First Love

“Tucker,” Justice’s voice was a low growl, and a lesser man would probably have shriveled up and died under his dark glare. “You knocked up my daughter before marrying her?”

Eva looked up at me guiltily, but I just shook my head, silently telling her to let me handle this.

“Sir, you know I had every intention of marrying your daughter. I could understand your anger if I hadn’t already asked for her hand. But I respect you, and Trevor, too much to have ever married Eva without doing so. And since I did come to you, and received your blessing, I fail to see how it matters when Eva and I choose to have children. That is a decision we make as a couple. And Blair, Mom…I promise, you can throw Eva the wedding of her dreams later, but we’re getting married now.”

Eva sighed, and when I glanced down to check on her, I was captivated by the love shining from her eyes and turned on by the way she was looking dreamily at me, like I was her hero. But now wasn’t the time, so I turned my focus back to Eva’s parents. I was relieved to see a touch of admiration in their expressions. Though Justice still didn’t look all that happy about the situation.

Blair’s eyes were teary as she stared at Eva, and she smiled softly when she said, “Honey, you look so beautiful. And…really happy.”

“I am, Mom,” Eva answered, and I could’ve sworn that I actually heard her smile in her voice. “Tucker loves me the way Dad loves you. And the way Jonah loves Penny.”

If we’d been alone, I would have stripped Eva bare and worshipped every inch of her body. She’d just given me the highest compliment I could ever receive. My patience officially ran out at that moment. I turned to the judge, who’d been quietly sitting at his desk the whole time, clearly enjoying the drama. “We’re getting married now,” I demanded in more of a statement than a request. He grinned and jumped to his feet.

Our parents came to stand at our sides, and I was grateful they were there. But the only thing I would remember from that ceremony was how fucking gorgeous my bride was and the feeling of utter bliss when she said, “I do.”

I walked into the restoration room at the Met and frowned as I prowled toward the table where my wife was bent over her latest project. A young guy was hovering near her, standing a little too close for my liking. As I approached, I could hear what he was saying, and the way his eyes were glued to her chest had fury building inside me.

“You’re so talented, Eva. Maybe we could go to lunch sometime, and you can tell me about—” he broke off and his head whipped in my direction when I growled.

“Did you miss the fucking giant diamond on her hand?” I snarled.

He backed away a few steps and shook his head. “I didn’t mean—I thought maybe Eva—”

He took another step back, and I glared as I jerked my head toward the room’s exit. “I suggest you run along, boy. Mrs. Carrington”—I emphasized her name through gritted teeth—“is going to lunch with her man.” The kid swallowed hard before nodding and hotfooting it out of my sight.

When I turned to my wife, she was looking up at me and rolled her eyes. “He was harmless, you crazy caveman.”

I narrowed my eyes and cupped her elbow to help her to her feet so I could wrap her up in my embrace. “He was hitting on another man’s wife.” I blew out a harsh breath and raised my eyes to the ceiling. “I figured once I had my ring on your finger, I’d be done scaring off assholes who’re sniffing around you.”

“What are you talking about?” Eva’s tone brought my gaze back to her face. She was watching me with suspicion. I tried to smile innocently, but it backfired because she only seemed even more distrustful. I searched for something to say, a way to explain away my comment, but came up blank. “Tucker Carrington,” she hissed, “were you the reason I couldn’t get a second date in high school?”

I cleared my throat and glanced around; this was not the place to have this conversation. “Let’s go home and I’ll make you some lunch,” I cajoled with my most charming smile.

Eva looked as though she was about to argue, but then she looked around as well and simply nodded. I helped her don her jacket, then took her hand as we made our way to the exit.

Once we arrived home, I guided her to one of the islands in the kitchen and boosted her up onto a stool. She was quiet while I gathered the ingredients to make her favorite cold pasta salad. Finally, she broke the silence. “Don’t think making my favorite food and looking all sexy while doing it is going to get you out of this discussion, Tucker,” she announced.