All He Really Needs(36)

“It’s not just you. My mother intimidates everyone. Except for the people she manipulates. One day she’ll treat you like she’s your best friend, the next she cuts you out entirely. Friendship, affection, love…for her, those aren’t emotions, they’re currency. It’s not that I didn’t think you could handle her, but…” He straightened and turned to face her. “You’re not used to this world. You grew up in a world where people cared about each other. Took care of each other.”

She gave a snort and he instantly regretted his words. Because he now knew that wasn’t entirely true. Her own mother was worse even than his. But horrible in a different way. It was only after Sydney had been removed to foster care that she’d had anyone to take care of her. Only then had she lived in a world where people loved one another.

If he’d thought it through first, he would have phrased it differently, but he couldn’t very well apologize now. Not when she didn’t even know he knew about her birth mother.

Still, he said, “I’m sorry. I never meant for this to be a big deal.”

She cocked her head to the side again. “Then why is it such a big deal?”

He shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. He wasn’t used to talking about his family with anyone. He didn’t like to play the poor little rich boy card.

“Next time,” she said, “if you have a logical reason for doing something, just tell me. You don’t have to be so damn secretive about everything.”

“Neither do you,” he pointed out, thinking about all the things she hadn’t told him. Things he knew only because of that damn background check.

She nodded, slowly. “Okay. It’s a deal. From now on, we talk more. We’re in this together, right?”

“Right.” And suddenly, he found himself smiling at her.

Right up until she added, “If we don’t get better at sharing information, we’re never going to find this girl.”

“Right,” he said again. Of course that was what she talking about. “Come on, let’s get back in there and finish up with my mother.”

He walked a few steps before he realized she hadn’t followed. When he turned back, he saw her watching him, her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

“What?” he asked.

She gave a self-conscious shrug and crossed to his side. “I’ve never had anyone try to protect me from anything, even if it was misguided,” she admitted in a soft voice. “Thank you.”

All he could do was nod because if she knew the truth, she sure as hell wouldn’t be thanking him. If she ever found out how much he knew about her past, she’d be furious.

But, as she pointed out, they were only in this together until they found the heiress. After that, all this talking, and sharing and intermingling of their lives would end. So that was something to look forward to. After that, he could go back to having sex with Sydney instead of sharing all this emotional crap.





Nine


Sydney tried to keep a silly smile off her face as she walked back into the dining room to rejoin Griffin’s mother. Everything she knew about the woman, everything Griffin had said and her own instincts told her that Caro Cain would not be pleased if she knew her son was involved with anyone’s assistant. She was the kind of woman who would want her sons to date and marry debutantes.

Plus, they’d been out on the patio talking long enough that she was probably already suspicious. Despite all that, Sydney was unexpectedly pleased by Griffin’s words. They filled her with a warm fuzziness that had nothing to do with the afternoon’s high temperatures. By the time she reached Caro’s table, Sydney made sure her expression was carefully professional. Polite but distant.

She wished inside she felt the same, instead of the disconcerting torrent of emotions that were rushing through her.

Caro Cain raised her eyebrows coolly as Griffin held out the chair for Sydney. “Well, you were certainly gone a long time. That must have been quite the discussion you had.”

“Just some business we had to clear up from the office,” Griffin answered smoothly.

“Anything I can help with?” Caro asked.

Griffin offered his mother a tight smile. “Certainly not, Mother. You know how you hate talking business at the table.”

Caro sniffed. “As if that ever stopped your father.” Then she blotted at her eyes again. She made a sound like a strangled sob. “What I wouldn’t give just to share a meal with him now.”

“He’s not dead yet,” Griffin said wryly as he sat down.

Caro’s gaze sharpened. “Do not disrespect your father to me.”