Sinful

by Joan Johnston

  “You have no right to keep Pippa at some remote ranch in the mountains, especially with that wolf you keep for a pet in the house at night,” Matt said. “She needs—”

  He cut himself off, and Eve realized that he’d almost blurted that Pippa needed to be making regular visits to her obstetrician.

  Pippa’s face had bleached white, and she’d instinctively put a protective hand over her belly, where her baby was growing. Eve wondered if anyone except her knew what the gesture meant.

  “Please, Daddy,” she said as she looked up at him. “I’m where I want to be.”

  Matt lowered his voice, but his tone was even more stringent. “Come home, Pippa. You need to be with your family.”

  “She is with family,” Devon said in a quiet voice. “Sit down and stop making an ass of yourself. Pippa’s old enough to decide what she wants to do with her life.”

  Eve was astonished at Devon’s defiant response. She watched Matt’s eyes narrow as Devon laid a protective hand on Pippa’s shoulder.

  “Get your hands off of her,” Matt snarled.

  Devon’s hand fell away as he rose to face Matt. “I only—”

  Matt took a swing before Devon could finish his protest. To Eve’s amazement, Devon dodged sideways, and Matt’s fist never touched him. Matt was gathering himself for another swing when King arrived at the table and said, “That’s enough.”

  Matt turned to King, his eyes tortured, his voice rough as gravel, and said, “Butt out, old man! You’ve done enough damage to my life, don’t you think? This is none of your business.”

  Eve searched for Connor, who’d been having a beer with several of the veterans from Safe Haven. As though she’d summoned him, he suddenly appeared at her side.

  “What seems to be the problem, Matt?” Connor asked.

  “Nothing that concerns you,” Matt snapped, his eyes darting from Connor to King to Devon and back again like a baited bear.

  “You’re disturbing my guests,” Connor replied in an even voice. “Folks are here to enjoy some barbecue and beer, so let’s skip the fracas. You can settle this another time.”

  “Please, Daddy,” Pippa said.

  It was Pippa’s heartbreaking plea that made the difference. Eve watched Matt pull in his claws and saw his neck hairs unhackle, like a wildcat when the danger is past.

  “Fine,” Matt said through clenched jaws. He turned to Devon and added, “But if I find out you’ve touched so much as a hair on my daughter’s head—”

  “They’re related, for Christ’s sake!” Connor said.

  Matt looked straight at Connor and said, “No. They’re not.”

  Brian was out of his seat. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Angus kept his eyes on his hands, which were picking at the label on his ice-cold beer.

  “Figure it out for yourselves,” Matt said. Then he turned and stalked away, King following after him.

  “Dad?” Devon said. “What is he talking about?”

  “He’s making trouble where it doesn’t exist,” Angus replied. But he never raised his gaze from his bottle of beer.

  Eve was spellbound by what Matt had suggested. Devon wasn’t related to the rest of his family? She remembered how she’d noticed he was the only one of the Flynn boys who looked the least bit different from the others. Was that because another man besides Angus was his father?

  Eve had another thought. Maybe the reason Angus Flynn had never remarried wasn’t because he could never love another woman as much as he’d loved Connor’s mother, but because he’d been betrayed by the woman he loved most, who then died bearing another man’s child.

  The shock of Matt’s announcement still hadn’t left Devon’s face, or that of his brothers, when Leah arrived at Eve’s side and said, “It’s time you stopped playing peacemaker and started enjoying the party.”

  She took the beer out of Connor’s hand, set Eve’s hand in its place, and said, “Dance with your wife.”

  Connor seemed willing to comply, but he paused long enough to say to Devon, “We’ll talk about this later.”

  “No,” Devon said. “We won’t. As far as I’m concerned the subject is closed. Would you like some more barbecue, Pippa?”

  “Yes, I would,” she said in a surprisingly calm voice. “But I can get it myself.”

