Page 104 of The Hardest Hit

“Well, now I think I would like that,” he said. “I do miss all the baking you used to do.”

“Oh yes, I did use to bake a lot, didn’t I? Do you remember that cake I did for mama’s funeral? My, that was grandiose.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “It was very nice. I’m sure she would have liked it.”

“No, I don’t think so,” said Olivia. “She hated fondant. But she might have thought it was pretty.”

Ralph was silent as he settled himself at the table. Olivia cut two slices of apple pie and put them on a plate.

“You want a drink, Pops?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind some tea,” he said.

“Oh, I meant a real drink,” said Olivia.

“Olivia, you know I don’t keep liquor in this house,” said Ralph sternly.

“Jackson, be a love. Reach up there behind theJoy of Cookingand pull down the bourbon for me, will you?” Jackson did as he was asked as Olivia slid the pie slices into the oven. He set the half-empty bottle down on the table with a soft, but judgmental thump then retreated to the wall.

“You want to explain to me what he’s doing here?” demanded Ralph, but with only half a growl. She could tell that he was trying to figure out what she was up to.

“Don’t worry about him,” said Olivia, going to the cupboard and pulling out two glasses.

“I am worried about him. You’ve brought a damn Deveraux into my house. Now, you answer the question for me, young lady—what’s he doing here?” He added more bite this time. She set the glasses down on the table and opened the bottle.

“A little bit of fetch, a little bit of carry, a little bit of holding up the wall. Don’t worry about him.” She smiled at Ralph and poured out a measure into each glass. “Ice cubes or neat?”

“Ice,” he said, glaring at her.

She dropped the cubes into the glasses and sat down across from him. “Well, Pops,” she said, taking a sip, “you’ve been a busy boy.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, sitting back and adjusting his suspenders.

“Blackmail. It takes a while to arrange. All that moving of cash around and whatnot. How did Leona find you by the way?”

“How does anyone find anyone these days?” His smile was warm, but his eyes were cold, as they assessed her. She smiled at him and he sighed gustily, shaking his head. “I suppose he told you about it. He shouldn’t have done that. And I suppose you’re mad. But Olivia Rose, you’ve got to listen to me now, it’s for your own good.”

“Hm. We seem to have different ideas of what’s good for me.”

“Olivia Rose, Evan Deveraux, he’s a dangerous man.”

“Yes, he is,” said Olivia, and Pops stopped mid-breath. “Do you know I once saw him kick a man in the face? He punched him first, knocked him down, kicked him in the face, and then stepped over him like he wasn’t even there.”

Against the wall, Jackson made a soft movement that Olivia thought might have been surprise.

“There was a fellow hanging onto me at the time. Evan didnotcare for that,” she said, by way of explanation. “I have to tell you, it was one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.”

“I—” said Pops and then stopped and shook his head. She could tell he didn’t know what to do with any of the information she’d just forced into his brain. “Well, that is as may be, but what I meant was that Evan Deveraux is dangerous toyou. You may not know this, but he’s got some nasty habits. I’m sure he didn’t show you these photos, but if I showed them to you, you would be shocked.”

“I saw them,” said Olivia, taking another sip. She felt the bourbon leave a trail of warmth down her throat. “I suppose they were shocking. Although, I thought he looked a little bored in them, to tell the truth.”

“He didn’t show them to you,” said Pops, smiling at her knowingly. “You know he didn’t.”

“No, he didn’t. I don’t suppose he would have liked that. But Jackson did. And it’s a good thing for you he did.”

“A good thing forme?” asked Pops, sitting back, his expression surprised and wary.

“Oh, indeed, yes, Pops. A very good thing for you. I was able to come down here and take them off your computer and delete your emails. Now no one will know that you tried to do such a bad thing.”