Page 30 of Tempting Devil
She may not have noticed it, but I saw a few guys at the other end of the bar checking her out. It didn’t matter that she was in her fifties. My mom still looked amazing.
When I was her age, I hoped I looked as good in a little black dress as she did right now.
“So what’s really going on?”
I stared into the distance, attempting to formulate my thoughts. But it all came down to one thing.
“I accused Gideon of being Samuel.”
She sputtered around a mouthful of champagne. “You what?”she asked once she got her coughing fit under control. “I expected you’d tell me there was a little trouble in paradise. There always is in the beginning of a relationship. But to accuse him of being Samuel?” She shook her head in disbelief. “What triggered this?”
“Everything,” I pushed out, relaxing into my chair as I replayed the last few weeks in my mind. “He’s always reminded me of him. I understand he doesn’t look like him, but he’s always felt like Samuel,” I said, not going into detail about how he felt like Samuel. “Then, when I went over to Liam’s the other day, I overheard him talking with James about something the police found at Alton’s cabin.”
“What’s that?” she prodded.
“A glass with Samuel’s fingerprints on it.”
She tilted her head, her brow furrowed. “I didn’t read about that in any of the reports.”
“I don’t think they’ve released that information yet since it’s still an ongoing investigation. But hearing that…” I shook my head. “It unraveled me.”
“I can imagine.” She covered my hand with hers, giving it a squeeze.
“Melanie tried to talk some sense into me. At first, she did. Reminded me it’s more probable that his prints were left on that glass from five years ago than for him to still be alive. But later that night, I couldn’t sleep and ended up scrolling through old videos and photos of Samuel on my phone. And there was one of him playing with Ollie. He sounded so much like Gideon. Then I found a photo of Samuel without his shirt on and saw the scars on his torso, as well as the birthmark above his hipbone.”
“And Gideon has those, too?”
I nodded. “Gideon has a lot of scars.”
“From the car accident, right?”
“Yes. He also has burn marks in the same spot Samuel did.”
“And the birthmark?”
I shrugged. “It could be the same, but there’s a scar obscuring part of it.”
She shifted her gaze forward, processing all of this before facing me once more. “And how did Gideon react?”
“He was definitely hurt. Accused me of only wanting to be with him because he reminds me of Samuel.”
“Is that why you’re with him?”
“No,” I answered quickly, then sighed. “I don’t know. From the beginning, there was something familiar about him. But is that why I want to be with him?” I shook my head. “I can't say. All I do know is that I feel like I’m losing my mind. One second, I’m convinced I’m crazy for even thinking he could be Samuel. The next, I can’t help but think it’s the only rational explanation for why Gideon would want to be with me. He’s this ridiculously attractive, wealthy billionaire who could have anyone he wants. I’m a…a nobody.”
An understanding smile grew on her lips as she placed a hand on my arm. “I know where you’re coming from, Imogene. I’ve been exactly where you are now. Aside from accusing someone of being my ex. That would never happen.” She snorted a small laugh, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes before she schooled her expression, turning into the mom who always seemed to know what to say.
“When I met Lachlan, I constantly asked myself what he could see in me. Hell, when I realized who he was and that his sister was a true crime podcaster who had been looking into recent deaths she thought were inspired by?—”
“I know,” I interjected so she didn’t have to say my sperm donor’s name.
I probably could have counted on one hand the number of times either of us had uttered it in the past decade.
“After learning that, I convinced myself that was why he was spending time with me. Not because he was interested in me, but because he hoped to get information.”
“When did you know it was the real deal? That he wanted to be with you for you, not because of anything else?”
“When I admitted who I was, what I’d been through because of…” She trailed off, her eyes glossing over as she swallowed hard. “The raw agony I saw on your step-father’s face, Imogene.” She shook her head, taking a few moments to collect herself.