Page 132 of The Lyon Returns
She cocked her head. “Him?”
He arched a brow, his expression clearly flabbergasted. “Landry?”
Steven Landry. Dear Heaven. She had all but forgotten about seeing him thanks to her turmoil over Gideon.
“I did not care for how he looked at you, nor did seeing the two of you in close conversation sit well with me. I made a point to discover his identity and, when he left, followed him in order that I might share my observations—and some advice.”
“What happened?” She took his bandaged hand between both of hers. “This?”
His voice roughened. “I pointed out he’d been lucky once by the sheer fact your first husband had not called him out. I assured him, if he dared approachmywife again, he would find his luck had run out. I might have…broken his nose. Even so, he got off easy. I wanted to kill him. If comes ’round again, I can’t swear I won’t.”
She should be appalled. She should chastise him for his foolish behavior. Instead, profound relief at having been wrong about where he’d gone and with whom flooded her, leaving her almost dizzy. “Why?” she demanded, her heart in her throat.
His expression grew instantly guarded. “Why? You are my wife, Gwen. I will protect you, always.”
Always.A tremulous smile pulled at her mouth as hope flamed to life in her chest. But hope was not enough. She must know the true extent of his feelings for her. She could not go through this turmoil again.
“Is that the only reason, Gideon?” she prodded gently. “Because I am your wife?”
He shot her a look of suspicion, then a seductive smile flickered over his mouth. “What else? Do you like your gift?”
“I love it,” she said, honestly.
“Good.” He moved into her, then leaned forward to plant his hands on the desk on either side of her hips, bracketing her in.
Her insides shivered with need.
Gideon drew his mouth to one ear, nuzzling her. “I want to strip you naked, nibble my way down your belly, lick your—”
Calling on all her will, she pushed against his hard chest. “No.”
He stumbled back, eyes clouding briefly with hurt. Then his expression went carefully neutral. “You are tired. You have had a long day.”
“It is not that, Gideon. I wish to speak with you, and I will not be dissuaded. Not this time.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Gideon studied Gwenas she stared him down, her body statue still, her expression resolute and determined. He’d thought, after explaining that he had not resumed relations with Emily—as if he could contemplate such a notion—her mood would buoy.
Evidently something else was bothering her. Whatever it was, the look in her eyes had alarm bells clanging in his head.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well. What is it?”
Her eyes widened. “I-I…” Her gaze dropped to the desktop. “As it happens, I received another letter from the stakeholders.”
Relief made him nearly weak. This was a topic he could handle. “Oh?”
She angled her chin toward a missive lying atop the desk.
He swiped it up and scanned the document.
As he read, she summarized the contents. “The stakeholders have informed me of their intent to implement a clause within the sales contract, which, by their interpretation, entitles them to veto rights regarding anything I wish to publish. To that end, they have rejected a particular author whose work I admire and, in fact, with whom my previous employer also declined to contract, precipitating my decisionto purchase Bell & Company in the first place.”
He heaved a sigh. “I warned you, Gwen.”
“I’m aware.”
“Please say you’ll allow me to share this, as well as your signed contract, with my solicitor.”
