Kitabı oku: «The By Request Collection», sayfa 10
Fourteen
No matter how she mingled with the guests, no matter how many jokes Reid told her and no matter how many times she refilled her glass of sparkling water, Eve felt the presence of Graham just the same as if he’d come up and wrapped his arms around her.
Nora and Reid separated, but kept making eye contact with each other. Eve wondered what that kind of connection would be like. To look across the room and have your soul mate watching you. Silent communication passed between the couple. Whatever they were sharing, Reid gave a nod and Nora moved through the crowd toward the front of the formal living room.
“Those two are up to something,” Grace whispered behind Eve’s back. “They’ve been sneaking around all evening.”
Eve caught sight of Graham across the room in the familiar mask. His face was turned toward hers, but she couldn’t see his eyes. No matter, she knew they were on her. The connection across the room...it was just like Nora and Reid’s.
No. She and Graham were nothing like her sister and Reid. Were they?
“That’s what lovers do,” Eve replied, not taking her gaze from Graham. She had to admit, the thrill of having him in her family home was exciting. For someone who was such a stickler for rules, lately she found herself not caring so long as she saw Graham.
No matter how she tried to shift her focus to the baby, to remain in control of her life, she kept getting pulled back into Graham’s web. The encounter in the pool house shouldn’t have happened, but she wouldn’t change anything. How could she keep denying what they both wanted? They were having a baby together. That didn’t mean they had to automatically stop seeing each other...did it?
Nerves fluttered in her stomach. She was anxious to get this night over with, to finally let her family know what was going on. If there was an issue, she’d deal with it, but she couldn’t keep living this secret life. Keeping her affair hidden was difficult enough, but there was no way she’d be able to keep a child from her family. Soon, very soon, they’d see the evidence.
“Can I have everybody’s attention?” Reid called. When only half the room quieted, he put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. Silence immediately settled over the space. “I’d like your attention.”
“What’s going on?” Eve asked her younger sister.
“No idea, but Dad was just wheeled in.”
Eve turned around. Dr. Wilde was heading their way with their father. Sutton had his eyes on Eve and Grace, a smile on his pale face. The cancer had robbed him of his color, his dignity and his normal life. But here he was, attending the party in costume, giving his terminal illness the middle finger.
Eve glanced at Dr. Wilde, then down at her father when he pulled up beside her in his wheelchair and reached for her hand to give it a quick squeeze.
“Nora and Reid asked if I’d come in,” he explained.
Reid cleared his throat, drawing Eve’s attention back toward the front of the room. “As many of you know, Nora and I have been seeing each other for some time now. I’ve fallen in love with her, with her son, and I want to make things official.”
Nora’s wide smile was infectious. Eve found herself grinning, knowing what was coming. She clasped her hands in front of her mouth, mostly to prevent people from seeing her chin quiver. She was so emotional lately.
“I’ve asked Nora to marry me.” Cheers erupted in the room. “I’ve also asked to adopt her son,” Reid went on. Wrapping an arm around Nora’s waist, he pulled her flush against his side. “She said yes and we plan to be married on Thanksgiving right here on the Winchester estate.”
A burst of applause, and congratulations filled the room. Grace squealed and headed for the happy couple. Eve looked down at her father, who had actually teared up. Apparently she wasn’t the only one with high emotions lately.
“You didn’t know?” Eve asked.
“I had an idea. She asked if she could host a family gathering on Thanksgiving and I told her that would be great and just what the family needed.”
Eve gestured to Lucinda, who was standing behind the wheelchair. “One of us will take him back in a bit. Go mingle.”
With a simple nod, Lucinda made her way toward Josh. Eve gripped the chair and pushed her father toward Reid and Nora. Once Nora spotted their dad, she rushed forward, arms wide.
“I hope this is okay, Dad.” She threw her arms around him before leaning back to search his face. “I wanted to surprise everyone, to ease some of the tension this family has been dealing with from the trouble with the Newports and your illness.”
At the mention of the Newports, Eve searched for Graham, but couldn’t find him. Surely he hadn’t left. He wouldn’t. Somewhere he was waiting for his chance to get her alone again.
