No, this was only sex. Nothing more. It couldn’t be.
* * *
Eve finished the conference call with one of her father’s established clients in Miami. Even though she was taking Elite Industries into global territory, there was still a need to keep the current clients satisfied. Now that Eve was president, she intended to not only continue building on current relationships, but also adding to their Elite family. This business was all she’d known; she was molded to fill this role and she took every bit of it seriously.
Eve popped in another peppermint and willed the flavor to calm her queasy stomach. She’d read from multiple sites—and her doctor had confirmed—that peppermint would alleviate the queasiness.
Two days had passed since Graham had shown up in her bathroom. Two days since she’d had the opportunity to tell him about the baby. But there was that whole family rivalry standing between them, driving the wedge deeper with each passing day. Graham had urged her to trust him, but that word was too easily thrown around. And what had he meant by that? He’d implored her at her weakest moment, and damn if she hadn’t given in.
She wanted to trust him in more areas than just her body. She had to believe that he’d taken care of getting Brooks to stay away from the media. Dirty rumors could damage her family’s reputation. Something that would start a domino effect and impact Elite Industries.
She refused to allow Graham, Brooks or Carson to destroy the only life she’d ever known. The life she needed to secure for her child.
A light tap on her door had Eve straightening in her seat. Shoving the peppermint into the side of her mouth, she called, “Come in.”
The door swung open and Eve’s younger sister, Nora, stepped in. Nora in all her beauty and radiance. She’d fallen in love with hotelier Reid Chamberlain and the two were deliriously happy. Reid had also taken to Nora’s son and they were absolutely adorable together. Over the past several weeks, the trio had become inseparable. Eve was thrilled to see her sister find her soul mate. Being a single mother had to be so difficult, but Nora had always made life look like a breeze.
The tug on Eve’s heart had her cursing herself. She wasn’t jealous. Jealousy meant she wanted love, a man in her life. She didn’t need, nor did she want those things. Staying focused on Elite, and now this precious baby she carried, was all she had time for. Being a single mom would be difficult, but women did it every single day and, damn it, Eve wouldn’t fail. She refused to be intimidated by her fears.
“I hope you’re not busy.” Nora slid her plaid scarf from around her neck and dropped it, and her designer purse, onto the chair across from Eve’s desk. “I was out and wanted to swing by. I haven’t seen you in a few days.”
Eve pasted a smile on her face. “I’ve been busy. I got your text about the party.”
Nora beamed. “You have to be there, Eve. Grace won’t tell me her costume but swears it’s going to be awesome. Reid and I are thinking of either going as a Viking couple or as Superman and Lois Lane.”
“Sounds fun.”
Nora tipped her head to the side. “You’re bringing a date, right?”
Everything inside Eve stilled. A date. Probably not, considering that she’d only been with Graham for the past six weeks. Plus, they weren’t dating, not by any means. And with the way things were going in the press, there was no way in hell a Newport would be allowed inside a Winchester’s home. Well, Eve’s home didn’t count, but her sisters would never stand for Eve and Graham being an item.
Eve cringed. An item? They’d never been on a date. They snuck around, they’d created a child and now she had to figure out a way to tell him, considering they were definitely not an item. So, no. No date for her at the party.
“I’ve been a little too busy to date.” Too busy sneaking in time between the sheets with a Newport. “But I promise I’ll be there in costume.”
Nora rolled her eyes and dropped onto the other leather chair. “You work too hard, Eve. You need to date. There’s not one man you can ask to be your date?”
Well, there was a man, but...
“I don’t need a date,” Eve stated, propping her elbows on her desk. “I’m happy for you and Reid, but not all of us want that happily-ever-after. I’m building Elite and taking it into the next generation. It’s not easy work, so I haven’t had much social life.”
Okay, two days ago she’d done social life right on the vanity in her bathroom, but that wasn’t necessary to point out here.
A solemn look instantly came over Nora’s face. “Have you been to see Dad in the past couple days?”
Guilt ate away at Eve. She’d been busy building this company he’d left in her care. She wanted him to see how far she could take it before he...passed. But thinking about the inevitable had tears burning her eyes.
“I know,” Nora whispered, swiping at her own eyes. “I’m on my way there, actually. Grace was there last night and said he was having a good day. I hope he’s still the same when I get there.”
Their father was in his home being nursed by the best caregivers they could find. He was a man of dignity; he didn’t want his last days to be in a nursing home or hospital and Eve couldn’t blame him. She and her sisters were just fine with granting him any wish he had right now.
“Have you seen Carson?” Nora asked.
Blinking away the tears, Eve shook her head. “I haven’t.”
Their new half brother. To find out after all this time they had a brother was definitely a blow. Sutton had been known to have affairs, or so the rumor mill had spun it over the past several years, but now there was proof. Eve wasn’t quite sure how to handle Carson, but she did know he didn’t deserve any of her father’s holdings. He knew nothing of her father. They shared DNA only. There was no bond, there were no treasured moments. Not that any of that was Carson’s fault, but Eve wasn’t ready to embrace him just yet. And she certainly wasn’t ready to argue over her father’s assets while he was still alive.
“He’s requested to see father.”
Eve straightened. “What?”
“He wants to talk,” Nora clarified. “We can’t deny him, Eve. He has every right to see his father.”
Before he dies. The unspoken words hovered between them, driving home the point that their father was human. He’d cheated on their mother, now he was dying. He shouldn’t have to keep paying for his sins, and he shouldn’t have his name tarnished when his days were numbered.
And that brought Eve’s thoughts right back to Graham. Was Carson requesting to see their father because he was trying to gain ammunition for their media campaign? Every protective instinct welled up inside her.
“It’s a bad idea,” Eve told her sister. “He could be plotting with Brooks and Graham.”
“I don’t think that’s what he’s doing. Brooks hired a private investigator. If they want to dig up Dad’s past, we can’t stop them and I highly doubt Dad will give up any skeletons in his closet on his own at this point.”
Nora’s words sank in, and actually made sense. Still...
Graham had wanted her to trust him. Those words kept bouncing back and forth in her head and she truly wished she knew what the answer was.
“What does Grace think?” Eve asked.
Nora lifted a slender shoulder. “She’s fine with letting Carson in. She’s not as cynical as you are, though.”
“I prefer the term realistic,” Eve countered. With a heavy sigh, she nodded. “Fine. But one of us needs to be in the room.”
Nora nodded. “I agree.