Page 116 of The Hardest Hit

“I was assuming that,” he agreed, leaning down to kiss her.

“And also travel,” said Olivia, pulling back at the last second. If he was agreeing to her list of demands, she might as well get them all out there.

“Nerd jokes,” he promised, kissing her shoulder. “Crossword puzzles.” He kissed her neck. “Sex.” He nibbled her earlobe. “Travel.” He kissed her temple. “And me cooking you dinner,” he said and kissed her lips.

Olivia moaned and melted into him with an overwhelming sense of happiness. They had faced down their families, they had faced down their past and they were together. They had won.

The Deveraux Family

Dominique Deveraux

Dominique waited until Theo had shut the door behind all of her grandmother’s staff. Usually, Eleanor didn’t have them at the house. Even her assistant was kept stringently to the office that Eleanor owned in mid-town. But today’s meeting had been a last-minute hash of the health care bill strategy and the house had been the fastest meeting place. Dominique had weighed in on the public messaging and now she was about to step into the ring with Eleanor. Dominique had never tried to take on Eleanor directly before. She was feeling nervous. And also mad. She was glad Evan had forgiven their grandmother, but even with a few weeks of distance, Dominique found that she hadn’t. If anything, she had gotten angrier. Dominique refilled her teacup from the teapot that Theo had provided and considered how to start.

Eleanor finished typing and shut her laptop. “Well,” she said, frowning, “I think that will have to do. I don’t think there’s anything else we can do before we get to D.C.”

“I think it will play all right. We’ll just have to see how Taggert reacts.”

“Jackson believes he won’t say anything. He seems to place a great deal of trust in Olivia.” Eleanor made a face that expressed that she didn’t share Jackson’s confidence.

“Olivia, yes,” said Dominique. “Ralph, no. If he can find a way to weasel around Olivia I think he will. But if Jackson thinks it will be fine, then I’m sure it will be.” She shrugged to indicate that she had no intention of speculating beyond that.

“And you believe whatever Jackson says?” asked Eleanor in what Dominique thought was an unnecessarily condescending tone.

Dominique gently itched the tip of her nose and considered how to reply.

“Yes,” said at last. “I do. I also believe the things that Aiden and Evan tell me.”

“Hm,” said Eleanor, with a small disbelieving smile.

“I don’t believe half the things that you tell me,” said Dominique. “But that seems justified.”

Eleanor’s face froze.

“You lie to us, Grandma,” said Dominique. “You spy on us, and you treat us like the enemy.”

“That is not true,” said Eleanor.

“It is. In many respects, we accept this as part of your job and the price of your love.”

“The price…” Eleanor flinched a little and her lips tightened as if she had bitten into something sour.

“We understand that your life has not been easy and that you do not trust anyone.” Dominique paused to consider. “Well, maybe Theo. But we understand that although you don’t trust us, you still care about us.”

Eleanor was breathing more heavily than she had been a moment before.

“It’s disappointing, of course, but we understand. However,” Dominique put her teacup down on the saucer and was pleased to see that her hand was steady. “What you did to Evan cannot happen again. Not to Evan and not any of the rest of us.”

“Is that a threat?” demanded Eleanor.

“Yes,” said Dominique. “It is.”

“I would have thought you would have sent Jackson to make threats,” said Eleanor. Dominique admired her poise. Eleanor was quite good at this. Dominique was envious.

“It’s not that kind of threat,” said Dominique.

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. “Then what kind of threat is it?”

“If we were talking blackmail and who knows what, and what could we tell…” Dominique sighed. “Then I suppose we would have sent Jackson. But we would never do that to you. We love you.”