12. Micah

"Mom. What are you doing here?" Micah asked, looking up from another environmental report on a new piece of property.

"I just thought that I would visit my favorite son."

"I'm your only son," Micah said, playing along with the cliched joke.

"Which makes you an easy pick."

"You've been in my office more in the last week than you have all of last year. What gives?"

"Lucy," Rose said.

Micah instantly tensed. He sat straight up in his chair and looked across his desk at his mother. "What about her?"

"She is amazing. Lucy is smart and funny. She's very kind, but I'm willing to bet that she wouldn't back down from a fight if she was forced into one."

"Not likely. I think she would definitely stand her ground."

"You didn't tell me that she was a bear shifter," Rose said.

Micah studied his mother's face. "I didn't think that it mattered."

"It doesn't in the grand scheme of things. However, I put my foot in my mouth when we were talking and I called her a wolf shifter. She corrected me," Rose said. "You know that means the baby could be a bear shifter."

"That is one possibility," Micah said. "Or it could be a chimera or a wolf shifter. I don't care. I will love it either way."

"Me, too. I told her that I would love the baby even if it was a pink raccoon."

"I bet that made her laugh." Micah grinned.

"It did," Rose said. "I know that you are a grown man and you don't need my approval for anything. I just wanted to let you know that I really like her and if you were to choose to be in a relationship with her, I would be over the moon."

Micah smiled. "Your approval does matter to me. I value your opinion."

She patted him on the arm and left.

He stared out the window, wishing he could go for a run.

Lucy is amazing. She has become a lot more than just a surrogate. She is more like a great friend, and maybe more.

Sighing heavily, Micah thought, She's girlfriend material. I'm pretty sure that she has feelings for me, too.

The problem was figuring out how to talk to her about it without sounding like an awkward middle school boy.

We have some time to figure things out. Our relationship might just naturally evolve and at some point, we can talk about our feelings without feeling weird about it.

He laughed at himself. Micah had never been shy about saying exactly what was on his mind, usually in a very blunt way. Occasionally, he had shocked a few people and even hurt some feelings, but there had never been any doubt about his stance on a subject. Now, he was nervous about telling a woman that he had feelings for her.

Micah rubbed his face and told him to get back to work. He turned his chair around and started reading the report again when there was another knock on his door. Martha stood just inside his office with an apologetic look on her face.

Suddenly, she was rudely pushed from behind and Caroline burst into his office.

"No worries, Martha," he said.

The older woman glared at Caroline and left.

"You need to fire that old hag," Caroline said. "She doesn't do her job and she's old. You need someone bright and beautiful to greet people."

"Martha is amazing and you have no right saying anything about her, let alone suggesting who works for me. What do you want?"

"I'll have you know that I just came from your place," Caroline said, putting her hands on her hips.

Fury exploded inside of Micah. "What the hell were you doing there?"

"I went to meet that woman you have staying with you. It's not right that you have someone like her living with you. Everyone knows that she is nothing but a high-priced whore you are keeping around as a fuck toy."

"Who I choose to have as a guest in my home is my decision. I don't give a rat's ass what you or anyone else thinks."

"She is going to hurt your reputation. Lucy is nothing but some kind of poor low-class – whatever – and she is just after your money."

"I was poor until I started flipping houses and building up my real estate business. I assure you that Lucy isn't interested in my money. What did you say to her?"

Caroline sighed and tossed her head back. "I asked her why she was there. She said she was staying until she could get her business going. I offered to give her enough money to start her business if she would pack up and leave."

Micah hid a grin as he asked, "What did she say?"

"She would leave when you wanted her to and not a second before," Caroline said, exasperated. "I told her that she should leave if she cared about you because a person like her living in your mansion would only hurt your reputation. Then, I told her that I cared about your reputation because you and I were betrothed and we were going to go through the mating ceremony together."

"You what?" Micah growled.

"I told her that we were going to be mates and I didn't want your reputation hurt."

"Woman, I need you to listen and to hear me well. I can promise you that I wouldn't go through the mating ceremony with you if you were the last woman left on this Earth."

Caroline gasped and put her fingers to her lips.

"I strongly suggest that you get out of my office before I physically remove you. Now."

She stared at him in disbelief for half a second and then practically ran out the door. A sound that was something like a sob echoed in the hallway as her shoes clapped against the floor.

"Way to go," Martha said. "I do wish that you would have let me physically remove her, though. Us old bags have such little joy in our lives."

Micah laughed and shook his head. "Next time, the pleasure is all yours. I need to get home and straighten things out with Lucy."

She was in the gazebo focused on her computer screen. A notebook filled with notes, some scratched out was on the table next to her computer. A pen was stuck in the top of her braid that went down her back.

