Sins from Her Past (Scandalous) (21 page)

Vin took one of his hands, gripped her hair in the back and tugged until she tilted her head. His mouth immediately went to her exposed throat and traveled down to her breasts. She arched into his mouth as he captured one taut peak. The way her body was bowed only made her hips rock faster at the deeper penetration.

Her knees tightened against his sides as her climax began to build. She cried out as Vin continued making love to her breasts and his hand traveled down her abdomen to ease between where their bodies joined. With just the right amount of pressure from his thumb, Evelyn came.

Jerking against him, she let out a slow groan. Before she finished, Vin was jerking his own hips and pulling her face back to his for another powerful, intense kiss.

By the time their tremors had ceased, Evelyn was exhausted, sweaty and sore from straddling his lap for so long. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

“I’m sorry you had a nightmare,” he murmured against her ear. “But I love making love to you in the middle of the night.”

She smiled. “You like making love in the middle of the afternoon.”

His soft chuckle vibrated his chest. “True. Anytime I can get my hands on you is a plus. Which is why you should just move in with me.”

Evelyn lifted her head. This invitation wasn’t news, she’d known what path they were traveling down.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “I mean, making love a lot and hanging out is one thing, but sharing bills and household chores is another.”

Vin grinned, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “I’d love dividing toilet bowl cleaner with you.”

Okay, she may be a little warped in the brain, but that was seriously one sweet declaration.

“I must be out of my mind because that clinched the deal for me,” she told him.

“So I should’ve bought you toilet bowl cleaner a long time ago to get you here?”

Evelyn groaned. “I’m pretty sure we’re gonna make this relationship work.”

“I hope so, but why do you say that now?”

She eyed him. “Because you’re still inside me and we’re discussing toilets. We obviously have a sick relationship.”

He kissed her nose and hugged her tight. “It works perfectly for me.”

For her too…so long as the truth he’d learned tonight was enough to pacify him for the rest of their lives.

Chapter Eighteen

She’d been raped.

Those words kept replaying, along with a nightmarish visual, through Vin’s mind. He couldn’t concentrate on work, couldn’t concentrate on the fact his dream resort would be opening in only a few short weeks.

All he could think of is the misery, the hell Evelyn had gone through after her parents’ deaths at the hands of someone she’d trusted. And since Vin hadn’t been in her life then, he had no way of knowing who the bastard was.

On one hand he wanted to know, but on the other he didn’t. If he found out who laid a finger on Evelyn and forced her into sex, stealing her virginity, Vin had no idea what he’d do to the bastard. More than likely he’d land in jail…Vin, not the rapist. Because Vin was damn near sure he’d kill the low-life scum.

Vin was ready to pick Dylan up so they could get Rick out of the house while Alan and Evelyn put the finishing touches on the party. He was excited she had something else to keep her mind off their intense conversation two nights ago. He wanted her to relax, have fun and surround herself with people who cared about her, loved her.

For now Vin would let the matter drop. He’d meant it when he’d said they needed to look forward to the future and let the past go. But he would never stop trying to uncover the whole truth. Because even though she wouldn’t reveal her attacker’s name, Vin knew from her body language that she was hiding something else and protecting this asshole for some asinine reason.

And that right there—if she didn’t trust him enough to reveal the rest of the truth—was going to drive an invisible wedge between them.

When Evelyn arrived at Rick’s house, he had already been picked up by Dylan and Vin. Alan had supposedly kept him from the ballroom so the caterer could get in and start setting up. Now Evelyn and Alan were supposed to work on decorating tables and arranging chairs. The DJ should be arriving soon, which would add another person to the large room. Thank God. Evelyn wasn’t looking forward to this next hour and a half of strained conversation. Perhaps she could avoid him altogether and just ignore him. But his ego was too oversized to take the hint.

Evelyn smoothed a hand down her red satin dress and entered the ballroom. A long row of tables was set up along the back wall where two members from the catering company were busily setting up ice buckets and warming trays.

She went to the side door where she’d parked her car and propped the double doors open. Thankfully Alan was nowhere in sight as she started to unload from her car boxes of table linens, candles and glass holders for the candles.

After her third trip, she’d managed to get it all inside before Alan came into the ballroom. Perfect timing. She certainly didn’t want him offering to help her. She’d rather walk over broken glass barefoot than to accept anything Alan Carter had to offer.

“Evelyn,” Alan said, smiling as he crossed the room, “you’re looking stunning tonight.”

Was this jerk for real? Did he think putting on an act around other people would make him look less of an arrogant asshole? Other people may buy into his pretty boy act—son of a state senator, perfectly parted hair—but she didn’t. It actually made her sick to think that at one time she totally trusted him as much as she did Dylan and Vin.

“I’m going to work on the table linens if you want to rearrange the chairs.” She turned her back to him, surprised when he grabbed her arm to turn her around to face him. “Get your hand off me unless you want to cause a scene,” she whispered between clenched teeth.

He kept his hand in place and sneered at her, “Playing the ice bitch is really getting old, Evie. There’s no reason to be ugly.”

She jerked from his grasp and glanced around the room to the two caterers who were paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to them.

“I’m getting ready for a party, which I could use your help with. I assumed you would be helping since you orchestrated this whole ordeal to get me alone.” She laughed at his narrowed eyes. “Oh, did you think I was still naïve, Alan? Did you assume I wouldn’t catch on to your little game?”

“It’s no game,” he snarled. “You know how I feel about you. Why can’t you see that we have something?”

