“It means something you told this girl things you’ve never told anyone else. About your dad. And your birth mom too, I’m guessing.”
“Yeah.” He turned slightly away from Rhi, so she wouldn’t be able to tell how much sharing that had affected him, though she probably knew.
They stood next to the entrance to the ballroom. A table held the guest book, and Livvy and Nicholas had peppered it with photos of them and their families. At least two had him and Rhi in them.
Family.
He touched one frame that held a photo of a teenaged Eve. She was a little chubbier, and her sober round face made him smile. She wore an absurdly high-necked shirt, and a plaid skirt. A school uniform, perhaps. He was about to turn back to Rhi when a flash of gold on her wrist made him stop.
He narrowed his gaze at that bracelet. No.
Wait. It couldn’t be. Lots of women must have that same gold bracelet. He picked up the frame.
“Gabe?”
“Huh?”
“Uh, if you’re trying to sell how disinterested you are in the Baby Chandler, fondling her photo is probably not the way to do it.”
He placed the frame down, but his mind was racing. He quickly scanned the other photos, and he found one taken of her and Nicholas, not too long ago. They were at a gala, and she wore a sedate and demure navy blue gown. The same gold bracelet winked on her wrist.
Anne was Eve?
He thought of the conversations they’d had, the way Anne’s voice had sounded vaguely familiar. The out-of-season hood pulled up over her face. The sense of déjà vu when he’d lain on top of Eve.
The fact that he’d been attracted to Anne because she’d reminded him of Eve. Which would make sense and would make him not a terrible person... if she was Eve.
Eve, who wanted to start a ride-sharing service.
There were too many coincidences.
“Gabe!”
“Uh-huh.”
“Gabe?”
He shook his head and looked down at Rhi. “Sorry, Rhi. Uh, I have to go... do something.” He glanced around, but Eve was nowhere in sight.
He’d find her, though. He knew where her room was.
He needed to have a talk with Evangeline Chandler.
Chapter 30
Guests were still dancing below her feet, but the party was over.
Eve eyed the connecting door between her and Gabe’s room. She wanted, so badly, to open that door, though Gabe’s side would be closed. They hadn’t danced together once during the evening, though she’d been hoping he would ask.
She removed her earrings sedately and placed them carefully in her jewelry box. This was not a fairy tale. It was reality. In reality, she’d like to leave their affair on as good terms as possible.
What do you want?
She hesitated, and ran her fingers over the diamonds in her necklace, the cool rocks grounding her. Finally, she placed the jewelry on the table and drifted to the door. With a gusty breath, she opened it.
Gabe’s side wasn’t closed.
In fact, it was wide open, and his massive shoulders filled the doorway. He still wore his tux, though his bow tie had been undone. He looked as surprised as she felt. “I was about to knock,” he explained, and lowered his fist.
