Free Here All Along by Crista McHugh Page A

Gabe pushed off the door frame and stepped aside. “After you.”
    They made their way to the Nobu Villa in silence, which suited Gideon. The less he had to say to Gabe, the better. Besides, it gave him a chance to compose what he wanted to say once they were behind closed doors.
    The faint scent of lemon and ginger filling the villa soothed his senses, and the muscles in his shoulders started to unwind a bit by the time Gabe grabbed two bottles of the microbrew and poured them into pint glasses.
    “Since you don’t trust me, I’ll let you choose which one you want.”
    Gideon grabbed the glass on the left, but didn’t drink it right away. The familiar peanut butter and chocolate scent wafted up from the foamy top, but that didn’t mean Gabe hadn’t tampered with it.
    Gabe’s brows steepled. “Jeez, cut me some slack, will ya? I’ll even take the first sip.”
    Once he did—and didn’t end up choking—Gideon followed. The beer reminded him of the Reese’s Peanut Butter cereal he loved as a child and was one of his few guilty indulgences. No wonder Red mentioned that she was going to grab some for him. If she’d witnessed what he’d had to endure today, she would’ve known he’d want one.
    “See? I can play nice.” Gabe took a longer drink and surveyed the glass. “Not bad. I might have to ask Sarah where she got this.”
    “Will you please stop monopolizing my assistant?” Gideon blurted out the words before he could catch himself, but Gabe only grinned wider.
    “But your assistant intrigues me.”
    “In what way?”
    “A lot of ways, actually. She’s smart, talented, beautiful…” Gideon’s teeth ground harder with each word until Gabe finished with, “and completely devoted to you.”
    That settled one fear. No matter what moves Gabe had tried on her last night, he didn’t get anywhere with her. “She’s my best friend.”
    “Funny. That’s exactly what she said to me.” Gabe wandered toward the rooftop balcony and motioned for Gideon to follow him.
    The sun was just starting to set over the Strip, and the nightlife had yet to get started. This was the lull in Vegas, the time when most visitors returned to their rooms to escape the afternoon heat and get ready for dinner or a show.
    Gideon peered down to the south end of the Strip. “Can we please cut to the chase?”
    “Of course.” Gabe set his glass down and crossed his arms again. “What’s the real story between you two?”
    “Why do you want to know?”
    “I think that’s obvious.” Gabe’s cool gaze flickered over him as though he were sizing up the competition. “But the last thing I want is to be accused of breaking up what appears to be a perfect couple.”
    “We’re not a couple,” Gideon grumbled. “Yet.”
    “So you are more than just friends?”
    “Your sarcasm is starting to piss me off.”
    Gabe laughed and let his arms fall to the side. “I’m a New Yorker. We’re known for our sarcasm.”
    “Well, I’m a Chicagoan, and we’re known for kicking asses, so lay off, okay?”
    “Gotcha. I don’t want to end up being used for batting practice.” Gabe took another sip of beer. “So why aren’t you two a couple?”
    “Ask Red.” As much as he appreciated Gabe’s desire to not step on his toes, he didn’t feel the need to spill his guts.
    “I did. And her reply was vague, at best.”
    “And you thought by getting me liquored up, you’d be able to find out more from me?”
    Gabe shrugged. “I think it’s pretty clear that I don’t stand a chance with her as long as you’re in the picture, so I thought it was time to change my objective.”
    “And what is it now?”
    “Helping you get the girl.”
    Gideon let the words roll around in his mind before replying. For a second, he wondered if he’d heard Gabe correctly. “Why would you want to do that?”
    “Hey, if I can’t have her, you should.”
    “Hate to break it to you, but I’ve already tried once to convince her to be more than