and he hadn't as much as picked up the phone. Now when he was in the ultimate kind of trouble, he showed up on her doorstep. Here she was again, Micki Jordan, every guy's pal, she thought in frustration.
But she didn't question what she'd do. Micki could never turn down anyone in need. She knew better than to think she could ignore Damian's plea. If he needed her professional help, she'd provide it
But no way would she give of herself emotionally again.
'YOU'RE AN ASS, Fuller,' Damian said, swinging his hand uselessly in the air.
He couldn't believe he'd been so damn stupid. Selfish. Unfeeling. He'd woken up hungover and needing someone. Micki had been the only person who'd come to mind. The only one he'd wanted to share his pain with and the only person he trusted enough to ask for help. Unfortunately in all his thinking about himself, not once had he taken her feelings into account.
The news had hurt her, that much was obvious. If there was one person on this earth he'd want to protect from pain, it was Micki. Too late now, he thought, disgusted with himself.
He knew she'd walked out so she could be alone and retreat behind every emotional wall she could find. He didn't blame her. If he had a brick wall he could hide behind, he'd be there in an instant. Problem was, he didn't have that luxury. Nothing would make Carole and her pregnancy go away. He couldn't change the fact that he was back-page headlines again, this time with a scandal that would do far more damage than good.
He couldn't deny he needed Micki's unique ability to spin a story his way nor could he ignore that it might be the only way for him to keep her in his life. At least until he sorted through this personal mess and came out the other side. Right now Micki was his lifeline and he needed her. Apparently knowing he was selfish and doing something about it were two different things.
Without warning the door swung open wide and Micki walked back inside, her sister Sophie and her uncle Yank right behind her.
He stiffened, ignoring the embarrassment he felt at being caught with his pants down by people he admired and cared for. 'Why do I have the feeling I'd rather face a firing squad than the three of you?' he asked.
'Well, I don't know,' Yank said, his voice laced with sarcasm. 'Maybe because you can't keep your pecker in your pants and now we've got ourselves a situation?' The older man picked up the paper and flung it Damian's way.
Damian winced. It was bad enough he'd still have to explain this mess to his family but now he was faced with Micki's. 'I really don't see how that's relevant to my career.'
'He really doesn't see how this is relevant to his career,' Yank mimicked him. 'I'll tell you how. I can book you on comedy shows and channels for idiots if this kid turns out to be yours. Want to know what was waiting in the wings for you?' Yank asked.
Probably not, Damian thought. 'What?' he asked instead.
'
'And I appreciate that. I admit this isn't the responsible image I want to project and I'm not proud of any of this. But plenty of famous people have survived worse scandal. I don't see what you're so worked up about,' he said, his voice trailing off as his gaze shifted from Yank to Micki.
Damian knew exactly what had the old man so riled up and there wasn't a damn thing he could do to make things better. The man was already pissed at how Damian had handled his relationship with Micki. Now this. Who could blame Yank if his anger was more personal than professional?
Then there was Micki who hadn't met Damian's gaze since bringing her partners into the room.
'Look,' Micki said, stepping in front of her uncle.
“I spend my days spinning scandal for a living, but I thought we needed reinforcements on this one. You had an appointment with Uncle Yank anyway and I figured Sophie would be of help since I'm not exactly an unbiased third party.'
In other words, she was hurt, and afraid her emotions would get in the way of doing her job. 'You aren't about to pass me off to your sister, are you?' he asked Micki, ignoring the other two people in the room.
Silence followed and his gut churned at the thought of losing the only person he trusted.
'It would serve you right if I did, but no I'll help you handle this,' she finally said.
Well that was something, at least. 'Okay then, what's the plan?'
Sophie picked up a pen and began making notes on a pad in her hand. 'In cases like these, having the right person standing by a man in tunes of scandal can save a reputation. In your case it's going to be Micki who holds your hand through this mess.' Her frown told him how much Sophie hated the idea of her sister being subjected to being in the role of his savior.
But obviously they'd discussed it briefly before coming in here because neither Yank nor Micki argued the point.
Still Damian was confused. 'I'm not sure I understand what you're suggesting.'
“I’ll explain. First you're going to issue a statement with your publicist by your side. That would be me,' Micki said in case he missed the obvious. 'You are going to admit you made a mistake and state that once the facts are verified, you plan to do the right thing. You're going to be a stand-up guy, just like your fans and the kids who look up to you expect'
He nodded. So far so good. Relief filled him as he realized that he'd been right in coming to Micki for help. Not just professionally but personally as well. He couldn't wrap his mind around how to handle any of this and he could already see that she'd help him get his head on straight. He'd owe her big time for this, Damian thought.
'Next up is handling the actual…umm…situation,' Micki said, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment.
'What she's referring to is whether you've dealt with the issues surrounding this pregnancy,' Sophie said, rescuing her sister. 'Did you talk to the woman about a paternity test?'
He shook his head. 'Not yet'
'Did you think about meeting with a lawyer?' Yank asked.
Again, Damian said, 'No. I just found out. I can't even imagine how the damn story got leaked so quickly.'
'Probably the doctors or nurses the woman saw. Somebody saw a chance to make a buck,' Yank muttered.
'You need to set up those appointments,' Micki instructed him, back to her professional mode. 'What's your schedule look like?'
Damian groaned. 'A series of home games and then a week on the road.'
She nodded. 'Okay, lawyer and doctor appointments first.'
'You need to find out how far along this woman is and then talk to someone about when it's safe for paternity tests to be done.'
'My sisters have an ob-gyn. I can set up an appointment with him. He's a family friend and I'm sure he'll fit me in around game times.'
His sisters. Shit. The thought of facing them and their questions made him squirm.
Sophie nodded. 'Good. At least we have a plan of action. Right now Micki will go with you and help deal with the press. In case you didn't realize, they're already outside the building and clamoring for information.'
'Yeah, they were camped outside my, building this morning.' He winced at the memory. “There's no media quite like New York's.'
'You got that right. Screw up and they're all over you,' Yank said. 'I got one question.'
'Shoot.' Damian wasn't about to hold anything back now.
'If the kid's yours, do you plan on marrying this broad?
'Hell no. I don't believe in screwing up Carole's life or the kid's life just because protection didn't work,' he snapped.
Yank cleared his throat. 'You're saying you used protection?'
Micki looked away.
Damian ran a hand over his warm face. 'Yeah, Yank. I did.'
'Well that's something.' The older man met his gaze with a sympathetic look of his own.
For a brief second, Damian didn't feel like the pariah in the room or the man who'd let this entire family down.
What a freaking mess he'd made. He and Micki hadn't had a commitment; they'd had what should have been a brief fling. Yet he couldn't shake the self-disgust flowing through him at the thought of disappointing her family and
