Читать книгу The By Request Collection - Kate Hardy - Страница 27
ОглавлениеWhen he left her alone to pack, and then leave the cabin, Eve was even more hurt. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was. He’d given up. Clearly he only wanted the child and she was an absolute fool to have believed otherwise.
But what hurt the most was that she still loved him. Well, she loved the man she thought he was. He’d been so caring, so amazing these past couple of weeks, but one overheard phone call had revealed the truth.
Eve had been home only a day, but she’d called her sisters and her father for a family meeting. Dr. Wilde had told Eve that Sutton was resting, but he was having a good day and to come on by. Grace and Nora were meeting Eve at the Winchester estate.
As Eve stood outside the front door, she fought back her nerves. Had it only been two nights since she was here for a party? A party announcing her sister’s engagement. A party Graham had crashed, and then he’d taken her...
No. There would be no more thinking along those lines. Whatever they’d shared in the past was best left there. Their affair had started out so fast, so intense, there was no way it could’ve lasted or even morphed into something with deeper meaning. Eve cursed herself for getting so caught up in romanticizing the secret of it all.
Gathering up her courage, she let herself in and headed straight to her father’s study. Grace and Nora were already there. Grace adjusted the throw on her father’s legs and Nora glanced up, catching Eve’s eye. A soft smile from her sister was all Eve needed to get through this. Having Nora here was a huge help since she already knew.
Grace glanced up when Eve shut the door. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “You sounded strange on the phone.”
Eve met her father’s questioning eyes. “I’m fine, but I have something I need to tell you all.”
Grace straightened, taking hold of their father’s hand. “You’re scaring me. Are you sick, too?”
“What? No.” She hadn’t meant to scare them. “I’m pregnant.”
Silence. Not a word was said as her sisters and father just stared back at her.
“I’m at seven weeks,” she went on, in a rush to fill the dead air. “The doctor has assured me that everything looks great, but I’m scared.” There, she’d said it. “I need your help and support, no judgment, please. I can’t deal with it right now.”
“Because Graham is the father?” Grace asked.
Eve bit her lip in an attempt to battle back the emotions. Afraid to speak, she merely nodded.
“He didn’t say a word when he was here the other day,” her father chimed in. “Does he know?”
Eve moved farther into the room. “What? He was here?”
“With Brooks and Carson.”
Eve’s mind spun. He’d been to see her father and hadn’t said a word. The betrayals kept on coming. He’d been sleeping with her, telling her everything she wanted to know, but sneaking to see her father behind her back.
“Was he pressuring you?” Eve demanded as she eased a hip onto the side of the bed.
“I actually invited Carson here,” he stated. “I wanted a chance to tell him I’m sorry, to see if there was a possibility of connecting now that I know for sure he’s my son. I didn’t want to die without him knowing that I loved his mother, that I would’ve fought had I known he existed.”
Eve listened as her father exposed his emotions. She’d never heard him this passionate about anything other than business. Sutton Winchester was one of the most prominent, powerful men in Chicago and he’d been deprived of raising his own child.
Was that truly what Graham had thought she’d do? Had she ever indicated she’d be so heartless? He’d been determined to marry her, so much so he’d swept her away on a trip away from everything she knew. She’d been easily swayed because she honestly thought he cared about her, when in reality he was softening her, getting her to fall for him, all so he could convince her to marry him.
“Wait, has he pushed you away?” Grace asked.
“No.” Eve took her father’s other hand. “He...it’s complicated. I don’t want to go into the details, but—”
“Complicated? You two were on the same page when I saw you the other morning.”
Eve glanced at Nora, who had pulled up a chair by their father’s bed. Grace and Sutton both turned to Nora.
“She knew?” Grace asked.
Nora shrugged, sending Eve an apologetic glance. “I happened to stop by her house when Graham was there making breakfast for her.”
“Things have changed since then,” Eve explained. “All I need right now is for you guys to know I won’t let Elite down. I’m 100 percent committed to the company and—”
“This baby comes before any company.”
Eve stilled at her father’s words. He’d never said anything like that. He was loyal to his family, yes, but he always put business first. Always.
“I can handle both,” she assured him.
“I’m sure you can.” He turned his hand over and held on to hers. “But I want a healthy grandbaby. I want you to take care of yourself. We have enough staff that can assist you, so put some of the burden on them. That’s my greatest regret—not having been there more for my kids.”
Eve glanced to her sisters, who had both started tearing up.
“When you’re faced with the end, you start thinking about the beginning,” he went on. “And if I could go back, I’d definitely put some work off onto my assistants so I could be with you all more. Learn from my mistakes, Eve. Take care of yourself.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling her.”
Eve jerked at the familiar voice behind her. Graham stood in the doorway with the butler right behind him.
“I tried to stop him, Mr. Winchester,” the poor man explained.
“It’s fine,” Sutton replied. “Close the door and leave us.”
Eve continued to stare at Graham, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, coming to her feet. “You can’t just barge in here—”
“I can. And I did.”
