Page 34 of Forbidden Games

“There are no other plans.” He cut in before she could talk herself out of the whole day. “I worked all week. I cleared today for you, Lucy.”

“Oh. Well...oh.” She managed to look everywhere but at him. “I’m sorry—is this weird? It didn’t feel all that strange when I suggested it earlier, but I think common sense has taken hold.”

“More like nerves.” He pressed his hand to the small of her back. “Walk with me, Lucy. What’s the harm that could come of it?”

12

What’s the harm that could come of it?

Lucy forced herself to look at Gideon. His expression was as open as she’d ever seen it, inviting her to take this first step with him. First step intowhat, though? It had been an off-the-cuff thing to tell him that she wanted today, but through her shower and then his, the importance of that statement—this plan—had grown to epic proportions.

It felt like a date.

Except she wasn’t supposed to be dating Gideon. She was supposed to be dating the men Gideon set her up with.

He didn’t look particularly concerned that they had left the boundary of their agreed-upon relationship in the rearview. He offered his arm, the old-world gesture so very Gideon.

She slipped her hand onto his arm and fell into step with him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was. She didn’t know anymore. These days, it felt like up was down and down was up, and Lucy was bouncing somewhere in the middle.

“How was your trip? Other than having to fend off a city full of free spirits.” She injected false sympathy into her tone. “You poor thing.”

Gideon shook his head. “You mock me while you were here, safe in New York. The people on that coast aren’t anything likeourpeople. They chat.” He gave a mock shudder. “You wouldn’t last two days.”

“On the contrary, I’m not nearly as cranky and antisocial as you are. I’d be fine.”

“There is that.” He pulled her to a stop at the curb as cars whizzed past. “It was a productive trip. One of my prospective fits looks like she’ll work out, and I managed to source a secondary backup in Portland. Those two cities are filled to the brim with tech geniuses, so if I can lure either woman over here, they’ll have jobs waiting.”

A barb of something like jealousy embedded itself in Lucy’s throat. He’d spent a full week in endless meetings between Seattle and Portland, and a few of the people he’d met with had been women. It shouldn’t matter. Lucy had no claim on Gideon. Not really. They might be exclusive for the time being, but there was a looming expiration date. He could have plans to hook up with one of those women—or both—and Lucy didn’t have the right to be upset about it.

That didn’t change the fact that her chest ached at the very thought.

“Maisey Graham has been married to her high school sweetheart since the month after graduation, and he owns his own business, so relocation isn’t out of the question.” Gideon spoke low enough that she had to lean in to hear his words, very carefully not looking at him. “Jericha Hurley will be eighteen in two months, though she’s damn near a certified genius and she’s got her pick of companies vying for her attention.”

He knew.

The ache in her chest got worse. She managed to breathe past it—barely. “It’s none of my business.”

“Honesty, Lucy.”

She didn’t want to be honest. She wanted to shove her head in the sand. They crossed the road and kept going down the block. She tried to pinpoint exactly what the problem was.Easy enough—I’m jealous of the thought of Gideon spending time with other women.Not just spending time, though. Having long meetings, likely alone, on the other side of the country. “It’s not that I think you’d do that after you told me we were exclusive.”

“The fear is there all the same.” He set his free hand over hers and squeezed. “That’s not something you just get over.”

Maybe she would have. If she’d put half the effort into dating that she’d put into her career, she’d have worked through what was apparently a hair trigger.Or maybe it wouldn’t have mattered.There was no way to tell, and it was a moot point. “We have to fix this.”

“What?”

“This is another issue. I can’t very well marry someone if the thought of them being alone in a room with a woman is going to send me into a jealous spiral. They’re all businessmen, and so that sort of thing will pop up. There’s no avoiding it.” She latched on to the idea, turning it over in her mind. “We can start at the lingerie shop.”

Gideon pulled them out of the path of foot traffic and guided her to the brick wall of a nearby storefront. He let go and took her by the shoulders. “Lucy, stop.”

“Don’t take that tone with me. I’m not being crazy.”

“Everything about this situation is crazy. No, don’t get your back up. It is and you know it, and I’m here willingly, taking part in it.” He looked like he wanted to shake some sense into her. “You’re asking me to... What? Flirt with someone in front of you? More?”

More?

Her entire body clenched as if trying to reject the very idea of Gideon doingmorewith someone else.I am out of control.“If that’s what it takes.”

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