Chapter 16—Liam

Four. Five. Six…I smiled. In the two months I’d been calling Eve, my calls would automatically go to voicemail. But today, it rang before going to voicemail, which meant she hadn’t flat out rejected my call. That had to be progress, right? All I wanted to do was hear her voice and know she was okay. I knew there was never a chance for us, not now, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care about her. My former best friend had been blowing up my phone, but the asshole could kiss my ass. If I never saw him again, it would be too soon.

“Mr. Grayson?” My secretary, Amber, peeked her head into my office. “There’s a gentleman here to see you. Says it’s important.”

“Who is it?” I asked.

“He wouldn’t give me his name, sir. I’m sorry.” She frowned.

I stood and walked around my desk, leaning against it. “Send him in.” A moment later, Derrick entered my office. I fucking knew it. “Get out.” I pointed at the door.

“I only want five minutes.” He held up his hands in a show of surrender. “After everything we’ve been through together, I think you owe me that.”

“Owe you?” I laughed sardonically. “The only thing I owe you is a severe ass beating.”

“I know.” He slowly lowered his hands and shoved them in his pockets. “I came here to say I’m sorry. What I did…” He shook his head. “I was a dick.”

That was putting it nicely. I crossed my arms and clenched my jaw, the muscle in my temple throbbing.

“But I was desperate, and I didn’t know what else to do. I was afraid if I told you the truth, you wouldn’t come,” he said. At least he had the chagrin to look remorseful.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t have. You know damn well how I feel about cheating, Derrick, and that’s exactly what you were doing to Eve. And you used me to do it.” I pointed to myself, my voice tight with anger. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

Finally closing the door, he moved to sit in the chair in front of my desk. “Things hadn’t been right between me and Eve for a long time, and instead of facing the problem like I should have, I found solace with someone else. It was wrong, but don’t think for one second that I didn’t love Eve. I did, and that’s why I did what I did.”

I gritted my teeth. “You cheated on her with her best friend because you love her?” Now I’d heard it all.

“No.” He sighed with exasperation. “I invited you because I love her, because I wanted her to have someone she could lean on and be with.”

I laughed again. “Wait. You’re saying you invited me to share your wife, but what you really wanted was to set me up with her?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” His face was dead serious, not a trace of humor. “We’re divorced, Liam.”

If I hadn’t been leaning on my desk, his words would’ve caused me to stumble back. I gripped the edge of the desk so hard, my knuckles turned white. “You and Eve are divorced?” I said the words slowly and purposefully, wanting to ensure I’d heard him correctly.

“Yes. It became official a few days ago.” He stood. “And now I want you to go after her. I know you love her, and I know she cares for you, too. Give her the life I couldn’t.”

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

He blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sterile, Liam. I can’t give her the family I know she wants. But you can.” He poked my chest. “And I know damn well you want to, so go after her. You have my full blessing.”

I stared at him a moment, stunned. Was he for real? What kind of man divorced his wife and then insisted his best friend swoop in and take his place? This had to be some twisted, fucked-up nightmare.

“Please, Liam,” he pleaded. “We both know a woman like Eve won’t stay single long, and I don’t want to see her end up with another jackass.”

My lips twitched but no smile formed. “It doesn’t matter what we want. It never has. All that matters is what Eve wants, and based on the way she’s avoided my calls the past few weeks, she doesn’t want me.”

Derrick pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and held it out to me. “She’s staying with her sister in Ohio. That’s her address.”

I took the paper.

“I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you.” He opened the door, then stopped and turned back. “I’m sorry, Liam. For everything. I hope we can be friends again someday.” And then he left.

I stared after him, speechless. The entire weekend had been a ploy to get me and Eve closer, which explained his strange behavior. I glanced at the address then up at the clock on the wall. If I left now, could I make it to her sister’s house before it was too late?

“Excuse me, Mr. Grayson. Robert would like to see you in his office,” Amber said.

