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“I actually have a case I’m working on.” He came to his feet and rolled up the sleeves of his black dress shirt. “Brooks and I are meeting later. Say the word, though, and I’ll gladly cancel.”
Laughing, Eve shook her head. “We both have meetings. And if our families keep noticing how you and I are both MIA at the same time, they’re going to stage an intervention.”
Without a word, he closed the space between them, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. Could something so potent, toe-curling and heart-clenching be summed up in such a simple word as kiss? Being kissed by Graham was an event, something she should prepare for, but there was no way she could ever prepare her body for the onslaught of passion and desire that slammed into her each time he touched her.
He ran his hands up and down her back, the silky material gliding against her skin. Nipping at her lips, he murmured, “I’ll be back tonight.”
With that whispered promise, he released her and walked away. Eve remained still, clutching her robe, staring at the neatly made bed and trying to figure out exactly how this unplanned pregnancy would weave into her perfectly planned life...and how Graham would take the news that he was going to be a father.
* * *
“Sutton will not win in the end,” Brooks threatened. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll expose that man for the cheating bastard he is.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose between his finger and thumb, Graham blew out a breath. Sutton Lazarus Winchester had always been a thorn in their side—his real estate business was Newport Corporation’s main competition—but ever since they’d discovered Sutton had had an affair with their mother, Cynthia Newport, things had been much worse.
It had all started when she had first come to Chicago. Her real name was Amy Jo Turner, which she’d used until she fled her abusive father when she’d been pregnant with twins. With a brand-new name and town, Cynthia had gone to work in a coffee shop, saving money to raise two boys. She’d ultimately been taken under the wing of Gerty, a retired waitress. It was at this coffee shop that Cynthia met Sutton and wound up going to work for him. Cue illicit affair and their half brother, Carson.
The entire string of events was a complete mess. But now that the DNA test was official, Graham and Brooks knew for a fact Sutton wasn’t their father. Which had made Graham’s seduction of Eve possible. The woman kept him tied in knots. He counted down the time to when he could get his hands on her again, have her panting his name and wrapping that curvy body around his.
“Are you even listening?”
Graham dropped his hand to the arm of the leather club chair in his brother’s office and sighed. He was half listening, half fantasizing new ways to make Eve lose control.
“I hear you,” he confirmed. “And I agree. Carson is entitled to an inheritance when Sutton passes. It’s only fair seeing as how Carson is his child, as well. The estate shouldn’t just be split among the girls.”
Sutton’s three daughters were fighting this battle, as well. Nora, Grace and Eve weren’t quite ready to welcome another sibling, but too bad, because the tests proved Carson was indeed a Winchester no matter how many people disliked the fact.
And Graham despised that he and his brothers were technically teaming up against Eve and her sisters. But it was only fair that when Sutton finally passed, Carson got his fair share of what was rightfully his. It would be in the Winchesters’ best interest not to fight this matter because Graham would fight back...and win.
This entire mess was just another reason Graham and Eve had to keep their affair a secret and 100 percent physical. Nothing too heavy, no commitments and nothing long-term.
And no way in hell could their siblings ever come to know the full truth of just how hot their attraction burned. They’d not been too secretive about their initial attraction, but quickly discovered discretion was the best way to go. Considering what he and Eve did was no one’s business, they’d opted to take things to the bedroom and ignore the turmoil surrounding them.
Keeping things simple—no talk of families or wills and Sutton’s health—was the only way this affair was working and Graham was in no hurry to end it. A physical relationship with a woman who matched his passion like no other wasn’t something he was ready to toss aside.
“So I need you to subpoena Eve.”
The cold, harsh words jerked him from his thoughts. Graham sat up in his seat. “Excuse me?”
“I didn’t think you were listening,” Brooks growled. “We need her and her sisters to testify at the hearing regarding Sutton’s estate. I need you to hand deliver those subpoenas.”
So much for attempting to keep his relationship with Eve impersonal. Damn it. He wholeheartedly agreed that Carson was due his percentage, but he didn’t want to go to battle with Eve. Not that he wouldn’t win. Winning had never been an issue because when Graham Newport went into a courtroom, he was there for battle and came out on top. Always. But to get into a war with Eve... He blew out a breath. That would destroy this chemistry they’d discovered.
Not that he wanted anything long-term or serious with her, but he wasn’t ready to put the brakes on this amazing secret affair they had going. And he had to admit, the whole sneaking-around thing did thrill him on a new level he never knew existed. Sex had always come easy for him, but to know Eve matched his passion, his fire, was something he’d never found before. So, for now, he’d really like to keep this subpoena out of his personal life.
“When’s the court date?” Graham asked.
Brooks rested his forearms on his neat, mahogany desk. “Two weeks. I’d rather have it moved up because, with Sutton’s health declining, I don’t want to take any chances.”