Eve didn’t risk looking behind her to her sisters or father. The tension in the room had multiplied, threatening to take over.
“I don’t want you here,” she told him, pulling her cardigan tighter around her. As if such a simple gesture could keep any more pain from seeping in.
“I realize that.” His tone softened as he inched closer. “I know I hurt you, but the moment you left I knew I wasn’t finished.”
Eve didn’t have much energy for a battle. The past forty-eight hours had been hellacious at best.
“Then say what you want to say and get out.”
He’d reached her now, but didn’t touch her. “I meant I wasn’t finished with us.”
Eve stared into those striking eyes that had first drawn her in. “There is no us. If that’s all, then leave.”
“Do you two want to go outside for privacy?” Grace asked from behind Eve.
“No,” both Eve and Graham said at the same time.
“I don’t care who hears me,” he went on, keeping his eyes locked on hers. “When you left yesterday I knew I had to take drastic measures to get you back. So, if I have to make a fool of myself in front of your family, then so be it.”
Eve didn’t want to hear it, though she wouldn’t mind him looking like a fool considering she’d been played for one.
“I’m not discussing the baby’s last name. I know that’s all you care about.” Eve stepped back because being this close, knowing she still loved him but couldn’t touch him was agonizing. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m visiting my father.”
Eve had just turned away when Graham’s soft, “I love you,” hit her hard.
Frozen in her steps, she looked to her sisters, her father, to see if she’d heard correctly. And saw three pairs of eyes wide with shock staring back at her. Yeah, he’d said that.
Eve looked back over her shoulder, her heart aching more than she’d ever known possible. “That was cruel,” she whispered as tears clogged her throat. “Throwing those words around won’t make me marry you.”
Graham reached for her, turning her to face him fully. “I’m not proposing. I love you, Eve. I want to be with you. Not for the baby, for you.”
If he’d said those words two days ago she’d have believed him. “Revelation has certainly come at a convenient time.”
His hands curled around her shoulders as he stepped in closer. Her entire body brushed against his, as if she needed the physical reminder of how much she’d missed his touch.
“Nothing about us has been convenient,” he told her. “I didn’t want a child, a relationship, but now I can’t live without either. I don’t want to try. I know I hurt you, I know I destroyed everything we’d started building, but I’m asking for another chance.”
Eve couldn’t say anything. What was there to say at this point? He was a shark in the courtroom because he knew the exact thing to say at precisely the right time.
If she even thought he was serious, she’d wrap her arms around him and start fresh. But she knew better. Graham was only looking out for his best interests where the baby was concerned.
“You need to go,” she whispered.
The muscle in his jaw clenched as he nodded, dropping his hands from her shoulders. “I’m not giving up, Eve. I love you. I’ve only had two women in my life who heard those words from me.”
His mother and Gerty.
Eve turned away from him and went back to her father’s bedside. She listened to Graham’s footsteps as he left the room. Once the door was closed behind him, Eve couldn’t stop the emotions from washing over her.
“I hate him,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Her father reached for her, tipping her chin up so she could look him in the eyes. “I’m not sorry at all. I saw a man who loves a woman. I saw a man who stood in the same room as his sworn enemy and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought.”
“He’s only saying those things because he wants to marry me so the baby will have his name.”
“The baby can have his name without marriage,” Grace pointed out. “He could fight you for custody in court and probably win, if that’s the way he wanted to go about it.”
Eve knew all of this. She wasn’t stupid, wasn’t ignorant when it came to laws. But she had been blindsided and refused to let Graham have another swipe at her.
“I’ll agree he didn’t go about things the right way,” her father said, swiping a tear from her face. “But men are fools when they’re in love. Most of the time they don’t even know it until they’ve lost someone.”
Eve knew her father was referring to Cynthia. There were no secrets about the fact that Eve’s parents didn’t love each other. Eve fully believed that her father was in love with Graham’s mother at one time. But he’d let her go.
“I can’t let him back in,” she whispered.
“You can’t let him out,” Nora countered. “He loves you, Eve.”
Eve met the eyes of her family. “Are you all defending him?”
Sutton smiled. “I’m just as shocked as you are, but I want my daughter and grandchild to be happy. When I saw the way he looked at you, the way he didn’t care how he laid his feelings on the line, I knew he loved you. Any man who is that strong and passionate is exactly what I want for you.”
Eve couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You want me to forgive him? Just like that? It’s that easy?”
When her fathered smiled, wrinkles formed around his sad eyes. “I want you to follow your heart. I don’t believe Graham will give up and that has everything to do with his feelings for you. Grace was right. He could fight you in court, where things would get ugly if he only wanted the child to have his name. I don’t think he realized how much he cared for you until you left.”
Eve shook her head. “I can’t just take him back. Right now, I only want to be here with you guys. I want to visit and laugh and... I don’t know. Pick out nursery themes.”
“I’m thrilled that’s your attitude,” Nora said, reaching over to squeeze Eve’s shoulder. “This baby will be perfectly healthy and come home to a beautiful room and a family who loves her.”
