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 couldn’t imagine the emotions Carson was dealing with right now. “Are you sure you don’t want to take Georgia instead?”
“No. She understands the need for the three of us to be there. I want to help you guys get the answers you need, plus I want to see what he has to say.”
Graham wondered what Eve would say if she knew he was going to see her father. She was protective of him, wouldn’t want anyone going to him on his deathbed and pumping him for information. Still, Graham was going to try one last time. Who knew when the man was going to pass? Sutton may have still been getting the best care at his sprawling estate, but that was only because of his billions. He was too proud to be in some facility like everyone else.
Had Eve told her father about the baby? Doubtful, or Sutton would’ve called Graham to meet with him, as well. Was Eve planning on exposing their secret or was she hoping to avoid telling her dad?
“You okay?”
Graham blinked and focused back on his brother. “Yeah. Fine. I’ll finish up here and meet you all over at Sutton’s.”
Carson let himself out and Graham hurried to finish up the work that needed his attention right now. Once he was done, he grabbed his cell and thought about firing off a text to Eve but opted not to. She didn’t need to know what was going on. If Sutton wanted her to know, he could tell her. Graham wasn’t putting himself in the middle any more than he already was.
Sutton’s affairs were his business, but Sutton’s affair with Graham’s mom was clearly out in the open now. Considering that Carson wasn’t much younger than Graham and Brooks, Graham knew the affair had started when he and Brooks were mere infants. There was no way in hell Sutton wasn’t aware of the first name of their father at least. Why did the old bastard care enough to keep it secret? Any information he provided would go a long way to helping them discover who their father was.
But maybe they wouldn’t like the answer. Maybe their father was fully aware of the twins he’d given up. Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with them. Still, that was a risk Graham and Brooks were willing to take.
In the end, Graham texted Eve, asking if she’d found a costume for the party. Simple enough, but effective in keeping her on her toes and their lines of communication open.
As soon as he started to shut the lights off in his office, the cell vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and nearly sagged against the wall. The image of Eve dressed as some sexy goddess with a white wrap hugging all her tempting curves had him gritting his teeth and cursing himself for telling her he’d give her space. The little vixen was playing games with him. She wanted him begging. He was sure that was her angle.
But two could definitely play at that game and he never played without every intention of winning.
* * *
Sutton