Page 54 of The Billionaire's Angel

Gage's expression was stony when he said, “No, Ididn't.”

“I heard you took Sophie out to lunch,” Aidensaid.

“What Sophie and I do is none of your business,” Gage said, evenly. His voice and expression were perfectly controlled, but I could read the surge of his temper in the way his hand fisted against hisleg.

“Sophie is an employee of this family, and she is living in this house,” Aiden said, his voice ice cold, “That makes it very much mybusiness.”

“Are you firing me?” I interrupted, my stomach sinking. What if he saidyes?

Leaning back in his chair, Aiden shook his head, looking from Gage to me. “No, Sophie. It's not your behavior I'm concerned about; it's his. Pursuing you puts you in a difficult position. I've already spoken with him about itonce.”

Gage lurched forward in his chair, and for a moment I was afraid he was going to swing that clenched fist into Aiden's patriciannose.

Charlie's voice came from the doorway, cutting through the tension. “For heaven’s sake Aiden, does she look like she's in a difficult position? You sound like a Victorian father. You have to get past this need to organize everyone'slife.”

Aiden looked at Charlie with affectionate annoyance. “Charlie, stay out of it. This isn't yourbusiness.”

“It's not yours either,” sheinsisted.

“Charlie, I don't need you to stick up for me,” Gage said, his tone startlingly like Aiden's, affection and irritation rolled uptogether.

Charlie laughed and sat on the arm of my chair. “I'm not sticking up for you. I'm sticking up for Sophie. She doesn't need everyone interfering in her personallife.”

Aiden's back went poker straight, and with an icy look of authority, he said to Charlie, “Sophie is an employee in this household, and when she took the position living here I assured her that she would be treated as a professional. I told Gage to stay away fromher—”

“Aiden, whatever thing you and Gage have to work out, it's not Sophie's problem. Stop making this into such a big deal.” Twisting on the arm of the chair so she could meet my eyes, Charlie said, “Sophie, if Gage is making you uncomfortable, now would be the time to bring itup.”

“I think you have the wrong impression,” I said toAiden.

I was nervous about whatever was going on between Gage and me, but there was no way I'd let our growing relationship turn into a point of contention between him and Aiden. It seemed obvious they had enough to argue about without adding me to thelist.

“I'm not sure exactly where this is going,” I said, carefully, “but what's between Gage and myself is mutual, and he hasn't done anything heshouldn’t.”

“Are you sure?” Aiden asked, and I stifled the urge to squirm under that cool, directgaze.

“I'm positive,” I said. “I understand if you feel like it's inappropriate,but—”

“Sophie is going with me to Charlie's wedding,” Gage cut in, “so you have two weeks to get used toit.”

I looked away from Aiden and turned in my chair to Gage. “I can't go to Charlie's wedding with you,” Iprotested.

“Why not?” both Gage and Charlieasked.

“Because I'm going withAmelia.”

“Amelia can take care of herself for one night,” Charlie said. “She's not an invalid. And she'd be the first to want you to go to the wedding withGage.”

“That's not the point,” I said, exasperated. “She'll head straight for the sweets and make herself sick. Do you know how often I find contraband in her room? She knows she has to watch her sugar intake, but she's convinced herself thatjust oncedoesn't count. The problem is that all those littlejust oncetreats add up. I'm trying to help her control her diabetes with diet, rather than needing insulin, and letting her run rampant at your wedding with no supervision is not going tohelp.”

I turned to Gage. Reaching across the space between our chairs, I took his fisted hand in mine. Rubbing my thumb over his clenched knuckles, I felt his grip ease. “I'd love to go to Charlie's wedding with you, but I can't. I'msorry.”

Aiden let out an aggrieved sigh. “I’ll take Amelia to the wedding,” he said, sounding defeated and a littleamused.

“Don't you already have a date?” Charlie asked. “I thought you were taking what’s her name? With thelaugh.”

“I broke it off. She was starting to get ideas. The last thing I need is to take her to yourwedding.”

“Thank God, her laugh sounds like ahyena.”