Page 83 of More than Need

“At a local bookstore—stop that.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I can see your face.”

“I’m not going to apologise for not putting a bag over my head.”

She huffed and flicked him in the cheek. “He was very kind, and I wasn’t ready, because I wasn’t sure that we’d made the right decision, saying that it was over. You’re in my heart, Gideon, and you always will be. It’s hard to see where the romance line ends and the friendship begins.”

Gideon nodded with complete understanding. He’d said something similar to Riley not that long ago. He and Lucia had both held on for too long for that reason alone.

“He asked me out for a coffee, and I said no.”

“If you tell me he was pushy about it, I’m gonna punch him in the face,” Gideon promised. He’d relish it, in fact.

“I don’t think he could take you.”

“That sounds like ahimproblem.”

“You’re doing really well with that non-judging thing.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway.I said no, and I thought that was the end of it. Then a month later, I saw him again.”

“Is he a reader, or was he stalking you?” Gideon asked, itching to pull his cuffs out. He didn’t have any on him, but there were probably some in the car. Always a spare pair lying around.

“He’s a reader. Put the cop away, Gideon.”

“I can’t. That was part of the problem, remember?”

“Is that why you’re sleeping with your boss?”

Gideon shifted uncomfortably. “We’re talking about you, not me.”

“Oh, we’ll be coming back to you.”

“That sounds like the best fun, can’t wait.”

“I missed you, and feeling my heart flutter with something new and exciting made me remember how you and I once were, when we were first married. Even two, three years ago. We really thought we’d found our happy ever after, and it was magical. Feeling it with someone else made me realise that we really were done because I haven’t felt that flutter with you for…” She shrugged. “It’s not supposed to be like that, is it?”

Gideon thought about the way Riley and Dawson made him feel. Excited and warm all the same time, like a teenager with his first crush. They were burrowing so deep that Gideon couldfeelthem. “No, it’s not.”

“I said yes because I wanted to know, and I wanted to feel it again. I never meant to introduce him to Hudson so quickly; it reallywasan accident. And that’s my story about venturing back into the scary world of dating. I’m far more interested in yourtwomen. With your boss. Did I mention that?”

“A few times.”

“I can’t believe you’re boningRiley Sinclair. I didn’t even know he was gay. All this time I’ve been flirting with him, and I didn’t even have a shot.”

“You flirted with my boss while we were married?” Gideon asked, smirking. “You hussy.”

“He was my hall pass.”

“I think you actually have to declare that for it to be valid, and it’s only for celebrities and shit.”

“Are you really that blind, Gideon? You’re bisexual; I can’t believe you never noticed how unbelievably magazine-hot sexy that man is. Thoseeyes. That smoulder. The broodiness.”

“Do you need a moment to yourself?”

---