The By Request Collection. Kate HardyЧитать онлайн книгу.

       Six

      Graham didn’t release her. He couldn’t even think, so getting his brain in gear to let go wasn’t happening.

      Pregnant. How could one word cause such panic and uncertainty? And why did this room seem to be closing in on him?

      His hands fell from her arms. Graham raked his fingers through his hair and attempted to pull his scattered thoughts together. Over the past six weeks they’d been intimate so many times. He had no idea when this had happened. All he recalled was that first time when they’d been in such a rush and she’d assured him she was on birth control.

      “Say something,” she whispered.

      “Did you plan this?”

      Eve jerked as if she’d been slapped by his words. “I would never do that.”

      Graham shrugged. “How do I know? Despite the past month and a half, I don’t know you that well.”

      Eve’s cheeks pinkened with rage the instant before her hand came up in a flash and struck his face. The crack seemed to echo in the open office. Graham’s head jerked, but he didn’t reach up to touch the sting.

      “You can’t blame me for asking,” he countered, refusing to feel sympathy despite the hurt in her eyes. “I assume this baby is mine.”

      Her eyes narrowed. “I haven’t been with anyone else since we started seeing each other.”

      He firmly believed that. Eve was too busy at work for fun and he occupied her evenings, save for the past couple. Still, a paternity test would be required considering he had quite a padded bank account. Someone like Eve wouldn’t be after a man’s money, though. But he would be smart about this. And being smart, he wouldn’t bring up the test right now or his other cheek may feel the same sting.

      “I don’t expect anything from you,” she went on, crossing her arms over her chest. “In fact, maybe we should bring what’s between us to a close and focus on what’s best for the baby.”

      Graham didn’t know what he wanted right now. His entire world had been flipped and control had never been so out of his reach. But he didn’t want to just end things with Eve, especially now.

      “That won’t change the situation.” Graham struggled to keep his distance, but he needed to play his cards right. “I will be here every step of the way, Eve. Whether you want me around or not. This child is a Newport and I never turn my back on my responsibilities.”

      “Is that what I am now?” she asked. “A responsibility?”

      So maybe he hadn’t chosen his words as wisely as he’d intended. “You’re the mother of my child.”

      He watched her shoulders relax as relief slid over her. But then Eve blinked and her gaze darted away. Was she worried he’d reject her and the child? Didn’t she know him at all?

      Of course she didn’t. He’d even thrown that fact in her face moments ago. They truly didn’t know each other. And now they were going to be parents.

      Brooks and Carson were going to...hell, he didn’t know what their reaction would be. But for now, he was keeping this information to himself.

      What would Sutton say? Once the man found out his responsible daughter was pregnant by his enemy, would he change his mind and give up the secrets he was keeping about Graham and Brooks’s paternity? A plan started forming in Graham’s mind.

      “Have you told your sisters?”

      Eve shook her head. “I haven’t told anyone. I... I’m not sure they’ll take this very well.”

      Most likely not. And he knew Sutton wouldn’t take it well, either. The man probably had higher hopes for his daughter and new president of Elite Industries than having a child by a Newport. But Graham was serious when he said he’d be there through everything. He may not have planned on having a child with anyone, let alone Eve, but he would never turn his back on an innocent child...especially his own.

      A possessive streak shot through him as he stared back at Eve. This was why she looked so tired, why she was likely running herself ragged. She was scared of the pregnancy, worried about the backlash when the rest of their world discovered the truth. Again, he would be there. Nobody would hurt his child or the child’s mother, no matter what their relationship status was.

      “Let’s keep this between us until we know how to deliver the news.”

      Eve nodded. Her arms went around her waist, as if to somehow protect their child. “I don’t want our baby to receive backlash from either of our families. No matter what’s going on or not going on between you and me, please promise me you’ll protect our child.”

      The urgency in her tone had Graham stepping toward her. “I promise.”

      The vow came easily because he’d walk through hell to keep his child safe. Odd how he’d only known about this baby for mere minutes and already his priorities had changed. And one thing was certain: his child would have his last name, even if he had to marry Eve.

      The idea made him cringe. Not that being married to Eve would be terrible, but he didn’t want to be married to anybody. Still, some marriages were made of lesser things. At least he and Eve understood the importance of each other’s work and they would both love this child.

      “When is your doctor’s appointment? I want to go.”

      Eve shook her head. “That isn’t necessary.”

      “I’m going.”

      Chewing on her bottom lip, she nodded. “Fine. It’s next week. I went the other day for initial blood work. He said everything looked fine and gave me vitamins and my due date.”

      As Graham listened to her, he was already thinking about the time when the baby would arrive. All work would have to be put on hold. No way in hell was he missing the birth of his child.

      His child.

      Unable to stop himself, Graham reached out and eased her arms aside before placing his flat palm against her stomach. To even think there was a life growing inside of her, a life he’d helped create, absolutely humbled him.

      Eve stilled beneath him. When he glanced up to her face and caught sight of her wide eyes, he swallowed and stepped back.

      “I have no idea how to act,” he admitted, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want to upset you, but I want you to be aware how serious I’m going to take this.”

      “Honestly, I just want to figure out how to make sure our families won’t turn against us or this child. That’s all I care about. Anything between us doesn’t matter anymore.”

      A point he wholeheartedly disagreed with, but his actions would speak for him over time. He wasn’t going anywhere, and keeping Eve close would be simple. No way was another man moving in. Eve and this child were his. Period.

      Graham made sure that if there was something he wanted, nothing stood in his way. He may not want a family in the traditional sense, but letting Eve just put up a barrier between them was out of the question. His desire for her hadn’t diminished one bit. In fact, knowing she carried his child was the biggest turn-on he’d ever experienced.

      “How are you feeling?” He hadn’t even asked her. He’d jumped straight into wondering if she’d trapped him, to asking about paternity,