Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel

He frowned, thinking about it. “No, thanks. I’l be too nervous to eat until after the presentation with Cross.

By then whatever you pick up wil be hours old.”

“How about a protein smoothie, then? It’l give you some easy fuel until you can eat.”

“That’d be great.” His smile lit up his dark eyes.

“Something that goes good with vodka, just to get me in the mood.”

“Anything you don’t like? Any al ergies?”

“Nada.”

“Okay. See you in an hour.” I knew just the place to go. The deli I had in mind was a couple blocks up and offered smoothies, salads, and a variety of made-to-order paninis with quick service.

I headed downstairs and tried not to think about Gideon’s radio silence. I’d kind of expected to hear something after the Magdalene incident. Getting no reaction had me worrying al over again. I pushed out to the street through the revolving door and scarcely paid any attention to the man who climbed out of the back of a town car at the curb until he cal ed my name.

Turning, I found myself facing Christopher Vidal.

“Oh…Hi,” I greeted him. “How are you?”

“Better, now that I’ve seen you. You look fantastic.”

“Thanks. I can say the same to you.”

As different as he was from Gideon, he was gorgeous in his own way with his mahogany waves, grayish-green eyes, and charming smile. He was dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a cream V-neck sweater, a very sexy look for him.

“Are you here to see your brother?” I asked.

“Yes, and you.”

“Me?”

“Heading to lunch? I’l join you and explain.” I was briefly reminded of Gideon’s warning to stay away from Christopher, but by now I figured he trusted me. Especial y with his brother.

“I’m going to a deli up the street,” I said. “If you’re game.”

“Absolutely.”

We started walking.

“What did you want to see me about?” I asked, too curious to wait.

He reached into one of two large cargo pockets of his jeans and pul ed out a formal invitation in a vel um envelope. “I came to invite you to a garden party we’re having at my parents’ estate on Sunday. A mix of business and pleasure. Many of the artists signed to Vidal Records wil be there. I was thinking it’d be great networking for your roommate—he’s got the right look for music video.”

I brightened. “That would be wonderful!” Christopher grinned and passed the invite over.

“And you’l both have fun. No one throws a party like my mother.”

I glanced briefly at the envelope in my hand. Why hadn’t Gideon said anything about the event?

“If you’re wondering why Gideon didn’t tel you about it,” he said, seemingly reading my mind, “it’s because he won’t come. He never does. Even though he’s the majority shareholder in the company, I think he finds the music industry and musicians too unpredictable for his tastes. By now, you know how he is.” Dark and intense. Powerful y magnetic and hotly sexual. Yes, I knew how he was. And he preferred to know what he was getting into at al costs.

I gestured at the deli when we reached it, and we stepped inside and got in line.

“This place smel s awesome,” Christopher said, his gaze on his phone as he typed out a quick text.

“The aroma delivers on its promise, trust me.” He smiled a delightful boyish smile that I was sure knocked most women on their asses. “My parents are real y looking forward to meeting you, Eva.”

“Oh?”

“Seeing the photos of you and Gideon over the last week has been a real surprise. A good surprise,” he qualified quickly when I winced. “It’s the first time we’ve seen him real y into someone he’s dating.” I sighed, thinking he wasn’t so into me right now.

Had I made a terrible mistake by leaving him alone last night?

When we reached the counter, I ordered a gril ed vegetable and cheese panini with two pomegranate smoothies, asking them to hold the one with a protein shot for thirty minutes so I could eat in. Christopher ordered the same, and we managed to find a table in the crowded deli.

We talked about work, laughing over both a recent baby food commercial faux-blooper that had gone viral and some backstage anecdotes about acts Christopher had worked with. The time passed swiftly, and when we parted ways at the entrance of the Crossfire, I said good-bye with genuine affection.

I headed up to the twentieth floor, and found Mark stil at his desk. He offered me a quick smile despite his air of concentration.

“If you don’t real y need me,” I said, “I think it’d be good for me to sit this presentation out.” Although he tried to hide it, I saw the lightning quick flash of relief. It didn’t offend me. Stress was stress, and my volatile relationship with Gideon was something Mark didn’t need to think about while he was working on an important account.

“You’re golden, Eva. You know that?”