“This is perfect, Nora,” their father said. “I’m so happy for you guys and having the wedding here is an excellent idea.”
Nora straightened and said to Eve, “I hope you’ll stand up by my side.”
Eve hugged her sister. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
When Nora pulled away, she looked toward Eve’s flat stomach, then back up into her eyes. “Everything okay?”
Eve simply nodded, not wanting to get into this now.
Dread filled her. No, she couldn’t get into this now, or even an hour from now. This night belonged to Nora and Reid. The baby news would definitely have to wait, but for how long? As much as Eve would love to shield her child from the fallout, she knew she’d have to just tell her family and not worry about the timing. But telling them right now was definitely out of the question.
Stealing the night from Nora and Reid wasn’t right.
A flash from the corner of her eye had her turning. The man in the striking Mardi Gras mask moved toward her. There was no way Graham could get this close to her family. He wouldn’t purposely give away his identity, but still the idea of him getting within talking distance had Eve excusing herself from her sisters and father.
“You need to go,” she whispered as she walked by him.
Eve kept walking, knowing he was right behind her. When they reached the foyer, Eve smiled at one of Nora’s friends who was heading down the hall toward the bathroom.
Once the foyer was empty, Graham lifted his mask to rest it on the top of his head. With his back to the rest of the house, he stared down at her. He wasn’t too concerned about the risk of being seen, not with the way he was standing.
“I can’t tell them,” Eve murmured. “Not tonight.”
She hated this. Hated that such an innocent child, a child she loved with all her heart, was being kept a secret like there was something...dirty. A child should be celebrated, not hidden.
Graham’s hands slid up her bare arms, his fingers curled over her shoulders. “I know.”
He pulled her into his embrace and Eve willingly went. She hated leaning on anyone, but right now, they were a team, whether either of them wanted to admit it or not. And she had to admit, having Graham’s arms around her felt...right. But that couldn’t be. Nothing about having him here, let alone his embracing her as if he cared, was right. This affair had started as a whirlwind and they were caught up, that’s all. There could be nothing more.
“Let’s go away,” he whispered into her ear. “We’ll go to my cabin in Tennessee for a few days and relax. Nothing will bother us, you can rest, and we can figure out a plan that will work for our child and our families.”
Was that even possible? She’d give anything to be able to escape for a few days, to come to terms with everything and figure out a way to work with Graham. But if she went away with him, she knew what that meant...there would be more of what had transpired in the pool house.
Eve sighed and pulled back. “My mind is all over the place.” She glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone. “Let’s go out onto the porch.”
Once they were outside, she led him down to where the lights weren’t shining right on them. The chilly air hit her hard and Graham instantly took off his black jacket and draped it around her shoulders. His familiar woodsy scent hit her, and the warmth from the jacket where it had hugged his body was just like having his arms around her.
“I keep battling myself where you’re concerned,” she went on, gripping the lapels closer together. “I want to keep my distance physically, but then I see you and—”
“I don’t even have to see you to want you.”
“Graham, we have to think of what’s best here.”
“I am.” He leaned in closer, crowding her against the side of the house. “Right now, I’m thinking that escaping for a few days is exactly what we need. We would have time to talk without interruptions. I can fly the helicopter and nobody would have to know where you and I went. We’ll both just say we’re away on business.”
Eve closed her eyes, giving the idea more thought than she probably should. “You make this seem so simple.”
“Say the word and I’ll make sure it’s simple,” he whispered against her mouth. “All you’ll have to do is pack a bag.”
There was a reason Graham was one of the top lawyers in Chicago. The man could persuade anyone with that charm of his. He made his case so perfectly, so convincingly. Eve opened her eyes, meeting his bright blue stare.
“When do we leave?”
* * *
“You’re leaving when?”
Graham held the phone between his shoulder and his ear. “Tonight.”
Brooks laughed on the other end of the line. “Who is she?”
After placing a perfectly folded pair of jeans in his carry-on bag, Graham stood straight up and gripped the phone. “I said it was work related.”
“We pretty much have the same mind and I know this urgency in your tone has nothing to do with work.”
