Inevitable - Kristen Granata Page 0,19
power not to claim them. “Wanting you.”
Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that.
“Why shouldn’t you want me?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“Because I can’t give you what you deserve.”
“What if I said that whatever you have to offer would be enough?” She bites her bottom lip, regret churning in her eyes as soon as the honest words leave her mouth.
My brave girl.
Before I can stop myself, I reach up and my thumb pulls her lip out from between her teeth, sliding across its plumpness. How easy it would be to kiss her right now. She’s waiting for me to make a move. I can see the desire in her eyes, the way her chest rises and falls in short bursts. She wants it as much as I do.
But I can’t.
Not while I’m going behind her back and looking for ways to destroy her father’s business.
Yet another thing my father ruins for me.
My hand drops into my lap, where it needs to stay. “You deserve more than just enough, Eva. Don’t ever settle for less than everything you want.”
She nods, the corners of her mouth pulling down. “All right, Big Guy. Your thirty seconds are up. Let’s get down.”
Chapter Six
Eva
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
Deanna waves me off. “Don’t be. It’s okay.”
“No, Dee. It’s not okay. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. You’re my best friend, and you were just trying to help.”
She nods. “I was. I hate seeing you upset.”
“I know.” I rub my eyes and then run my fingers through my hair, blowing a stream of air between my lips. “You’re right, though. I’m throwing myself into this event full-steam ahead.”
“It’s almost dinner time and you worked through lunch. I’ve never seen you like this before.”
I look down at all the place cards scattered around me. “We’re only halfway done with the seating chart. I just want to get this done so I can check it off my list.”
“We’re ahead of schedule. Don’t run yourself into the ground.”
I glance to the opposite side of the room where Graham is posted. “I guess I’m just trying to keep busy.”
Busy thinking about the fact that Graham admitted to wanting me last night.
Followed by the fact that he’s ashamed of it.
He sees himself as less than what I deserve, as if I want this lavish lifestyle I was born into. But I don’t need money to make me happy. My world is filled with expensive things, yet I walk around like a hollow shell of myself, dead inside. Nothing here makes me feel alive.
Not the way Graham has made me feel this past week.
Deanna raises her perfectly manicured brows. “And does this have anything to do with the six-foot-four hunk of man meat standing over there?”
I bury my face in my hands. “If I say yes, are you going to squeal really loud?”
“Oh my God,” she whisper-screams, tearing my hands away from my face. “I knew it!”
“Pffft. You knew nothing.”
“Please. The tension in this room is palpable. And he keeps casting these longing glances in your direction whenever you’re not looking. The dude looks like someone kicked his puppy.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You can tell all of that with his sunglasses on?”
She shrugs. “It’s my superpower.”
“He’s working for my father, Dee. He’s getting paid to be with me. If Dad fired him today, he’d be gone.”
“Don’t use that as an excuse. If you feel something for him, then make a move. Go for it. And if he tries to leave, don’t let him.”
“Are we talking metaphorically, or are you telling me to Kathy Bates his ass if he tries to leave me?”
Deanna giggles and shoves my shoulder. “You know what I mean. Go after what you want. You deserve to be happy.”
I do, don’t I?
And so did Eric.
Maybe I can try to be happy for the both of us, little brother.
Deanna pulls me to my feet. “Now, go. We’ll deal with the seating arrangement tomorrow.”
I fling my arms around her shoulders and pull her into a hug. “Love you, Dee-Money.”
“Love you back, Eva-licious.”
I toss my leather jacket around my shoulders as I make my way over to Graham. “Let’s go, Big Guy. I’m starving.”
He lifts a brown paper bag off the floor and hands it to me. Inside is a burrito wrapped in foil from the taco truck down the street.
When I look up at him, he shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Figured you’d be hungry.”
When was the last time someone did something for me that wasn’t out