Forbidden Secrets. Charlene Sands

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СКАЧАТЬ good you have these pictures. Many family members don’t get to say goodbye, let alone capture the final memories.”

      Moisture gathered in her eyes as she nodded. When one lone tear slipped down her cheek, Graham reached to swipe it away. But his hand lingered on her cheek, his thumb sliding across the darkness beneath her eye.

      “You’re tired,” he said before he could catch himself. “Maybe you should go home and rest.”

      “I’m fine. It’s only seven. I wouldn’t sleep now, anyway.”

      Stubborn. Hardheaded. So much like himself, he felt as if he were looking in a mirror. Still, he wouldn’t let her work herself to death and that had nothing to do with their intimacy. He wouldn’t want to see anyone this exhausted and worn down.

      “What time did you come in today?”

      She pursed her lips and looked away. “I think five. Or maybe it was five yesterday and six today. I can’t remember right now.”

      He clenched his teeth and counted backward from ten. She was pushing herself too hard and someone needed to intervene.

      “You have spreadsheets scheduling your bathroom breaks at work and you can’t recall when you came in or how long you worked today?”

      Eve’s sharp gaze collided with his. “So?”

      “You’re working too hard. You’re going to break if you don’t slow down.”

      Narrowing her eyes, Eve stood up, but Graham didn’t get out of her way. “That’s the second time today someone has said that to me. My apologies if I look tired. I’m in negotiations with a company we want to take over, my sister is pressuring me to bring a date to some silly costume party and my father is dying. I’ll try to look less exhausted tomorrow and double up on concealer.”

      Her words sank in and Graham got to his feet and reached up to cup her shoulders. Closing the miniscule gap between them, he brought her body flush against his.

      “I’ll be your date.” Because no way in hell was another man going on her arm.

      Eve blinked away her unshed tears. “You can’t be my date. Nora and Reid are hosting the party at my dad’s. You think they’re just going to let a Newport onto the Winchester estate?”

      Graham shrugged. “I’ll wear a mask and a great costume. Introduce me as whoever you want. But I’m your date.”

      “No,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’ll go alone.”

      So long as no schmuck was escorting her, Graham was fine. Still, part of him wanted to go with her, but she was right: that was ridiculous thinking. They weren’t a couple, so why pretend to be one? He hated how his instant go-to idea was to be with her as her date. They didn’t date. Sneaking around after dark, parking their cars where they couldn’t be seen and sending texts in code was not dating.

      Circling back around to the original topic, Graham asked, “What are you doing to yourself?” Sliding his thumbs beneath her eyes, he let out a sigh.

      Eve blinked but remained silent. Something was going on with her. He wasn’t sure what, but he wasn’t leaving until he knew. Maybe it was the stress from her father’s illness and from buying another company, just as she’d said. But could it be something else?

      “If you want to end things, just say so.”

      Her eyes widened as she shifted back slightly. “What?”

      Graham dropped his hands. He couldn’t touch her and not want her, but he’d be damned if he begged. “If you want to bring this arrangement to a close, that’s fine.”

      The color drained from her face. She started to step back, but hit her chair and lost her balance. Graham reached around to grab her, but she pushed away. Struggling out of his hold, she ended up moving around him and putting a good bit of distance between them.

      “That’s fine?” she repeated. “If you’re that detached from this...whatever this is, then leave.”

      Careful of his next words, Graham slid his hands into his pockets. Eve was clearly on edge and his blasé words hadn’t helped. He hadn’t expected her to be so upset. Still, this was useful information to have. Clearly she wasn’t calling him here to break things off.

      He closed the gap between them, following her when she took two more steps back. Those expressive green eyes remained locked onto his, but her never-ending steely determination had her jaw clenched, her nostrils flaring.

      “I’m not leaving,” he finally replied. She may try to be fierce, but she looked as if she’d break at any moment. “Tell me why you called me here.”

      She blinked once, then shook her head. “It can wait.”

      When she attempted to skirt him once more, Graham reached out to grip her biceps. “Stop running. Tell me, Eve. I haven’t heard from you in two days and I haven’t felt you beneath me in just as long. What’s going on if you’re not ending things?”

      She continued to stare at him as she bit the inside of her cheek. Whatever she was gearing up to tell him must be something major. Obviously she wasn’t going to tell him to take a hike, but what else was there? Did she have news on Sutton she was afraid to share?

      Eve pulled in a shaky breath, her body trembling beneath his hands. She was scared. Whatever was going on had her terrified because he’d never seen Eve this run-down, this unsure of her words.

      “Just tell me,” he stated, sounding harsher than he intended. “My mind is spinning and I have no clue what you want to tell me.”

      “I’ve rehearsed this in my head, but now that you’re here, I can’t find the words.”

      Worry coursed through him. They may not be a serious item, but Graham wanted to reassure her he wasn’t some unfeeling ass. He framed her face and nipped at her lips.

      “Whatever you need to tell me, we’ll deal with it. Are you sick? Is it something with your dad you think I won’t care about? What, Eve?”

      Her dark lashes rested against her cheeks as she let out a sigh. Finally, she lifted her lids, and her eyes locked onto his.

      “I’m pregnant.”

       Six

      Graham didn’t release her. He couldn’t even think, so getting his brain in gear to let go wasn’t happening.

      Pregnant. How could one word cause such panic and uncertainty? And why did this room seem to be closing in on him?

      His hands fell from her arms. Graham raked his fingers through his hair and attempted to pull his scattered thoughts together. Over the past six weeks they’d been intimate so many times. He had no idea when this had happened. All he recalled was that first time when they’d been in such a rush and she’d assured him she was on birth control.

      “Say something,” she whispered.

      “Did СКАЧАТЬ