I groaned. So much for going after Eve today. But tomorrow was a different story. I had no idea if she wanted to see me, or if she’d even talk to me if I showed up, but I was going to find out.

* * *

Thanks to a new client who needed our immediate attention, I’d gotten stuck at the office late. And now it was pitch black and storming. Thunder boomed and lightning sliced the sky. Rain pounded everything, making my car’s wipers work double-time, and even then, they barely kept up. A normally twenty-minute drive took almost an hour. By the time I pulled into my apartment building’s driveway, I was starving and fighting off a headache.

I pulled into one of the last open parking spots and killed the engine. Of course, I didn’t have an umbrella. Looked like I’d have to make a run for it. Slipping my keys into my jacket pocket, I opened the door, slammed it behind me, and then bolted for front door of my apartment, keeping my head down so the rain wouldn’t pelt my face. This was one of the few times I hated the free-standing, individual design. There was no lobby to enter through.

I came to an abrupt stop at my door. There was someone curled up on my front step, soaking wet and shivering. “Can I help you?”

“Liam?”

“Eve!” My heart stopped. “What are you doing out here like this?” I reached in my pocket and retrieved my keys, fumbling to get the door unlocked so we could get out of the rain. I hauled her to her feet and ushered her inside. Flicking on the lights, I tossed my keys on the entryway table.

“I locked my keys in my car.” She scrunched up her face. “My phone, too, or I would’ve called for help. I knocked on a few of your neighbor’s doors, but no one answered.” She hugged herself and shivered.

A chill worked through me, too. “Other than that, is everything all right?” I moved toward the thermostat and turned up the heat.

She nodded. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“You can,” I assured her. “But first, we need to get out of these wet clothes. C’mon.” I took her hand and led her to the bathroom. “Get undressed and put on my robe.” I lifted it from the hook on the back of the door and held out the fluffy robe. “I’ll put your clothes in the dryer.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I backed out of the bathroom and closed the door. Then I went to my bedroom and changed out of my wet clothes, too. My heart hadn’t stopped racing. Eve was here. In my apartment! I had no idea why, and I didn’t really care. She was here. That’s all that mattered at the moment. After tossing her clothes in the dryer, I returned to the living room to find her seated on the couch, legs tucked beneath her. Her hair hung in wet strands around her shoulders, but she looked as beautiful as ever. And she looked perfectly comfortable, too, like she belonged.

“Are you hungry?” I asked as my stomach rumbled.

“No, thank you.” She gave me a small smile.

I took a deep breath and joined her on the couch. We were silent for several, long moments. Part of me was afraid to ask why she was here, but it wasn’t something I could avoid forever. And I really hated how awkward things were between us, especially knowing how close we’d been that last night at the cabin. “I spoke to Derrick today,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “He told me about the divorce. I’m so sorry, Eve.”

She nodded and chewed on her bottom lip. “Thanks.”

“Are you all right?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t marry him thinking we’d get divorced.” She forced a laugh. “But we both want different things. There was no way it could work between us.”

I hesitantly put my hand on her leg, and she didn’t move away or flinch. I moved closer and wrapped my arm around her. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I closed my eyes, loving the feel of her. “Still, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you two.” I placed a soft kiss to the top of her head, and she slipped her arm across my stomach. “I’ve been trying to call you.”

“I know.” She snuggled closer, and I relaxed, enjoying having her in my arms again. “I just needed some time to work things out.”

“Fair enough.” I rubbed my hand down her arm and back up before lifting her head so she was looking at me. “I’ve missed you, Eve.”

She swallowed hard. “I’ve missed you, too.”

Hope swelled inside my chest, and I thought for sure my heart was going to burst. Lowering my head, I brushed my lips over hers, and she didn’t resist. She parted her lips, welcoming my kiss. Her tongue tangled with mine, her warm breath insistent and eager. Moaning, I deepened the kiss and slid my hand along the side of her neck, drawing her even closer. I was once again kissing Eve, but this time there wasn’t any restrictions, no fear of her husband walking in and joining us.

