After the Storm(123)
Though she and Donovan had made love in the room he’d given Eve—the one she’d initially shared with Cammie—he’d made it clear the morning after that he wanted her in his bed. In his bedroom.
Tonight, she’d share his bedroom with him. They’d sleep for the first time in his bed. He’d told her very matter-of-factly that no other woman had shared his bed in his home. Not this house. He’d told her that when he built this house, he had no intention of bringing any woman here if he wasn’t certain that she was the one.
What did it say about him that he’d insisted that Eve and her siblings move in with him after only meeting Eve on two occasions?
Sure, he’d said that things happened fast in his family. That he—and all his brothers—wasted no time once they met the woman they’d marry. But talking about it in the abstract and experiencing the lightning speed in which her and Donovan’s relationship had progressed were two vastly different things.
“Eve?”
Once again, Donovan caught her in the middle of her wayward thoughts. A habit she had to break of drifting off during important moments. She winced and immediately focused her attention on Donovan and the group of women all staring expectantly at her.
“Hello,” she said in a husky voice that she hoped didn’t betray her nervousness.
“Ladies, I want you to meet a very special woman. Eve. I also want you to meet Eve’s brother, Travis, and her younger sister, Cammie.”
He glanced down at the little blond-haired girl holding the hand of what had to be her mother, given the strong resemblance.
“Charlotte, Cammie is your age. I’m sure she’d love to have a new friend to play with. Think you’d mind sharing some of your toys with her?”
Charlotte beamed, displaying not one ounce of shyness. Here was a confident little girl, secure in the knowledge that she was adored and spoiled beyond reason and that her family would never allow anything bad to happen to her.
Eve’s heart ached because she wanted the same for Cammie. And maybe now she’d finally have the same security and innocence that Charlotte possessed. No, she’d never be as innocent as Charlotte, but hopefully she’d overcome her past and it wouldn’t follow her into adulthood. If Eve had anything to do with it at all, Cammie would never again know the fear and uncertainty that had plagued the first four years of her life.
Charlotte immediately went to where Cammie stood just behind Donovan. The entire time Donovan had performed the introductions, Cammie had edged closer and closer, finally slipping her hand into Donovan’s much larger one.
Her thumb automatically went to her mouth as she stared shyly back at Charlotte.
“Hi, Cammie,” Charlotte chirped. “We’re going to be best friends. And my mama says you’ll be my cousin!”
Cammie smiled, warming instantly to the other child, and how could she not? No one could possibly look at Charlotte and not be won over instantly.
Donovan turned his attention to Eve, motioning her forward to stand beside him. He slipped an arm around her waist and looked at his sisters-in-law.
“Eve, these are my sisters-in-law Sophie—she’s Charlotte’s mom—and Rachel; she’s married to Ethan and the twin boys are hers. You already met Garrett. This is his wife, Sarah. She’s expecting their first child in eight or so months. Sophie is also pregnant with her second child and is due a little before Sarah. And last but certainly not least, there’s Shea, Nathan’s wife. He’s the youngest of my brothers.”
Eve’s eyes widened as she glanced at the petite woman Donovan had introduced as Shea.