"I don't know how to announce myself without scaring you," Micah said.

"I heard you walking up," she said. "That helped. I just wanted to finish my paragraph before I forgot what I was going to say."

He sat down on the cushioned bench across from her and leaned back.

"I heard that a harpy visited you today."

"You could call her that, I 'spose."

"I'm really sorry. She had no right to come here and harass you."

"No worries. I kind of had to laugh when she called me a hoochie. I hadn't even heard that term in a long time."

"She called you a what?" Micah growled.

"A hoochie. No big deal. I thought it was funny."

"It is a big deal. I'm going to strangle the bitch. Or better yet, let Martha do it," Micah said. "Just so you know, Caroline and I are not betrothed. We are most definitely not going to go through a mating ceremony together. I would rather eat battery acid."

"That's a little extreme," Lucy said.

"You've met her."

Lucy nodded. "I can see why a battery would be a better choice."

Micah was certain that Lucy was relieved. He wanted to ask her how she felt about him and tell her that he was starting to care for her, but the words just wouldn't come.

They went to the mountain and got a little bit of exercise. After dinner they hung out and watched Poltergeist and Poltergeist II: The Other Side.

"I first saw this movie when I was a kid. I've been terrified of clowns ever since," Lucy said.

"Your mom let you watch it when you were little?"

"I was at a friend's house," Lucy admitted. "Mom was furious when she found out."

She yawned and stretched. "I would love to hang out more, but I'm tired."

"Babies will do that." Micah grinned.

He brushed a kiss across her lips and went to his room. Micah thought about asking her to come with him but decided not to. She needed her rest if she was tired.

Angie texted him the next morning reminding him that the annual charity event that they hosted was Sunday. It was a huge gala with hundred-dollar plates and dancing afterward. Everyone showed up dressed to the nines and the women showed off their jewelry.

Martha finalized everything last week. The caterers are good to go, the folks doing the decorations are scheduled, and so is the DJ.

He laughed when Angie replied. I'm going to steal Martha away from you someday. You wait and see.

Micah thought about Lucy and wondered whether she would like to go with him.

There's only one way to find out.

That evening, after dinner, Micah broached the subject. "Angie and I host a huge fundraiser for the pet sanctuary each year. Martha really does all the leg work. Angie and I just show up and look pretty. This will actually be the second year. I was wondering if you would like to be my plus one."

Lucy smiled. "I would love to go. I'll have to go shopping, though."

"Mom could take you."

A terrified look came over Lucy's face. "I'm scared to get in a car with her."

Micah laughed loudly. "I understand the feeling. She does seem to have picked up some of the worst driving habits I've ever seen." He thought for a minute and said, "Angie's best friends, Flora and Jade, will also be going to the fundraiser. I think you already know Jade. They will need dresses. You can go with them."

Lucy seemed to shrink back a little.

"I promise that they will love you as much as everyone else does. My mother thinks that you're the neatest thing since sliced bread."

Before she could protest, Micah called Flora and explained the situation.

"We'd love to take her shopping with us. Is she free tomorrow?"

"Yep." Micah gave Flora Lucy's phone number.

Flora instantly started blowing up Lucy's phone with text messages making arrangements.

"I'll give you my credit card. There's no limit on it, so get whatever your heart desires."

"I can get my own dress. This has nothing to do with the pregnancy," Lucy protested.

"No, but you are doing me a huge favor," Micah said. "I'm going to tell Flora that there is no price limit and that you're buying everyone lunch, too."

Lucy nodded hesitantly.

"When you are rich and famous, you can pay me back," Micah said.

He knew that didn't really make her feel any better. For the first time in his life, he wondered if he had overstepped his bounds. She seemed to sense his feelings.

"Thank you. You are very sweet," she said.

"I know."

"Who's up for a game of Spades?" Ronnie asked, interrupting the conversation.

"Not me. I've got some television shows to catch up on," Vera said.

"I'm in," Michelle volunteered.

"Michelle and I would be glad to kick some butts tonight," Lucy said. "If you two are brave enough for a rematch."

They played two games of Spades. The four of them teased and taunted each other. Michelle and Lucy won the first game by a single point.

"You guys wouldn't have won if you didn't sandbag so much," Ronnie protested, pointing his finger at the women.

Lucy laughed. "You two sandbag just as much."

The men won the second game, so they were happier.

It was getting late and everyone said their goodnights. Micah walked Lucy to her suite door and hugged her tightly before kissing her.

"Sweet dreams," he said in a husky voice. Then, he made a beeline to his room before he could swoop her up and make love to her.