Page 10 of The One I Love

Cameron blew out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “I’m glad you’re not letting this impact your relationship. You guys are good together.”

“I didn’t say it won’t impact our relationship. It’s going to affect our ability to easily see each other.”

“You know what I mean.” Cameron kept his tone casual and offhand. He wasn’t about to meddle in his friend’s personal life, but he couldn’t help worrying about his sister. And Anson.

“I do know.” Anson’s expression turned thoughtful. “I’m seeing Eve tomorrow. We’ll come up with a plan to handle the fallout in a way that will minimize the damage to the launch of her cosmetics line.”

And your political future as well, Cameron added silently.

“You two will make it work,” Cameron said with more confidence than he felt.

“We’re going to give it our best shot.”

After Anson left, Cameron turned to June. “Why does that not reassure me?”

“They’re both strong, smart people. If anyone can survive this, it will be the two of them.” June expelled a heavy sigh. “I’m sad your sister has to face something like this.”

Cameron nodded, then changed the subject. “On the positive side, she and Anson gave you the first solid break you’ve had in your investigation.”

June smiled. “Yes. For the first time, I have hope, real hope, that we’ll be able to find the person who killed my sister.”

* * *

The next morning, Eve went to the penthouse to see her grandparents.

Her grandfather answered the door. Johnny Driskill wasn’t a particularly tall man, but he had a commanding presence. When people were in his company, they sat up and took notice. His pale blue eyes displayed intelligence and an unwillingness to suffer fools.

“Eve.”

Her name and that piercing gaze had her back stiffening. She’d barely stepped inside before the inquisition began.

“Tell me about Jason Evers.” Her grandfather’s gaze hardened.

“He was my boyfriend my freshman year in college.” Eve pushed the words past suddenly frozen lips. “I didn’t know he had… I never thought he would be someone who would—”

“The man is a scoundrel.” Johnny’s eyes held a malevolent gleam. “I’m going to personally make sure he knows that no one, absolutely no one, messes with my granddaughter.”

Eve’s relief was so immense that she flew into his arms, wrapped her arms around his wiry frame and burst into tears.

“There, there, girl. Don’t cry.” He awkwardly patted her shoulder.

After a long moment of receiving his comfort, Eve stepped back and swiped at her cheeks.

“I didn’t know he was videoing us, Pops.” It was important that her grandfather knew she wouldn’t have been that reckless. “Why would he do something like that?”

Putting the video up on the internet was horrible in itself, but knowing he’d secretly recorded them making love somehow seemed worse.

“No man worth his salt would do something like that.” A muscle in her grandfather’s jaw jumped. “Our attorneys are looking into this. When we get through with him, he’s going to wish he’d never met you.”

Gran, who’d been standing back with concern blanketing her face, took Eve’s arm and led her to the sofa. “Sweetheart, let’s sit. You look exhausted. Johnny, could you get Eve and me some coffee?”

“Maybe Eve would prefer a whiskey.” Her grandfather’s gravelly tone, accompanied by a wink, brought a smile to Eve’s lips.

“Coffee works,” she told Pops.

Hal sat beside her on the sofa, and Eve felt herself steady as she inhaled the comforting scent of her grandmother’s perfume. For the first time since she’d heard about the video, some of the tightness in her chest eased.

“I meant what I told Pops. I had no idea Jason had a camera running.” Eve expelled a shuddering breath. “Why would he do such a thing? He seemed like a good guy, from a nice family. I really liked him.”

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