“Wait,” I blurt, my hand darting out to grab his wrist as I stop walking. “Just…wait. Why did you do that?”
He arches a brow “Do what?”
“That deal!” I blurt. “Why would you trade all of that just for?—”
“Because I fucking love you, Evelina. Ihaveloved you since the night you ran from me through the woods, and every fucking day, and every fucking night ever since then.”
Then he grabs me tightly, yanks me against his hard body, and crushes his mouth to mine.
47
VAUGHN
“Anything to drink, sir?”
I glance up at the waiter and shake my head. “Just sparkling water, thanks.”
“Shall I bring over the wine list?”
“No. No alcohol for the table.”
He nods and disappears. Evelina's soft hand lands on mine, and she gives me a puzzled look.
“I’m trying to make a good impression with your brother,” I say, squeezing her hand.
“Well, he won’t say it out loud,” she grins, “but it won’t be lost on him.”
I nod. Then my brow pinches as I glare at the table in front of me. “Do you really think I should still tell Val?” I turn to her. “I mean, about…well, all of it.”
“If it was me, I’d want to know.”
I sigh. “He’s going to hate me for it.”
She makes a face. “He’ll be upset, yeah,” she says gently. “But he’ll understand why you’re telling him. I mean, it’s the truth. I know Val, and I know he’d rather hear the truth than be fed a lie, even if that truth hurts.”
I nod. Then I turn, cup her face, and lean in to kiss her softly.
“Sorry if I'm interrupting,” a voice growls.
Shit.
Wonderful first impression.
Evelina quickly pulls away from me, biting back a sheepish grin as we turn to see her brother and mine standing there with the maître d’.
“Hi, Rome,” she smiles as we both stand. She comes around the table and gives her brother a big hug. I turn to Val and nod stiffly as I shake his hand. Then we swap, Evelina hugging my brother and me shaking Roman’s hand.
“Thanks for coming,” I say to him.
“What, not show and give you more ammunition to drive a wedge between Evie and me?”
“Rommmme,” Evelina sighs. “C’mon. You promised.”
I shake my head. “Roman, I have zero interest in coming between you and your sister. Just like I don’t imagine you have any interest in trying to come between me and my brother.”
Roman smirks. “I think you’ve been doing a bang-up job of that on your own.”
“Chill,” Val mutters, elbowing him in the ribs. He sighs and then smiles at all of us. “I’m glad we’re doing this. I think it’s important.”
