”

“Mistakes are the theme of the day, aren’t they, Gideon?” Riley drawled.

“You’re really going to throw that in my face? You kissed me too.”

Dawson’s eyebrows raised, looking between them. “Uh…”

Riley sighed, rising from his chair. “What do you both want from me?”

“Not the same as what he wants,” Dawson all but squeaked. Though Gideon wondered about that, considering his flushed cheeks. “Didn’t you say you were his boss?”

Riley’s gaze darkened, and he circled the desk to crowd them. “If that’s a threat, you’re about to like me even less than you already do.”

“It wasn’t. Does anything nice come out of your mouth?”

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