Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel)
Copyright © 2013 by Jourdyn Kelly
Published by Jourdyn Kelly
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN Number—
978-0615868455
Cover Art by: Jourdyn Kelly
Interior Design by: Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats
Other books by Jourdyn Kelly
Something About Eve
Destined to Kill
Perfection. That’s how Eve Sumptor-Riley thought of her life. She may be flawed, but everything else surrounding her is perfection. She thought of her marriage to the love of her life, Adam. Being with him was more amazing than she could have imagined. There was a time when she thought he would never be hers. Eve’s past had stripped her of trust and emotion, and it was only when she met her best friend, Lainey, did she learn how to open herself up. She would never be able to thank Lainey enough for that gift.
Adam understood Eve’s past. He understood her. Loved her. Even though Eve had always believed she was unlovable, Adam proves her wrong every day. The way he looks at her melts her heart and drives her crazy. The day she allowed Adam in, was one of the best days of her life—even considering what she went through to get there.
The birth of their daughter was the other best day in Eve’s life. Eve smiled down at their baby girl, Bella, currently babbling and banging her toys on her activity walker. Bella’s dark hair held the softest curls, and bounced as she tooled around the kitchen table. Her eyes, a combination of Eve’s gray eyes and Adam’s blue eyes, twinkled when she peered up at Eve. Bella is turning one in a few days, and Eve has been frantically trying to put together the best 1st birthday party ever. She doesn’t really know why she’s bothering with making it so elaborate. Bella won’t know the difference anyway. But, your daughter only turns one once, Eve thought, and Bella is special.
“My two favorite girls,” Adam said softly, bending down to kiss Bella on the top of her head. He then moved to Eve, kissing her lips lightly at first. When she moved in to him, he deepened the kiss, touching his tongue to hers.
“Yum,” Eve murmured. The one thing about their relationship that has always been amazing is their sex life. And, Eve was completely happy that hasn’t changed one bit, even after almost two years of marriage. In fact, it has only grown stronger. They had made love earlier that morning—one of Adam’s favorite things to do since Eve let him stay—but even that wasn’t enough for her.
“You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” Eve returned.
“You’re the only one I will allow to call me beautiful,” Adam quipped playfully.
“Stop,” Eve chuckled. “You are beautiful.” She couldn’t think of any other word that would come close to describing him. His jet black hair, currently longer than he normally wears it—though you won’t hear Eve complain, she loved running her fingers through it when they made love—framed a perfectly chiseled face that made the artist in her weep with joy. It also made the woman in her hotter than hell. The stubble across that sexy jaw rubbed her in all the right ways when he used his incredible, delectable mouth on her. And, the way he looked at her with those crystal blue eyes, could turn her into a sexual deviant at any given moment. And, honestly, with the way he looked in his navy pinstriped three-piece suit, and knowing all of the lines and muscle that lay beneath, that moment was coming fast.
“Hmm. What’s on your agenda today?” She decided it was best to change the subject before her primal instinct took over.
Adam saw Eve’s eyes darken and it took every ounce of will power he had not to take her right then and there. Their daughter was in the room, for crying out loud. He had more control than that. Though, if he were honest, not much more. Damn, she was the most gorgeous woman he had every laid eyes on in his life. How in the hell did he get so damned lucky as to land Eve Sumptor (now Riley)? She was perfection in the truest sense of the word. Her blonde hair was so soft and silky, he couldn’t keep his hands out of it. Her face, God her face, with those striking gray eyes and full, pink lips could make him hard with just quirk of an eyebrow. And, her scent was intoxicating. So sensual, so purely Eve, it’s a wonder he could concentrate on anything else when she’s around.
“The bidding for Griffen Enterprises starts today.” He grabbed a piece of buttered toast from the plate in front of her, stuffing his mouth before he lost his will power, and let lust take over. “This could be great for the company if I land this.”
