“She will be under my constant protection, and she will be residing with me from now on. She will be safe at all times and her happiness is of utmost importance to me, something I think the three of us share. I would not be much of a man if I did not do everything possible to alleviate Evangeline’s worry and stress, and part of that is ensuring that the people she loves most are provided for. In the past, she took on that task single-handedly. That’s going to change starting now. Now she has me. I will gladly provide you with all my contact numbers as well as the phone number of our residence, and you should have Evangeline’s new number now that she has called you. You are welcome to call at any time; however, if you should have any concerns and especially if you have need of anything, I would prefer you go through me, just so Evangeline is caused no unnecessary worry.”
Evangeline gave Drake a stricken look. Was he cutting off her communication with her parents? Was he restricting her access to them?
He hugged her to him and brushed a kiss across her brow as he listened to her parents’ response.
“Good,” he finally responded. “It would appear we are all in agreement in this matter.”
Evangeline felt the burn of helpless tears.Everyone but me.But the words remained unspoken, only echoing in her mind.
“Yes, sir, I completely understand, and in your position I would feel exactly the same, and I make you a promise. Evangeline willalwaysbe safe with me, and I’ll move heaven and earth to make her happy and not regret her decision to give me her trust.”
But she was already regretting it, no matter that it appeared her parents, in particular her father, had given their blessing on the whole messed-up situation. Because she felt the ends holding her together, her life, loosening and starting to unravel faster and faster and her control evaporating under Drake’s dominance. She wondered how she could possibly remain intact under someone as powerful and demanding asDrake, without becoming someone altogether different from who she was. Evangeline.
She might not have much, but she’d always known who she was and where she stood. Now Drake threatened everything. She was so shaken by what had just transpired, and perhaps she’d been too caught up in the whole Cinderella fairy tale that she hadn’t truly comprehended the magnitude of what she’d agreed to.
Or perhaps she’d known exactly what she was getting into and that secret part of herself that had reveled in Drake’s authority had asserted itself and reached out for something she’d been missing, an essential part of herself that would have been denied. She could resist and risk being unfulfilled, thus returning to her ordinary, predictable life. Or she could embrace the unknown but tantalizing life Drake was offering her and perhaps discover who she truly was and what therealEvangeline wanted.
Drake knew Evangeline was upset and off balance when she hastily scrambled from his lap when his phone call to her parents had ended and she’d muttered some excuse about needing to touch up her makeup.
He wasn’t going to call her out on it or remind her that she’d promised to relinquish control to him and that she’d given him her trust. He didn’t want to ruin the night he had planned for her. And it was understandable the way she’d reacted. The more he got to know her and peeled back the delicate layers that made up the woman he now called his, he liked who and what he saw. He wasfiercelyproud of her. He was asshole enough to admit that rarely had he truly felt respect and admiration for, much less pride in any of the women he associated with, but his angel was on a completely different plane. She was a challenge he simply could not resist, even if he wanted to, and he definitely wanted her, the entire package, and he was anticipating every step in their relationship. He just hoped like hell that she could manage to handle all that he dished out, because he planned to return in equal measure everything she gave tohim.
She was a woman deceptively fragile and naïve looking but with an inner core of steel. And after listening in on her conversation with herparents and then speaking to them himself, he also realized that he’d come to some errant conclusions where her parents were concerned.
He’d been angry. No, not angry. He’d beenfuriousat what he’d considered a case where two people who should have been protecting Evangeline were in fact taking horrible advantage of her. Now, after hearing the obvious love and affection the three of them held for one another, he knew that her parents didn’t like Evangeline giving up so much for them any more than Drake did. It wasEvangelinewho was determined that she would do everything in her power to provide for the people who’d loved and raised her. Not many young women would put their life on hold indefinitely in order to do the right thing.
Only he had heard the relief in both her mother’s and her father’s voices when Drake had told them she would never work in the pub again and that he would ensure her safety at all times. In retrospect, he was glad he’d muted the phone before interrupting the conversation, because hearing what her parents had said would only hurt her and make her feel the worst sort of failure.
They didn’t want financial help at the cost of their daughter. Yes, they most certainly needed the money she sent them on a regular basis, but they’d rather have Evangeline in school and happy, leading her own life, than tying her future up in her parents, always putting their needs before theirs. They were obviously both guilt ridden and wanted more and better for the daughter they clearly adored. Drake intended to make that happen for Evangeline and by proxy her parents.
Her father was especially concerned because he’d informed Drake, in a tone that could not be mistaken for anything but the warning it was, that Evangeline hadn’t had boyfriends in high school, though plenty of boys came sniffing around. As a result she had little experience and was entirely too trusting. It worried him that she lacked the sophistication of the urbanites in New York City and would be taken advantage of. Yet another thing that Drake and Evangeline’s father wholeheartedly agreed upon.
But it was the last thing her father had said that had rattled Drake’s usually unshakable composure. He’d told Drake that Evangeline kept mainly to herself, shunning relationships, never seeing or recognizing her own appeal. But when Evangeline loved, she loved with her entire heart and soul, and never would a woman be more loyal or true to the man she loved. And that if Drake ended up being that man, he would be the most fortunate man in the world.
He nearly cursed as he waited for Evangeline to make her appearance. He wanted her to smile, to be happy and to shine. To light up the entire room when she made her appearance in the private box he’d arranged for her. Her every whim would be catered to, and no expense would be spared when it came to her enjoyment of her surprise.
He was saved any further introspection when Evangeline reappeared, her makeup refreshed, but there was a dullness in her eyes he didn’t like at all. Something was clearly bothering her and he wanted her to be happy and enjoy her night, not be miles away in her head.
He sighed and held out his hand, gratified when she complied and walked to where he still sat behind his desk. He pulled her once more into his lap, but this time she didn’t relax in his hold and melt into his body as she’d done before.
“Angel, we have an agreement. If something is bothering you, no matter how big or small, you are to confide in me, and it’s obvious you have something on your mind. I want nothing to ruin this night for you, so until you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, you stay here with me.”
She looked... sad. Damn it. He didn’t like his reaction to her obvious unhappiness. Or that it mattered so much to him.
Then she turned to look at him, fear and trepidation reflected in her eyes.
“You told my parents to callyou, not me, that you didn’t want me to worry unnecessarily. Are you cutting off my access to them? Will theonly information I get about them come from you now? Will I even be allowed to speak to them?”
He cursed softly, realizing how she could have misconstrued the one-sided conversation she’d heard.
“That is not at all my intention. They are free to contact you and you are free to contact them. However, if they have a need, I expect them to come to me and not you because I won’t have you worrying over something I have the power to fix.”
Slowly she nodded, her body sagging with relief. Then she cast a sorrowful look at him.
“I’m sorry. I’m failing you already. I promised to trust you and yet I question you at the first opportunity.”
In ordinary circumstances, yes, Drake would be impatient and pissed. He would already have cut a woman loose for Evangeline’s transgressions. But Evangeline’s were understandable, and he couldn’t bring himself to admonish her when her worries centered on others and not herself.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You haven’t failed me, Angel. I imagine we will both make mistakes in our relationship’s infancy. You be patient with me and I’ll be patient with you.”