“Mmm,” she hummed, her eyes still closed. “I really like kissing you.”

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in months. I rubbed my thumb across her bottom lip and smiled. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her she could spend her life kissing me if that’s what she wanted. But I didn’t want to push too hard or too fast. Instead, I slanted my lips over hers and kissed her again. Her soft, throaty moan had my cock thickening. I was desperate to be inside of her, to feel her hot, wet pussy wrapped around my shaft as we came together.

“Eve, honey.” I attempted to move her onto my lap, but she pulled away. I groaned.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

Everything in me froze. My ears rang. My heart raced. I swore the room was spinning. “You’re pregnant?”

She nodded.

Derrick’s confession from earlier rattled around in my brain. I’m sterile. That meant… The color drained from my face. Oh, God. Eve was pregnant with my baby? I stood, unsure what to say or do, and paced. “It’s mine?” I asked.

“Yes.” She hung her hand and fidgeted with the bathrobe tie.

“Okay. Wow.” I hadn’t ever really thought about having kids. I wasn’t necessarily opposed to it, but I’d always imagined when it did happen, it would be when I was married to a woman I loved. Not to a woman I’d shared one weekend with—a woman who was my best friend’s newly ex-wife. I stopped and rubbed my hands over my face. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” She stood. “You don’t have to do anything, either. Not if you don’t want to. I mean, if you want to, that’s great, but I don’t expect anything from you. Of course, if you do want to be involved, we can work something out. Visitation and all that. But don’t feel obligated, okay? I know this isn’t—”

“Stop.”

She snapped her mouth shut and stared at me with wide eyes. I just needed a minute to think, and I couldn’t do that when she was rambling. There were only two things I knew for certain. One, Eve was pregnant with my baby. Two, I was head over heels in love with her. If I didn’t take this opportunity right now, I might never have another chance. I approached and set my hands on her shoulders, bending slightly so I was eye level with her.

“I don’t want visitation, Eve.”

“You don’t?” Her voice cracked.

“No.” I gave a firm shake of my head. Even though I’d never put much thought into being a father, I knew what I didn’t want. “I’m not going to be a part-time dad.”

“Oh.” Big, fat tears slipped down her face. “Yeah, okay.”

I wiped her tears and cradled her face in my hands. “I’m going to be there for this child every step of the way.”

Visible relief washed over her features. “Thank you.”

By some weird twist of fate, everything I’d ever wanted was standing in my living room right now. I couldn’t mess this up. “And I’m going to be there for you, too, if you’ll let me.”

“What?” she asked, shocked.

“I love you, Eve. I’ve always loved you.” I licked my lips, my heart thundering in my ears. “I know you just ended your marriage with Derrick, and I’m sure you’re probably not ready to jump into anything serious, but as far as I’m concerned”—I placed my hand on her belly—“you and this baby are a package deal. I want both of you. Forever.”

More tears fell, but she didn’t speak. Shit. Had I gone too far.

“I’ll give you all the time you need, but know that—”

“No,” she said.

I flinched back. “No?”

“I mean, yeah, I just got divorced, but…” She sighed. “I’m in love with you, Liam, and I want to be with you. I want us to raise this baby together.”

Relief and joy crashed into me, and my knees nearly buckled. I scooped her up into my arms and headed toward my bedroom. She gasped with surprise, then wrapped her arms around my neck.

“What’re you doing?” she asked.

“Taking you to our bed. I’m going to make love to you, and then I’m going to feed you. Then I’m going to spend the night holding you, kissing you.”

She grinned. “Sounds like a perfect night to me.”

I captured her lips in a searing kiss. Finally, I had everything I’d ever wanted, and there wasn’t a force on earth that could take it away from me. Eve Montgomery was mine!