Page 59 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
“There’s some work that I want to make sure is totally under the radar. And don’t get high and mighty with me. If you say that you don’t have the same kind of set-up somewhere I would call you a liar.”
Gideon gave her a steady look. He wasn’t going to confirm or deny a damn thing.
“Uh-huh,” she said as she pulled the plate onto her lap and started to eat. “That’s what I thought.”
“So are we bickering, or are we fighting?” Gideon asked as he sat down on the couch beside her.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I’m just trying to get a handle on things. I thought we’d made some headway in the hospital, that we were in a better place, but since you found out you have to stay with me for a couple of days we’re back to mouthy you, and I can’t tell if you’re really mad and we’re fighting, or if you’re just mouthing off because that’s your nature and we’re kind of bickering.”
Jada’s mouth twitched as she popped in another piece of cantaloupe.
“I’m not up to a good fight. Head hurts. Body hurts. Plus, I like your dog. So, we’re bickering.”
“Do we have to? What would I have to do to bring it down a notch, maybe to a level of pleasant conversation?”
Jada rolled her eyes. “You and I would be bored within an hour with pleasant. Hell even stimulating conversation would make my eyes roll back in my head and I’m pretty sure drool would start forming in my mouth. Nope, bickering is the way it has to stay.”
“And the hospital?” Gideon asked quietly.
“Don’t be an ass, that was soul-bearing shit. I hated doing it. Didn’t you hate listening to it?”
“Now who’s an ass? I wanted to be there for you. Of course I didn’t hate it.”
Suddenly Gideon was holding a plate of food and Jada was halfway across the room.
“What, you only like it when I’m the simpering woman, is that what I’m hearing? Is that what turns your crank, Smith? Is that why I didn’t make the cut and you had to kick me to the curb? Well, sorry for being me. Tell me where the hell I’m sleeping here in your mansion, and I’ll make sure to stay the hell out of your way since you made it abundantly clear at Neil’s christening that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
Gideon tossed the plate on the sofa and stood up, hating it when Jada took a step backward. Lucy stood up and gave a low bark. “Settle,” Gideon said pointing to her dog bed. He didn’t wait to see if she followed her command. Instead, all of his concentration was on the beautiful, angry, and sad woman in front of him. He’d done that, he’d done that to her.
“Jada, we need to talk about that. I was totally wrong in Kentucky. I’d really like a chance to explain where my head was at, and what I’m thinking now.”
Her laugh sounded like her throat was filled with crushed glass. “I don’t think so. You did all the explaining in Kentucky too. I remember how that made me feel. I don’t want another turn around that merry-go-round.”
It hit him like a gut punch. He’d been trying to do the right thing. The good thing. Instead, he’d scorned and hurt a woman who had really been in love with him. A woman who had loved him as deeply as he had loved her.
Jesus.
How am I going to fix this?
Jada was holding her arms around her middle like she was trying to hold her guts in after having been eviscerated. More than anything, he wanted to go to her, grab her up in his arms and tell her that he would somehow make everything all right again. But he’d lost that right.
No, I threw that right away.
“Angel,” he started.
“Don’t call me that. I told you not to call me that.” Jada’s voice was shrill as she gripped her head, and Gideon thought he’d lose his mind.
“Jada, you’re right,” he said softly. Gently. He took a couple of steps closer while her eyes were closed. Then a couple more as she continued to hold her head. God, just how bad was she hurting? He needed to call Nolan and find out what to do.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated. Her eyes slowly opened. He could see that she was having trouble focusing.
“Let me get you to your room. There’s a connecting bathroom, and I’ll bring in your case, okay?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was weak.
“Do you need to lean on me?” he asked. “I promise not to let it turn my crank,” he teased gently.
