Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Hunter brushed her hair back from her face, studying her with an intensity that made her shiver. “What brought that on?”
A knock on the door prevented her from replying, but Hunter's arms only tightened around her when she tried to get off his lap.
The door swung open, a beautiful blonde walking in. "Hunter, I—oh."
It was Hunter's cousin, Janelle.
"Like...oh wow."
Eve couldn't help laughing.
"I thought it was just Aunt June and Uncle Boris getting back together, but oh...wow. Isn't this like double incest or something?"
Chapter Eight
EIGHT YEARS AGO
“You really don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to," Hunter's cousin said softly.
Eve stared out at the Ferguson ranch’s sprawling pastures, visible through the sunroom windows. She hadn’t meant to reveal so much. Hadn’t planned on saying anything at all about her past. But something about Janelle’s quiet confession had broken through her defenses.
“It’s fine,” Eve said, even though it wasn’t. It never would be.
“I just want you to know you can trust me.” Janelle set her cup down with a delicate clink. Everything about the other woman was delicate, and Eve low-key envied her for it. She wished she could be even half as feminine, but most times, she was just a natural smart-mouthed klutz. “I meant what I said earlier. About working for what I have, not living off my family’s money.”
Eve nodded. She hadn’t expected to like any of Hunter’s relatives, but Janelle was different. There was something refreshingly honest about her determination to make her own way despite her family’s wealth.
“My father was an investment banker." Eve's tone was stilted. She couldn't even remember the last time she had spoken about him. "He worked for a company called Plus Financial."
Janelle folded her hands in her lap, her blue eyes fixed on Eve with gentle encouragement.
“When I was fifteen, the FBI raided our house. Took him away in handcuffs.” Eve’s throat tightened at the memory. “He was charged with running a pyramid scheme that bankrupted hundreds of people.”
“Oh, Eve.” Janelle looked distress on her behalf.
“He kept saying he was innocent, that his boss was the mastermind, that he didn’t know.” Eve’s fingernails dug into her palms. “But nobody believed him. He begged in court—literally got down on his knees and begged the judge to believe him.”
The image was seared into her memory. Her father, once proud and strong, reduced to tears on the courtroom floor while cameras flashed and reporters scribbled notes.
“Two months into his sentence, he hung himself in his cell.”
Janelle reached across the table and squeezed Eve’s hand. The gesture was so unexpected, so gentle, that Eve found herself continuing.
“Six months later, they found evidence proving he was telling the truth. His boss had set him up, used him as a scapegoat.” Eve’s tone grew tight with unshed tears. “They cleared his name. Posthumously. As if that fixed anything.”
“I’m so sorry,” Janelle whispered.
“After that, I just...” Eve shrugged, trying to disguise how much the memory still hurt. “I changed. Got into fights at school. Argued with teachers. Mom finally moved us from Phoenix to San Antonio after I graduated high school. Thought a fresh start would help.”
“Is that why you clash with Hunter so much?” Janelle asked. “Because he reminds you of powerful men like your father’s boss?”
HUNTER WATCHED HIS Evelline laugh at something Janelle said, her green eyes sparkling in the candlelight. She looked so content, so trusting, as she shared stories about her morning with the horses. She looked exactly like someone who didn't yet know how her fiancé had distrusted her so damn much...he had ended up asking dirt from the same woman she was now enjoying a conversation with.
And he’d texted Janelle behind her back, asking for dirt about her past with Matt.
He took a long sip of wine, trying to wash away the acid taste of guilt. The silver band on his finger caught the light, and something inside him twisted at the sight.
“Matt mentioned you’ve been helping him in the stables..."
Janelle's words to Evelline drew him out of his thoughts.
"You two are quite close, aren't you?"
Hunter stiffened, realizing what his cousin was up to.
"We are, yes."
Even though Evelline's tone as she answered Janelle was of casual honesty, Hunter was still determined to shut things down from here. He shot a look of warning at his cousin, and it was enough.
Janelle checked her watch and pretended surprise. "I didn't realize it was so late." She glanced at Hunter, asking, "Should we get on with the business proposal I told you about?"
Hunter gave her a clipped nod. "Wait for me in my study."
Eve waited until Janelle had left before turning to Hunter. "You were rather abrupt with your cousin," she noted in concern. "Is something wrong?"
Everything, Hunter thought broodingly. Everything was wrong the moment he had doubted his Evelline, but he would make sure to fix that tonight. He would tell Janelle he had been wrong, come clean to Evelline, and hopefully...she would still be willing to marry him afterwards.