Violent Ends (The Denton Family Legacy 5)

“To make them stop me? I don’t know.” She wasn’t good at this dating thing.

“How about we push our lives to one side and try and get through this meal just being Emma and Gideon?” He kissed her hand. “Don’t worry. Don’t stress about anything.”

There were times that Gideon seemed rather … mechanical. As if he was just going through the motions. Then there would be sparks of life that made her realize there was a lot more to this man.

“Okay. We can enjoy this meal.” Whatever happened, she couldn’t fall for him. Gideon being a Denton meant his real woman was out there somewhere. He wouldn’t ever belong to her. She had to remember that a Denton was someone else’s. She’d seen the men with their women, and even though she knew deep down in her core that she’d never find a man who’d treat her like that, part of her hoped someone would at least love her just as fiercely.

For the rest of the meal Gideon talked with her about everything. Her likes. Her dislikes. What movies she loved and the books she enjoyed reading. It was nice to just relax in his company. To let the soft music flow around them and, for a couple of hours, pretend they were two ordinary people.

In a way, that was exactly what they were, but it had been so long for her to feel anything.

Once their meal finished, she sat back and resisted the urge to put her hand over her stomach.

“Dessert?”

“I couldn’t eat another thing.”

“Then we’ll take some truffles to go,” Gideon said, talking to the waiter.

When the bill arrived, she tried to pay her fair share, but he wasn’t having any of it.

“No, this is my treat.”

“I don’t mind paying my way.”

“Don’t make me cause a scene, Emma. You won’t like it.” He winked at her, and she felt that thrill travel down her spin.

He’s not mine.

He’s not mine.

“Fine. Fine. I’m sure there is something I can treat you with.”

“I’m sure there is.”

With the check paid, their meal over, Gideon took her hand and led her out toward the car.

He held open her door for her, and she found his gentlemanly ways really appealing.

“I could get used to this,” she said.

“You just might.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept silent. From a young age she learned not to question things she had no control over.

As she waited for Gideon to climb in, he put the truffles on the back seat with the roses and then they were on their way again.

“Where are we off to?” she asked.

“I was going to take us dancing, but I think a nice light stroll across a beach will do the trick.”

“The beach is a couple hours out,” she said.

“So, do you have anywhere else to be?”

“Nope.”

“Then how about we see the sunrise together? I promise not to burst into flames.”