I lifted my glass and drank, forcing down the lump in my throat.
His hand dropped onto the armrest. “So I screwed it up with my big mouth. That’s why you bailed that night. That’s why you never went anywhere with me again.”
“I was desperate, Brett,” I admitted, “but I didn’t want to show it.”
The waiter brought our food. I wondered why I’d ordered anything—I was too unsettled to eat.
Brett started cutting into his steak, attacking it really. Suddenly, he set his knife and fork down. “I blew it back then, but now everyone knows what was going on in my head at the time. ‘Golden’ is our biggest single. It’s what got us signed with Vidal.”
The idea of closure made me smile. “It’s a beautiful song, and your voice sounds amazing when you sing it. I’m really glad you came up and saw me again before you head out. It means a lot to me that we talked through this.”
“What if I don’t want to just head out and move on?” He took a deep breath and released it in a rush. “You’ve been my muse the last few years, Eva. Because of you, I’ve written the best material the band’s ever had.”
“That’s very flattering,” I began.
“We sizzled together. Still do. I know you feel it. The way you kissed me the other night . . .”
“That was a mistake.” My hands clenched beneath the table. I couldn’t deal with more drama. I couldn’t go through another night like Friday. “And you need to think about the fact that Gideon controls your label. You don’t want any friction there.”
“Fuck it. What’s he going to do?” His fingertips drummed onto the table. “I want another shot with you.”
I shook my head and reached for my purse. “That’s impossible. Even if I didn’t have a boyfriend, I’m not the right girl for your lifestyle, Brett. I’m too high-maintenance.”
“I remember,” he said roughly. “God, do I remember.”
I flushed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“And that’s not all I want. I can be here for you. Look at me now—the band’s on the road, but you and I are together. I can make time. I want to.”
“It’s not that easy.” I pulled cash out of my wallet and dropped it on the table. “You don’t know me. You have no idea what it would mean to have a relationship with me, how much work it would take.”
“Try me,” he challenged.
“I’m needy and clingy and insanely jealous. I’d drive you crazy within a week.”
“You’ve always driven me crazy. I like it.” His smile faded. “Stop running, Eva. Give me a chance.”
I met his gaze and held it. “I’m in love with Gideon.”
His brows rose. Even battered, his face was breathtaking. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m sorry. I have to go.” I pushed to my feet and moved to pass him.
He caught my elbow. “Eva—”
“Please don’t make a scene,” I whispered, regretting my impetuous decision to eat at a popular place.
“You didn’t eat.”
“I can’t. I need to leave.”
“Fine. But I’m not giving up.” He released me. “I make mistakes, but I learn from them.”
I bent over and said firmly, “There’s no chance. None.”
Brett stabbed his fork into a slice of his steak. “Prove it.”
* * *
The Bentley was waiting at the curb when I stepped out of the restaurant. Angus climbed out and opened the rear door for me.
“How did you know where I was?” I asked, unsettled by his unexpected appearance.
His answer was to smile kindly and touch the brim of his chauffeur’s hat.
“This is creepy, Angus,” I complained as I slid into the backseat.
“I don’t disagree, Miss Tramell. I’m just doing my job.”
I texted Cary on the ride back to the Crossfire: Had lunch with Brett. He wants another chance w/me.
Cary replied, When it rains it pours . . .
Whole day = royally fucked, I typed. I want a do-over.
My phone rang. It was Cary.
“Baby girl,” he drawled. “I want to sympathize, I do, but the love triangle thing is just too delicious. The determined rock star and the possessive billionaire. Rawr.”
“Oh God. Hanging up now.”
“See you tonight?”
“Yes. Please don’t make me regret it.” I hung up to the sound of his laughter, secretly thrilled to hear him sounding so happy. Trey’s visit must have worked wonders.
Angus dropped me off at the curb in front of the Crossfire, and I hurried out of the heat into the cool lobby. I managed to catch an open elevator just before the doors closed. There were a half dozen other people in the car with me, forming two groups that chatted among themselves. I stood in the front corner and tried to put my personal life out of my mind. I couldn’t deal with it at work.
“Hey, we passed our floor,” the girl next to me said.
I looked at the needle over the door.
The guy nearest the control panel stabbed repeatedly at all the numbers, but none of them lit up . . . except for the one for the top floor. “The buttons aren’t working.”
My pulse quickened.
“Use the emergency phone,” one of the other girls said.
The car raced up and the butterflies in my stomach got worse with every floor we passed. The elevator finally came to a gliding stop at the top and the doors opened.
Gideon stood on the threshold, his face a gorgeous impassive mask. His eyes were brilliantly blue . . . and cold as ice. The sight of him took my breath away.
No one in the car said a word. I didn’t move, praying the doors would hurry up and close. Gideon reached in, grabbed my elbow, and hauled me out. I struggled, too furious to want anything to do with him. The doors closed behind me and he let me go.
“Your behavior today has been appalling,” he growled.
“My behavior? What about yours?”
I crossed over to the call buttons and hit the down button. It wouldn’t stay lit.
“I’m talking to you, Eva.”
I glanced at the security doors to Cross Industries and was relieved to see that the redheaded receptionist was away from her station.
“Really?” I faced him, hating that I could still find him so irresistibly attractive when he was being so ugly. “Funny how that doesn’t lead to me actually learning anything—like about you going out with Corinne last night.”
“You shouldn’t be snooping online about me,” he bit out. “You’re deliberately trying to find something to get upset about.”
“So your actions aren’t the problem?” I shot back, feeling the pressure of tears at the back of my throat. “Just my finding out about them is?”
His arms crossed. “You need to trust me, Eva.”
“You’re making that impossible! Why didn’t you tell me that you were going out to dinner with Corinne?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t like it.”
“But you did it anyway.” And that hurt. After all we’d talked about over the weekend . . . after he’d said that he understood how I felt . . .