Forbidden Secrets: His Secret Baby Bombshell. Michelle Celmer
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“You may be able to keep those emotions hidden in the courtroom, but I can read you better than you think. I understand you don’t want a relationship with me, or any type of commitment. I wasn’t implying that.”
Graham raked a hand over his face; the stubble on his jawline was itchy and annoying. “Neither of us is at a point in our lives when we can put forth the time and attention a relationship needs.”
Eve nodded. “I agree.”
“But that doesn’t mean everything that happened before I found out you were pregnant is over. I can’t just shut off my desire for you, Eve. If you want to cool it in that area, tell me now. I’ll respect your wishes and I’ll still do everything in my power to keep you and this baby safe and cared for.”
He had to say what she wanted to hear. He couldn’t scare her off this early. He couldn’t even hint at what his true intentions were.
Eve pushed to her feet and started pacing. She stopped in front of the fireplace and turned her back to him. His eyes focused beyond her, on the photos she had arranged across the mantel. Every silver-framed picture showcased her family. The sisters, Eve and her mother, a young Eve on her father’s shoulders. He didn’t want to get into that aspect of her life. Graham couldn’t afford to see Sutton as a loving father. Graham didn’t give a damn about Sutton, save for the fact that he knew who Brooks and Graham’s birth father was. Or he at least knew a name. The old bastard was keeping this information to himself and Graham would do anything to find it out.
But he wouldn’t use Eve or his unborn child to get it.
“I don’t know what I want,” Eve finally said. “This passion clearly isn’t going away anytime soon. But I need some space.”
When she turned around, Graham had to force himself to remain seated. She didn’t need him cutting her off, she needed him to be strong for her. But he wouldn’t stay away long.
“Wanting you has never been a question,” she went on. “But—”
“I know.” And he did. Graham came to his feet, pleased when her eyes raked over his bare chest. Let her look, let her continue to want and need just as he did. If she needed him, then that would play right into his hand. “I’ll give you space, Eve. But you need to understand, I’m not going away. I won’t pressure you or point out that you’re looking at me like you want to take the rest of my clothes off.”
Eve rolled her eyes. “So arrogant.”
“Accurate, not arrogant,” he corrected as he slowly closed the space between them. “I’m going to check on you every day. I’m going to be involved with this pregnancy. But you’re going to come to me on your own.”
He now stood so close to her that his bare chest rubbed against her T-shirt.
She tipped her head back. “You’re sure of that?”
Graham eased closer, his lips within a breath of hers. “Positive.”
He brushed his lips against hers, not quite kissing her, but feeling her warm breath. The slight whimper that escaped her was reassuring, but he stepped back. Fisting his hands at his sides to remain in control, he counted backward from ten.
She wanted space? So be it. She’d see just how difficult ignoring this desire would be.
“I’ll call you later.”
Graham forced himself to walk away. After getting his clothes and letting himself out, he reevaluated the plan in his head. Carson and Brooks needed to know about the baby, but he couldn’t tell them just yet. He needed to formulate a better strategy for dealing with the Winchesters that didn’t involve obliterating Sutton, and in turn hurting Eve. He didn’t want her hurt, he wanted her to be completely and utterly his. But he also wanted Sutton to divulge the name of his father before he died.
Damn it. There had to be a way to get everything he wanted and not hurt Eve in the process.
If Roman could find their birth father soon, Graham knew Brooks would ease off Sutton. Or if Sutton somehow found it in the deepest part of his dark heart to share the information he knew, that would be even better. But Graham feared the man would go to his grave with the secret.
Just like his mother had. Why hadn’t she just told them? All Graham had ever heard was how their father wasn’t in the picture and she didn’t want to talk about him.
So here they were with no answers, other than that Sutton was Carson’s father. But that was it.
Putting thoughts of Sutton out of his mind, Graham pulled away from Eve’s house, already planning on how to gain her attention, to make her come to him. Because he wouldn’t beg for any women...not even the mother of his child.
Graham eased back in his chair and thanked God the case he’d been waiting on to go to trial was finally scheduled. This would be a slam dunk for his client, and another win for Graham and the firm.
Since she’d last seen him, he’d randomly texted Eve. He purposely didn’t flirt, didn’t get into anything sexual or do the whole pathetic what-are-you-wearing thing. Nope. He wanted to keep her guessing, because if she was guessing, then she was thinking about him and his next move. And if she was thinking about him, then her thoughts would travel to the bedroom all on their own.
But the wait was killing him. It had been too long since he’d touched her properly. The thought of having another woman didn’t excite him in the least. Eve was the woman he wanted in his bed, or anywhere else he could get her all to himself.
He knew she was getting ready for her sister’s upcoming costume party, but he still wanted to see her. She couldn’t come to him fast enough.
“Mr. Newport.” His assistant’s soft voice came through the speaker. “You have a visitor.”
Eve? No, that was ridiculous. She wouldn’t come here, not after she’d exploded when he’d shown up at her office during business hours.
“Shall I send Carson in?”
Graham came to his feet and pressed the speaker button. “Yes. Thank you.”
Graham’s door swung open and Carson stepped inside, closing the door at his back.
“You have a minute?”
Graham gestured to the seat across from his desk. “Of course.”
“I’ll be brief.” Carson remained standing, so Graham did, too. “I’m going to see Sutton this evening. He called me yesterday and wanted to meet. I’ve been hesitant, but his time is limited, so I’m going.”
Graham stilled. “Alone?”
“I know you and Brooks want answers from him, so if you want to go, we can all meet there. That bastard thinks he can always get what he wants, but we’re a team, so we’re in this together.”
Another encounter with Sutton? Why not. The more they pumped him for answers, the greater the odds he’d wear down and just tell them what they wanted to know.
“Is Brooks going?”
Carson nodded. “He’s meeting me there.”
Graham glanced at the files on his desk, the open emails on his computer screen waiting to be answered. Nothing was more important than another shot with Sutton. Their time was running out.
“What time?” he asked, turning back to his brother.
“Seven.”
Graham gave a firm nod of his head. “I’ll be there.”
Carson pulled in a deep breath and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I have no idea what I’m going to say. It’s still awkward for me, especially now that he’s dying...”
Graham