The By Request Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 СКАЧАТЬ