Page 81 of Ruthless

“After dinner.”

She had absorbed the information he’d given her with surprising equanimity, but his last answer did not sit well with her. Fire sparking in her eyes, she headed toward him. Her long-legged stride and furious face told him what to expect when she reached him. Without holding back, she punched him in the face.

His head jerked back, the explosion of pain in his jaw fast and furious. When she went for another one, he blocked her fist and then the next punch she threw. When she snarled and backed up for what he knew would be a vicious kick, Gideon grabbed her arms and then wrapped a leg around both of hers.

She shuddered, not with revulsion and not with defeat. The fury emanating from her body could have fueled a rocket. Damn, she was something else.

“Let me go,” she gritted out.

“Not till you calm down. I let you have a punch because I deserve it, but if you think I’m going to let you beat my ass, you’re wrong.”

“You have to let me go at some point, and when you do, I will make you regret you were ever born.”

“Eve…” He sighed roughly. “Let’s sit down and talk like two adults. I know you must be hungry.”

“I’m not.”

The instant she said that, her stomach gave a vicious growl. Gideon wasn’t cruel enough to smirk. He simply said, “Let’s eat, and maybe we’ll both be more inclined to listen to the other.”

“Fine,” she snapped.

“Can I trust you to not attack me?”

“Can you trust me? You have some nerve.”

“Eve,” he said calmly. “I’m not letting you go until you give me your word.”

“I will not attack you. Now. Let. Me. Go.” She enunciated each word with so much sarcasm it was all he could do not to kiss her snarling mouth. How he loved her spirit.

With a sigh of regret that he had to let her go, he loosened his arms and stepped back. She had given her word, and that was enough for him. He crushed the little voice inside his head that reminded him he had given her the same kind of promise not too long ago, and he had broken his word in a spectacularly bad way.

Turning his back on her was risky, but he wanted her to see that he did indeed trust her. It might not mean anything to her, but it did to him. There was no one he trusted more than Eve.

“I made minestrone soup using that recipe we got in Verona a couple years ago. I know how much you loved it.”

“Oh, thanks so much.” Her voice dripped with bitterness. “That makes up for everything.”

“Eve,” he said quietly. “Just eat.”

He didn’t know if it was her hunger or the weariness she heard in his voice that got her to do just that. Gideon was just grateful that she sat down.

He ladled a generous amount of soup into her bowl, sliced a hunk of bread, and poured her a glass of her favorite red wine. He seated himself and began to eat, pleased that she did the same. They were quiet during the meal, the only sounds the spoons touching the bowls and the occasional audible swallow.

Ten minutes later, they were finished. She had eaten almost the entire bowl and half the bread but had sipped only a little of the wine.

“I should’ve given you something else to drink. Are you still groggy, or do have a headache?”

“No.”

He didn’t explore that any more, as it would likely raise her ire again. He simply poured her a glass of water and set it before her. She took several swallows and set the glass down.

“I have some macarons and coffee for dessert, if you’re interested.”

“No.”

Two nos. He wasn’t going for a third. He pushed his chair back and said, “I’ll clean up later. Let’s go talk in the den.”

She followed him, still not speaking. Eve in silent mode was a quiet, deadly threat, like a lioness patiently waiting to attack her prey. Still, he kept his back to her, showing her his trust.