Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel) (26 page)

“Eve …”

“Stop! I can’t … I’m sorry.”

She ran past them, out of the studio, across the lawn and into the garage. She blindly grabbed her keys off their hook and slipped behind the wheel of her Jag. It roared to life, drowning out Adam and Lainey’s shouts. She had to get out of there. Somewhere deep down she hated herself for being so weak and running instead of facing her problems, but she felt so completely unbalanced. She honestly didn’t know if she could deal with this. At least not now. Not so soon after what they had just been through. She has had enough. Her entire life it’s been one thing after another, and she has had enough.

“Let me go up first.” Adam parked next to Eve’s Jag in the garage of her gallery. He turned to Lainey and placed a hand on hers. “She’s not going to like this, you know.”

“I know.” Lainey was nervous. She took the time waiting for her parents to come over to Eve’s to watch Bella, and driving into the city to try to come up with the right words to say to Eve. “This is what’s best, right?”

Adam nodded. He was sure this was right, but that didn’t mean it would be easy for Eve to accept.

Lainey sighed. “Okay. Text me when you’re ready for me to come up.”

“Just give me five minutes, then make your way up. She’ll need to see you.”

She touched his forearm to stop him as he started to get out of the car. “Adam …”

He shook his head.

He found Eve sitting in a corner, staring at Lainey’s display. She had kept it in tact, having Lainey make only minor changes here and there, since the re-opening of the gallery. Damn, she looked so young and scared, hugging her legs and resting her chin on her knees. She had been crying, and the sight ruined him. He knelt in front of her, noting that it took a few seconds for her to focus on him.

“Eve, beautiful, are you okay?” His heart plummeted when she shook her head weakly. “Did you run because you were afraid to hear what I had to say?”

Eve nodded, still saying nothing.

“I won’t take her away from you, baby,” he told her softly, and she looked up at him, a small spark of hope forming in her eyes. “I can’t do that to you, or to us. I need to trust you and Lainey. I think I can do that.”

Eve frowned in confusion. “
You can
?”

“He knows I would never do anything to jeopardize your love for each other,” Lainey said quietly, stooping beside Adam and placing a hand on her arm.

Eve stiffened, looking to Adam for any sign of anger. When she saw nothing but compassion, she relaxed.

“What changed?” Eve’s voice was hoarse from crying, and she winced from the sound.

Adam reached behind him, taking envelopes out of his pocket. Eve’s eyes widened when she saw what they were.

“You read them?!” She looked over at Lainey. Betrayal neared the surface, but she just didn’t have the strength to let it through. She closed her eyes again, laying her chin back on her knees.

Adam caught Lainey’s attention. They made a non-verbal agreement that this was not the time to approach Eve with what they thought she needed.

“Baby, you’re exhausted and you’ve been through hell. Let’s go home.” Eve looked up at him again, then over to Lainey. “Lainey will drive you home in the Jag, and I’ll follow.”

Once again, surprise flickered in her eyes.

“I told you, beautiful, I’m not taking her from you. We’ll discuss it more later, but I need you to understand that I’m trusting you.”

A tear escaped, much to Eve’s dismay. He’s not making her give Lainey up. She didn’t deserve him, but she thanked God for him.

Adam stood, holding his hand out to Eve. She grasped it, and he lifted her to her feet. “I care for Lainey, too, baby,” he said close to her ear. “I know she wants the best for you, as do I. We’ll get through this. I promise.”

They walked down to the garage, and Adam deposited Eve into the passenger seat of her Jaguar. He reached in and strapped the seatbelt around her, then squeezed Lainey’s hand before kissing Eve’s lips gently.

“I’ll see you at home.”

He closed her in, knowing she was in good hands. Lainey wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and after their talk and the letters, he knew he could trust them both.

Eve would spend the rest of her life showing Adam and Bella that she deserves them and their trust. Knowing that Lainey would be there to help her, only strengthened that resolve. She didn’t know how she could ever thank both Adam and Lainey for being there for her throughout the most difficult times of her life, but she was glad she was going to have the chance to figure it out.

Inspiration will return, she was sure of it. She didn’t know when, or if this sadness that was so deep down she didn’t know how to get to it, would go away. But, she was ready to focus on a drama free—or at least murder free—life with the people she loved the most.

Seven months later …

“Eve, honey? Where do you want this?”

Eve turned to where Lainey held up a creative sculpture from a local artist. The lines and curves gave the piece a sexy feel to it, and Eve liked it.