Sutton wasn’t doing well at all. The man was on his last leg and Graham wasn’t sorry the old bastard was fading. Sure, that sounded cold and harsh, but it was fitting for the man who was ruthless and conniving. The man had taken advantage of Graham’s mother, whether she would’ve admitted it or not. He’d gotten her pregnant, unbeknownst to him, but he’d still tossed Cynthia aside when he was done with her. Clearly his high-society wife was all he needed at the end of the day, though she’d ultimately ended up leaving him.
Graham’s own mother had recently died, too, which is how the paternity issues had come to light in the first place. But the loss was still too fresh, too heart wrenching, so he turned his focus back to Brooks. Letting the void in his heart consume him would be all too easy.
“What did Roman find out?”
The private investigator Brooks had hired to uncover Brooks and Graham’s paternity had been working diligently on the case, yet hadn’t come up with a name yet. They’d never known who their father was and, for a brief time, they feared Sutton was the one. Now that Roman Slater had found out that Sutton had fathered Carson and abandoned their mother, Brooks and Graham were out for blood. The only way to take Sutton down was to hit him where he’d feel it the most. Considering the man didn’t have a heart, Brooks and Graham were going after his finances on Carson’s behalf, and ultimately that would trickle down to his daughters. Graham ignored the guilt gnawing away at his chest. Business and sex were two areas where he never got emotionally attached.
“I’m waiting to find out, but he’s almost positive he’s uncovered more children Sutton fathered from his affairs. If that’s the case, I won’t hesitate to use it against him.”
Graham muttered a curse and stared out the floor-to-ceiling window behind Brooks. The Chicago skyline was one he never took for granted. He loved his city, loved working here and taking charge. The ambiance of such a powerful city gave him ammunition each day to fight his battles.
“If he uncovers too many, they’ll all want a share of Sutton’s assets.”
Graham crossed his ankle over his knee and raked a hand over the back of his neck. Maybe he should get a haircut. No. He liked Eve’s fingers running through his hair. He liked the way she toyed with the strands on his neck when...
Damn it. He was here for Brooks. How could he concentrate when Eve kept creeping to the forefront of his mind?
“I thought of that, too,” Brooks agreed. “Which is another reason I want this finalized before Sutton passes. So those subpoenas need to be delivered as soon as you can draw them up.”
Graham nodded. He might not want to do this, he might hate mixing this business with his personal life, but there was no other way. And Graham knew Brooks wasn’t usually this ruthless. But his twin was angry, hurt. They both were. With Sutton so hush-hush about what he knew, and right on the tail of their mother’s passing, there was just so much emotion and nowhere to put it all.
Sutton was a man who deserved to be destroyed, and if Eve and her sisters got in the Newports’ way, well...they better just cooperate because Graham would win this fight for Carson. Taking prisoners along the way wasn’t ideal, but he’d do so for the sake of his brothers. Family was everything, after all.
Two (#ulink_fa827cdb-b989-56c0-885e-37f91196fc3d)
Two days had passed since the test. Two hours had passed since her doctor had done an exam and confirmed the pregnancy, assuring her everything looked fine. She’d held it together until she made it back to her car. In the quiet of the parking garage, she’d wept for the innocent life growing inside her and prayed she’d have the strength to make it through.
Just because children weren’t something she’d set her sights on for her future didn’t mean she didn’t want this baby. Years ago she’d been naive and unprepared for what life threw her way. Now Eve was ready to do anything and everything to keep her baby safe and secure. She’d started taking vitamins the day she took the home test. At this point all she could do was relax and attempt some sort of stress-free life...as much as was possible when she was planning global domination.
As president of Elite Industries, she was more than ready to broaden the scope of the company’s dealings. Her father had created a good foundation, but she wanted more. She wanted to prove to herself, and to her ailing father, that she could make this company even better. Before he passed, she wanted him to be proud of what she’d done.
Back at the office, Eve closed her eyes and tipped her head back against her leather office chair. Her father’s days were numbered, there was no denying the truth that faced them. Sliding a hand over her stomach, Eve wondered at what point she should tell him about this next generation. Would he be excited she was carrying on the name? But if she told him about the baby, she’d have to tell him about the baby’s father. Eve wasn’t ready to expose her child to this ugly war just yet.
Once she told Graham, then they could decide when to tell everyone else. He needed to know; she just had no idea how to go about telling him. Would he be angry? Would he blame her or would he embrace fatherhood? How on earth would they deal with shared parenting?
Questions whirled around inside her head as her office door burst open and slammed against the wall. Eve jerked upright, shocked to see Graham striding through, her assistant, Rebecca, right on his heels.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Winchester,” Rebecca stated nervously. “I tried to stop him.”
