Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Since Gideon had only met him in passing, he couldn’t argue that. “Do it.” He spoke before he had a chance to think up half a dozen reasons why it was a bad idea. It wasn’t a bad idea. It was his issue if he didn’t want to see her with someone else—not hers.
He waited for Roman to shut the door behind him before he grabbed his phone. Both Mark and Liam were acquaintances he’d come across in the last few years who had seemed like upstanding guys. He’d feel them out for interest and then take the list to Lucy to see where she stood with all of it.
The knowledge that she’d likely end up with one of these men sat in his stomach like a rock. He hesitated, his contact list staring back at him. It would be the easiest thing in the world to sabotage this. All he had to do was feed some false information about Lucy and they’d say no. Or feed her false information about them to prove New York had a shitty dating scene.
“No.” He’d promised her to do his best and he’d damn well do his best. Gideon had lied to her once before and it had almost destroyed them both. He wasn’t going to do that to her again.
Fuck, he was in this situation because of what happened before.
Gideon would do right by Lucy. He’d have to be a heartless bastard to do anything else. The only option was to find her a damn husband.
No matter what it cost him to do it.
Lucy was on her second glass of wine by the time she caught sight of Gideon’s familiar form moving toward her table through the darkened room. He towered over the tiny host and the poor man kept shooting looks over his shoulder as if he expected Gideon to club him over the head. The thought made her smile and was almost enough to distract her from her nervousness.
She’d woken up this morning from the single hottest dream of her life, starring none other than Gideon Novak. It started identical to their encounter last night, but they hadn’t stopped until they were naked and in his bed, both shaking from their respective orgasms. Her body flushed at the memory and she took a shaky sip of wine.
What was the protocol for greeting a man who’d used his fingers to make her come on his couch the night before? They weren’t dating, so a kiss seemed inappropriate. They weren’t even really friends anymore, so a hug was likely presumptuous. A handshake was just absurd.
Gideon saved her from having to decide by sitting before she had a chance to stand. He shot a look at the host. He probably meant it as a polite dismissal, but it actually looked scathing. Lucy watched the man nearly run from the table. “You really have to work on your attitude.”
“My attitude is fine.”
“Without a doubt, but you have a very intimidating persona. You know most women judge a man by how he treats the waitstaff on their first date—and you would have just nixed the possibility of a second date and we haven’t even had appetizers yet.”
Gideon raised his eyebrows. “Good day in court, I take it.”
“We’re not talking about me.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. Enjoying poking at him a little. “Though that was a very smooth change of subject.”
The corners of his lips twitched upward. “Yes, it was. We’re not here to talk about my dating prospects. We’re here to talk about yours.” He looked up as a waiter approached and she actually saw the effort he put into forcing a smile. It looked downright pained, but it was better than nothing. “I’ll have a seven and seven.” He glanced at her half-full wineglass. “Another?”
“Sure.” She didn’t drink more than two glasses often, but she’d busted her ass on today’s case and the judge had been persuaded to dismiss the entire thing. It was a coup that should have been the tipping point for her promotion, but when Rick Parker had come by her office to congratulate her, he’d made a comment about the big, broody man who’d been in to see her yesterday. Because, of course, who she was or wasn’t dating was just as important as her professional skill set.
Well, damn it, Parker’s crappy attitude wasn’t going to ruin her night.
“Tell me about the case.”
She almost refocused the conversation, but the truth was that she didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Her sister was supportive and wonderful, but Becka had her own thing going on and couldn’t be less interested in law. Get together for drinks and chat about life and what their parents were up to? Sure. Hash out the details of whatever case Lucy was working on? Not a chance. And Gideon actually looked interested.