Page 39 of Black Tie Billionaire
Fourteen
Gideon pulled up in front of the small brick house in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. With its white trim, meticulously manicured front lawn and currently empty flower boxes, the home was cute and obviously well taken care of.
But Shay still had no business being here.
Not when she had a home.
So why had she sent him a text informing him he’d need to pick her uphere tonight, as she would be living in this place for the foreseeable future?
What the hell was going on?
The questions had burned in his head, then twisted his gut into knots. The need for answers had propelled him out of his mother’s house, where he’d been visiting her and Olivia. He hadn’t bothered replying to Shay’s text but had entered the address in his GPS and driven directly there.
He shut off his car and walked up the tidy sidewalk to the postage-stamp-size porch. Maybe she’d heard him arrive, because before he could knock on the storm door, Shay appeared in the entrance, wrapped in a cashmere shawl and evening gown. She joined him on the porch, scanning his attire, her gaze running over his peacoat, down his black jeans to his boots, then back up.
“You’re goingto the ballet dressed like that?” she asked, frowning.
“No,” he answered shortly. “Come on.”
He’d offered her his hand before considering the gesture. They weren’t in public, so the display of affection wasn’t necessary. But when she wrapped her fingers around his, he only tightened his hold. And didn’t think about why he did it.
Moments later, with her safe in the passenger’s seat,the full skirt of her gown tucked around her legs, he started the car and drove away.
“What’s going on, Shay?” he asked. “Whose house is that?”
“My best friend, Bridgette. You met her that day in the food truck,” she replied, keeping her gaze straight ahead.
Impatient, Gideon pressed, “And? Why are you staying with her—how did you put it—for the foreseeable future?”
She sighed,and he steeled himself against the punch of that tired sound. “Because I left home. And I don’t know when, or if, I’ll return.”
Surprise winged through him, and quick on its heels was fury. Cold, bright fury. “Did you leave or did Trevor kick you out?”
Another sigh, and when he glanced over at her she shook her head. “I left. We...had a disagreement, and I thought it best if I gave usboth space.”
“You’re trying to make me drag it out of you, aren’t you?” he growled.
“I’m not trying to make you do anything,” she said, every inch of the society princess in that reply. “What’s more, I don’twantyou to.”
His fingers curled around the steering wheel, his hold so tight the leather creaked. Part of him longed to jerk the car over three lanes to the side of the road anddemand she confess everything to him, because he knew there was more to the story. And from those sighs and the tension in her slender frame, he sensed the “disagreement” with Trevor hadn’t been pretty. It’d hurt her. And for that Gideon wished he could strangle the man.
But the other part... That part longed to pull over, too, but for a different reason. It wanted to park, release her seatbelt and tug her onto his lap so he could hold her. Comfort her. Murmur into her ear that everything would be all right, thatshewould be all right.
Which was ridiculous. If there was a woman who didn’t need comforting—didn’t needhim—it was Shay Neal.
Quiet settled in the car like a third passenger as he drove to his home. It wasn’t until he pulled into the underground parking garagethat she stirred.
“I can wait here or in the lobby while you change if you’re not going to be long. The ballet starts in about thirty minutes,” she said, straightening in the passenger’s seat.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he snapped, her obvious reluctance to be alone with him irritating him. Did she expect him to jump her? “I promise to keep my hands and dick to myself. Now can you please getout of the damn car?”
He didn’t wait for her answer, but shoved the door open. But he still caught her grumbled, “Speaking of dicks...”
In spite of the anger and frustration churning in his chest, he couldn’t suppress the quirk of his mouth. This woman gave as good as she got.
Minutes later, they entered his penthouse, and as he took her wrap to hang up, lust joined the cluster ofemotions he was feeling. While the champagne-colored skirt of her dress flowed around her legs, the top clung to her shoulders, arms and torso—except for the deep V that dipped between her breasts and even lower in back. He briefly closed his eyes, turning away from the alluring sight of her. Immediately, images of the night in his Town Car skated over the back of his lids like a movie trailer. Him,cupping those breasts, drawing them into his mouth...
Cursing under his breath, he jerked open the closet door and, with more force than necessary, hung up her shawl and his coat.
