Chapter Eighteen. When they roared through the McWhirter front gate, a compact car was parked in the circle drive by the massive front door

When they roared through the McWhirter front gate, a compact car was parked in the circle drive by the massive front door. The night was black and she couldn’t see the figure pacing outside the garage’s entrance until the motorcycle’s headlight shone directly on her—Eva. What the hell?

Both Penny and Logan stopped their bikes, and they all dismounted. Eva ran to Grace and threw her arms around her.

“Honey, are you okay? ”

She pried Eva’s arms from her shoulders and pulled her helmet off. Eva blinked in surprise, and she imagined that she was quite a sight in her smudged makeup.

“Eva, why are you here? ”

“I was worried about you.” She glanced at the other three women and said, “Can we talk privately? ”

Penny took a step toward Eva. “Friend of yours, Grace? ”

“My ex. It’s okay.” She took her arm and led her toward the house. “So, answer my question. Why are you here? ”

“What I said was true. I’m worried about you. When Margo mentioned—”

“Margo? What does Margo have to do with this? Did she send you here? I can’t believe it! ”

“She didn’t send me. She doesn’t know I came to Vegas. All she did was tell me that you’d come here with Logan, and then I got really worried.”

She shook her head and scowled. “Why? Because I might finally have a little fun? I might’ve actually met someone who helped me come out of my shell? ”

Eva frowned. “Oh, she helped you all right. I can see that just from your attire. Would you like to know how she helped you? ”

“What are you talking about? ”

Eva didn’t answer. Instead she unzipped Grace’s jacket, exposing her still mostly wet T-shirt. Her eyes widened. “My God. Did you go out in public like this? ”

“Yes, ” she said, slipping the jacket off and letting Eva have a good look at her sexy attire. “And I sang karaoke, ” she added proudly.

Eva shook her head. “Gracie.” Tears pooled in her eyes, and she cupped her chin. “Think about it. How did she get you to do that? How did she get you to dress like this? This isn’t you. What did she give you? ”

She looked away, unwilling to divulge the secret of the Root of Passion. “She didn’t give me anything.”

“Oh, yes she did, ” Eva said, her voice cracking. Grace could tell she was crying. “I wasn’t sure until now, but looking at you…” Her voice trailed off, and she stepped away. “She gave you E, Grace. I know it.”

“No, Eva, she didn’t. Logan would never do that. I know you’re jealous. We may have something here, something special.” She found herself smiling, and, despite Eva’s pain, she couldn’t control the excitement in her voice. “It’s been an unbelievable two days—”

“I saw her buy the drugs. She got them in Phoenix at the hospital.”

The idea slammed into her and made her wobble. She has to be mistaken. She’s just jealous. She’s saying things to hurt me and slander Logan because she wants me back.

“I don’t believe you. You’re either wrong or you’re lying. I’m just not sure which it is.”

Eva held her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. “Grace, this is me, Eva. I’ve got the eagle eyes, remember? I’m the one with twenty-ten vision. And I’ve never lied to you.”

She pulled away. “No, you didn’t lie. You just didn’t tell me everything I needed to know, like how boring I was.”

Eva’s gaze dropped to the ground. “There was no point, Grace. You are who you are. I just had to accept that we were too different. I’d never say anything that hurtful to you.” She looked up again, tears streaming down her face. “I love you too much.”

“Grace? ”

Both of them looked over Grace’s shoulder at Logan, who appeared at her side, slipping her arm around her waist. “You okay, baby? ”

She glanced at Eva, wiping the tears from her face, clearly embarrassed. “Why don’t you ask her, Grace? Just ask her. If I’m wrong I’ll get out of here, you all can have a good laugh and fuck the night away.”

Logan grinned at her. “Now that sounds like a good way to end the evening. What do you need to ask me? ”

“Since we’ve been on this trip, have you slipped me some E? ”

For a split second, Logan’s grin cracked, but she quickly recovered. “What? ”

She watched her face, focusing on her eyes. Years of working with patients and their families had taught her that people lied all the time, even when faced with life-and-death situations. She’d learned to read people to save their lives. The crack in Logan’s smile sent a wave of doubt through her. She’d known her for two days and Eva for many years. She pulled out of her embrace and crossed her arms.

“I’m asking if you gave me any narcotics without my knowledge.”

Logan held her stare, and she waited for her to look away. It would be a sure sign of her guilt. Please don’t. Please let Eva be wrong.

When Logan blinked and shifted her gaze to Eva, Grace’s heart sank. Logan raked her hand through her hair nervously and started pacing. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but you were so uptight, and I knew that if I could just loosen you up, help you check off everything on that list, you’d gain some self-esteem.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Self-esteem? You gave me an illegal drug—one that can cause kidney and liver failure—because you thought my self-image needed a boost? I can’t believe this! ” She knew she was shouting, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m a doctor, for God’s sake! Did you ever stop to think that you could ruin my career? ”

Logan rolled her eyes. “Grace, you need to calm down. A couple little trips on E aren’t going to make you an addict, and it isn’t going to fry your system.”

Her jaw dropped. “A couple trips? How many times did you give it to me? ”

Realizing her mistake, Logan bit her lip before she answered. “Twice. The first time I slipped it in the champagne I gave you at the pool house, and then I dropped a pill into your shooter tonight.”

“It’s still in my system? Right now? ”

“How long ago did you drink the shooter, Grace? ” Eva asked.

She turned to Eva, whose face was full of concern. “About four hours ago.”

“Then the main effects have passed, but you should probably drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.”

She suddenly realized how parched her throat was, and she’d assumed it was from the alcohol. She glanced back at Logan whose expression conveyed nothing—no remorse, no anger, no sadness. This was just another ride to her. She wanted to go home. She wanted to cry. She wanted to be as far away from Logan as possible. Before the stream of tears could come, Eva took her arm and led her away.