What was he doing here? Nobody knew about their affair and they’d purposely gone out of their way to avoid being seen together in public. His barging into her office could jeopardize everything.
“It’s fine.” Eve shot her assistant a smile and nodded in a silent dismissal. Once the door was closed, she glared at Graham. “What the hell are you thinking coming here? The last thing we need is gossip about your being in my office.”
Graham crossed to her desk and slammed a piece of paper down, the force sending other paperwork fluttering to the floor. “We need you to testify.”
Shocked, Eve came to her feet and braced her palms on the top of her desk, completely ignoring the paper. “What?”
“This is a subpoena regarding your father’s assets and Carson’s interest in them.”
Rage bubbled within her. This is why he’d come? Was this also the same reason he looked so angry? What was he thinking doing this to her, to her family?
“How dare you order me to testify against my father?”
The muscle in Graham’s jaw tightened, a tic she’d noticed when he was angry with himself. So, that was the real issue here. Why was he doing this if he didn’t want to?
What was going on and why was he doing this to her?
“You have to see what your father is, Eve.” Graham’s bright eyes held hers. Those same eyes that had devoured her body just yesterday now held so much anger, resentment. “Carson is entitled to his share of the inheritance. Plus, our PI has uncovered some other nasty facts regarding Sutton.”
As much as Eve wanted to close her eyes to battle the pain, she couldn’t. Her father may not be a popular man, but he was still her father and she wouldn’t let anyone stand in her office and throw ugly rumors around. Yes, he’d admitted to affairs while married to her mother, but that was in the past. Couldn’t people change? Did he have to pay for his sins forever? He was dying. Couldn’t everyone just let him live out his last days in peace?
Enough. She refused to allow this to happen, let alone in her own office...her father’s old office. Reaching for her phone, Eve started to dial her assistant. Instantly Graham’s fingers encircled her wrist.
“What are you doing?”
She glared at him. “Having security escort you out.”
The pressure around her wrist increased, but not to the point of hurting. “Hang up, Eve. Hear me out for two minutes and I’ll go.”
Still gripping the phone, Eve stared into his eyes, and her first thought was whether their child would have those mesmerizing baby blues. How could she resist him and tell him no when she couldn’t get her own hormones in check?
And, how could she fault his loyalty for standing up for his brother? Wasn’t she standing up for her father? They both held family bonds high and she had to admire that, but she still couldn’t allow him to shove his weight around. Not here on her turf.
She hung the phone up and pulled away from his touch. Crossing her arms over her chest, Eve tipped her chin. “Two minutes.”
A hint of a smile danced around those kissable lips. No. She couldn’t think of him in those terms right now. The way he came barging into her office, forcing this subpoena on her had nothing to do with what they did in the bedroom. Right this minute, they were enemies...and soon to be parents. Talk about a conflict of interest.
“Carson is your half brother, too,” Graham began in that steady, low tone of his that no doubt always had the judge and jury hanging on his every word. “He deserves part of your father’s assets.”
“Considering my father is very much alive, that’s not my call,” she argued. Eve hated discussing the fact that her father’s health was failing, but the harsh truth was always at the forefront of her mind. “Is that all you barged in here for?”
“Eve, you have to see this is the right thing to do for Carson. Don’t let Sutton’s hatred and hardheaded notions trickle down to you. You’re too good for that.”
For a split second, Eve wanted to melt at his words, but then she recalled who she was dealing with. Chicago’s youngest, fastest-rising attorney who marched through court and came out with a victory every time. He had Charm with a capital C. He oozed it and exploited it in order to get what he wanted.
“I have no hatred toward Carson,” she stated firmly. Carson was just as much an innocent as she and her sisters were. “I simply don’t feel it’s my decision to say what happens to my father’s things. He has a will, Graham.”
“One that was implemented before he knew of Carson’s existence.” Graham pressed his palms on her desk and leaned forward. “Regardless of what you want to do, you’ve been served, Eve.”
Part of her wanted to applaud him for holding his ground and having his brother’s back. The other part of her wanted to slap him, tear this subpoena to shreds and toss it like confetti in his face. But she refused to let her emotions show.
“I believe your two minutes are up.”
His eyes held hers for a moment longer, but he finally turned and walked out, his exit much less dramatic than his entrance. Once the doorway was clear, Eve’s legs gave out and she sank back to her chair. With shaky hands, she unfolded the document and stared at the date she was due in court. Whatever was going on with the Newport brothers, she sincerely wished they’d leave her out of it. Her father was dying, she was pushing to acquire another real estate company in Australia and now she was expecting the baby of a man who should be her enemy.
What more could life throw at her?
“Ms. Winchester?”
