Judy Hubbard - Our First Kiss

“Mmm-hmm.” His tone stated he didn’t believe she was as innocent as she professed to be. He glanced down the table, meeting his sister’s dancing eyes. He had plans to pay her back later. Not that he really minded sitting next to Marcy, but he was trying to do the right thing and stay away from her—for her sake and his.

“Look at it this way. You can use this time to sample some more of my perfume,” she offered, moving closer.

He inwardly groaned. That was the last thing he needed. He studied her beautiful face, and his dark mood intensified as she obviously fought to hide a smile.

“Yippee.” He nearly growled the word.

“A toast to Natasha and Damien.” Michael stood with a glass raised. “Two pieces of the puzzle of love who fit perfectly together. May they share a long happy life filled with love and hopefully soon the pitter-patter of little feet.”

“Cheers.” Everyone agreed and raised their glasses.

“We’ll see what we can do about your first grandchild, Dad,” Damien promised as he and Natasha unlinked their wrists and lowered their glasses—eyes twinkling because of their shared secret about Natasha’s condition.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we all gathered together soon to celebrate another union of our children?” Margaret candidly suggested.

“That would be lovely, Margaret.” Linda followed the direction of her eyes.

“You never know what could happen.” Marcy chuckled as she glanced at Nathan’s slightly uncomfortable, tense features before smiling brilliantly at their mothers.

“I’ll start designing your wedding dress,” Nicole teased.

“And Linda and I can begin on the guest list and the menu,” Margaret excitedly began.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Nathan indignantly interrupted, and everyone laughed heartily—everyone except Damien.

Marcy met her brother’s narrowed eyes and gave him a wink. He was going to have trouble sharing her, but she would help him through the rough spots. He and Nathan would hit it off; she was determined about that.

“Linda, I’ll call you tomorrow,” Margaret promised.

“Please do.” Linda smiled down the table at her.

Lincoln and Michael shook their heads at each other across the table as their wives made the union of Marcy and Nathan their new project. They picked up their glasses in a silent, resigned toast to their respective spouses.

* * *

“What do you think they are talking about so intensely?” Nicole asked as she stood with Marcy and Natasha watching Nathan and Damien from across the room.

“Me, of course.” Marcy smiled. “Dami is playing big brother, reading Nathan the riot act.”

“I’ll go over and put a stop to this,” Natasha promised, but Marcy touched her arm halting her.

“It’s okay, Natasha. Let Dami assert himself. He will, anyway.” She chuckled in resignation. “Better now when I can keep an eye on him. Besides, it is rather sweet, don’t you think?” She stared lovingly at her brother’s intense face.

“I do,” Nicole agreed. “Poor Nathan. He doesn’t know what to do about any of this,” she sympathized, eyes settling on her brother as he took a gulp of his drink.

“He’ll figure it out. I guarantee that,” Marcy confidently replied.

Natasha frowned as she glanced across at her brother. He didn’t seem upset as he listened to Damien. That was good. Damien glanced at her, and she shook her head at him in exasperation. He blew her a kiss before returning his attention to Nathan.

“I do wish Dami would stop monopolizing Nathan’s time.” Marcy sighed. “I need to make my next move.”

“Poor Nathan. He doesn’t have a chance.” Nicole shook her head at the determination etched on her friend’s face.

“He doesn’t need one,” Marcy quickly responded, and they all chuckled as they glanced across the room at their respective brothers.

“Marcy can be a handful,” Damien informed Nathan.

“No? Really?” Damien and Nathan laughed.

“I see you’ve already found that out.”

“I have. She’s very determined.”

“She’s also very honest—too honest for her own good sometimes,” Damien continued, glancing across at his sister as she stood with Natasha and Nicole.

“Yes, she is,” Nathan agreed. “She’s very beautiful,” Nathan couldn’t help admitting as he, too, glanced across the room at the subject of their conversation.

“You’re attracted to her.” Damien returned cool eyes to his fiancée’s brother.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Nathan proclaimed quickly. Then he added, “I know she’s your sister, but even you must admit she’s a knockout.”

“I do, but she’s not a toy or a diversion.” Damien’s eyes narrowed in warning.

“I never thought she was.” Nathan returned his cool gaze unflinchingly.

“Good,” Damien said and nodded as he silently studied the other man. He thought they could become good friends but not if he did anything to harm his sister.

“I don’t want to hurt Marcy,” Nathan assured him, sensing Damien’s thoughts.

“Then don’t,” Damien simply ordered.

“I don’t plan on it,” Nathan said, but even as he uttered the words, he knew that was a promise he might not be able to keep.

“Are you enjoying being back in New York?” Damien changed subjects, having said what he had needed to.

“Very much.”

“After Tasha and I get settled in as an old married couple, we’ll have to take you out and reintroduce you to some of the good spots,” Damien offered.

“I’d like that.” Nathan smiled.

Nathan’s eyes connected with Marcy’s again, and she smiled at him knowingly. He had a feeling she knew exactly what he and her brother were talking about, and she was going to make his resolve not to become involved with her near impossible to keep—just as he feared he was going to find it nearly impossible to live up to his promise to leave her alone.

* * *

Two and a half hours later the occupants of the private dining room were preparing to leave and go their separate ways. A few days later, they would all gather again for Damien and Natasha’s wedding.

“Can I bum a ride home from someone?” Marcy glanced expectantly at Nathan. “My car’s in the shop.”

“Tasha and I can drop you off.” Damien placed an affectionate arm around his sister’s shoulders. “It’s on the way.”

“It is on Nathan’s way, too,” Nicole quickly intervened.

Marcy silently vowed to send her a huge bouquet of flowers the next day. She was turning out to be a wonderful ally.

“That’s a fabulous idea,” Linda decided, winking at Margaret. “Nathan, you take Marcy home.”

“It’s no problem. We can take her,” Damien insisted, despite Marcy’s glare.

Damien could see what was going on here, and though Marcy didn’t seem to mind, he did; for some reason, even though he had spoken with Nathan and liked him, something was nagging him about Natasha’s brother. In his gut—and he had learned from painful experiences to trust his gut—he knew that somehow Nathan was going to end up hurting his sister, and he would do everything in his power to stop that from happening.

“Darling, I’m tired and would rather go straight home,” Natasha intervened. “Nathan, you don’t mind taking Marcy home do you?”

Nathan realized every female present in the room was very skillfully ambushing him. He had come up against some worthy adversaries in his day but none as lethal as the quintuplet in front of him. What could one do against such skillful opponents, except surrender—and hope to live to fight another day?

“No, not at all,” he dryly agreed.

“Good, now that is all settled.” Linda smiled pleased and walked over to talk to Margaret. Marcy was a lovely woman and might be just what her absentee son needed to get him to settle down.