Page 106 of Power Move

“I know. I can bring an umbrella, baby, but I don’t want to upset you.”

I needed to pick Eva up for dinner. She’d been at Mona’s place in a very posh part of London. We were parked on her street in a downpour, but Eva didn’t want to leave until she spotted the car.

“It’s okay,” Eva agreed to my surprise. “Just come to the door and I’ll meet you.”

“Sure.”

I hung up, proceeding to the door. We were a block off the last remaining space during the evening rush home. I suspected all these houses were owned by high-ranking professionals. It was an idyllic little street. Even Mum would approve.

At the door, I didn’t know what to expect. I rang the bell andEva answered. A dog rushed up, tail wagging. Out of habit, I bent down.

“Are you Carter? Oh, you’re sweet,” I cooed, then looked at Eva.

“I knew you liked dogs,” Eva said. “This is Carter. She’s the sweetest girl.”

“She is,” I agreed. “I actually love dogs, even if Mum hated them and refused to own one.”

As another woman with a trendy haircut approached, I stood. This must have been Eva’s ex. She was and wasn’t what I expected. She was taller than Eva, but far more feminine than I first assumed. The woman was very pretty, about my age, and sported a serious look.

“Well, Eva, can you introduce me?” She asked.

“Sure,” Eva looked nervous. “This is David Delphine. My boss’s boss.”

Her boss’s boss?

“Oh, shit,” Mona said. “I thought this was… the guy?”

“He is,” Eva said. “But we’re here on business and I’m never sure how to answer.”

Mona did a double-take. “That is not like you, Eva.”

“I mean, you and I met through work,” Eva said. “But… David and I weren’t together when we met. It was a freak coincidence.”

“How did you?—”

“As you would say, Mona, I lived under a rock and became a hermit. I never met him. Yes, he’s Daphne’s brother, but I never put together that her brother David was a man named Davey who sometimes hung out in Wrigleyville saving women from gropey straight dudes.”

“They were out for Ellie’s hen party,” I said. “And she was… flailing. Men threw themselves at her. She was there with her friend’s sibling, and it wasnottheir scene.”

“Straight women drinking beyond their capacity,” Eva giggled. “And Davey stuck around.”

“Because I was also throwing myself at her,” I admitted, unashamed.

That caught Mona off-guard. “And you clearly wasted no time.”

I sensed a competitive side to Mona’s retort.

“Yeah, well, this wasn’t planned. We tried to prevent it… but life is wild.” I smiled. “Eva is wonderful, as you well know. And clever, which is why she’s along for the ride while Daphne is out.”

“Good to know.”

“Now, Eva, I think we have a deal to close?”

“Correct,” Eva hugged and kissed the dog. “I love you, baby. Be good for Mummy. I am sorry to leave you.”

It hit me in the feels. She’d never spoken to anything with such sweetness in my presence. The dog meant so much to her.

Eva left, holding my hand as if for support. I rushed us to the car where the driver stood holding the door. Eva slid in indelicately—we were beyond that point in the pregnancy—and settled in.