Page 61 of The Hardest Hit

Evan – Christmas Surprise

Evan climbed the stairs to Deveraux House. Theo, Eleanor’s butler, opened the door before he had to knock.

“Miss Dominique is in the study,” said Theo.

“Is anyone else here, yet?” asked Evan, shrugging out of his coat and handing it to Theo.

“No, not yet, Mr. Deveraux,” said Theo.

Evan had known Theo his entire life. The fact that Theo had decided to call Evan Mr. Deveraux somewhere around the time Evan turned twenty-five was still a mystery.

“Thanks,” said Evan, and he headed for the study.

“Hey!” said Dominique from her prone position on the couch where she was tossing M & M’s up in the air and into her mouth.

“Hey!” He quickly shut the door and went over to the couch. She pulled her feet up to make room for him. “You haven’t told anyone about Olivia, have you?”

“No, but I’m totally about to. This is hot gossip.”

“Please don’t,” he said, feeling desperate.

“Why not?” asked Dominique, sitting up.

“Because as soon as Jackson or Grandma find out about her they’re going to do a background check and give her the third degree.”

“They didn’t with Max,” objected Dominique.

“Yes, they did. Jackson was just more discrete because Max is law enforcement.”

Dominique wrinkled her nose but didn’t argue.

“But, so what if they do,” said Dominique. “I googled her last night. There’s nothing wrong with her. Double Ph.D.’s, recently published, well-respected in her field, plus, you know, tits for days.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m just saying there was not enough oven mitt to cover that action.”

Evan grinned. “I wish I could have seen that.”

“It was worth seeing. But I mean, come on, Ev, if she’s dating you then she has to know that sooner or later she’s going to have to meet all of us and generally pass inspection.”

Evan was silent.

“I mean, she knows…” Dominique scrutinized his face. “Evan, she doesn’t know anything, does she?”

“No, not a damn thing. She moved to the city six months ago from Georgia. She has no idea who our state’s senators are. She isn’t in the society scene in any way. She doesn’t read the gossip columns and, basically, I’m just the guy she met at a party.”

Dominique burst out laughing.

“Nika! This isn’t funny.”

“Oh my God, it’s hilarious!” laughed Dominique.

“It is not. If Grandma or Jackson find out about her, then they’ll haul her over the coals, and then chances are she’s going to freak out and go running for the hills.”

“OK, OK, but Evan, you’ve got to tell her at some point.”

“I was thinking maybe after we got back from Tokyo. Or maybe in Tokyo. I don’t know…” He trailed off seeing Dominique’s expression.