Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2
Page 31
Fierce and funny, such a family was a sight to behold.
Eve walked in front of him before turning to face him. “You are aware that our child will inherit their genes.”
She hadn’t said it to be cruel and knew he wouldn’t take it as such … because Colin had changed.
His past no longer wounded him.
“I’m counting on it.” Colin wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled Eve closer to him.
Smiling at him, Eve asked, “Are you happy?”
“You have to ask?” Colin kissed the tip of her nose.
“I ask because I already know the answer,” Eve said, her fingers entwined behind his neck, brushing against the wavy wisps of hair at his nape.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “You make me happy.”
Eve stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his. Kissing him was now second nature to her, like breathing. She couldn’t imagine ever not doing it.
Colin whispered, “I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” she asked, her heart bursting with love for him. “Where is it?”
“Upstairs.”
She arched a brow. “Might this surprise be in the one of our bedchambers?”
“You have such a wicked mind,” he teased.
She pinched him.
“Ouch!” He pulled her closer, kissing the curve of her neck. “Not to say I don’t admire your mind,” another kiss, “and your body.” Another kiss followed before he added, “Every inch of your body.”
“I like this surprise already,” she murmured.
Colin tore his mouth from hers and a moan of disappointment escaped her lips. “We shall continue this later, dear wife. First, your surprise.”
“That’s not my surprise?” she asked, doing her best imitation of a pout as he led her by the hand up the main staircase.
They headed up to the second floor, stopping in front of a door in the wing they had renovated for their suite of rooms.
“A door! Oh, darling, thank you!” Eve said, her fingers trailing up his shoulders before stroking his neck. Her hands then traced a path to his throat, where she reached for his cravat and tugged him closer to her. “Where did we leave off downstairs?” she asked, then kissed him once again, sensuous and intimate.
When she pulled away from him, Colin’s eyes were a deep cobalt. “You do more of that, and I’ll forget the surprise,” he muttered.
Not wanting to tease him any further, Eve returned to the subject at hand.
“What is my surprise?” she asked, nibbling on her lower lip to stop herself from kissing him again.
Colin placed his hands in his pockets. “Open the door and find out.”
“This is intriguing,” Eve turned the cool brass knob and entered what appeared to be a workshop of sorts. Fabrics in various colors and materials were folded and placed on shelves in the wardrobe, which stood open on the far corner of the room. There was a drawing table, with an overstuffed chair behind it, then two more chaises next to the fireplace.
Upon surveying the room, Eve noticed a contraption sitting on a table in the center of the room.
She walked over to it, her eyes wide in amazement. “Colin, is this a sewing machine?” Not able to believe her eyes, Eve reached out her hand, tracing the smooth curves and lines with her fingertips.
“Your very own,” he said, not able to hide his amusement from his voice.
“How?” Eve turned to him, catching the lazy smile draped across his chiseled features. “Where did you get this?”
“I purchased it from an American,” he said. “I thought you and Fiona might like to create outlandish clothing for our child. Then there is the matter of your business. If you wish to continue with it, I thought this would help.”
Eve bridged the gap between them. “Thank you, Colin!” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “It is the sweetest gift I’ve ever received, and I love it!”
Colin shook his head. Only his wife could find a machine ‘sweet.’
“I have a confession to make,” he said, leaning against the sewing table. “This fellow patented the machine in America and is in need of a backer. I’m going to leave it up to you whether or not we invest in his endeavor.”
Eve sighed, “I love that idea. Thank you for entrusting me.”
“I would trust you with my life. I already entrust you with my heart,” he said.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Eve kissed her husband. “I love my gift, and I adore you even more.”
Fitting, Colin mused, since Eve’s love was his greatest gift.
“I love you, my darling,” he whispered, his voice rich with emotion.
She had been to hell and back with him, and loved him even more for it.
In an instant, Colin was reminded that his wonderful life came at a severe price … his brother’s happiness.
He had to find some way to make it up to him.
But how?
As if sensing where his thoughts had led him, Eve assured him, “We will reach him. I promise you. Tristan isn’t lost to us forever.”
Colin prayed his wife was right but on this matter he wasn’t completely certain. In the meantime, though, he would hold on to all of the others in his life that he held dear.
“I love you, Eve,” he said, kissing the palm of her hand. She wore her emerald betrothal ring. It had been in his pocket during the fire. They had lost all other possessions but the most valuable, next to the lives of everyone, of course.
At the time, Eve had said that her precious ring was the only good thing to come from India. He agreed. Though sometimes, on afternoons such as this, Colin wondered if he would truly treasure the blessings bestowed upon him if he had never been through hell and back.