“I think up front so that it’s one of the first sculptures to be seen. Perhaps next to the ‘Evolution of Eve’.” She grinned, as always, when she thought of that sculpture. Why not? She felt as though she has been through an evolution of her own. Here she was in California, with Lainey, setting up her new gallery. Adam would be there in a few hours to put finishing touches to the main display area, as well as making sure everything else was just perfect.

On a good day, she could put everything that happened with Laurence and Billy out of her mind, and pretend it never happened. She didn’t always have a good day, but it was getting easier. Eve glanced up towards the offices, knowing Bella was up there with Lexie, and smiled. Yes, it was getting easier. She had a lot to be happy about these days, and she was determined to do just that.

“Good morning!” Blaise waltzed in bearing gifts of Ellie’s coffee and croissants. Eve decided then that Blaise was definitely someone she liked. “Oh, wow! It’s starting to look so amazing in here!”

Eve took the coffee that Blaise held out to her. “Thank you.”

Lainey joined them, graciously accepting the to-go cup from Blaise. “There are so many talented artists here in LA,” she commented, looking around the gallery that held similarities to the one in New York, but also had its own flair. It was Eve’s way of having any type of continuity in her life. Lainey had always wondered about the reasoning for that, but never got around to asking Eve. Maybe one day. “Including you, Blaise. Your flower arrangements are amazing.”

Blaise offered a shy smile. “Thank you. It’s always easier to be creative when you love what you do. I’m sure you both understand that.”

“Hmm.” Eve took a sip of her coffee in lieu of replying. She figured it wasn’t something Blaise necessarily wanted a response to, so she changed the subject. “How are things with Mr. Steele?”

“Ugh, the man is infuriating!”

Eve and Lainey exchanged a look before laughing.

“Men can certainly be infuriating. Especially …”

“Stop right there,” Blaise warned Lainey. “I get enough of that from Ellie.” She popped a piece of croissant into her mouth, hiding her slightly annoyed grin. “Your flowers for the opening are going to be beautiful.”

“Nice segue,” Eve teased. “But, I’m excited to see them.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to see what I’m doing first?”

“I’m sure. I’ve seen enough of your work to know they’ll be perfect.”

Blaise beamed at her. “Well, I thank you. And, on that note, I suppose I need to get to the shop. Keep up the great work!” She called as she walked out. Blaise waved through the front window, causing Lainey and Eve to smile.

“She’s nice.”

“Mmhmm.” Eve moved to the display Lainey had finished earlier. It was as magnificent as the one in New York, and Eve—no matter how much she fought it—felt a pang of jealousy.
Damn it
.

“Eve …”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Lainey. Please?”

“Okay, honey. That’s fine. But, you know I’m here if you need me.”

“I know.” Eve gave her a small smile. “I’m glad you are here. I couldn’t imagine doing this without you.”

Lainey grinned. “I hope not. Mikey, by the way, is still a little miffed that he couldn’t be here.”

“Someone needed to run the gallery back home. He’ll get over it.”

Eve winked at her, and Lainey’s heart smiled. Eve had kept herself guarded since what happened, allowing only a small amount of emotion, or even playfulness, to show. Unless she was with Bella, Eve rarely showed that carefree side. Both Adam and Lainey missed it greatly.

“I’m sure he will, but I bet he would’ve like to be here for the opening.”

“Well, I hope so, since I’m flying him and his mother out for the event.”

“Oh, Eve! That’s wonderful! He’s going to be so excited!”

Eve lifted a shoulder as though it wasn’t a big deal, but she really did hope he would be excited. He had been a trooper throughout this whole ordeal, Eve figured he deserved at least this much. Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts, and she grinned at the ringtone.

“Hello,
amant
.”

Adam didn’t even try to hold back the groan that stemmed from hearing her sexy voice. They had been apart for four days since he had to fly back to New York to take care of things at his own office. He missed her like crazy.

“Hey, beautiful. I just landed, so I’m on my way.”

“You’re here?” Eve’s grin grew into a full-fledged, mega-watt, totally Eve smile. “Finally.”

Adam cleared his throat, shifting in his seat in the back of the town car. He could imagine her smile, hear her sensuous voice that dropped an octave when she spoke to him, and knew whatever she was wearing—which was probably jeans since she was setting up the gallery, and his favorite—she looked amazing. He couldn’t wait to get to her.

“How’s our baby girl?”

Eve chuckled at Adam’s obvious change of subject. “She’s perfect as always. Lexie is teaching her about the sounds that animals make today. Wait until you hear her ‘moo’.”

Adam laughed. “Moo, huh? I can’t wait. How’s Lainey?”