  Connor opened his mouth to continue the conversation, but Eve tugged on his hand and said, “I’d love to dance.”

  Connor shot one last glance at Devon, whose face revealed nothing of the turmoil he must be feeling, then smiled at Eve and said, “Come with me, Mrs. Flynn.”

  Eve mouthed “Thank you!” over her shoulder at Leah, then followed Connor onto the dance floor. He set his arm around her waist and took her hand as they danced to the “Tennessee Waltz.”

  “I can’t believe we’ve been married for six weeks, and we’re just now having our first dance,” Eve said. “You’re pretty good, by the way.”

  “Molly always said…” He paused, then looked into her eyes without apology and finished, “I was light on my feet.”

  “She mentioned that to me,” Eve said, acknowledging that memories of Molly would arise from time to time and would always be a part of their lives. “I have to agree,” she added with a laugh as he twirled her under his arm.

  When the song ended, Eve realized that Leah and Aiden were standing together at the microphone in the center of the stage where the band was set up.

  “Ladies and gents,” Aiden said. “I want to introduce my brother, Connor Flynn, who started Safe Haven, which is the reason we’re here today. Connor, come on up here.”

  Over the applause from the gathered guests, Eve said, “Did you know he was going to ask you to speak?”

  Connor nodded. He took her hand and helped her onto the stage, which was a step up from the dance floor.

  “My wife and I want to thank all of you for coming here and supporting the veterans who find refuge at Safe Haven,” Connor said, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her close. “Now have a good time. Drink, dance, and eat lots of barbecue!”

  The guests clapped and shouted their support.

  Leah took the microphone from Connor and said, “You might have heard that my sister and Aiden’s brother recently married. They haven’t been properly feted, so this barbecue has just become a wedding reception for Mr. and Mrs. Connor Flynn.”

  “Eve, welcome to the family,” Aiden said, kissing her cheek.

  “Connor, welcome to the family,” Leah said, kissing his cheek.

  Eve was struck dumb. Dozens of colorful balloons were suddenly released into the air. Frank showed up at the edge of the stage with Brooke and Sawyer in tow. Brooke was wearing a frilly party dress and Sawyer had on a tiny western suit. Taylor and Victoria pushed a cart onto the dance floor that held a three-tiered wedding cake.

  “Did you have any idea they were going to do this?” Eve asked Connor.

  He shook his head. He turned to Aiden and asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Exactly what Leah said: a wedding reception. You may have noticed that I managed to get Dad here. Leah made sure King showed up when it looked like he might skip the whole thing. Against all odds, we got both families together in the same place.” Aiden shot him a crooked grin. “Of course, with the exception of Leah and myself, none of them are speaking to each other, but you can’t have everything.”

  Connor laughed. Then he turned and gave Eve a hard hug. “What do you say, sweetheart? Shall we go cut the cake?”

  Eve took his hand as they left the stage and joined her sisters on the dance floor, where the cake had ended up.

  Taylor handed Eve a knife and said, “Go to it!” while Victoria grinned and said, “Let them eat cake!”

  To Eve’s surprise a photographer showed up and said, “I’m ready whenever you are.” Eve felt tears of gratitude fill her eyes as she met Leah’s gaze. Her simple wedding had been lovely, but it would be equally lovely to have pictures of today’s events t
o savor in the days to come.

  She waited for Connor to place his hand over hers as they cut the cake. Then she took a large chunk of the vanilla cake with lemon crème frosting—trust Leah to make it her favorite—and stuffed it into Connor’s mouth. It ended up being smeared around his face, and Eve was happy to kiss the sweet stuff away, all of the fun captured by photographs they could enjoy forever after.

  Eve watched their two fathers, hoping that they would come over to congratulate them, but neither man moved. As Connor’s brothers approached, Eve’s sisters left, as though by some prearranged agreement to avoid conflict between them, and Connor’s brothers were suddenly slapping him on the back.

