She let out a frustrated groan.
'I'm sorry,' Damian said, stepping farther away. 'That wasn't appropriate.”
Micki blinked. 'Oh this is great. You're apologizing to my uncle for kissing his twenty-six-year-old niece!'
'It's a matter of respect,' both her uncle and Damian said at the same time.
'Well at least we agree on something.' Uncle Yank nodded, obviously pleased.
Micki pushed her curls out of her face, completely mortified by the two men and their frank talk. Because she'd been such a tomboy, she'd never gone through a traditional dating phase that included Uncle Yank interrogating boyfriends. She didn't want to begin one now.
She stomped over to her desk and picked up her purse, which she'd forgotten the first time she'd tried to leave, and turned to the two men standing by the door. 'Well, don't we have a party to get to?' she asked.
With any luck her uncle would have his driver waiting and she could get a minute alone with Damian before heading over to the large family gathering.
'We sure do. Let's get a move on so I can open my presents.' Uncle Yank shoved Damian through the door first, then held it open for Micki.
'We'll meet you there,' she promised
'I thought we'd go together.' Her uncle rubbed his palms in anticipation, not the least bit concerned that three was a crowd.
“I’ll drive,' Damian offered.
'Fine,' Micki muttered. A short drive with her uncle as chaperone wouldn't be so bad. They had all night to enjoy their time together.
And to see whether or not they planned to go any further than that kiss.
DAMIAN WANTED TO SURPRISE MICKI and spend time with her before his road trip. Just the two of them hanging out, having fun, no talk of anything serious. Instead he'd ended up having to invite himself to Yank's party if he wanted to see Micki at all before he left for the week. He'd had to do some fancy talking to get Sophie to let him come.
Hell, he'd had to flat out beg. Damian knew he'd look out for his own sisters the same way. Considering Sophie had threatened to rip his hotshot balls off if he hurt Micki again, Damian considered himself fairly warned.
He’d been prepared for Micki to be wary and he hadn't been disappointed. He'd sensed the war going on inside her as she'd fought not to let herself get close to him, but somehow she'd ended up not only giving in, but treating him to a hot, sensual kiss.
He wasn't stupid enough to think they were picking up where they'd left off on the island and he knew damn well it wouldn't be a good idea. But he could admit to himself that the cold showers he'd been taking since she'd come back into his life just weren't cutting it. He was walking around with a permanent hard-on courtesy of Micki Jordan and that kiss had been an appetizer that had him hungry for more.
Now he and Micki, along with Yank and a curly-haired cream puff of a dog walked into the restaurant. 'Morgan party,' Yank said to the hostess, using his gruffest, meanest voice.
The young woman's gaze darted from Micki and Damian to Yank and then lower to his pet. 'I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan, but there are no dogs allowed. The health code prohibits it,' she explained.
'I may be going blind but I ain't deaf and I don't really think you just told me I can't bring my Seeing Eye dog into this establishment.'
Micki stifled a groan.
The hostess peered down at the unkempt dog who resembled a mop more than a well-trained assistant 'Oh,' she said, skeptically.
Seeing as how the thing kept pulling against his leash in a blatant attempt to take off at a run, Damian could understand the girl's confusion. 'How about you talk to your manager and see if you could make an exception for the gentleman and his…er…guide dog,' he suggested.
She nodded, and headed down a hallway, presumably to a back office.
Damian bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. 'So now the poodle's your guide dog?' he asked.
'It's not a poodle, it's a Labradoodle,' Micki replied to Damian before turning to her uncle. 'Why couldn't you leave Noodle home?'
'Noodle the Labradoodle?' Damian asked in disbelief.
'Don't you dare make fun of this girl. At least
'Veiled reference to Lola,' Micki whispered in Damian's ear.
'But why didn't you just leave her home?'
'Because she's my date.' Yank's surly tone was obviously meant to warn Micki to back off and leave him alone. If Damian was a betting man, he'd wager she'd do neither.
Micki burst out laughing. 'Do you really think Lola's going to be jealous of a dog? And do you really think a dog is going to keep you warm at night? Or are you counting on your stubborn streak to do it instead?'
“Missy, I'm still older than you and I know what's best.'
'Then why are you still alone?'
'Okay, time out,' Damian said, stepping between Yank and Micki. 'Before one of you says something you'll regret.'
At that moment, the hostess returned and told them, 'The manager's willing to make an exception for you, Mr. Morgan, but you need to keep the dog in the private room.'
'It's discrimination, that's what this is,' Yank muttered.
'He'll keep the dog out of sight and thank you,' Micki said to the other woman.
She nodded and led them the long way around the restaurant to the back room they'd rented for the event.
Yank went first and Damian followed behind, surprised when Micki reached back and grabbed his hand, pulling him alongside her.
'He's so tense about seeing Lola and Spencer Atkins together that he's close to insane.' Micki gestured to her uncle and the dog.
'I can't imagine what he's going through, what with his eyesight deteriorating and the woman he loves having moved on.'
'With his best friend.'
Damian shook his head in sympathy. He glanced at Micki and realized that she'd been supporting him while her own situation wasn't exactly calm and quiet.
'I didn't realize about Yank's eyes or how much Lola's desertion has hurt him. You've been going through a lot of craziness yourself.'
Micki paused outside the private party room. 'Uncle Yank all but pushed Lola out.If he'd just given her an inkling about his real feelings instead of treating her like his slave and servant…'
'They have an odd history,' Damian said.
'Amen.'
'But between his health and the PR agency, you've been dealing with a lot.' He lowered his head. 'And then Carter spiked your drink, Yank pushed you off on me and sent you to the island-'
'We slept together, came home and went our separate ways and then you showed up at my office to tell me another woman might be carrying your child. Does that about sum it up?”
He waited for her voice to turn from matter-of-fact to bitingly sarcastic but it didn't happen. Instead she laid out the facts and started to laugh.
'Just what's so funny?' he asked
'My soap opera of a life.'
'I'm sorry for adding to the list.'
Micki shook her head, an unbelievable smile on her tips. 'Don't be. If you hadn't come around, I might be bored.'
The sound of raised voices traveled from the room next door. 'Something tells me being bored wouldn't be a remote possibility. Let's see what's going on'
Micki shot around him and he followed her into the room. Her uncle stood on a chair surrounded by decorations the family had strung around the room. Paper streamers were taped onto the ceiling, green and white helium balloons floated at will, and a store-bought Happy Birthday sign dangled precariously from the wall.
