“Of course, I do.”
“I’ll never forget that trip,” Donald said, his face softening in a way that made Reed wonder if he was looking at a different person—a gentler, kinder man hidden somewhere beneath all the rock and stone. “It was incredible.”
“It was a very enjoyable experience,” Evelyn agreed, smiling brightly.
Reed had no clue what trip they were talking about which was fine. The more they talked, the less he had to. Unfortunately, Paula pulled him right back into the conversation after taking a sip of her wine. “When Evelyn was younger, Don took her on an art tour of Italy. They stopped at all of the big museums. She came back a brand-new person. It was a real turning point for her.”
“A turning point?” Reed asked, curious. “How so?”
Donald shot Paula a glance. “Don’t.”
Paula opened her mouth, but it was Evelyn who replied first. “Why not?”
“Because,” Donald said with the cement flowing back into his face, “it’s a family matter. And there’s no need to rehash the past.”
“It’s fine,” Evelyn replied, brushing him off as she turned toward Reed. “When I was younger, I struggled with depression. I was … unkind to myself at times. Art helped me heal.”
“I said, don’t.” Donald cleared his throat and waved his empty tumbler at the waiter, who quickly came over. “I’ll take another of these. And then we’ll be ready to order. Everyone pick out your meal.”
The waiter nodded and disappeared. Evelyn remained undeterred. “No. I want to talk about this. We can discuss anything in front of Adrian. I love him.”
Reed coughed, nearly choked, and drowned it with a quick drink of his water. Love was a weapon he liked to employ as quickly as possible when it came to a con. Love impaired a target’s ability to think clearly. Love allowed him to manipulate well. Love had earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. And love would help him take much more from Evelyn. But for her to drop the L-word here for the first time, right in front of her father, was dangerous. It jeopardized everything.
When Reed looked up, he fully expected Donald to be glaring at him, ready to leap over the table and tear him in half with his bare hands. But he wasn’t. Donald was staring at Evelyn instead, his lips parted, his forehead ashen. Paula gaped at her as well, a fine tremor running through the wine glass in her hand before she set it down. “That’s … well, it’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Don?”
“You don’t love him,” Donald said.
“I do,” Evelyn responded bluntly, as if she were commenting on the weather or the score of a baseball game.
“No, you don’t,” Donald repeated.
Evelyn stiffened. The reaction wasn’t much, but Reed saw the slight tightening of her jaw and the way her lips pressed into a thin line before she spoke. “I’m sorry, but are you implying that you are me?”
Donald’s brow crumpled. “What?”
“You just said I don’t love him. In order for you to know something like that, you would need to have access to my feelings—which you don’t. You aren’t me. I love him. Don’t presume to tell me otherwise.”
“But, Livy, you don’t even know him.” Donald’s tone had turned pleading—the kind of voice Reed knew he never used with anyone but her.
She crossed her arms, a flush coming to her cheeks. “Incorrect. I know that he’s kind and inquisitive and listens to me when I speak. I know I’m his top priority. I know we share many interests, and I know that he loves me. He’s already said so.”
Reed had—several times now, but Evelyn hadn’t said the words back, had simply blinked at him and gone back to whatever she’d been doing at the time without a word.
Donald groaned and rubbed his head. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Evelyn. I don’t care what he says. He doesn’tloveyou.” He flapped his hand at Reed like Reed was nothing more than a mosquito to shoo away. “He’s using you. Can’t you see that?”
“Donald, stop,” Paula warned with a slight shake of her head. Others were looking now, heads all around the restaurant turning their way.
“No. This guy drops into my daughter’s life out of nowhere like some goddamn magician, moves in with her a few months later, and suddenly they’re in love just like that? My ass.” Donald shot Reed a quick glare. “He barely even exists, Paula. Zane hasn’t been able to dig up much on him besides a birth certificate and a few odd jobs, and—”
Evelyn cut him off, her face darkening. “Wait. You’reinvestigatinghim?”
Reed’s insides churned.
“Of course, I am,” Donald said. “To protect you. This is moving too fast.”
“No, it isn’t!” Evelyn raised her hand and extended a single finger. “You just can’t stand the fact that someone other than you might make me happy.”
He raised a hand. “Livy, that’s not it at all.”
