She slipped on her new high-heeled shoes, straightened her skirt and opened her office door in time to find Damian on the other side. Since leaving him this morning, she hadn"t let herself dwell on him or his situation or else she knew she"d get nothing done. But he was here now and, apparently, eventful was an understatement, she thought, surprised by his unexpected appearance. He scanned her from her sandals up to the hem on her short skirt, lingered on her tight top and ended on her freshly made-up face.
"You look fantastic," he said, the heat in his gaze and-his husky tone unmistakable.
Warmth spread and the old pulse-pounding desire rushed through her at his compliment. For a brief moment, they were back on the island, unenc.u.mbered by life and reality.
"Thank you,"she murmured. She met his gaze and realized he was clean shaven. He was also well dressed in a pair of tan slacks and a black b.u.t.ton-down collared shirt with a teasing sprinkle of chest hair peeking out from the opening.
A quick inhale told her he was wearing a s.e.xy cologne and Micki knew she was in trouble. Since he"d played an afternoon game and his apartment was downtown in Gramercy Park, he"d gone out of his way to be here.
She moistened her lips. "So...what brings you by my neck of the woods?"
"You do. You and your uncle. I"m here to take you to his party."
She narrowed her gaze. "I don"t mean to be rude but I don"t remember seeing you on the guest list." And she"d kill whoever added him because tonight was to have been the only free time she had all day. Breathing time. Alone time without being tortured by wanting what she couldn"t have.
"That"s because when I called your secretary to find out your plans for the evening and she told me about the party, I called Sophie and invited myself." He treated her to his most endearing grin and her stomach flipped in antic.i.p.ation.
Of what she didn"t know. "I can"t imagine Sophie just told you to come."
"Actually, she did. Are you ready to leave?"
Micki silently promised to murder her meddling sister. "I was going to drive my car so I could get home easier."
"I"ll make sure you get home and you can take a cab to work and pick up your car tomorrow."
"Presumptuous"
"And bossy," he agreed with a laugh. "Stop fighting me or you"ll be late for the party. I"m leaving for a series of away games tomorrow. I"m just asking you to spend time with me tonight. Fun time. No thoughts of problems or PR or anything stressful," He held out his hand toward her. "Please."
She shut her eyes, tired of her constant internal fight. She still held on to her notions about family and she was adamant about not coming between Damian and his. But he obviously wanted to spend time together and she desired the same thing. They didn"t have a future but why couldn"t they have time now?
She opened her eyes and saw the opportunity to forget her problems and just have a good time. "Yes. Yes," she said, unable to resist.
He banged one side of his head with his hand. "Say that again? I"m sure I heard you wrong."
She grinned. "You thought you"d have to work harder, didn"t you?"
"Maybe but I"m not complaining."
She placed her hand in his and pulled him close.
He met her gaze, desire flaring in his expression. "Micki..."
Her name was meant as a warning, she knew.
For the first time in what seemed like ages, she heard Roper telling her to step up and take what she wanted. One night of fun, she reminded herself and rose to her tiptoes to touch her mouth to his. She lingered for a while, just savoring his warm lips and his arousing masculine scent that had her stomach flipping in purely sensual antic.i.p.ation. Micki"s bones seemed to torn to liquid and she thought she"d melt right on the spot. When he lifted his hands and cupped her face, holding her head in place so he could take control, all the yearning and desire she"d been holding back rose to the surface.
He tipped her head and slid his mouth over hers, moving his lips deftly from side to side in a kiss that suddenly turned hot. Drugging. Her chest rose and fell and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s grew heavy, aching for his touch. She stepped closer, so her chest brushed against his, but the light friction did little to ease the building, burning need. She moaned and curled her hands around the fabric of his shirt. It was all she could do not to strip him right here and make up for lost time.
"Ahem. I know my eyes are blurry but I think I"m seeing clearly enough to know this ain"t the place for hanky-panky," Uncle Yank said, interrupting them.
Damian jumped back first, while Micki closed her eyes so she could take a minute to compose herself. "Ever hear of knocking?" she asked her uncle.
"Ever hear of behind closed doors?" he retorted.
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 antic.i.p.ation, 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.
h.e.l.l, 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 b.a.l.l.s 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 d.a.m.n 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 a.s.sistant "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 she"s stood by me."
"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.
Damian wanted to ask Micki about the significance of such obviously childlike party symbols, but Yank was pontificating from on high. Loudly.
"...And since it"s my birthday--and I thank you all very much for coming--I thought I got to decide who I wanted here. And I can tell you right now, I don"t want to party with the lovebirds." Yank pointed first to Lola, then to Spencer Atkins, who were on separate sides of the room, whether out of deference to Yank"s feelings or pure irony.
Yank"s always wiry hair stood on end and his face flushed red with pure jealousy. Damian leveled a sidelong glance at Micki. He couldn"t be responsible for his actions either if she walked into a party with another man--a notion that rattled the h.e.l.l out of him.
Suddenly Yank, who was still ranting from his perch in the center of the room, lost his balance. Without warning, he wobbled, pitched to one side and fell before anyone could help him.
"Uncle Yank."" All three of his nieces ran to the older man"s side, but Lola got there first "You frustrating, crotchety, old coot!" she yelled, bending down at his side. "Where does it hurt?" She spread her hands all over him, her concern and love so real even Damian could feel it.
"My leg," he muttered and rubbed a place high on his hip.
Damian winced. "Somebody call for an ambulance," he yelled to the waiters nearby.
Yank was still yelling at Lola to get the h.e.l.l away and let him be humiliated in peace.
Uncomfortable making them a spectacle, Damian stepped back.
Micki slipped her hand into his. "There"s not much we can do. The hostess already called 911," she said.
"I ain"t going in an ambulance," Yank bl.u.s.tered.
Noodle woofed in agreement and licked Yank"s face, the dog"s concern obvious. Spencer Atkins stormed over to his best friend. The two men couldn"t be more different in looks, Yank in his b.u.t.ton-down Hawaiian shirt and Atkins in his double- breasted suit. "Shut the h.e.l.l up, will you? Your mouth is what got you into trouble in the first place."
Yank scowled at his friend. "You stole my woman--"
"I was never yours to begin with. You didn"t want me," Lola said, tears streaming down her cheeks and causing her makeup to run.
If she cared about that or her hair, which had fallen from its bun, or the fact that her blouse had pulled loose from the back of her skirt, she didn"t show it. All her concern was lavished on the man lying on the floor.
"I wonder if he"ll come around now," Micki whispered. "I mean it feels like his last chance. If he pushes Lola away this time, it"s probably for good."
The overwhelming emotion of her family situation struck Damian hard. "Hopefully this"ll smarten him up. It can happen to even the dumbest jock," he said, hoping to lighten the mood.
She laughed and hiccupped at the same time.
"Coming through." The paramedics came in and the next few minutes pa.s.sed in a blur as they carefully loaded the older man onto the stretcher.
"Come on. I"ll drive you and Sophie to the hospital." Damian tugged on her hand.