Hell, yeah, he was urgent to get Eve alone in his cabin. The obvious reason of privacy aside, Eve needed rest, she needed to relax and not worry about telling her family she was expecting. Now that Nora knew, Graham prayed she was too focused on her engagement to discuss Eve’s condition. Graham had to trust her to keep her word. Plus, he had an engagement of his own to worry about. He wanted to get that ring on Eve’s finger, and he’d use this trip to advance his case.
“I have a pressing matter that needs my attention,” Graham said to his twin. “I’ll only be gone three days.”
“And this has to do with what case?” Brooks asked in a mocking tone.
“You know I can’t discuss my client cases with you.” Totally true. “Besides, I need to finish packing, so this conversation is over. Unless there’s an emergency, don’t contact me and I’ll let you know when I get home.”
“If I find out our father’s name I’ll sure as hell be calling you and you’ll have to put your mystery woman on hold.”
“If you find out our father’s name, I’ll be back,” Graham promised.
“Wait...tell me you’re not sneaking out of town with Eve. I thought you were done messing with her.”
Graham turned toward his walk-in closet to grab some shirts. “I’m not messing around with anyone.”
It was only partly a lie. Because he wasn’t messing with her. He was the father of her child. That went well beyond messing.
“You’re lying, but I’ll let you off the hook because I’m on my way to meet Roman. He thinks he has a lead. I’ll keep you posted.”
“This late?” Graham asked.
“He texted me right before you called, so whatever he wants, it must be something important.”
Excitement filled Graham as the possibilities swirled through his head. “Did he say what the lead was?”
“No. And he said it was minor, but at this point we’re going to explore any option we have.”
Graham would love nothing more than to find their biological father. Then maybe Brooks’s vendetta against Sutton would ease up a bit and the tension would ease between their families. But that was doubtful, especially when Sutton discovered Eve was pregnant.
“Keep me posted,” Graham told his brother before hanging up.
After tossing in the rest of his belongings, Graham zipped up the bag. He couldn’t wait to get Eve to the cabin. She could take long bubble baths in the garden tub in the master suite that overlooked the mountains and just relax. He would make sure of it. He’d already called one of his staff members to have certain foods stocked. Eve wouldn’t want for a thing these next few days.
The only look he wanted to see on her face was happiness. She was still so early in her pregnancy, and his goal was to get her to take her mind off her troubles because he knew she was worried.
Which left the question he’d had on his mind for days. What did Nora mean when she’d mentioned Eve’s previous pregnancy? Graham didn’t want to dredge up bad memories for her, but he also felt he deserved to know.
These three days could bring anything their way. But one thing was for sure: Graham wasn’t going to let her get away without convincing her to marry him. This child would be a Newport. Added to that, merging the families in such a bold way would show everyone just how serious they were about ending this feud. But time was running out and Graham needed to act fast.
He grabbed his things and set the security alarm on his penthouse. After he swung by to pick up Eve, they’d be on their way to his cabin. Nothing would stop him from putting that ring on her finger. He may not have been looking for a family, but there was no way in hell another man would raise his child. And he’d yet to find anyone as compatible as Eve. No, they weren’t in love, but what did that have to do with marriages these days anyway? Being an attorney, he’d seen the aftermath when people entered into holy matrimony solely on the basis of love. No thank you.
Graham was confident that by the end of this trip, he’d have Eve convinced this was the best decision for everyone. He knew what to say, how to get her to see his side. After all, he’d gotten her to agree to this trip in no time.
A little seduction, a little charm and she’d have that ring on her finger.
Fifteen
A cabin? Who referred to a sprawling five-thousand-square-foot log home as a cabin?
Being the real estate guru she was, Eve nearly laughed when she saw Graham’s home away from home. The place was stunning and she hadn’t even walked in the front door yet. It was after midnight, so she couldn’t see the views. But the old lantern-style lights on the porch illuminated a beautiful facade and had her anxious to see the inside.
“I’ve got your bag.”
