Page 46 of Worth the Risk

Piercing grey eyes locked on me. ‘Nothing a few drinks won’t take care of. And since I don’t have a destination in mind, mind if I join you?’

‘Join me?’ I parroted, fighting the throb of excitement suffusing me.

He nodded. ‘Unless you object? Where are you headed?’

‘For an appointment five minutes away. I don’t want to be late.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Take me with you.’

There it was again, that odd note in his voice that tugged at something inside me. Still, I bit my lip in hesitation.

He closed the gap between us, wrapping me in his heat as he stared down at me. ‘I’m feeling...out of sorts. Not the kind that makes me want to drink alone and not the kind that wants Vadim’s sort of company. That leaves you. Also if I remember correctly we’re currently zero for two in the IOU stakes.’

‘And taking you with me goes a step towards evening our odds?’

A darkly wicked light gleamed in his eyes. ‘I’d prefer to even it out in like-for-like terms but if an evening with you is what’s on offer, then I’ll take it. Unless whatever you’re doing involves another man. In that case I’d strongly advise you to get rid of him. I’d hate for him to be an unwanted third wheel.’

I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. ‘Okay, you can come with me.’

He inclined his head in that almost-regal way that emphasised his upper-class upbringing and fell into step beside me. But even though we walked in companionable silence, there was an edge in the air, a swelling of angst and anticipation that shortened my breath.

Whatever he was feeling out of sorts about was huge, and I couldn’t help wondering if he regretted telling me about his family this afternoon.

Despite the dysfunction he claimed, every member of his family was supremely talented, with a sickeningly accomplished Gideon topping the bill. And while his playboy status was notable, it hadn’t disturbed me as much as I’d thought it would. I’d indulged in my first one-night stand as a means to numb my pain after Adam’s betrayal.

Gideon had admitted he’d gone off the rails after the double betrayal he’d suffered. His refusal to give in with me despite his blatant need turned me on more than I cared to admit.

‘Where are we going exactly?’ he asked in that deep sexy voice I wanted to hear up close and very personal.

I pointed to the street up ahead. ‘The restaurant’s a little more than a hole in the wall, but the food is good and the owner is great.’

‘As long as he has barrels of good wine on tap, I’m sold.’

I glanced at his clenched jaw and wondered if I was doing the right thing by letting him tag along.

Maximo, the Balkan Italian whose restaurant bore his name, greeted me with a smile. ‘Bellissima, it’s good to see you again. Welcome!’

He glanced at Gideon but didn’t address him as he showed us to a secluded table in the small restaurant.

Gideon pulled out my chair, then sat across from me.

‘You’ll have your usual, Leonie, yes?’ Maximo said.

‘Yes, thanks.’

‘And I’ll have a bottle of your best red, unless you have a Macallan stashed away in the back?’ Gideon asked.

Maximo smiled. ‘I’ll rustle up the perfect red for you, signor.’

When Maximo hurried away, Gideon glanced at me. ‘Your usual? How many times have you been here?’

‘I come every time I’m in town, which is about once every couple of months for the last three years.’

He looked around, and to his credit managed to keep his expression neutral.

‘Don’t judge before you try the food.’

His mouth twisted. ‘Food isn’t my number-one priority right now.’

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