(Cal’s POV)“Congratulations!” Bob’s face lit up with a triumphant smile as he handed me a crystal glass filled with a deep red liquid.When I did not answer, he followed the direction of my gaze. The two best friends were at the table; Eve, with her animated gestures, was engrossed in conversation with Bethany. Whatever they were talking about seemed to be a source of amusement for them. They were laughing at something… or maybe someone.“How’s Eve?” I asked, taking the glass from him.I had my eyes on Eve while sipping the wine. Before the event, I told Bob about her relationship with Marcus, but as expected, my cousin didn’t care about it. He said he was indebted to Bethany, not to Millicent or me.“That’s the consequence of you hiring someone immediately without checking the background,” he said annoyingly when I instructed him to fire Eve tonight. “I’m not firing anyone tonight. If you want, do it yourself.”Yes, I would do that tonight. Instead of offering her a contract, I woul
(Cal’s POV)Any sane woman would be terrified and look for help immediately. As expected, the children cried and dashed toward her. Isabella wrapped her arms around her waist, screaming in fear, but Eve remained calm. She bent her knees, putting the boy down and kissing the little girl’s head.“It’s okay, baby,” she assured calmly. “Stay here, okay?” she said, kissing the top of her head.A faint sigh escaped Eve’s mouth as she glanced at the older boy, struggling to breathe. He must be Cooper, the boy that Eve mentioned earlier. Diana has had asthma since she was a baby, and he looked like he was suffering from it.Eve turned around, squeezing her eyes shut and opening them as if waking herself up. Lisa, my late wife, would panic at this situation, but when Eve looked at me, a smile was plastered on her lips.“I’m so glad you insisted on taking me home, Mr. Barclay -”“Cal,” I corrected, giving her the bags.She took them immediately and crouched down, opening the bag tote bag simila
(Eve’s POV)Callahan pressed his mouth into mine, kissing me fiercely like he had been angry and hungry. I could not decide which of the two was the reason, but I was just glad he had satiated my cravings. He was the sweet dessert I had dreamed of tasting. He thrust his tongue into my parted lips, delving deeper and exploring my mouth. When he found my tongue, his demanding but sweet invitation told me he wanted more.This was definitely not a dream. I wrapped my arms around Callahan’s neck and pressed my breasts against his chest, wanting to feel his warm skin and think this was real. His hand was on the back of my head, pushing me toward him like he wanted to ensure I would not escape from him.I moaned and eagerly responded to the stroke and swirl of his tongue. If that night in the hotel was a dream, then Callahan did meet my expectations. He was indeed an expert kisser. Tension built up inside me as he kissed me harder, and then he groaned, breaking the kiss and grabbing my shoul
(Eve’s POV)“Marga!”Isabella cried excitedly as she saw Marga when I opened the front door.Theo and Isabella ran toward her, but my little boy seemed to have a brake on his feet, stopping before them. My daughter wrapped her arms around her waist and then pressed her ear to Marga’s belly as if she could hear the baby’s heartbeat.“Wow!” Bethany curled her lips. “I bought you breakfast the other day, brought you here, and I never got that excited hug from you.”Isabella giggled, easing back from Marga and puckering her lips as she hugged Bethany. “Thank you, Bethany. You’re the best!” Bethany lowered her head to get a sweet kiss from my daughter.“Thank you,” Theo murmured softly and moved closer to Marga and Bethany, kissing their cheeks.“Marga, Mom brought us to the supermarket today, and she bought us a looooootttt of stuff!” Isabella muttered excitedly, walking between my best friends as they entered the foyer.My daughter’s eyes sparkled as she moved her arms upward, gesturing
(Eve’s POV)“This host is making me unhappy,” Marga pouted as she sat at the quaint bistro chair. “Hmm…”She closed her eyes, a smile spreading across her face. She must have forgotten what she was previously complaining to Bethany when her bottom touched the cozy cushion on the seat. I pressed my lips, suppressing a laugh. Between them, Marga was easy to please, and I knew this seat made her feel happy.“Is there something in the foam of this cushion?” She giggled but pressed her lips together when she opened her eyes and saw our best friend frowning at her. “What?”Bethany rolled her eyes, and I was sure when she widened her eyes at her, it meant Marga should not change the topic because I could easily escape from it. As much as they wanted to ask about Callahan while we ate pasta, they could not do it because the children were there, except for Jessy. Rosie said her twin sister was talking to her friends on the phone and didn’t want to be disturbed.As if Rosie knew this moment wit
(Eve’s POV) “Huh? Ben?” Marga furrowed her forehead as she shifted her head slightly to the side to catch a glimpse of Jessy. “Who’s Ben?” I heard Wyatt asking. I parted my lips to tell him who Ben was in our lives, but the words got stuck in my throat. Ben and Marcus were like two peas in a pod. They were best friends. Tears welled in my eyes as I watched Jessy hugging the man my late husband had considered his brother. Ben turned towards me, his eyes red and filled with sadness. “Eve,” he muttered sadly, easing back from my daughter and opening his arms to me. My heart pounded hard, beating in excitement as I rushed forward, leaving my guests on the patio. Without a second thought, I threw my arms around him, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. This must be what Jessy felt when she saw Ben. There was an overflowing joy in my heart; seeing him again was like having Marcus around. Cupping my face, Ben murmured sadly, “I’m sorry, Eve. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you.