Eve knew Adam had spent hours upon hours drawing up plans for Griffen Enterprises, and they were spectacular. He is a magnificent architect. She should know since he designed her gallery and their home, and they were both perfect. Hell, they were more than she could’ve ever dreamed of, even being the artist she was. At their home in the suburbs—Eve told Lainey she could see herself here one day when she settled down—Adam had given Eve her own space to create art, develop photos and just lose herself. He made sure she and Bella had everything they needed, wanted and more.
“I’ve seen the plans,
amant
. You shouldn’t have any trouble.” Eve paused and smiled at Adam. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“You’re just saying that so I’ll build that extra room you’ve been wanting for your studio,” he teased with another kiss.
Eve eyed Adam appraisingly. “Hmm. Do I need to compliment you for that? I thought a few sexual favors would do.”
Adam sucked in a breath, and bent to kiss Eve yet again. He just couldn’t keep his lips off of her. Damned waning will power.
“Well, now,” he said between kisses. “Let me think about what you can do …”
“Hello? Oh!” Lainey stopped short when she walked into the kitchen, catching Adam and Eve kissing. She felt a small pang of jealousy, but shook it off immediately. “Sorry!”
Eve broke the kiss, reluctantly. “Lainey,” she called before Lainey could walk out. “It’s okay. Come on in.”
“Please,” Adam said. “I have to get going, anyway. See you tonight.” He ran a thumb down Eve’s cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Eve grinned, knowing he was still getting used to hearing her say the words. She watched as he closed his eyes briefly and a smile touched his lips. Without another word, Adam kissed Bella on the head and Lainey on the cheek before leaving.
“I should know better than to just walk in,” Lainey sat opposite of Eve at the table.
“You know you’re welcome here anytime, Lainey.” Eve smiled warmly at Lainey. She loves Adam with everything she is, but Lainey would always have a piece of her heart.
Lainey’s smile was shy and knowing when she glanced quickly at Eve’s mouth.
Eve reached over and touched Lainey’s hand briefly, before turning back to her coffee and iPad. “Seriously, should it be this hard to plan a birthday party for a one year old?”
Lainey smirked. Seeing Eve as a mother was definitely entertaining. “You know, she’s not going to remember any of this. You could just have a nice quiet day.”
Eve raised her eyebrow. “Are you telling me that when Kevin or Darren turned one, you didn’t hire acrobats and ponies?”
Lainey laughed. “I didn’t go as far as acrobats and ponies, no.” But, Eve was right. She did go overboard when her sons’ first birthdays came around. “Just wait until she’s a teenager.”
Eve remembered Darren’s thirteenth. The party Lainey threw for him didn’t seem too overly done. It was simple and fun with friends, video games, pizza and cake. How hard could that possibly be.
“Boys are way easier,” Lainey cautioned, reading Eve’s mind.
“Awesome,” Eve mumbled and rolled her shoulders to ease some of the tension.
Lainey cleared her throat, and changed the subject abruptly. The mere glimpse of Eve’s cleavage—granted to her by Eve’s customary three-buttons undone—was enough to have Lainey’s mind reeling. “Are you ready to get to the gallery?” She rose from the table, and picked Bella up out of her activity walker.
Eve searched Lainey’s face for any indication of discomfort or sadness, but for the first time since knowing her, Eve couldn’t read the emotion on Lainey’s beautiful features. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back, delicately, away from her face, giving Eve an unobstructed view of Lainey’s alluring, green eyes. Her slightly bowed—and Eve remembered, very kissable mouth—was curved in a small smile as she cooed to Bella. Everything about her seemed happy and normal, but Eve couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering her best—her only—friend.
“Lainey?”
Lainey shivered slightly at the sound of Eve’s voice calling her name. It’s silly to feel this way, Lainey thought, chastising herself. The two of them haven’t been intimate since before the shooting, and she’s been fine with that. Yes, of course, she has thought about Eve many times, but she has learned to compartmentalize it. For her sake as well as Eve’s. She turned to Eve, avoiding looking directly into those amazing eyes.