“You are truly heaven sent, you know that?” he said, gently tucking a silken tendril behind her ear. “My angel. No, I take that back. You’re my Athena – kind, just, brave and strong.”
Eve smiled, pressing her palm against his cheek. “I love you, Colin MacAlistair. I always will.”
They were the sweetest words Colin had ever heard. The fact that he would get to hear them from now until the end of time filled his heart with a contentment he never knew existed.
The future … something Colin once dreaded, now lay before him, and he welcomed it with open arms and an open heart. His heart, once barely beating was alive and brimming with love and an overwhelming devotion to the woman standing before him with eyes the dewy color of spring.
He wanted to say so much but instead chose to place Eve’s palm against his heart. Wordlessly, he suspected that she knew what he meant.
“My heart beats for you, too,” she whispered, before kissing him.
Colin knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was indeed kissing his savior, and he would love his wife and be grateful for her until his last breath.
He was, quite simply, the luckiest man in the world and would spend every minute ensuring his wife knew it, as well.
Though it had taken miles to get to this place, Colin was certain that his journey had been worth it. His wife was worth it as was their unborn child.
His life was truly charmed, and he wouldn’t take a single day for granted.
Such was his vow, as he kissed his wife with all the love in his heart, relishing the fact that she returned his heartfelt kisses, her meaning clear.
Eve felt the same.
He couldn’t wait to see what their future held for them, certain that with this woman by his side, theirs would be an exquisite life.
About the Author
In addition to being a wife and mommy to an exquisite son and daughter, Tracy Goodwin is also the #1 Bestselling Author of sweeping Historical Romances fraught with passion, hope, danger, and redemption. Not surprising, having created epic tales of happily-ever-afters since she was a little girl. As her imagination blossomed, so did Tracy’s stories of heroes and heroines living in magnificent estates surrounded by landscapes the vivid colors of Impr
essionist paintings. What is more romantic than stories of forbidden love and redemption, of flawed heroes and heroines overcoming obstacles to be rewarded with an epic romance and a happy ending?
What could be more touching than Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy declaring his love for Elizabeth, Emma finding love in the familiar visage of Mr. Knightley, or Charlotte Bronte’s Jane returning home to Mr. Rochester at last? Such were her thoughts when Tracy read Judith McNaught’s novels, eventually meeting the author in person. This helped Tracy acknowledge that writing Historical Romance was her “dream.” As her own characters developed, their stories yearning to be told, Tracy’s husband encouraged her to write the novel of her heart, Dance with Deception. With that, the Scandalous Secrets series began proving that dreams do come true ...
To learn more about the Scandalous Secrets series, please visit Tracy’s website www.tracygoodwin.com. While there, you can also reach her via Email, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter or complete the Contact form. Remember to like Tracy’s Facebook fan page at or join in the conversation at www.tracygoodwin.com/blog and at www.RomancingTheTV.com.
Acknowledgments
Each novel in the Scandalous Secrets series is dedicated to my dear readers with heartfelt appreciation. Thank you for making both the original and exclusive versions of Dance with Deception – Scandalous Secrets, Book 1 bestsellers. I hope that all readers – new and existing – enjoy how the Scandalous Secrets series plays out.
I must acknowledge several incredible women who mean the world to me – Deborah M., Jeannie, Leanne M., and Mary M. Each of you are the epitome of strength, perseverance, generosity. I am so grateful for each of you!
Speaking of strong women, I must also acknowledge all Autism, ADHD and special needs moms – you are incredible. I donate all of the proceeds from my novels to my son’s Autism treatments, understand the battles we fight and the high cost. If you ever need an ear, contact me. Together we will make it through.
I also owe a debt of thanks to bestselling author Deborah Macgillivray for her five-star rating of Dance with Deception on Goodreads and her support thereafter, including her wonderful author quote about my writing. Thank you also to bestselling authors Hannah Howell, Barbara Dawson Smith and Gayle Wilson for giving me such lovely author quotes for Dance with Deception and to bestselling author Lucy Monroe for allowing me to be a guest blogger at her website. It was more than I could have ever dreamed possible from talented authors whom I truly admire and respect.
Titles in the Scandalous Secrets Series
Dance with Deception – Scandalous Secrets, Book 1
(Sebastian and Gwen’s story)
Enticing Eve – Scandalous Secrets, Book 2
(Colin and Eve’s story)
The Skilled Seduction – Scandalous Secrets, Book 3
(Tristan and Victoria’s story)
Watch for it in autumn 2015!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Reviews
Dedication
Note to Readers
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Titles in the Scandalous Secrets Series