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She took it, saw it was his business card, and although she should have declined even that, because taking it might seem like she was interested, she smiled and placed it in the cup holder beside her. Gerald gave her a once-over before finally rolling his window up.
She let out a sigh, watched his taillights fade in the distance, and finally went home. Once she reached her place, she cut the engine and just sat for a second. To say she felt weird about the whole Gerald situation was an understatement, but she pushed it all away, blaming it on the fact she hadn’t had a meaningful relationship in a long time.
All because she had such powerful feelings for David. Maybe her love for David blinded her to what she could have with someone else? Maybe she should just forget how she felt about David, try to bury those feelings, and move on?
It wasn’t like she’d never been with a man, but she was older now, knew what she wanted in her life. It just seemed unappealing to date anyone when she was in love with another man.
She got out of the car and headed inside, not liking that her thoughts were in such turmoil. Tossing her bag on the table and sitting on her couch, she leaned all the way back and tried to relax.
“Maybe I should have had a drink with Gerald? What would it have hurt?” she asked herself as she stared at the wall.
Or I should tell David how I feel?
She pushed that thought away as soon as it came to mind. No, she could never tell David she was in love with him. It would probably ruin their friendship. Even if it didn’t, that confession would sure as hell make things awkward and different between them.
But what if he feels the same for me?
Again, she pushed that thought out of her head. He’d never shown her any interest, and because of their past and what he’d been to her, that would be all he saw her as—a stepdaughter.
That had disgust filling her. She sure as hell hoped he didn’t see her like that. Theirs had always been a friendly relationship, not one of authority or parental guidance. That’s how she liked it, how she’d wanted it.
Perhaps if she brought up seeing a man, it might give her some kind of clue if David had feelings for her? Thinking that he might made her feel like a fool, but she had to do something. Jumping into the dating field without at least seeing if David might want something with her was not an option.
And if he showed no reaction, well, then she’d at least know he felt nothing. Coming right out and asking him if he cared for her more than just a friend wasn’t something she was comfortable doing.
It scared the hell out of her to even think about speaking to David about this. His friendship, his presence in her life, was more important to her than anything else she’d ever experienced. It wasn’t just because of the issue with Brian or how they knew each other.
David had always been there for her, and she knew he always would be, even if she revealed how she felt. But telling David she was in love with him could definitely make things awkward.
No. That was something she didn’t want to risk, didn’t even want to think about.
Chapter
Six
David made no apologies for what he was doing—following the fucker that had been hitting on Gillian at the art show and then being a prick and waiting until she got off work.
David had been loitering the whole time in the parking lot across the street, and although what he did might not be construed as something a normal and sane person would do, well, he didn’t give a fuck.
The difference between him and some other asshole was that David was sincerely looking out for Gillian, had only her best interest at heart, and was in love with her.
The prick obviously wanted a piece of ass and didn’t know her from Adam, and he wasn’t about to let a repeat happen like it did all those years ago.
So, he’d followed the little prick after he’d left the parking lot of the gallery. Honestly, David didn’t give a shit if the bastard caught him. In fact, he hoped there was a confrontation. It would give him a chance to let out this aggression.
But no matter how obsessed David was with Gillian, no matter how in love with her he was, he wasn’t going to beat some fucker’s ass just for hitting on her. Touching her, forcing her—those were different stories, ones that had bodily harm in them.
He followed the guy out of town and into the city, and he was slightly surprised at the apartment building the guy either lived in or was visiting.