Eve stood at the bottom of the stone steps leading up to the entrance. She’d forgotten all about her things once Graham had opened her car door and she’d seen the beauty of this place. All she wanted to do was take in each and every detail because she knew she’d never be back. She couldn’t wait for sunrise. She’d bet money the views were spectacular.
“Ready to go inside?” he asked.
Eve blinked, glancing over at him. He held both bags and offered her a smile she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist later.
Was she ready to go in? Was she ready to spend three days with a man she was falling for? Was she ready to let him fully into her life, into her heart? She’d made the decision last night after the party to come clean about her feelings. Graham needed to know. There could be no secrets between them, not if she wanted a chance at making this work.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
The wide porch had sturdy wooden swings at each end that swayed in the gentle breeze. The warmer temperature here seemed so inviting and Eve already made mental plans to take advantage of those swings. She’d come to relax and she intended to do just that.
“I have the refrigerator stocked with your favorite foods,” Graham told her as he set the bags at his feet so he could unlock the door. “I did a search on foods you couldn’t have while pregnant, so no swordfish for you.”
Eve laughed. “And here I was hoping you’d show me what you could do in the kitchen with swordfish.”
That got a chuckle out of him. “I have something else planned for our meals.”
The way he threw a sultry look over his shoulder told her he had more than dinner planned...not that she didn’t know that already. Even after being with him so many times, she still anticipated their three days together. Something about being here, being so isolated from the outside, plus being so far from their families, seemed even more intimate. Yes, they were still sneaking, but for the next three days, they could be themselves.
Eve stopped short before she could enter the house. After all they’d been through, this would be the first time they actually slept together. They’d both been careful about not sleeping over—that would’ve been another level they hadn’t discussed. But here, she had to assume they were sharing a room.
Maybe not, though. Maybe he’d put her stuff in a guest room. If that were the case, then the feelings she wanted to reveal would be a moot point.
Eve knew one thing. By the end of this trip, they were going to have to have some serious plans laid out because she couldn’t handle this emotional upheaval anymore.
The second Graham swung the old oak door open, Eve gasped. The open floor plan gave an immediate view all the way through the house. But that wasn’t the extraordinary part. The opposite wall was nothing but a showcase of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains and valleys. The lights dotting the landscape were so sporadic, so different from Chicago. There was space to breathe here, nature to explore. This was exactly the escape she needed from the city, from the chaos in her life.
As if pulled toward the beauty, Eve slowly crossed the open space. “Whatever you paid for this place was worth it.”
Graham laughed as she passed him. “I had the same reaction when I first opened the door, too. I knew the asking price was high, but the second I saw that view, I knew this place would be mine.”
Eve threw a glance over her shoulder. “And is that how things normally work for you? You see something you want and take it?”
He let the bags he was carrying fall to the floor with a thunk. “Always.”
The intensity of his stare combined with his instant response had Eve turning back toward the million-dollar view. She already knew Graham was a go-getter; it was one of the qualities she found most attractive in him.
The way he’d been protective of her feelings, of her emotions during the party earlier had sealed the deal, though. She’d gone and fallen for Graham Newport, father of her child. Even if the baby didn’t exist, Eve wouldn’t have been able to stop herself.
But they had created a child.
A flashback to a time during her previous pregnancy when her belly had been slightly rounded hit Eve as she placed a hand over her stomach. She longed to feel a baby move beneath her palm, wanted to know there was a healthy child thriving inside of her.
Hands slid over her shoulders. “What are you thinking?”
Eve leaned back against Graham’s firm chest. Did she open up to him? Did she fully let him in? If she wanted a chance at this, then yes. But not right now. She didn’t want to start these relaxing days by dumping the darkest memories of her life right in his lap.
“Something to be saved for another time,” she told him.
One of his hands came down to slide over hers. “No worrying. Remember?”
“I’m trying.”
Graham spun her around, framed her face and kissed her softly. “Why don’t you look around and I’ll work on getting something to eat? I know you barely ate at the party.”
She had picked at the appetizers, but then the encounter in the pool house had happened, then Reid and Nora’s announcement and, well...here she was.
“More of your hidden kitchen talents?” she asked with a grin. “I am definitely on board with that.”
