After the Storm (KGI #8)(85)

Her thumb automatically went to her mouth as she stared shyly back at Charlotte.

“Hi, Cammie,” Charlotte chirped. “We’re going to be best friends. And my mama says you’ll be my cousin!”

Cammie smiled, warming instantly to the other child, and how could she not? No one could possibly look at Charlotte and not be won over instantly.

Donovan turned his attention to Eve, motioning her forward to stand beside him. He slipped an arm around her waist and looked at his sisters-in-law.

“Eve, these are my sisters-in-law Sophie—she’s Charlotte’s mom—and Rachel; she’s married to Ethan and the twin boys are hers. You already met Garrett. This is his wife, Sarah. She’s expecting their first child in eight or so months. Sophie is also pregnant with her second child and is due a little before Sarah. And last but certainly not least, there’s Shea, Nathan’s wife. He’s the youngest of my brothers.”

Eve’s eyes widened as she glanced at the petite woman Donovan had introduced as Shea.

“I’m very glad to meet all of you,” Eve said sincerely. “Donovan has talked so much about you that I feel like I already know you.

“We’re very pleased to finally meet you, Eve,” Rachel said quietly.

Of all the women, she seemed the quietest. Well, and Sarah seemed to be shyer as well. While Sophie and Shea seemed more outgoing. But after hearing of all that Rachel had endured, Eve couldn’t blame her for being more subdued. How hellish to endure an entire year in captivity and not to be able to remember her family or her husband.

After hearing Donovan describe how all his brothers had met their wives—in less-than-ideal situations—Eve studied them closely now, comparing the image she’d built in her mind to the reality of them standing a few feet away.

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the women seemed perfectly normal. Just like average, everyday women, even if they had endured extraordinary events. It gave her hope for her own life and how normal it could be once the threat to her and her siblings was eliminated. She just prayed that Donovan’s confidence that he and his brothers could handle any situation was truth.

“Donovan is very important to us all,” Sophie interjected. “We’d despaired of him ever finding a woman to settle down with and have the brood of children he’s always wanted. So we’re very glad to meet the woman who brought him down. Next to Maren, you have our utmost admiration.”

Eve cocked her head, uncertain what the last had meant.

Sarah chuckled, speaking up for the first time. “Maren brought down the ice man. Steele. He’s one of the KGI team leaders. Total and complete badass. We never thought we’d see the day he’d fall head over ass for a woman, much less be carrying around a baby!”

“Oh,” Eve said, frowning a bit as she thought back to when she’d met Maren and Steele.

She hadn’t paid a whole lot of attention to Steele, but she supposed she could understand where the others were coming from. He did look intimidating and daunting. It would take a special woman to bring out his tender side. Supposing he even had one. Maybe Maren was a badass in her own right and stood up to Steele.

“We also wanted to see what else you needed,” Sophie said. “We gathered up some clothes, but we didn’t have a lot of notice and we’d like to get what you need as well as what Travis and Cammie need. She and Charlotte are about the same size, but I don’t want her to just get hand-me-downs. If Donovan will let you out of his sight for a few hours, we could take you shopping so you could get clothing for all of you.”

Donovan frowned at that. “Not going to happen, sweetheart. I know you mean well, but there is no way in hell I’m letting Eve out of my sight or out from underneath my protection, and I damn sure don’t want you ladies to risk yourselves by going out in public with her. Not only would my brothers kick my ass, but they’d never go for it either.”

The women looked crestfallen and Donovan immediately shook his head.

“No puppy-dog eyes. Especially you, Rachel. I know you’re used to batting those pretty eyes at me and I’ll do damn near anything to keep you from pouting, but this is a serious matter. The risk is too great.”

“But she needs stuff, Van,” Sophie protested. “You can’t keep her under lock and key forever!”

Eve stifled a smile at how vehement the women were in their defense of her. But she agreed with Donovan. Furthermore, she had no desire to leave the security of the compound. The outside world couldn’t touch her here and she was happy about that.

“That’s why online shopping was invented,” Donovan said with a grin. “I’ll turn you girls loose with my credit card and y’all can go to town.”

Shea brightened at that. “Oh, I’m the queen of Internet shopping. I hate going to the mall or even to the store because I never know when I’ll pick up someone’s random thoughts, and it can be overwhelming when I’m trying to shop and I’m hearing something someone doesn’t want the world to know.”

She shuddered delicately and the other women looked at her in sympathy. Eve stared at her, utterly perplexed. Shea’s eyes widened as she stared back at Eve.

“You don’t know, do you?” Shea asked.

“Know what?” Eve asked, feeling like she was missing a huge piece of a puzzle that everyone else had already put together.