(Eve’s POV) “Then leave the decision to her,” Callahan snapped, cutting Wyatt. “Why are you so concerned about her welfare?” Ben snarled, looking at Callahan with frustration and confusion. “Grr!” I growled, raising my hands. They were making me dizzy, and my headache was becoming worse. I winced and shouted, “I’m the caretaker of this place. I’ll decide what to do with it.” There was silence for a few seconds, then suddenly Theo spoke. “Aunt Moira told Wyatt to look after us while she’s away,” he wriggled his body, and when Wyatt put him down, my eight-year-old son, who most of the time didn’t want to share his world with us, ran to his little sister. My lips parted, but a sigh escaped my mouth instead of words. I blinked, curiously stared at my son, and wondered how or what had changed. In his growing years, he rarely participated in our daily conversation. Although my son was not disabled, interacting with him was a bit challenging. Since we moved to Moira’s house, I had not
(Eve’s POV)“I thought I’d give birth seven months earlier when I heard Janna about that bowl,” Marga muttered, awed as she walked around my bedroom as if she was in a museum. “God! Everything about this place is old.”She stopped walking and sighed as she looked lovingly at my daughter.“Where did the time go? Why is she growing so fast?” She sat at the edge of the bed and reached for my daughter’s face. “She looked like you in so many ways, and I’m so glad Marcus spared you on this little one.”“I guess he did,” I chuckled and winced.I was glad Callahan had left the room. His concern about my family and me was confusing. He was not interested in me, but he was willing to waste money on the renovation and fixing of Moira’s mansion.Marga shifted on her seat and picked up the key-wound twin bell clock. Her eyes squinting as she studied the classic alarm clock.“So, how much is this one? A million?”I laughed and took it from her. “I bought it on sale. This is my wake-up partner.”“Oh
(Eve’s POV)“Where did all that energy come from, Eve?” Marga laughed warmly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she glanced at her. “Argh! I need to sit. Order for me, Beth.” She took a deep breath, savoring the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee that wafted through the air as they stepped into Tony’s Café.Although Bethany looked as drained as Marga, she chose not to say anything. She went straight to the counter without asking for our orders.My pregnant friend pulled a chair and moaned. “Ahh! This is heaven.”“Sitting down? Heaven?” I chuckled, sitting across from her. “We have one store to visit. You still need to check the -”“Ugh!” She shook her head. “Oh, please. No, thank you. I’d dreamt of this, and even in a dream, it’s tiring. Right now, what I need is a massage. So…” Her eyes sparkled as she changed the subject. “Was it a date?”“A date?” I shook my head and racked my brain quickly to give her a believable reason. “A date shouldn’t be with a visitor.”She nodded, agree
(Eve’s POV)I blinked rapidly, my gaze fixed on Wyatt at the dining table, laughing hard at Harry’s joke. I managed to force a laugh at something he said that wasn’t even funny. I managed to finish the main course, but I could hardly swallow the cupcake dessert.It must be my instinct, but something was off about him. After taking another sip of the wine he gave me, I rested my clenched fists in my lap, controlling the tension through my body. I plastered a smile, showing him I was okay because Harry kept glancing at me every time my lips touched the glass.A sudden wave of heat washed over me. Was it the lingering effects of last night's fever? I returned the wine glass to the table, picked up the water, and drank it slowly, my eyes darting to my phone, a silent plea for escape. I glanced at Wyatt, and even without words, we both knew we were in the same uncomfortable boat.I tilted my head, suddenly seeing Wyatt so attractive. My eyes began roaming from his gorgeous face down to his
(Eve’s POV)My children gasped when Cotton escaped Theo’s hold but giggled when they saw it approach me, walking between my legs and curling its tails as it meowed. When the kitten raised its head and met my eyes as if to say we had met again, I yelped and squeezed my eyes shut. This must be another dream.Isabella came to the rescue, picking up her pet. “Don’t be scared, Mommy. Cotton’s just greeting you,” she said, her eyes wide.A nervous chuckle escaped my mouth, and then I stared at Callahan, looking tired as if he had not slept a bit. He walked toward me after calling my kids to sit and eat breakfast.“What…” What are you doing here? I cleared my throat and changed my mind about asking him. Instead, I lifted my hand and pressed my palm on his forehead. “Are you okay?”Callahan grasped my hand and nodded. “I should be the one asking you that, Eve.”With wide eyes, I leaned forward and whispered, unconsciously saying, “You’re not supposed to come today.”He scoffed, releasing my ha