“Then you’re going to love these next few days. I plan on cooking for you every chance I get. I want a healthy baby, so I’m making sure his mama is cared for.”
A healthy child. What she wouldn’t give for that.
“You’re going to spoil me and I won’t want to leave.”
Graham nipped once more at her lips. “That’s the idea.”
What? Did he mean...
Graham let go and went back to grab the bags. He headed up the stairs, leaving her staring after him as if he hadn’t just dropped some veiled hint in her lap. Did he want to have her here longer than three days? Did he see their relationship as something more than physical? As something more than just sharing custody?
Hope blossomed inside her. Maybe this trip would be a turning point. Maybe letting him know exactly how she felt was just what they needed to move forward into a life together.
* * *
Graham froze at the edge of the couch where Eve lay on her side sleeping. He’d watched her from the kitchen as he cooked. She’d been sitting there reading a pregnancy magazine, then she’d stretched her feet out across the cushions. Now she was down for the count and the magazine had fallen to the floor.
Guilt slid through him. The ring he’d bought a week ago was in his room. He wanted to wait for the right moment to bring it out, to tell her he wanted their child to have his name.
They’d started out so hot for each other, and that hadn’t changed. But the second Graham knew there was a child, he wasn’t about to let anyone else get near what was his. This baby would have his name, no matter how he had to go about it.
But Eve’s underlying defenselessness kept working its way further under his skin. When he wasn’t with her, he was thinking about her—when he was with her, he didn’t want to leave. He had never wanted a woman in his life permanently. Being married to his job was hard enough, but to try to sustain a relationship was damn near impossible.
For the first time in his life, Graham thought he actually wanted to try. Maybe he’d lost his mind. Perhaps he’d never had a chance where she was concerned. But no matter the reasoning or the path that led them here, Graham was tired of fighting this battle with himself.
Having Eve in his cabin, knowing she’d instantly loved this place the way he had only made him realize just how much they had in common.
He’d convinced her to come here immediately after the party. Maybe he should have waited until morning, but he was so afraid she’d start thinking and change her mind. So he’d whisked her off when she was exhausted. Sleep was exactly what she needed, and once she woke, they could start talking, planning.
Graham pulled the crocheted throw off the back of the sofa and placed it over Eve. Gerty had made this throw, and several other little items around the cabin. He’d wanted a piece of his past to be here. He’d wanted to hold on to the woman who had helped raise him and shape him into the man he was today.
Looking down on Eve’s relaxed face, Graham couldn’t help but wonder what Gerty would think of her. What would his mother think? No doubt both women would adore Eve. She was so easy to talk to. She may be president of one of the top real estate companies in Chicago, but it was her charm, her charisma and her determination that would keep her on top.
Sutton didn’t deserve a daughter so perfect. He didn’t deserve her loyalty. Sutton had used Graham’s mother, not bothering to care what happened to her because he had his wife to go back to when he was done.
Graham hated Sutton more and more each time he thought of how easy it had been for the mogul to end things with Cynthia. She’d been pregnant, not that Sutton had stuck around to find out. She’d already had twins at home and was expecting another child. With the income from waitressing, there was no way she could have survived on her own...or been able to pay for an attorney if she were threatened with a custody battle. And she hadn’t taken a dime from him for fear he’d sue for custody. She wouldn’t have been able to battle Sutton in court.
Graham didn’t blame his mother one bit for not telling the tycoon.
Gerty had seriously been the biggest blessing in all of their lives.
Eve reminded Graham so much of his grandma. Both women were strong. They both clung to their determination to get them through rough times. And they were both stubborn to a fault.
Graham took a seat in the leather chair, propped his feet on the ottoman and laced his hands over his abs. He was perfectly content to watch Eve rest. This is exactly what he wanted her to do.
Now he just had to figure out what he really wanted. Asking her to marry him may give her false hope. But on the other hand, he wasn’t so sure his goals in marrying her were quite the same as they once were.
There was no denying that when she woke up, and once they started talking, the dynamics between them would change.
Graham just had to keep the upper hand and decide how much their lives were about to be altered.
