Page 33 of Forbidden Games

“Exactly.” She passed him a full cup and her expression turned serious. “Can we have today?”

Gideon took a careful drink of the scalding liquid and contemplated her. For all that she appeared relaxed on the surface, there was an underlying tension there. “And after today?”

“I figure we’re due a conversation, but we have plans today and I don’t want to ruin them by talking this to death. I’m happy and I want to hold on to that.”

Meaning that this talk wouldn’t make her feel happy—or him, for that matter. Gideon already knew what was coming. He’d muddied the waters by showing up last night, and taken it a step further by staying and holding her while they’d slept. They hadn’t talked about lessons after that first time they’d had sex, which was supposed to be the whole purpose of this exercise. She’d also been on exactly one date.

He had to fix that.

He would rather chew off his own arm than set her up on any more dates, but that was what he’d given his word he’d do. Lucy trusted him and he couldn’t betray that trust.Not again.

Gideon forced an easy smile onto his face. “Sure, we can have today.” He didn’t want to have that talk any more than she appeared to want it, so he wasn’t going to worry about a few hours spent without overthinking things. “I thought you had lunch with your sister?”

“She got called in to cover a class and had to cancel.” Lucy gave him a small smile. “I know we had planned for this afternoon, but I’m free all day if you are.”

“I’m free.” Gideon had been looking forward to this date all damn week, so he hadn’t put anything else on his schedule.

Because that was exactly what this was, even if Lucy didn’t realize it. A date.

Maybe she does realize it and that’s why she’s asking to shelve the conversation we obviously need to have until tonight.

She gave him a sunny smile. “Good. In that case, eat up while I jump in the shower.” She pushed the food toward him, grabbed her mug and strolled out of the kitchen.

He spent half a second considering following her and making the shower one to remember, but if Gideon read the signs correctly, Lucy needed time. It had been that way with them from the start of this—she’d take a step forward and need time to acclimate. He could respect that. Hewouldrespect that. If he pushed too hard, too fast, she’d bolt, and this time he’d never hear from her again. It wasn’t a risk he was willing to take, especially now when it felt like they were close to something that could actually be real.

If she’d take that leap of faith with him.

He ate quickly and cleaned up the containers. By that time, the shower had turned off, so Gideon grabbed the bag he’d brought in the night before and hauled it into her room.

Lucy glanced over from where she’d just walked through the bathroom door. She had a fluffy towel wrapped around her, and though it hid her curves, the exposed skin of her shoulders and calves had him craving the feel of her. She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t go home last night, did you?”

There was no use in denying it. “Nope.” He’d wanted to see her—hadneededto see her—and the extra forty minutes it would have taken were forty minutes too many. He nodded at the bathroom door. “Mind if I use your shower?”

“Of course not. Go for it.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Gideon showered quickly, pausing long enough to wish he had time to shave, but he wasn’t likely to see anyone he knew professionally today. He paused in front of his suitcase. Lucy had been wearing casual clothes earlier, and it might make her uncomfortable if he used his last suit. The other option wasn’t as comfortable forhim, but he’d make do.

He had promised her, after all.

When he walked out of the bathroom, she froze. “You...” She gave herself a shake. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you rumpled-looking before—not even in college.”

He glanced down at his designer jeans and the flannel shirt he’d thrown over a white T-shirt. “I’m not rumpled.”

“You are most definitely rumpled.” She moved closer, taking him in as a small smile pulled at the edges of her lips. “You look like you should be standing on a porch on some mountainside, a steaming cup of coffee in hand while you contemplate whatever it is that lumberjacks contemplate.” She ran her hands up his chest and over his shoulders. “I like it.”

“Rumpled suits me.”

“You don’t have to sound so cranky when you say it.” She smoothed down his shirt, actually leaning forward a few inches before she seemed to remember herself and took several steps back. “I’m ready when you are.”

She wore a different variation of what she’d had on earlier: dark leggings, a long black T-shirt and a slouchy knitted cardigan thing. Her pants were tucked into a sleek pair of knee-high boots.Rumpledwas not a word he’d use to describe her, but with her hair falling in careless waves to her shoulders, she looked relaxed. Almost peaceful.

He liked it.

Gideon pulled on his shoes and then they headed down to the street. Lucy paused on the sidewalk. “It’s such a nice day.”

He could pick up a clue as obvious as that one. “We could walk. It’s only a handful of blocks.”

“Are you sure? We didn’t really talk about what your other plans are for the day and—”

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