Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Imogene
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Melanie asked as I walked her out to my front porch later that evening.
“I’m fine. Promise.” I squeezed her bicep. “Like you said. Samuel had been to Alton’s cabin on numerous occasions before he died. His fingerprints must be left from one of his visits.”
“It’s not that I don’t wish they could be recent. I’d give anything for him to still be alive. But you can’t keep putting yourself through this. You came out here to get a fresh start and put the past behind you. You’ve finally met someone who I think has helped.”
As if on cue, a sleek Jaguar convertible rolled to a stop in front of my townhouse, and I couldn’t fight the smile that tugged on my lips as Gideon Saint stepped out. His tall and muscular body was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his dark hair styled in a sexy, disheveled way.
It was a stark contrast from last night when he showed up at my door at three in the morning wearing jeans and a hoodie. Now, he was back to being Gideon Saint, the mysterious billionaire who saved me in a dark alley a few weeks ago.
“Please don’t throw it away over a ghost,” Melanie whispered, then turned, heading down the front steps of my porch.
“You don’t have to leave,” I said, following her. “You can stay over if you want.”
“I appreciate the offer, but there’s a special place in hell for people who stand in the way of their best friend getting some good dick, especially when you need it. And after today, I have a feeling some good dick is much needed.”
I barked out a laugh, grateful for Melanie’s unique ability to always lighten a tense situation.
“Plus, I have an early meeting tomorrow. Traffic will be much better tonight than in the morning. Gotta love Southern California.”
“Drive safe,” I said as I hugged her.
“Always.” She squeezed back, releasing me when Gideon approached, his expression awash with sincerity as he swept me into his arms.
A few hours ago, it felt like my world had been tilted on its axis. I didn’t think anything or anyone would ever make me feel better. But being in Gideon’s embrace did precisely that. It set everything right again. As if this was where I was meant to be —wrapped up in his strong arms, surrounded by his comforting scent and warmth.
Not chasing after a ghost.
“How are you?” he asked, clutching my cheeks and forcing my gaze to his.
“Okay,” I said with a soft smile.
He surveyed my demeanor, his blue eyes searching for any sign I was lying.
But I wasn’t. I was okay.
“Good,” he replied, sounding almost relieved as he touched a soft kiss to my lips, lingering only a moment or two before shifting his attention toward Melanie, but still keeping a protective hand on my hip.
“How about you? How are you handling everything?”
“Just a little surprised,” she answered. “Alton was never my favorite person, but I thought he’d get stabbed in the balls because he hit on the wrong woman or something. I didn’t think he was the type of person to kill himself.” She rubbed her arms, a chill overtaking her as the ocean breeze wrapped around us.
“Regardless of any of his past misdeeds, I am sorry for your loss.” He shifted his gaze toward me. “Both of you.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“I should hit the road,” Melanie interjected, her voice brightening. “It was good seeing you again, Gideon.”
“Always a pleasure, Ms. Burnham.” He nodded slightly.
“Text me when you get home,” I ordered as she reached her car and opened the door.
“I will.”
“And if you get tired on the drive, you can always call and I’ll keep you awake.”
“Remember what I said. Special place in hell.” She gave me an exaggerated wink, then slipped behind the wheel, closing the door behind her.
“Special place in hell?” Gideon asked once her car disappeared down the street.
I fully faced him, draping an arm along his shoulder and toying with a few tendrils of hair that fell over his collar.
“Melanie claims there’s a special place in hell for people who interfere with others getting some good dick.”
He stared at me for several moments. Then he threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing in the night sky.
For a brief moment, as I stood on my front porch with Gideon’s arms wrapped around me, everything felt right. This was exactly what I’d needed since overhearing Liam and James’ conversation.
Sure, Melanie talked some sense into me, made me realize the chances of Samuel still being alive were nonexistent. But being with Gideon — hearing his laughter and feeling his warmth — it reminded me of what was important.
And it wasn’t my past.
“She’s quite the character, isn’t she?” he remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
“She certainly is. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He leaned down and brushed a kiss to my forehead. “Either would I.”
