Rush

betray him, those photos would be released. Jace would see
     them. The world would see them. Not only would Jace’s friendship with Gabe end, but
     it could also very well mean the end of their business relationship. And Gabe’s reputation
     would once again suffer under accusations that he’d abused another woman. Once might
     be played off, but twice? Where there was smoke, there was fire in the public’s eye.
    She gathered the soggy bags to her chest and stumbled toward the entrance to the office
     building. Panic made her clumsy. Her heart was beating painfully, so fast that she
     couldn’t process thought.
    She rode up the elevator, dread increasing with every breath. What was she supposed
     to do?
    Yes, she had access to the bids. It would be a simple matter to pass along the information
     to Charles. It would do her no good, though, because even if he came in substantially
     lower than his competitors, Gabe would
never
use him. And then, even though she’d done as Charles had demanded, he’d be angry
     and would likely retaliate by publishing those pictures anyway.
    What was she supposed to do?
    When she got to Gabe’s office, he was off the phone. As soon as she walked in his
     door, he was on his feet, his expression concerned.
    “Mia, what the hell? You’re soaked! Did you not bring an umbrella?”
    He hurried over to her, cursing when he took in her saturatedclothing. He took the bags from her hands and discarded them without a look.
    “Are you all right? What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
    “J-just c-cold,” she stammered out. “I got caught in the rain. It’s not a big deal,
     Gabe. Really.”
    “You’re freezing,” he muttered. “Come on, I’ll take you home and get you into dry
     clothing. You’re going to make yourself ill.”
    She shook her head, stepping back, her resistance so adamant that he looked taken
     aback.
    “You have a meeting that you can’t miss,” she said. “There’s no need for you to go
     with me.”
    “Fuck the meeting,” he said bluntly. “You’re more important.”
    She shook her head again. “Have the driver bring me home. I’ll go take a hot shower
     and get into dry clothing. I promise. I can be back in an hour and a half.”
    This time it was he who shook his head. “No. I don’t want you coming back in. Go on
     home and get warm. Wait for me there. I’ll be home as soon as my meeting is done.”
    She nodded, cold seizing her more firmly in its grasp. Now when she was out of the
     rain and in the warmth of his office, she began to shiver uncontrollably. She had
     to keep it together or he’d know that something had gone terribly wrong.
    She smiled brightly and gestured toward the bags. “The food is still good. You need
     to eat, Gabe. You haven’t eaten all day.”
    He touched her cheek, feathering his hand over her face before leaning in to kiss
     her cold lips. “Don’t worry about me. Take your meal home and take it easy for the
     rest of the day. I’ll be home to take care of you in a little while.”
    His words made her heart squeeze, but they weren’t enough to take away her terror
     or the enormity of the decision she faced. She needed time to think.
    Already the beginnings of a headache plagued her. The dullthrob at her temples coupled with the bone-deep cold was beginning to unravel her.
    He went to his desk and retrieved his coat and then wrapped it around her, rubbing
     his hands up and down her arms.
    “Come on,” he said grimly. “I’ll walk you down and get you into the car. Call me if
     you need anything at all, okay?”
    Her smile was wan. Forced. “I’ll be fine, Gabe.”
    She hated lying to him.

chapter thirty-four
    Gabe let himself into the apartment and frowned when he saw none of the lights were
     on. Had Mia misunderstood and gone to her apartment instead?
    Since their return from Paris, she’d spent just about every night with him, except
     for one time when Jace had taken her to dinner and then dropped her back by her place.
     Just that one night without her had made him itchy and moody, and he’d gone to work
     in a black mood the next morning.
    He stepped into the living room, and his tension immediately eased when he saw Mia
     curled up on the couch, sound asleep. His fireplace was on and she was covered from
     head to toe with blankets.
    He frowned. Was she coming down with a bug? Thinking back, she’d been fine before
     she’d gone out to get their lunch. Sunny, bright