Release!: A Walker Brothers Novel (The Walker Brothers #1)(26)

“Let’s take some of this stuff to your room,” I suggested in a hoarse voice as I stood. I needed a distraction or I was going to lose it.

“It’s too much, Trace. I realize that I have to wear the ring, but the other stuff…” she threw her hands up in the air.

I grinned because I had to. What woman didn’t want to accept gifts?

Only Eva.

And she wondered why I trusted her? Granted, it was more gut instinct than proof, but I would stake my life on the fact that she wasn’t guilty of her supposed crimes. My gut had never steered me wrong. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take away the pain she’d suffered in the past. But I was going to give her a better future, even if I had to fight her to do it.

I’d win.

I always did.

“You’re taking it or you’re fired.” I tried to make my tone firm.

She was adorable when she put her hands on her hips, and she lifted her chin stubbornly. “You won’t fire me.”

Nope. I wouldn’t. It would kill me not to know where she was and how she was doing. But I didn’t say that. “Don’t tempt me,” I grumbled.

“I’d like to go shopping tomorrow. I’d like to buy something for your brothers for Christmas. Can I borrow one of your fancy cars?”

I didn’t give a damn if she took any one she wanted, and it didn’t escape my notice that she hadn’t agreed to accept my gifts, but she would. I was fine with her doing whatever made her happy. Except it meant that I’d be alone in the house, and the idea didn’t appeal to me at all. I’d planned to go to the office early in the mornings, and then get back home in the afternoons. The ball had already been set into motion to investigate exactly why Eva had been in jail, and to view the supposed evidence. I was going to do whatever it took to right the wrongs that had been done to her as soon as possible.

“I’ll go with you,” I answered, resigned. “I haven’t bought things for my brothers either.”

Fuck! I hated shopping. I usually left all Christmas gifts to my employees.

“Where is your tree?” Eva looked at me hopefully.

“My employees haven’t put it up yet.” But they would. Because my family was coming, I’d eventually have a Christmas tree. It was another one of those things that just appeared without me thinking about it.

Her horrified expression was almost amusing. “You can’t let your employees put up your tree. It should be a tradition,” she answered emphatically.


“I’m alone. What does it matter?” Most years I didn’t even bother with a tree at home.

“It matters. I always had some kind of tree, even if I had to find one that was discarded and put it up with homemade decorations.”

My gut rolled just at the thought of Eva underage and so damn alone, hungry and afraid. If her mother wasn’t already dead, I’d be tempted to kill the bitch myself. “The tree will get put up eventually.”

“Or we could pick our own and put it up ourselves.”

Her tone was so damn hopeful that I was completely destroyed. I’d give her everything she ever needed and more. “If you wish,” I agreed.

Nothing had ever felt better than having Eva hurl herself at me and put her arms around my neck, pressing her entire cuddly body against mine. My arms wrapped around her automatically to steady her after her precarious dive into my harder form.

“Thank you, Trace,” she said tearfully. “It would be amazing to put a tree in this house. It will look incredible. I haven’t truly been able to decorate a normal tree for such a long time, since Dad died.”

Such a small thing, with such a big response. It was almost humbling how easily I could make her happy. It was also distressing. If a simple Christmas tree could make her happy, it told the story of how difficult her life had really been.

“We’ll get a really big tree,” I grumbled, rubbing a hand on her back. I wasn’t sure if I was consoling her or trying to sooth my anger.

“Everything worthwhile doesn’t have to be big.” She pulled back slightly and smiled.

Yeah, I’m an *, but I couldn’t resist. I grinned at her. “Sometimes it’s much more enjoyable if it’s big enough.”

She understood immediately, just like I knew she would. Giving my arm a smack, she answered cheekily as she rolled her eyes, “Pervert. Is everything all about getting laid with you?”

Hell, yes. It had been since I met her. I’ve never met a woman who could make me run around hard all the f*cking time. Yep…pretty much all I could think about was being inside her again. “Pretty much.”

Eva’s delighted laughter filled the room, and I felt my heart pounding erratically against the wall of my chest. Jesus! There was nothing better than hearing her sound young and carefree. I wished I could make everything like that for her all the time. She was young, but she’d never had much to smile about. Still, she could laugh at little things, stuff I didn’t even think about.

“Do you get the newspaper?” Laughter was still there in her voice.

I shrugged. “I probably do.” It appeared when I wanted it, so I assumed I did get the paper.

“You don’t know?”

“No. It’s usually on the table in the morning. So I guess it gets delivered. Why do you want it?”