He’d won, all right. He’d won what he wanted. Children. His own family. He just hadn’t wanted her to be a part of that family.
And now she had to walk inside this house and pretend to his family, a family she’d foolishly believed she’d be a part of, that her heart wasn’t breaking into a million jagged pieces.
CHAPTER 29
“EVE! Why are you back so quickly?” Sophie asked in a startled voice when Eve entered the living room.
It had taken every bit of strength Eve possessed to compose herself enough to calmly walk into Sophie’s living room and act as though nothing was wrong.
Eve sank onto the couch before her legs gave out or gave her away by shaking uncontrollably. She mustered what she hoped was an abashed, slightly rueful smile.
“I couldn’t do it,” she lied. “I promised to trust him. He told me he’d tell me his plan once we were alone. Later. I want to give that chance to him.”
And then she wondered if he did plan to tell her anything. Or would he lie? Perhaps it had been a misunderstanding and he’d explain everything later.
Don’t be stupid.
She was already trying to justify his words. She had to snap out of it and think on her feet. Fast.
“Where did you go, Evie?” Travis asked with a frown. “I looked up and you were gone.”
“I just needed some fresh air,” she said, her second lie. “My head was hurting. Maybe I overdid it or perhaps I’m not as over the bump to my noggin as I thought I was.”
She hated lying, but she had to set up an excuse to not share Donovan’s bed tonight. She couldn’t do it. She could not make love to him knowing what he had done—what he was going to do.
And it wasn’t a complete lie. Her head was throbbing. But not from her injury.
“I understand,” Sarah said quietly so Travis wouldn’t hear. “He’ll tell you, Eve. Donovan is a straightforward guy.”
The others nodded and it was all Eve could do not to scream at them. Not to tell them that it was all a lie. That they were a lie. The family she’d thought was everything she wanted was nothing more than a lie.
“Your head really does hurt,” Rachel said shrewdly. “I can see the strain in your eyes.”
“Yes,” Eve admitted.
Shea sat down beside Eve and gripped her hand tightly. “I know you’re worried, Eve, but please don’t be. Everything will be all right. Trust in that. This family has faced the worst situations you can imagine. And we always come out on top.”
Oh yes, Eve could well believe that. Ruthless. Cunning. Donovan was definitely a man who was victorious when he set his mind to a goal. Look at how easily he’d manipulated her.
“I’d rather go back . . .” She’d nearly said home, but Donovan’s house was not her home. “I’d rather go back to Donovan’s and take something for the headache. Will you call ahead for me, Sophie? I don’t want to interrupt. Surely they’ve had enough time by now. Just let him know I wasn’t feeling well and that Cammie, Travis and I are heading back over.”
“Perhaps it would be better if they stayed,” Rachel murmured. “We’ll look out for them, and you need the time to talk to Donovan so he can ease your fears.”
Already shattered by what she’d discovered, it wasn’t hard for Eve’s imagination to shift into overdrive. Was it a setup? Were Donovan’s sisters-in-law in this with him? Did they plan to separate them so Eve would be a much easier target?
Sweat beaded her forehead and her head began pounding even more viciously.