his clothes. He’d barely taken the edge off and if he stayed at this party, he was going to have to find a spare bathroom or walk-in closet to drag her into.
He pulled out his phone to use as a light, shining it on Eve. The instant the glow hit her face, she froze and blinked at him. But it was the tousled hair, the swollen lips and pinkened cheeks that held him captivated. There was no denying what she’d been up to and the thought of her putting that dress back on while looking so rumpled sent a jolt of desire through him.
“I can’t see your face with that light in my eyes,” she told him, holding up a hand. “But if I don’t get back in there, my family is going to worry.”
Angling his phone toward her body as she pulled her dress back up, Graham reached a hand out to help her. “I’m going in, too. I’m not going to leave.”
“Why would you want to stay?”
Because he wanted to touch her, he wanted to catch a glimpse of her across the room...because apparently he was a masochist. Mostly because she was trying to push him away when she clearly didn’t mean it, and he wouldn’t let her.
“Because I can,” he said simply.
Once she’d adjusted her dress, she pushed her hair back behind her shoulders. “I’m going to tell the rest of my family about the baby after the party.”
He tightened his hold on his phone. No. He had to get her to agree to marriage before she told her family. They would instantly tell her what a mistake it was to be involved with him. They’d get inside her head and have her doubting.
“Are you sure that’s a smart move? They already think I’m using you.”
“Are you?”
He couldn’t blame her for asking. Apparently they’d already gotten to her. “If you thought I was, you wouldn’t be in here with me,” he countered. He hadn’t used her, not by any means. But now that she was having his baby, he would marry her to ensure that their child had a Newport name. A detail she didn’t need to know.
Yes, he could’ve used her to get to her father, but he hadn’t. Didn’t that count for something?
“Regardless of what they think, they need to know,” Eve continued. “There’s so much worry with my father, fear of the unknown, and now with Carson finding out he’s our half brother. My family needs to know exactly what they’re dealing with. Besides, maybe this baby will be the bond that brings our families together and resolves this ridiculous feud.”
Graham wasn’t so sure of that, but if she wanted to tell them, he’d support her...after that ring was on her finger.
“Let’s wait a few days,” he said, holding up a hand when she opened her mouth. “I want you to come away with me.”
“What?”
Yeah, what did he mean? Where had that come from? He hadn’t planned it. But now that he’d offered the trip, he had to admit it was a brilliant plan.
“We’ll go away for just a couple days,” he hurried on. “Nobody has to know, and when we get back, you and I can tell them.”
“I’m telling them tonight, Graham. I’ve waited long enough.”
Her inflexible tone told him this battle would be more difficult than he’d thought.
“I need to get back inside,” she told him.
“I’m coming in, too.”
Eve hesitated, but finally nodded. “Just keep your mask on until after the party, okay? I’d hate to have a scene with so many people here.”
Graham would love nothing more than to cause a scene, but out of respect for Eve, he’d keep the mask on. He searched the floor, then found it. After sliding it back into place, he bowed toward her.
“You go on,” he told her. “I’ll be in later. You won’t even know I’m there.”
With her hand on the knob, she threw him a glance over her shoulder. “I’ll know you’re there. I’ll feel you.”
With those parting words, she was gone.
She’d feel him? Of course she would. And even across the room, he’d undoubtedly feel her, as well. The line he’d been teetering on, swearing he wouldn’t cross it, was starting to waver. He was losing his grip and it was only a matter of time before he lost his balance and fell face-first into emotions he’d purposely dodged.
This entire situation was messy and if he wasn’t careful, someone was going to end up hurt.
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
