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Though Gideon could feel her stiffen at the insult, her voice remained calm as she said, “I’ll repeat myself one more time, just to make sure you understand. My child has everything he needs.”
But Archie clearly wasn’t planning to back down so easily. “Ah, but he could need so much more in the future.” He waved a hand airily. “Say, if you were to lose your job. Or your home, because you couldn’t make the rental payments. Or if you suddenly found your credit rating had taken a nosedive.”
Gideon wouldn’t stand for another minute of this crap. “Are you threatening Rosie?”
Findley shot a sneer Gideon’s way. “Nothing of the kind. I’m just talking about some of life’s occasional misadventures, things that can happen to anyone, anytime.”
Oh yes, he was most definitely a snake, slithering at the base of the tall grass rather than coming right out and saying what he wanted.
“It’s time to tell Rosie what the hell you want.” Gideon didn’t succeed in completely holding back his growl. Hell, the guy was lucky he hadn’t already torn him in two.
Findley ignored Gideon. “Perhaps we should meet alone, Rosie. We haven’t talked about your art. You know how much I always wanted to help further your career.”
“You never wanted to help her.” Now that the gloves were off, Gideon couldn’t keep his fury inside. “Only yourself.”
Though Gideon could see Archie’s skin pale slightly at the thought of a skirmish with someone so much bigger than himself, the man still didn’t back off. “Ah, it sounds like Rosie has been telling stories. Only, I have to wonder if she’s told you everything, the real story, the one only she and I know.”
Gideon knew Findley was baiting him. He wanted Gideon to walk out of here and start questioning Rosie. He wanted to drive a wedge between them. What a fool her ex was not to realize that would never happen. Clearly, he’d never understood Rosie at all.
Before Gideon could reply, Rosie spoke. “You are the one who doesn’t know the real story, Archie. And no, we won’t be meeting again, alone or otherwise. Because now that I know exactly what you want, I promise you that you’re never going to get it.”
Then she stood, looped her arm through Gideon’s, and walked with him to the door.
* * *
Rosie’s stomach twisted with the nerves she’d done her darnedest not to show to her ex. “Do you think he can do any of that? Get me fired? Get me thrown out of my cottage? Ruin my credit?”
“Hell, no.” Gideon drove like a bodyguard, his eyes front, then on the rearview mirror, then checking his sides as he kept watch for a tail. “You’ve got so many people who care about you and can help you. We’re not going to let him hurt you.” He reached out to squeeze her hand. “You did great with him, Rosie. You didn’t so much as break a sweat.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I did do great.” She still felt sick, though. “Even if I wanted to throw my water in his face.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to punch him.”
What had she ever seen in Archibald Findley?
But she knew exactly what it was. He’d been so smooth, saying all the right things to a starry-eyed girl barely out of high school. He’d played her with such expertise, wining and dining her and telling her everything she wanted to hear, how great her art was, how beautiful and sexy she was, how smart, how mature for her age. If only she’d seen through his act back then the way she now saw through his fishing, his needling, his subtle threats.
After they pulled up outside Evan and Paige’s home, she said, “Thank you for coming with me. I’m not sure I could have been so strong if you hadn’t been there.”
“Of course you would. You are strong. Never doubt that.”
“I just wish I’d gotten more of an outright declaration of intent out of him.”
“He was never going to give you that, no matter what you said or did. He’s a snake, crawling through the grass, striking when you’re not looking. He’ll never be up front. Which is why we can’t fight him up front either. We’re going to have to be as sneaky as he is.”
“I hate being sneaky,” she said.
“I know you do. I’m sorry all of this is happening to you. But I promise, it will all be over soon. And you’ll prevail. Because there’s no way any of us are going to let scum like your ex win.”
“Thank you, Gideon.”
He’d been so wonderful during the confrontation—and so wonderful now as he worked to reassure her—that she couldn’t resist placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. Last night her kiss had been full of gratitude. Today, though she was even more grateful to him for all his support, her kiss was about so much more.
And when she pulled back, his eyes were the softest baby blue.
For just a moment, she considered pulling him close again, putting her mouth on his, parting her lips, tasting him, savoring him, never letting him go.
Until the front door opened…and the moment between them broke as they both climbed out of the SUV and walked up the path.
