After the Storm (KGI #8)(84)

Donovan wasn’t happy. Indeed, he looked . . . pissed. There was anger in his eyes and he simply shook his head.

“You don’t get it, do you? I’m not going to just throw up my hands were something to happen to you. I’ll fight with my every breath, not only for Cammie and Travis, but for you as well, Eve. I’d never leave you to his mercy. Never.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Now you’re just pissing me off,” he said darkly. “You don’t thank me for doing what’s right. For protecting what’s mine. You’re entitled to that. And there won’t ever be a time you aren’t.”

She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. God, she loved this man. Didn’t care if it was too soon. Didn’t care if she was being foolhardy for allowing herself to become involved in a relationship when she was on the run from a killer.

She wanted this. Wanted it with everything she had. And damn anyone who said or thought differently.

They were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. Cammie stiffened, coming fully awake, and Travis jerked up, his eyes wide and wary.

“Hey,” Donovan gently chided. “It’s okay, guys. Remember the tight security we have here? If my doorbell rings and I wasn’t alerted of someone coming through the gates, then whoever’s at the door is someone who lives here on the grounds. No one can access this place without me knowing about it.”

“Who is it?” Cammie asked anxiously.

Donovan smiled. “It’s likely one of my brothers or perhaps even one or more of their wives. They very much want to meet you.”

“’Kay,” Cammie said.

Travis scrambled up, standing nervously as Donovan got up to go to the front door. Eve couldn’t see from her angle who was there when Donovan opened the door. He stood talking a moment and then turned to walk back into the living room, a group of people following close behind.

There were four women, two holding infants, one holding the hand of a blond-haired little girl who looked to be Cammie’s age. And they all wore warm, welcoming smiles.

Eve hurried to her feet, standing as she waited for Donovan to make introductions. The affection in which he regarded the other women was evident in every aspect of his expression.

Cammie even got off the couch, looking curiously at the other little girl. Travis stood to the side, ill at ease. He wiped his hands down his pants in a gesture that told Eve he was as nervous as she was about meeting Donovan’s family.

These were the sisters-in-law that Garrett had mentioned. He’d said they’d want to come over to check Eve out for themselves. Give her their stamp of approval. What was it that Garrett had said? That they were all protective of the two unmarried Kelly brothers and they would want to see firsthand if Eve was good enough for Donovan.

Ugh. No pressure! No, not at all. It was all Eve could do not to run from the living room and barricade herself in the bedroom.

Though she and Donovan had made love in the room he’d given Eve—the one she’d initially shared with Cammie—he’d made it clear the morning after that he wanted her in his bed. In his bedroom.

Tonight, she’d share his bedroom with him. They’d sleep for the first time in his bed. He’d told her very matter-of-factly that no other woman had shared his bed in his home. Not this house. He’d told her that when he built this house, he had no intention of bringing any woman here if he wasn’t certain that she was the one.

What did it say about him that he’d insisted that Eve and her siblings move in with him after only meeting Eve on two occasions?

Sure, he’d said that things happened fast in his family. That he—and all his brothers—wasted no time once they met the woman they’d marry. But talking about it in the abstract and experiencing the lightning speed in which her and Donovan’s relationship had progressed were two vastly different things.

“Eve?”

Once again, Donovan caught her in the middle of her wayward thoughts. A habit she had to break of drifting off during important moments. She winced and immediately focused her attention on Donovan and the group of women all staring expectantly at her.

“Hello,” she said in a husky voice that she hoped didn’t betray her nervousness.

“Ladies, I want you to meet a very special woman. Eve. I also want you to meet Eve’s brother, Travis, and her younger sister, Cammie.”

He glanced down at the little blond-haired girl holding the hand of what had to be her mother, given the strong resemblance.

“Charlotte, Cammie is your age. I’m sure she’d love to have a new friend to play with. Think you’d mind sharing some of your toys with her?”

Charlotte beamed, displaying not one ounce of shyness. Here was a confident little girl, secure in the knowledge that she was adored and spoiled beyond reason and that her family would never allow anything bad to happen to her.

Eve’s heart ached because she wanted the same for Cammie. And maybe now she’d finally have the same security and innocence that Charlotte possessed. No, she’d never be as innocent as Charlotte, but hopefully she’d overcome her past and it wouldn’t follow her into adulthood. If Eve had anything to do with it at all, Cammie would never again know the fear and uncertainty that had plagued the first four years of her life.

Charlotte immediately went to where Cammie stood just behind Donovan. The entire time Donovan had performed the introductions, Cammie had edged closer and closer, finally slipping her hand into Donovan’s much larger one.