“Her?” their father asked, raising his brows.
“I think Eve is having a girl, too,” Grace laughed. “Another Winchester girl? That has a nice ring to it.”
Eve didn’t care about the sex, she just wanted a healthy baby. Now more than ever, she wanted that happiness in her life. She prayed her father would live long enough to see her child, but the odds were against them.
For now, though, she wouldn’t dwell on the sorrow. She’d live in the moment.
Later she’d deal with the ache...and she’d deal with Graham.
* * *
Three days had passed since she’d seen Graham...since he’d exposed himself before her family. But he’d texted her. He’d checked on her, asked if she was eating, joked that he’d send over some of the fried apples she loved. He didn’t tell her he loved her again, didn’t pressure her to meet him or to make a decision regarding this relationship they’d thrown up in the air and left hanging.
He’d genuinely been...well, caring. And she was positive this wasn’t some game to him. He wasn’t using her. Eve realized that if he’d wanted to use her all along, then he would’ve tried to use her to get closer to her father. If he was that sure her father held secrets about Graham’s past, then he could have easily used his charms and sneaky maneuvers to find out what she knew. Or have her find out what her father knew.
He’d done neither. When they were together, he’d avoided the topic. It had taken Eve two restless, sleepless nights to replay their last seven weeks. There were no red flags, nothing other than an intense affair and unexpected emotions.
Now she stood in the lobby of his building, clutching a photo, more scared than she’d ever been in her life. This was the biggest risk she’d ever taken, but this could also be the greatest thing to ever happen to her.
By the time Eve reached the top floor and stood outside the only door in the hall, she was a little more under control...until the door swung open and Graham stood there in a pair of running shorts, beads of sweat running down his chest.
“Doorman told me you were on your way up,” he explained. “I was on the treadmill.”
Eve still didn’t say anything. Now that she was here, all the speeches she’d rehearsed vanished from her mind. The picture in her hand crinkled, drawing her attention to the reason she needed to gather up that Winchester courage.
“I, um...can I come in?”
Graham stepped back, opening the door wider. The second she passed by him, she was assaulted with that sexy, sweaty, masculine scent. She wanted this to be easy, didn’t want a messy reunion...if he’d take her. They’d been through so much already, Eve wasn’t even sure a relationship was possible.
Eve crossed the spacious entryway and stepped down into the living area. Her eyes were fixed on the skyline.
“I never got to appreciate the view in Tennessee,” she muttered. “I was numb when I left.”
When he said nothing, Eve turned, only to find he’d moved in closer behind her.
“I was still numb when I saw you at my dad’s house,” she went on. “But then I realized you didn’t have to be there. You could’ve let me go, could’ve waited and fought me.”
His intense stare hit her as fiercely as his words. “I’d never fight you, Eve.”
“I’m tired,” she whispered. “Tired of worrying, tired of questioning and tired of wondering what we’re doing.”
Graham reached for her, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t care that his chest was damp with sweat. All she cared about was that he didn’t seem to have changed his mind.
“Put it all on me,” he murmured against her ear. “Every fear, every worry, give it to me. I want to be everything for you, Eve.”
She eased back, hope spreading through her. “Can our lives be that easy? Can we make this work?”
“I’ll do anything to have you in my life, Eve. Anything. Not just the baby, but you.” He framed her face with his strong hands. “I’ve never loved a woman the way I love you. I’ve never wanted to. But we fit, Eve. We get each other and I can’t imagine life without you.”
Sliding the black-and-white image between them, she held up the picture for him to see. “This is for you.”
Graham took a step back and stared at it. It was a sonogram of their baby. His eyes instantly misted as he slowly reached for the glossy image.
“I didn’t think you’d had the appointment yet.”
“I called the doctor for a favor.” Eve smiled, unable to stop herself as she saw how in love Graham was with this child already. “I wanted to give you this. I wanted you to know that we are both yours if you’ll have us. If you can forgive me for doubting you, for doubting us.”
His eyes instantly sought hers. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m the one who nearly ruined the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I won’t ask you to marry me. But know that the second you want to, I’m ready.”
Eve started to say something, but he held up his hand. “Because I love you both. I want to build a life with you, raise all the babies you want.”
“My father defended you,” she told him.
Graham looked shocked. “He did?”
“I know you think he has a secret about your father, but this disease, it’s changed him. I—I’ll go with you if you want to ask him. He won’t lie to me.”
Graham pulled her in once more. “I have everything I need right here. I won’t put you between your father and me. Besides, Brooks has a lead with the investigator.”
Eve pulled back. “That’s great.”
Graham smiled. “Roman is out now searching and he’s pretty sure he has the name we’ve been searching for.”
“Oh, Graham. Are you excited?”
“I am.” He kissed the top of her head. “But not nearly as excited as I was the second I knew you were here to see me. Don’t leave. Stay with me.”
Eve leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Maybe we should start with a shower and then talk.”
Graham set the picture down on the accent table and scooped her up into his arms. “That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.”
* * * * *
