Accepting Eva [Slick Rock 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Becca van Page B

bowls, silverware, and a wineglass. Then they grabbed three beers and opened a bottle of wine.
    “Drink,” Quin commanded, handing her the full glass. “The alcohol will help you to relax even more.”
    “I don’t usually…”
    “Do as you’re told, baby. I want you nice and calm.”
    Eva gave him an irritated look but sipped her wine.
    Pierson brought the pot of stew to the table and placed it on a pot holder. After taking his seat opposite her he took her bowl from Gray’s hand and filled it with food. He watched her intently as they all began to eat, and with each mouthful she took, she seemed to become even more tense.
    What the hell is going on with you, darlin’? Are you embarrassed about this afternoon? Are you having second thoughts about being with all of us? Are you still in pain? God, I just want to hold you and love you for the rest of our lives. He watched as she began to push her food around her bowl instead of eat it. She’d hardly made a dent in her meal, and Pierson was beginning to get really worried.
    “That’s it!” Quin exploded. “We have had enough of you shutting us out, Eva. You’d better start talking and tell us what is going on in that pretty little head of yours.”
    Dammit, Quin. Pierson wanted to help her, too, but his brother’s temper might do more harm than good.
    Before Pierson could put his foot in it, Gray said calmly, “Quin, just calm down. We’ve all had a long day and I’m sure Eva’s tired.”
    “Eva isn’t tired,” Eva said tightly. She continued to watch Quin intently from across the table. “You want to talk, Quin? Fine. We’ll talk. But we are going to wait until everyone is done eating.”
    Despite the thick tension at the table, Pierson felt himself smile. That’s our girl.
    Quin had better be careful, Pierson thought. He was about to see the other side of Eva.
     
    * * * *
     
    The rest of dinner passed in silence. Eva didn’t mind. She ate her food, knowing Quin would insist even if she said she wasn’t hungry. When the table had been cleared, they paraded into the living room.
    “Sit,” Quin barked, pointing to the sofa.
    He still seemed angry, but that was fine. So was Eva.
    Once she was settled, Pierson sat next to her and handed her the wine. Gray sat on her other side while Quin pulled the sturdy timber coffee table closer to the sofa and sat on it in front of her.
    “Talk to us, Eva,” Quin demanded.
    “I don’t know what you want me to say.” She looked from Quin to Pierson. “I’ve told you all about Tim.” Her gaze moved from Pierson to Gray. “I’ve told you about my first boyfriend.”
    Finally she looked to Quin. “Now it’s your turn.”
    “What?”
    “You promised me that you wouldn’t fly off the handle when you lost your temper. But every time you think I’m hiding something from you, you snap at me until you get what you want. So I think it’s your turn, Quin. Why are you so overprotective? Why don’t I know the first thing about your pasts, any of you?”
    “That’s not true, sugar.” Grayson spoke softly, but Eva heard the thread of steel in his tone.
    “I told you we were in the marines,” Quin added.
    “For ten years. What did you do in those ten years?”
    Quin answered with a silent, stony look.
    Pierson’s fingers on her arm prompted her to look toward him. His usual smile was gone. He gave Quin a worried look before saying, “You’re right that Quin shouldn’t get so short with you, darlin’. But I don’t think this is the time to go into it.”
    It was news to Eva that there was anything to go into. She’d just been following her instincts in confronting the Badons like this. It made her even more pissed off that she’d been right.
    “I see,” she snapped. Standing up, she glared at them. “So after I let you into my life—no, make you part of my life—you still don’t trust me.”
    Both Pierson and Gray began to protest almost at the same moment, but it was Quin’s voice that cut