Inevitable - Kristen Granata Page 0,43

isn’t he? A man that size has to be.”

I smirk and shake my head before sipping from my coffee cup. “Is that the only thing you care about?”

Deanna scoffs. “We already know he’s kind and caring. We already know he’s head over heels in love with you. I just want to make sure he’s packing the right tools for the job.”

“Oh, he’s definitely packing the right tools.” A delicious shiver runs down my spine at the thought of Graham’s tools. “Just his tongue alone deserves an Academy Award for that performance.”

Deanna squeals, garnering the looks of several nearby Starbucks patrons. “I knew it. A man doesn’t look like that and not know how to please a woman, unless he’s gay. It just wouldn’t be right.”

I laugh. “I just can’t believe how well the fundraiser went.”

“I can.” Deanna’s hand slides across the table and covers mine. “You did an amazing job. Eric would be so proud of you.”

The mention of Eric’s name doesn’t sting as badly as it used to. Opening up conversation with my father, seeing Eric’s belongings back in his bedroom, it all feels natural. I want to remember him; I want to talk about him. Maybe shoving his memory aside was what was hurting me so much in the first place.

I’m about to tell Deanna about Graham’s idea to open an art studio, when the sound of his voice interrupts my conversation.

“Speak of the devil,” Deanna says with a wink.

When I turn my head to look up at Graham, I know something’s wrong right away. The turmoil emanating from his expressive green eyes gives him away.

“Graham,” I say, standing. “What’s wrong?”

He runs his hand through his disheveled hair as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down. “I need to talk to you.”

I glance back at Deanna, her smile fading fast. “Raincheck?”

“Go,” she says with a nod.

Graham clasps my hand and leads me out the door.

“Graham, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“I need to tell you something. It’s important, and it can’t wait another second. I’ve waited too long already.”

My gut twists. “Where are we going?”

“Back to your place.”

I follow in silence, worried thoughts slamming around my head.

Graham doesn’t speak until we’re locked inside the safety of my bedroom. “I’ve been lying to you about who I am.”

My head jerks back. “What?”

He sits on the edge of my bed, taking my hands into his. “My father is a private investigator. So am I. I work for him. He ... he knows your father. They used to be friends.”

My lips part but no words come out. What the hell is he talking about?

“When they graduated college, they started a business together. The company your father owns now. But my dad is a sick and twisted asshole, and I’m sure your father saw that. He took his money out of the company and left my father with nothing. He took his girlfriend too.” Graham swallows. “Your mother.”

Mom dated Graham’s father?

“What does this have to do with you?” My voice shakes as I try to push the words out.

Graham’s gaze drops to our interlocked fingers. “My father has been angry with yours for a long time. He blames him for his failures. So he sent me to pose as your body guard in order to search for information on your father. He wanted me to find something that he could blackmail him with.” His eyes flick back up to mine. “I’m not really a body guard.”

My stomach plummets to the floor, taking my heart with it.

Graham isn’t a body guard.

Graham is helping his father to take mine down.

Graham lied to me.

I pull my hands back and wrap them around my midsection. “I don’t understand,” is all I can muster.

Nothing makes sense.

This can’t be happening.

“I’m so sorry for lying to you, Eva. But I need you to know that I’ve stopped looking for things on your father. I’ve been trying to bide my time and figure out how to get out of this mess.” He cups my face and looks into my eyes. “I love you, Eva. I know I lied to you about certain things, but I never lied about the way I feel about you.”

Tears spill over my lids and pour down my cheeks. “But you lied. You’re here to hurt my father. To hurt me.”

“I would never hurt you. I’m trying to come clean and make things right. I’m trying to get away from my father, and keep you safe.”

Safe.

I gasp and my spine goes stiff. Graham’s hands drop into