Eve glanced up to see Rebecca standing in the doorway. “Do you want me to have security make sure Mr. Newport is out of the building?”
“No, Rebecca. That won’t be necessary. Mr. Newport’s business is done here. He won’t return.”
There. Hopefully that would help quash any rumors about Graham’s unexpected visit. Rebecca wasn’t one to gossip, though. Eve wouldn’t have her as an assistant if she were, but she still wanted the utmost respect from her staff.
“We had a mutual client and he was dropping off some paperwork,” Eve added. “Thank you.”
With a slight nod, Rebecca stepped back out and closed the door.
So much for telling Graham about the baby soon. Now she had to figure out where they stood because he’d drawn a battle line the moment he’d opted to show up at her office. He could’ve had anyone on his staff deliver that subpoena.
Again, this proved how his family loyalties and his career were his top priorities. Which only made Eve wonder: Once he knew they’d created a baby, would she and the child be included in that inner circle?
* * *
The following morning, Eve’s patience had run out. Graham hadn’t contacted her since he’d burst into her office yesterday, and now the glaring headline mocked her from the front page of the paper: Chicago Kingpin Sutton Winchester’s Infidelity Produces More Heirs.
She began reading the article and literally had to take a seat on a stool at her kitchen island when she hit the line about his “fathering numerous children out of secret affairs.” Her stomach churned, and the nausea had nothing to do with the baby.
Tears pricked her eyes as anger rushed through her. There was only one family who wanted to stir the proverbial pot and that was the Newports. Brooks may be the ringleader in this agenda to bring down her father, but Carson and Graham were right there with him. And no doubt Graham had known all about this little media exposé when he was in her office yesterday.
Betrayal was a sickening feeling. But how could she feel betrayed? He’d never pretended to be on her side when it came to their families. They had sex, plenty of sex, but that didn’t make them a couple. That didn’t mean he had to be loyal to her or defend her to his family.
Eve knew very well who Graham was when she’d gotten together with him, so if blame was to be placed, she needed to point the finger at herself. She just wished she weren’t getting so personally wrapped up in a man who was 100 percent wrong for her.
And what the hell was this about her father having “numerous” other children? Carson was the only child she knew of. Perhaps now that his secret son had come to light, others wanted a share of her father’s holdings. The man was worth billions. Vultures would be swooping in wanting money, especially with his health failing.
An ache spread through her chest. People were picking away at her father. He was still alive, he was still in control of his will, and all of these people vying for a piece of something that didn’t belong to them were seriously making her turn into someone she didn’t want to be. If anyone, Graham included, wanted a fight, she’d give them one. She would protect her father, especially now, and she had no doubt her sisters would happily join her in the battle.
Eve finished her orange juice and dry toast so she could take her vitamin and keep it down. She’d learned on day one not to take that pill on an empty stomach and lately she was nauseous anyway. Whether from the pregnancy or from the constant roller coaster with the Newport men, she wasn’t sure.
But if Graham expected her to show up in court and do dirty work on behalf of his brothers, she expected something in return.
She shot off a quick text to her assistant to reschedule any morning meetings. Eve already knew there were two, but both were with coworkers and could be adjusted. Nobody would second-guess the president’s orders.
Once she finished with Rebecca, Eve sent Graham a text demanding an immediate meeting at her house. If he was going to play hardball, then so was she. Maybe he only knew her well in the bedroom, which was fine, but now the proverbial tables had turned. Hell, they hadn’t just turned, they’d been flipped completely over.
Eve quickly showered and threw on her favorite crimson suit. The V of the jacket’s lapels was just low enough to be sexy, yet high enough to be professional. She was gearing up for battle and she wanted to look her best.
She’d just applied her lip gloss when her doorbell rang. Eve’s master suite was on the first floor of her Chicago mansion. Five bedrooms upstairs were available for any guests, but she rarely went up there. Maybe she’d reconsider once the baby came. She wasn’t comfortable being on a separate floor from her child. Of course, at first she’d like the bassinet to be in her room so she could be close to her baby for nightly feedings.
Eve paused and pulled in a breath. That was the exact attitude she needed to keep in regards to this baby. A positive attitude, an outlook that planned for a future with her child. Because nothing would go wrong...fate wasn’t so cruel as to take away a second child.
Eve gripped the door handle and gave herself a mental pep talk. The second she opened this door, she had to forget Graham was the father of her child and remember he was the man trying to ruin her father.
Opening the door, Eve stepped back and gestured for Graham to come in. They’d never been formal, and perhaps she should’ve had this chat on neutral territory, but she wanted to be here, on her turf. This was her day to win the battle.
The moment she closed them inside and turned to face him, her body heated. Damn it. Why did he have to slide that sultry gaze over her? When he started to step toward her, Eve held her hands up.