  As Eve watched her sisters disappear back into the crowd, she felt a welling of gratitude for what Leah and Aiden had been able to accomplish. For this day, at least, both families had come together in a common cause, and despite the nasty scene between Matt and Devon—and Matt’s astonishing revelation—had stayed to celebrate a marriage between Grayhawk and Flynn. Separately, it was true. And neither parent had offered congratulations and best wishes. But it was a first step. A baby step. And who knew what the future might bring?

  “Happy?” Connor whispered in her ear.

  “Deliriously.”

  He turned her in his arms and said, “I love you, Eve.”

  Two small bodies slammed into Eve’s and Connor’s legs.

  “Mommy! Daddy! Can we have some cake?” Brooke asked.

  Eve tipped Brooke’s chin up. “You look beautiful, young lady.”

  Brooke beamed.

  “Do I look beautiful?” Sawyer asked.

  “You look as handsome as your father,” Eve said.

  “Can I have cake, too?” Sawyer asked.

  Eve laughed. “Yes, to both of you.”

  As they raced off to rejoin Leah, who was cutting pieces of cake for everyone, Eve turned her gaze back to Connor and said, “In case you were in any doubt, I love you, too.”

  Connor smiled. “Glad to know we’re both equally crazy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Only two fools in love could believe that a marriage between a Grayhawk and a Flynn would ever work.”

  Eve laughed. She threaded her fingers with his. “As one crazy fool to another, I’m glad to be in love with you.”

  Connor kissed her hand, then pulled her into his arms. His voice was low and fierce as he said, “Now that I’ve got you, no matter how many flare-ups and fights there are between our two families, I’m never letting you go.”

  Eve slid her arms around his waist and laid her head against his beating heart. “Someday, somehow, peace will come. Until it does, I’m yours, today, tomorrow, and always.”

  Eve turned her face up and kissed her husband.

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Faithful Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Sinful, the first in my King’s Brats series of Bitter Creek novels. Watch for Shameless, Pippa and Devon’s story, coming soon, followed by Surrender.

  If you would like to learn more about veterans working with wild mustangs, check out the Mustang Mentor Program, which works through the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Veterans choose a Bureau of Land Management wild horse, untouched by humans, and transform it into a gentle, adoptable animal in only one hundred days (www.mustangheritagefoundation.org).

  To learn more about how to protect America’s wild mustangs, check out Protect Mustangs.org (http://protectmustangs.org); Return to Freedom, American Wild Horse Preservation and Sanctuary (www.returntofreedom.org), and Wild Horse Education (http://wildhorseeducation.org). You might also enjoy the inspiring documentary movie The American Mustang: The Movie.

  More than forty of my novels are now available as eBooks. Those of you waiting for Blackthorne’s Bride, the final book in my Mail-Order Bride series, can stay updated by joining my website mailing list at www.joanjohnston.com, liking me at Facebook.com/joanjohnstonauthor, or tweeting me at www.twitter.com/joanjohnston.

  Joan Johnston

  This book is dedicated to

  Carmela Lucy Manfrey

  In loving memory from her family.

  July 12, 1930–October 24, 2013

  You will be missed.

  BY JOAN JOHNSTON

  King’s Brats Series

  Sinful

  Mail-Order Brides Series

  Texas Bride

  Wyoming Bride

  Montana Bride

  Bitter Creek Series

  The Cowboy

  The Texan

  The Loner

  The Price

  The Rivals

  The Next Mrs. Blackthorne

  A Stranger’s Game

  Shattered

  Captive Hearts Series

  Captive

  After the Kiss

  The Bodyguard

  The Bridegroom

  Sisters of the Lone Star Series

  Frontier Woman

  Comanche Woman

  Texas Woman

  Connected Books

  The Barefoot Bride

  Outlaw’s Bride

  The Inheritance

  Maverick Heart

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  JOAN JOHNSTON is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many historical and contemporary romance novels. She received a master of arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. She is currently a full-time writer living in Colorado.

  www.joanjohnston.com

  If you thought Eve and Connor’s story was Sinful, Pippa and Devon’s love is downright

  Shameless

  Don’t miss the next installment in Joan Johnston’s King’s Brats series

  Coming soon from Dell

  Keep reading for an exclusive sneak peek!

