CEO's Marriage Seduction / His Style of Seduction: CEO's Marriage Seduction / His Style of Seduction

She stole a look at him now across the room, where he stood by the mantel chatting with a middle- aged couple and holding a wineglass by the stem.

He’d changed into an open-collar white shirt and black pants for the party, but even in casual attire, his seductive allure made her heart trip over itself.

“Eva.”

Startled from her reverie, she turned and noticed Griffin’s sister coming toward her.

“Monica! I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Monica gave her a relieved smile. “I’m just glad I’m here. Ben had to be in San Fran for a business dinner tonight, but we thought we’d stop by Griffin’s afterward for the end of the party.”

Eva knew Griffin’s sister had gotten married a couple of years ago to a Hollywood film producer and now spent most of her time in L.A.

She hugged Monica, and felt an unmistakable bump below the other woman’s baby doll top. Pulling back, she said, “You’re—?”

Monica nodded, her face glowing. “We’re thrilled.”

“Griffin didn’t say a thing,” she exclaimed. Though she was happy for Monica, her heart did a sad little clench over the fact that her own dream of a family had lately become more elusive.

Monica smiled again. “I told Griffin a while back, but you know, sometimes he can be so… What’s the word I’m looking for?”

“Arrogant? Irritating? Unbearable?”

Monica laughed. “You know him so well!”

And even better lately, Eva thought.

Monica looked over at her brother. “I just hope he’s okay. He spent so many years watching over me and Josh that I wonder whether he’s feeling a little adrift these days.”

She knew the story of Griffin’s parents’ untimely death, of course, but for as long as she’d known him, Griffin had always seemed strong and invincible.

“I can think of many words for your brother, but adrift isn’t one of them,” she said. Where she was concerned, at least, Griffin was all too confident about what he wanted.

She glanced over at Griffin, and when his eyes met hers across the room, she sucked in a breath.

Deliberately she turned back toward his sister.

“I’m serious,” Monica continued. “Sometimes, I wonder whether restlessness is the reason Griffin bought this house. He was paying tuition bills and dealing with orthodontist appointments at a time when many college guys are only thinking about the next keg party. Now he doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

Monica’s words made Eva think about Griffin’s offer to get married. Was he just restless? Or was he feeling left out now that his siblings were wed?

Monica touched her arm. “Let’s talk about lighter subjects. How are you? And how is—oh, wait, what is his name?—Carter?”

“Gone,” she replied succinctly.

From Monica’s question, Eva surmised that Griffin hadn’t filled in his sister about any of the sorry details of her life lately. The last time she’d seen Monica, months ago, she’d just begun dating Carter.