With a gentle hand on the small of my back, he guided me into my townhouse. As we stepped inside, his sudden stop caught me off guard and I turned to see what had stolen his attention. His eyes were fixated on the box with Samuel’s name emblazoned on the outside.
“Should I be concerned?” He blew out a nervous laugh.
“I’m sorry.” I rushed toward the coffee table, hastily gathering up the papers and returning them to the box, securing the lid to it once more.
“Taking a trip down memory lane?”
“It’s not that. I just…” I exhaled a deep breath, unsure how to explain this without sounding like I was crazy. “I went over Liam’s after I heard about Alton.”
“How did that go?” He removed his suit jacket and draped it over the barstool in the kitchen.
The gesture filled me with relief that he wasn’t going to leave after walking in and finding a box devoted to my ex.
“It didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I was there, I overheard him talk to James about a glass found at Alton’s cabin with Samuel’s fingerprints on it.” I laughed to myself. “For a minute, I was convinced he was still alive.”
His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard.
“Thankfully, Melanie made me realize how crazy that was. Samuel’s body may never have been found, but every expert who’s examined the evidence came to the same conclusion. He wouldn’t have survived losing that amount of blood without immediate medical intervention. So…I’m sorry.”
Approaching me, he grabbed my hand in his, rubbing his thumb along my knuckles in a soothing gesture. “Why are you apologizing to me?”
“I’m trying to stop living in the past, yet every time I’m reminded of it, I cling to it like a life preserver. You don’t deserve that.”
“If that’s what you need, it’s okay.” He moved his hands to my cheeks. “Like I told you last night…or, I suppose, this morning…” He pushed out a subtle laugh under his breath, the deep chuckle hitting me in places I’d forgotten existed until this man reminded me what it felt like to live again. “Your past made you into the woman you are right now.” His mouth inched toward mine, making me breathless from the promise of his kiss. “And I’m crazy about you right here. Right now. Scars and all.”
I swallowed hard, staring into his mesmerizing sapphire eyes. If I ignored everything else about him — the crooked nose, high cheekbones, square jawline, well-trimmed facial hair, as well as his perfectly straight teeth — if I only focused on his eyes, he could be Samuel.
But that was absurd. Gideon was not Samuel. As much as it hurt to admit, Samuel was my past. Gideon could be my future…if I would just finally let go of my past.
Finally let go of Samuel, for once and for all.
With a desperate need to feel grounded in the present, I slammed my mouth against Gideon’s, tangling my fingers in his hair and savoring in the silky texture. Any lingering worry or anxiety from today evaporated as I gave myself over to the moment.
To the present.
I pulled him closer, parting my lips to allow him access, our tongues colliding in a desperate battle as my fingers wrapped around his tie like a lifeline. Hungry for more of him, I fumbled with the knot until it gave way under my insistent hands, eager to explore every inch of him. But as I reached for the top button on his shirt, he grabbed my wrist, preventing me from going any further.
The memory of last weekend flashed through my mind. How he didn’t want me to see him shirtless. Exposed. Vulnerable.
I thought we were past that.
Especially after last night when I let him come inside me with no protection.
“What’s wrong?” I darted my eyes toward his.
“I don’t want you to think the only reason I came over here is to sleep with you. Don’t get me wrong,” he added with a laugh. “I love fucking you, but that’s not why I’m here. I came to check on you. Make sure you were okay. Not because I wanted to get off.”
“And I appreciate that,” I murmured, dragging my fingers up his chest and toying with the top button of his shirt once more. Then I hoisted myself onto my toes, nibbling on his earlobe. “But I do want to get off. I need this, Gideon. Need to forget the past. Need to live in the present.”
He held my face in his hands, his conflicted eyes locking with mine, as if torn between two impossible choices. For a moment, I expected him to reveal some earth-shattering truth that would destroy my world worse than the idea of Samuel Tate still being alive ever could.
Then he moved a hand to my hip and tugged me against him, not a breath separating us.
“I’ll always give you everything you want.”
I didn’t have a chance to utter another syllable before he crushed his mouth to mine, his kiss erasing all thoughts of my past from my brain.
Because right now, right here, all I cared about was Gideon.
All I saw was Gideon.
I prayed that would be enough to keep the ghosts at bay.