  THE INSTANT EVE and Connor walked away to dance, Pippa jumped up from her seat at the picnic table and fled. Why did her father treat her as though she were still a child? She felt furious. And frustrated. And frightened. She was unwed and pregnant with a child whose father she loathed as much as she’d once loved him. But she wanted this baby with all her being, and she was determined to raise it on her own, no matter how many obstacles her father, however kindhearted his intentions, put in her way.

  A strong hand caught her arm and dragged her to a stop. “Pippa. Wait!”

  She whirled and snarled at Devon, “I’m not going back to live with my father. Not today. Not ever. If I can’t stay with you, then I’ll—”

  “I was going to ask if you’re ready to go home. With me.”

  Pippa huffed out a breath. “Yes. I am.” She met Devon’s gaze and realized she’d been so focused on her own troubles that she’d forgotten about his. “Are you all right?”

  His voice was low and hoarse as he asked, “Where did your father get the idea that I’m not Angus’s son?”

  “I have no idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it up as an excuse to get me to come back home.”

  “I noticed my father didn’t deny it.”

  “He shouldn’t have to,” Pippa said. “Why would you believe such a thing?”

  Devon met her gaze and said, “Because I’m not like the rest of them.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t look the same. I don’t want the same things. And Angus doesn’t treat me the same way.” He shrugged and said simply, “I’ve never felt like I belong.”

  “Maybe it’s because you’re the youngest.”

  “Maybe it’s because I had a different father. And because I killed my mother when I was born.”

  Pippa didn’t know what to say or how to comfort him. She merely took Devon’s hand in hers and said, “Let’s go home. Beowulf will be hungry.”

  Devon’s gray wolf, which he’d raised from a pup, was always hungry. He was huge and he wasn’t fully grown yet.

  Devon sighed. “I suppose I’m not likely to get any answers from Angus today. I’m not sure I want to know the tru
th.”

  As they walked back to Devon’s pickup, Pippa tried to imagine what he must be feeling. How awful to discover that your mother had cheated on your father—if, in fact, that was what had happened. If Devon had a different father, what had happened to him? If he was out there somewhere, did he know about Devon?

  Pippa realized that her life at Devon’s remote mountain ranch had just gotten infinitely more complicated, because the “relative” she’d been staying with might no longer be related to her. She eyed Devon askance. He might not have the same black hair, blue eyes, and over-six-foot height as his brothers, but to her, his lithe build, gray-green eyes, and dark brown hair were even more attractive. She was tall, but he stood tall enough to make her feel protected within his embrace, which he’d offered strictly as solace the day she’d come to him seeking a place to stay.

  Pippa hadn’t felt shy running around in a robe with Devon in his pajama bottoms because they were second cousins. She hoped this revelation wouldn’t interfere with the ease they’d found together. Even if they weren’t related, there was no chance of anything romantic happening between them. She wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone after what she’d just been through.

  Not to mention the fact that she was pregnant. She hadn’t told Devon about the baby because she only planned to stay with him until she could figure out what to do with the rest of her life.

  As Devon helped her into the cab of his pickup, a courtesy he never failed to offer, Pippa realized that she admired his kindness and affinity to animals even more than his looks. Beowulf wasn’t the only wild animal he’d rescued, but she’d learned that he usually nursed them back to health and then released them into the wild again. However, Beowulf would have been in danger because he no longer feared humans, so Devon had kept him.

  “I hope you’re going to hang around for a little while,” Devon said. “Despite what your dad said about me.”

  “I don’t have anywhere I have to be. If you’re willing for me to stay, I’m willing to stay.”