Page 18 of Forbidden Games

“Becka.”

“Lucy.” She mimicked her voice perfectly. “But that day is not today. Either way, I’d say you were having a normal reaction and that’s that. Why’s this coming up now? The whole matchmaking thing is kind of out there, but it’s not like you’re jumping into bed with these guys to give them a trial run.” Becka grinned. “Thoughthere’san idea.”

She tried to imagine it—taking a single night with each of the guys on Gideon’s list—and instantly rejected the idea. “No way.” It felt wrong and she didn’t want to spend too much time thinking about why.I promised Gideon to be exclusive.Sure, that was it. Definitely.

“Worth a shot.” Becka ate a few more chips. “You’ll be fine, Lucy. I promise. Dating is weird and it’s hard to get to know people, but you have a matchmaker in your corner. It’ll all work out.”

She couldn’t tell her sister that Gideon Novak was the so-called matchmaker in question. Becka had met him on several occasions and she’d lose her shit if she knew. Since they’d managed to get through this conversation without her thinking Lucy was out of her mind, she’d like to keep it that way. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“I am.”

Lucy’s phone rang and her heart leaped in her throat at the sight of Gideon’s name on the screen. “Hello?”

“I’ll meet you there ten minutes early, so be ready.”

She blinked. “I’m sorry—what?”

“The date, Lucy. Please tell me you haven’t forgotten about it.”

She bristled at the irritation in his voice. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But I was not expecting you to be attending.” She was nervous enough about going out with Mark Williams without having to do it under the watchful eye of Gideon. “That’s unacceptable.”

“My rules. Be there ten minutes early.” He hung up.

Lucy set her phone carefully on the table and looked up to find her sister watching her. “What?”

“I know that move. The ‘gently set your phone down so you don’t chuck it across the room’ one. Who pissed you off?”

“It’s a long story and, unfortunately, I have to leave in order not to be late.”Not to be late to being early. I’m going to kill him.She dug out her wallet and flagged down the waitress. “Same time next week?”

“Sure. You’re the one with the crazy schedule.” Becka finished her drink and set it on the table. She grinned. “And whoever that was that just called you, give ’em hell, sis.”

“I plan on it.” She set the appropriate amount of cash on the table under the ticket and rose. She accepted Gideon’s direction in the bedroom because that was exactly what she’d asked for. She accepted his list of men for the same reason.

She refused to accept him taking control of every aspect of this matchmaking situation.

He vetted and picked the candidates, yes, but ultimately it was up to her and the individual men to see if it was something that could actually work. Gideon’s role in this ended the second she and one of the men came to an agreement. She tried very hard not to focus on the way her stomach dropped at that thought.

It didn’t matter.

What mattered was his trying to steamroll her on this. She had to have some freedom to figure out if she could stomach the thought of spending her life with the man across the table from her, and she couldn’t do that with Gideon standing at her shoulder.

If he did, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d compare every man to him and it would skew her perception.

Against Gideon Novak, who could compare?

Gideon checked his watch for the third time in as many minutes. Where the hell was she? He turned to look down the street again just as Lucy walked around the corner. She didn’t seem particularly concerned to be running late—or happy to see him. He motioned to his watch. “We had an understanding.”

“Wrong. You told me something. I disagreed.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which drew his attention to her dress.

“What are you wearing?” It was a pale blue lacy thing that gave the illusion of showing more than it actually did. It clung to her body, the gaps in the lace showing a nude lining the exact same shade as her skin. At a glance, she might as well have been naked beneath it.

He loved it.

He fucking hated it.

“A dress.” She touched it, a frown drawing a line between her brows. “Don’t take that overprotective tone with me, Gideon. It’s a good dress.”

“It’s inappropriate for a first date. He’s going to sit across that table and spend the whole time thinking about fucking you.”

---