Silence settled between them and she realized he was serious. “Dear God, Alan, you’re sicker than I thought. The only thing we have between us is a possible lawsuit and charges. Are you willing to risk pissing me off?”

“You don’t have a leg to stand on,” he said, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. “Nobody would believe you over me, there’s no evidence except your warped memories and you wouldn’t risk hurting my father over your selfishness.”

“My selfishness?” she asked, trying to keep her voice down. “You’re unbelievable.”

Before he could say another word, the doorbell rang.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. “I’ll get that. Why don’t you do something that won’t make you look like more of an ass.”

Without waiting for him to say a word, because whatever he had to say was just wasted air in her opinion, she went to the door. The DJ had arrived and once Evie got him squared away where he could set up, she continued unloading her boxes and decorating the tables.

Evelyn refused to let Alan ruin her plans. He’d ruled enough of her life over the last nine years, she wasn’t going to give him any more.

A bit of giddiness bubbled inside. The rest of her life she fully intended to devote to Vin. The man who loved her, no matter what heavy baggage she carried. He’d claimed more than once he’d carry it all for her.

Thankfully Alan left her alone. He was more than likely pouting or plotting. Right now she didn’t care. All that mattered was Rick. She glanced at her watch and noted the guests would be arriving any minute. She carried her empty boxes back out to her car, which was parked on the side where Rick wouldn’t see it.

Evelyn had hired a couple of valets to park the cars in the spacious yard around back. Rick would never know. She’d never thrown a surprise party before, but she was loving this one. She absolutely couldn’t wait to see his face.

The DJ started working on his music, playing different volumes, testing the speakers. The caterers had nearly everything set up and Evelyn glanced around the room, pleased with how this didn’t look too fussy. The room said party, fun and classy, but not over the top.

The tables were draped with navy linen. She’d accented each table with tall pewter bases for the fat, white candles. Bold, simple, elegant.

The DJ found a good mix and on the third song the guests started trickling in. Evelyn greeted them. Most she knew, a few she didn’t. By the time Rick’s assistant arrived, Evelyn was starting to feel more confident about tonight. They’d managed to pull off a party without Rick having any idea, since his birthday wasn’t for another month, and she was quite secure and happy in her relationship with Vin.

Happiness could be hers—all she had to do was reach out and grab it with both hands, instead of leaving one of those hands in the past.

“Dylan’s car just pulled up,” a guest announced to the crowd.

The DJ lowered the volume of the music and everyone’s attention turned toward the door. Evelyn moved toward the closed double doors and anxiously waited. Male voices mixed together on the other side of the door and Evelyn could tell they were getting closer. She turned the knob on one of the doors while another guest turned the other one.

When she heard Dylan’s code word, she and the other guest pulled the doors open and everyone yelled “surprise” as Rick entered the room. Evelyn watched as he laughed, hugged guests, then looked around the room. When his eyes landed on her, his smile widened.

Evelyn went into his welcoming arms and relished the familiar squeeze. “Happy birthday.”

“It’s not for four more weeks,” he said over the noise of the people and music. “You finally managed to take me by surprise. I had no idea you all were planning this.”

Evelyn leaned back to look at his face. “We didn’t want you to guess so we decided to do it early.”

“You didn’t need to do anything for me,” he told her. “But I won’t turn down cake.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Always the sweet tooth, huh? Don’t worry. There’s plenty of cake. I made sure the caterers knew your love of buttercream icing.”

Rick’s eyes darted around the room and came back to hers. “Where’s Alan?”

Evelyn looked around too. Dylan was talking with one of the waitstaff, more than likely getting her phone number, and Vin was over with the DJ, leaning in, probably trying to give directions over the loud music. But Alan wasn’t to be found.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for a while,” she told Rick. “I’m sure he’s here and there’re just too many people. He was helping me set up.”

If harassing and helping were in the same family.

“Why don’t you go mingle,” she told Rick. “I’ll find him for you.”

Rick gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and disappeared into the crowd. Evelyn searched again for Vin and saw him heading her way.

“Have you seen Alan?” she asked once Vin reached her.

“Not since I came in. Why?”

Evelyn glanced through the crowd again. “Rick didn’t see him and I haven’t seen him once these tables were set up. It’s like he disappeared.”

Vin’s eyes darted around too. “I’m sure he’s here. He’s not going to miss his father’s birthday party.”

Dylan came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Well done, sis. The place is amazing.”

Evelyn glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Thanks. I’m just relieved we pulled this off. I couldn’t have done it without your help.”

“Well, once he knew Dylan was buying stock in my resort, Rick was intrigued enough to want to know more.” Vin smiled. “All I had to do was mention the plans and we went to the office and looked everything over. I was afraid we’d be late in getting back because he had so many questions and wanted to know about future projects.”

Evelyn laughed. “That’s Rick. Always looking ahead.”

“Where’s Alan?” Dylan asked.

“We’ve been wondering the same thing,” Vin answered. “Rick was looking for him and Evelyn said she hadn’t seen him for a while either.”

“Maybe we should look through the rest of the house,” Dylan suggested.

As much as she’d rather eat marbles followed by scalding water, Evelyn nodded in agreement.

“I’ll look around outside,” Evelyn offered, thinking that would be the least likely place to find him.

“I’ll walk through the ballroom once more to make sure,” Dylan offered. “Vin, why don’t you try the living room and kitchen.”

Evelyn wondered what would make Alan miss his father’s surprise party, but in all honesty, she was glad he’d vanished. The way he still looked at her gave her the creeps. Even though she wasn’t an innocent, naïve sixteen-year-old anymore, she was still leery of being alone with the man.