I closed the distance between us and he smiled politely at me. "You know my name, my address and, more than likely, my place of work...I think it's only fair I know your name."
He nodded. "My name is Gabe Blake."
I handed him my hand and he shook it, but not without first inspecting it to be sure I didn't hold something within my palm in which I could electrocute him. What did this man encounter on a daily basis that would make him weary of a handshake?
I smiled brightly, trying to ignore the prickling sensation on the back of my neck as I remembered Trisha accusing Jace of being dangerous. "If this were under a different circumstance, I would tell you it was a pleasure."
Gabe nodded, as though he understood, but he was not affected.
I pulled my hand from his grasp and fought the pout that threatened to claim my lips, as I stood awkwardly, waiting for Trey to arrive. I shifted from one foot to the other, inwardly reminding myself I needed to buy more comfortable shoes.
"Are we waiting for something, Olivia?" Gabe asked.
I looked at him with wide eyes. "Not at all." I replied sweetly, hoping I sounded innocent.
Gabe narrowed his eyes. "I have a teenage daughter and an ex-wife. I know when a female is lying."
My lips parted in shock as I stared up at him. "I pity your daughter. I am sure she can't get away with sneaking a bowl of ice cream."
He grunted. "It's not ice cream I'm worried about."
"Well, I'm not your daughter." I snapped. I was offended. This man knew when I was lying, when my own father had never bothered to stare at me long enough to recognize the fidgeting I tended to succumb to when I lied.
"No. You're not." He said factually. "But you are an interest of Mr. Rush's and he has made your safety a top priority. That is not something I am able to ignore, Olivia."
I spotted Trey's truck and breathed a sigh of relief as I threw a glare at Gabe. "Jace can screw himself."
Gabe's mouth tightened, as I walked to meet Trey's truck as it pulled up to the curb. He already had his phone pressed to his ear, and when I settled into the seat and looked back at him, he looked less than pleased with me. Oh, well. I was less than pleased with him, so, I guessed we were even.
Trey raised his brows as he meshed his vehicle into the flow of traffic. "Who was that guy you were with?" He asked, when I didn't bother to divulge any information.
"He's a bodyguard." I snapped, deciding on the truth.
Trey's eyes widened and he whistled. "What do you need a bodyguard for?"
"I don't need one." I folded my arms over my chest. "Jace Rush commanded he follow me like a lost puppy."
"Jace Rush...as in, Rush Industries?" Trey sounded bewildered. Why was Jace such a big deal?
I nodded. "That's him."
"How do you know Jace Rush?" Trey asked gruffly as he stared out the window.
"I don't really know." I shrugged. It was the truth. One day, life had been normal and then...boom...I'd gotten into an accident and Jace appeared.
"What do you mean?" He chuckled tensely. "How do you not know how you know the richest bachelor in New York?"
"I guess he just appeared one day."
Trey frowned as he pulled next to the curb outside my shop. "I didn't think you were that kind of girl."
I paused in my descent from the truck. "What kind of girl?"
"The kind that dates guys like him."
I settled back into the seat, suddenly overcome with the need to defend myself. "First, I am not dating Jace. Second, if I was dating him, it damn well wouldn't be because of his money. And third, who I decide to date has nothing to do with you."
Trey nodded. "He's dangerous, Olivia. So, be careful."
I frowned. Why the hell did everyone keep telling me how dangerous Jace was? Did they see something I didn't? Was I just blind when it came to Jace Rush?
I quickly hopped out of the truck to catch up to Trey. He was walking toward the nearest Starbucks at a pace that made me curse my heels for the billionth time today. "What do you mean, Jace is dangerous?"
Trey stiffened. "He has a lot of power, Olivia. Anyone with that much power is dangerous. Plus, he constantly uses women and then throws them away." He paused and turned to look at me with stern green eyes. "I don't want to see you used by someone like him. You deserve more than that."
I felt as though I'd been slapped, but somehow I found it within me to nod. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not dating him."
Trey studied me for a minute. "But you want to, don't you?"
I thought about lying, but since my success rate was already a massive fail, I figured I should stick with the truth. "I think he's interesting. But, I don't know if I would ever actually date someone as demanding as Jace."