Page 69 of Promised to the Cowboy

Delaney is halfway to the kitchen before anyone’s answered. “I’ll get some water.”

“And crackers,” Shay calls after her.

“Already on it.”

Kitty is looking between us, worried enough that she’s forgotten to smile. “Is the baby all right?”

Evie opens her mouth.

Nothing comes out.

I tighten my fingers around hers. “The baby’s fine,” I say quietly.

Relief ripples through the room.

“But there’s something you all need to know.”

Evie’s fingers tremble inside mine. I hear her draw one slow, shaking breath. Then another.

She looks at the room. “Alexander Voss”—she closes her eyes briefly—“is my father.”

Dead silence.

The kind that sucks all the air out of a room.

Jacob is the first to speak. His face has gone gray with shock, his eyes fixed on Evie. “You’re Evie Voss?”

Evie’s head lifts. “No. I’m Evie Gale.”

“By blood?—”

“By blood,” she agrees, pain flickering across her face. “Not by choice.”

I look at my father. “I don’t give a damn whose blood runs through her veins. I love her.”

Shay’s hand flies to her mouth.

Kitty’s eyes are wide.

Tom’s eyes flick from me to Evie.

Ben studies me with an expression I can’t quite read.

Daniel doesn’t move at all.

Jacob’s eyes narrow. “Gabriel?—”

I don’t let him finish. “She didn’t know any of it until Jenna said his name.” I look back at my family. “I love Evie. And nothing will ever change that.”

Jenna stands. “I think we all need to remember something.” She looks at Evie. “When I came here, I worked for Julian Vance. I spent two years walking into that building every morning. I answered his emails. Sat in his meetings. I helped organize his calendar. And I had no idea what he was really doing.”

Evie bites her lip as she stares at Jenna.

“When I found out”—Jenna glances at Ethan—“I ran. I stole evidence and nearly got myself killed bringing it here.”

She looks at Jacob. “You could have looked at me and seen LandCorp. You didn’t.” Her gaze softens. “You saw me.”

Jenna’s gaze shifts to Evie. “I wasn’t responsible for Julian Vance’s choices. And neither are you responsible for your father’s.”