Page 6 of Gideon

He arched an eyebrow as if that was all his question needed. Just a look. But I needed to be clean if we were going out to eat. I knew I was jumping around from thought to thought. I sometimes even confused myself, so goodness knows what Gideon thought.

“I don’t have a bath. Just a little shower,” I said mournfully, which could be a little tricky. The water seemed to toe a fine line between freezing and scalding. But I really didn’t wantmy landlord to come in, ever. I shuddered. “He makes me feel icky.”

“Who does?” Gideon asked, his voice suddenly threaded with steel.

“Mr. Kirkman. He’s always wanting me to call him Dave, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Absolutely not,” Gideon agreed, and I beamed, glad I had said something he approved of, then smothered a yawn.

“Sorry.”

“Who’s Kirkman?”

I sighed. “My landlord. And I bet he doesn’t like dogs.”

Gideon sent me a look that should have a warning notice attached. “This is what we’re going to do. An hour of cuddles because I understand you don’t want to let Poppy down, then we’re going to my home, which isn’t too far from the club, where you can take a proper bath. Then we’re going to eat, and you’re going to have an early night and get lots of sleep.”

I gaped at him. “I am?”

Gideon nodded. “Yes.” I waited for another explanation, but apparently the eyebrow lift only worked when he was using it. But I didn’t know him, really.

“How do I know I’ll be safe?” Which was a huge thing to me. Years and years of never being totally safe made that a priority. He nodded as if that had been a reasonable question.

“Do you have an emergency contact? Maybe someone you work with?” I flushed. Because, no, no, I didn’t.

“A friend?”

And I thought about my boss except I really didn’t want to involve her.

“What about one of the helpers at the shelter?” His voice had lowered, gentle, soothing, and I was reminded that I was in my old jeans and a ratty t-shirt, yet somehow, he’d brought me flowers. Not that the two thoughts connected because he’d bought me flowers before he’d seen what I was wearing.

But he was still here even though most of the time I was exhausting to talk to. I was still sitting in his car and he was taking me to see Poppy.

“Yes,” I said, mentally dragging myself back to his question. “Kara works there part time. I don’t know if I’d put her as an emergency contact,” I hesitated.

“Will Kara be there when we arrive?”

I nodded.

“Then don’t worry. I’ll talk to her and make sure she knows where you’re going to be.” He flashed me another secret smile. “I’ve got this, baby girl.”

Baby girl?

What was I doing? This man seemed to be steamrolling over my life.

But he made you safe and got you a new lock.

And flowers.Although, the lock meant more to me than roses. Way more. I looked at him in surprise as something teased at the edge of my brain. He was acting for all the world like a Daddy. Was he?

“Thank you for the lock,” I said in case I’d forgotten to say it already.

He smiled and reached over to pat my hand. He signaled and turned, then he put his hand back over both of mine to still them. I hadn’t realized they were doing their usual twisty thing, but his touch was way too comforting for mypeace of mind. How could I believe that a perfect man wanted me?

That was impossible.

I could be easily convinced he was a Daddy.Duh.But nothing would convince me that he wanted to keep me. At some point, either my scatterbrained thoughts or my medical issues would spoil things.

They always did.

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