(Eve’s POV)I have an hour.“Cal…” I whispered his name, slipping my tongue between his lips.Callahan parted his lips for me and kissed me passionately, waking every part of my body. Slowly, he trailed my shoulders down to my wrists.A low growl escaped my throat, pushing my body against him. I must be sick… or maybe an addiction to him because whenever Callahan and I started touching each other, I couldn’t push him away or stop myself. I became a slave, letting him do whatever he wanted to do with me.The dampness between my legs and the heat crawling through my skin proved I wanted him now. I withdrew my hand from him, reaching the zipper of his pants and grasping his pulsing tool. My heart raced, feeling his already hard member. I moaned deliciously, feeling the tingling down my core. I was on fire!“Eve…” Callahan moaned, grabbing my hand and stopping me from pulling the zipper down.“How about we make that dream come true, Cal,” I whispered, taunting him.Callahan chuckled softl
(Eve’s POV)“What?” I hissed, irked that he had to remember that hot night. I didn’t even know how we ended up in my bedroom. All I remembered was offering him a coffee after tucking the kids to bed, but instead of heading to the front door, we were both like crazy couples, kissing and touching as we headed to my bedroom.I jerked, withdrawing my arm. This time, Callahan released me. “We had sex? That’s absurd. A nightmare!” I gritted my teeth,Callahan let out a sigh and said, “For you.”It should have been like rocketing fireworks in the sky, but it was an exploding firecracker for me, making me angrier at him.Tears welled in my eyes. “What am to you, Cal? Your daily dose of medicine? You think I solve your sex problem?”Because if I was, I guessed I had a problem in that department, too. As much as I wanted to stay away from Callahan, every time he touched me, my body responded. Positively! All the way! My body shivered in anger, but I couldn’t shout or scream. All this conversa
(Eve’s POV)Call me a cheater, but the very reason for repeating the day was to ensure I made the right decision and correct whatever mistake I made. This was not for me but for my kids. I would not leave them alone in this world with the wrong parent. Judge me, but no dying mother would want that.“Don’t go home yet,” Marga begged when I told them I was going home.I glanced at my phone screen and shook my head briefly. This is exactly what happened the first time. “Nope. You know that I have to cook for my children. Mommy duties,” I muttered firmly.Half lie. Half truth.I had to be home before Callahan could walk into the living room, give the cat to my children, and stop Isabella from loving my boss to the moon and back. Although Cotton was a cute Balinese kitten, and like my children, I also fell in love with the tiny feline, I still had to consider Cooper’s health.After a few minutes of convincing Bethany and Marga, they finally let me go. Before driving home, I set the alarm
(Eve’s POV)The cinema was almost empty, the early hour casting a strange, eerie vibe. I couldn’t tell if the tiny hairs on my skin were standing because the zombie was approaching the closet where the child was hidden or because of the cold. Had I known Bernard wanted to watch a movie, I would have brought a sweater. And then there was the fact that I couldn't scream, not without drawing unwanted attention from the staff. It was all so awkward.I grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into my mouth, my eyes on the large screen. I was so glad the movie was about to end.My eyes widened, and my heart hammered my chest, not because the zombie was a foot away from the closet but because of a warm hand on my knee. I chewed slowly, pretending I didn’t notice it, but when he leaned his head closer to mine, I couldn’t help but swallow the food in my mouth.I coughed briefly and was glad I chewed the popcorn well. It would be embarrassing if I choked on the popped kernels.Bernard breathe
(Eve’s POV)Perhaps dating a younger man like Bernard was a bad idea, I thought to myself.‘Stop, self!’ I told myself, sounding like a decade older than Bernard when I was only two years older than him. I sighed when I glanced at my phone screen, realizing my date was thirty minutes late.I crossed my legs, picked up the cup, which was almost empty, and looked outside the window of Shay’s restaurant.On my date with Bernard, I didn’t leave home early. I didn’t suspect the first time as I was too nervous and focused on my date with Ben, but when I saw my children earlier, I had to check the kitchen, which was messier than I imagined. The sink was overflowing with dishes, and the floor was scattered with crumbs. Still, I arrived on time at Shay’s and was still lucky to get the same spot as my date with Ben.“Finally!” I breathed, a mix of relief and annoyance washing over me as Bernard finally entered the restaurant. Despite the wait, I managed to keep my patience intact. I had to meet
(Eve’s POV)“Faster!” I moaned, my voice hushing beautifully across the room while my fingernails dug into Callahan’s skin.“My pleasure,” Callahan smiled, thrusting into my core deeper, faster.The bliss of too much pleasure made my toes curl, and I screamed, crying his name. Then… I gasped, my brows furrowing when he suddenly stopped and looked closer at me, shaking my shoulders.“Mommy! Mommy!” cried Isabella.“Huh?” I groaned when I heard my daughter’s cry. I opened my eyes and blinked confusedly at the same ceiling I was staring at while Callahan buried his heavy and massive manhood inside me. My body jerked at the small hands, shaking my shoulders and pulling my arms.“Mommy!” Theo screamed, grasping my right arm hard with his hands.My heart hammered my chest as I met three pairs of eyes, round and scared, looking at me.“Mommy, are you okay?” Cooper asked worriedly.“Huh?” I swallowed hard, blinking again and quickly processing what happened last night. I closed my eyes, brea