Page 58 of His Billion-Dollar Takeover Temptation

She whirled around and walked out of her room, her head held high. Each click of her heels on the hardwood amped up her confidence.

Tonight would be her first time seeing Adrian since their disastrous parting in the hospital chapel. Hopefully, it would also be her last. She’d write him a letter next month, with proof of her pregnancy, ensure he understood that he was off the hook and then continue on with her life.

Her dad whistled as she walked down the stairs.

“You look beautiful.” Wistfulness tinged his smile as held out an arm. “Your mother would be proud of the woman you’ve become.”

Everleigh returned his smile. “I hope so, Dad.”

If she could be even a tenth of the mother to her child that her mom had been to her, then she would consider herself lucky.

The drive to Fox’s tasting room and the attached newly constructed event venue took less than five minutes. The parking lot was already flooded with everything from Porsches to rusty pick-up trucks. She’d insisted that all of Fox’s employees be invited to the gala, something Jade and the marketing team back in Granada had heartily endorsed.

The venue had been designed to look like a white barn with evergreen trim. The double doors were thrown open, with wine barrels standing guard on either side topped with pots overflowing with geraniums, azaleas and red carnations—a nod to Spain’s national flower. Inside, the rafters were draped in lights that created a warm glow. The far side of the barn had been constructed from glass and overlooked the north acres of Fox Vineyards, now lit with a breathtaking reddish-yellow glimmer from the setting sun.

Everleigh had collaborated with Calandra’s assistant to hire in outside waitstaff, so all the Fox employees could truly enjoy the evening. Servers moved among the guests, offering glasses of Fox’s Chardonel and Cabrera’s Merlot.

Her dad squeezed her hand. “Truly magnificent, Everleigh. You’re going to lead Fox on to great things.”

She’d started to smile and thank him when the temperature of the air went from cool and relaxed to sizzling hot. Her spine straightened, and before she could stop herself she whipped her head around.

Adrian stood in the doorway, power and confidence etched into his broad shoulders. He spoke with the young woman next to him—a beautiful redhead dressed in a poison-green gown that clung to every sensuous curve. Well, aside from the folds that fell away from the generous expanse of thigh revealed by the slit in the skirt.

Adrian said something to the woman that made her laugh, one hand going to her slender throat and the other coming to rest on Adrian’s arm.

Jealousy and agony clashed inside Everleigh’s chest, squeezing her lungs until she could barely breathe. The father of her child, the only man she’d ever loved, had found someone else in less than a week. Any romantic notions she’d seen in Adrian’s face, felt in his touch when he’d taken her to bed, had clearly been imagined by her own desire.

“Everleigh?”

Her father had followed her line of sight, and he frowned when he saw her looking at Adrian. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

Somehow she stretched her lips into a smile. “No. Why?”

He looked between her and Adrian, his frown deepening, his eyes suspicious. “So there’s nothing going on between you and Adrian?”

“No,” she answered. “He’s attractive, but we have nothing in common. Besides, he lives in Spain and my home is here.”

She was dancing around the truth. There would most definitely be a reckoning when she shared with him who the father of his grandchild was, but for tonight she needed to pretend that Adrian Cabrera was a generous business acquaintance who had given her father the chance of a longer life and Fox the gift of another chance at success.

Before her dad could ask any further questions, she kissed him on the cheek and plunged into the crowd, putting as much distance between her and Adrian as possible. She’d have to see him again later that night, when he joined them on stage to deliver the speech his public relations department had crafted. But until then, the less she saw of him, the better.

Her hand drifted to her stomach once more. Pain threatened to choke her and send her into another fit of crying. If today was any indicator, she was going to be very weepy throughout her pregnancy. And seeing the father of her child, the man she loved, was not helping her errant emotions in the slightest.

She walked up to the bar and ordered sparkling apple cider. As the bartender handed her the glass, a shadow fell over her.

“Everleigh, right?”

The Spanish accent lingering beneath the words put her on alert. She glanced up to see a bear of a man with the same dark hair and deep blue eyes as Adrian grinning at her.

“Yes,” she replied coolly. “And you are...?”

“Alejandro Cabrera. The middle brother.”

She raised her glass to him. “Nice to meet you. I hope you’re enjoying the party.”

She started to walk off. She’d had enough Cabreras to last a lifetime. But Alejandro grabbed her hand.

“Before you run off, I have some questions for you. About Fox and the direction you’re going to take it in.”

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