Chapter 2

Damian looked around the room in a daze. Why his aunt had insisted on throwing him a party he'd never know. He knew he had an obligation to attend since she had spent time planning it. Not to mention all his family would be in attendance. He hadn't seen them all in two years, not since he graduated college.

In those eight years he'd been gone, his cousins Derek and Dayton had gotten married. Damian had been invited to both but had been on assignment. He had had to decline by default. That had hurt him in the deepest way possible. They were his brothers he had never had.

As for the only sibling he did have, Damian had been MIA since she went to college. He'd heard from her when she first left and got settled but then the letters and e-mails had dropped off. He figured she just got caught up in college life as he had with work. That he could understand.

Also in those eight years, his love life hadn't been the best. He was photographed with many women before he went to college, he'd been photographed with many women while he had been in college and the same had happened when he took his job with National Geographic. He had always been labeled a ladies' man and had never really had a girlfriend.

Catherine Stark took the podium with a grand entrance followed by her husband David. Damian's aunt and uncle were impeccably dressed, as always, and had a distinctive air about them. As his gaze shifted, he saw his parents and younger sister with a guy. Probably her new boyfriend. She went through more guys in a month than she goes through makeup. She probably learned it from him.

"I would like to welcome all of you to this welcome home party. We are celebrating the return of one of most beloved sons. He has been away from us for the better part of two years. Now he has returned to us. Damian, please come forward."

Embarrassment set in as he walked through the crowd to the stage. Catherine smiled as she handed him a glass of champagne. He took it, making certain not to look at the crowd.

"We just want to say welcome home, Damian," she replied.

The crowd cheered after they took a drink. He slipped off the stage and into the crowd. He was not about to get caught in the hub of people. The last thing he wanted was to get in a fight with someone he knew from his childhood who had a grudge against him and there were many at that.

"Hey, Damian."

He recognized the voice and turned around. Derek and his wife were standing behind him. He turned and extended his hand. "Hey, cousin. How've you been?"

"Can't complain. This is my wife Tophyr," Derek replied, motioning with his hand the woman standing next to him.

Damian looked at the young woman beside his cousin. She was blond with bright blue eyes that looked through him. He could see how she got Derek. He extended his hand, which she accepted with a smile.

"I've heard a lot about you," Tophyr said.

"I hope it was good," he replied.

"It differed from story to story."

He laughed. "That I can see." His eye travelled down, as any man's would, and he saw she was slightly rounded. "How far along are you?"

This time her smile brightened considerably. "Six months. We're due in February."

"That's great news."

"We know."

"No offense intended but didn't you and your brother just turn 24?"

"How do you get your information?"

"I have good contacts." Tophyr smiled at that.

"Dayton's here somewhere with his wife," Derek said as the two finished their conversation.

"How's he doing?"

Derek laughed. "It's interesting. His wife keeps him on his toes, much like mine does."

"That's good."

"Tophyr!" She turned around as another woman came over. "Sorry. I almost got trampled by my own family."

"Are you okay?" Tophyr asked.

"Yes. I just didn't want to get into a fight tonight. It's not my party."

"Damian, this is Caroline Rochester." Derek said when the women continued talking.

"I knew I recognized her," Damian answered. "Wasn't she engaged to Dayton?"

"Let's not go there." Damian held up his hands as Derek turned to his wife. "Dear, you're taking up Caroline's time."

Tophyr made a face at her husband and then ignored him. Derek made a face then grabbed at her. She yelped and looked at him. He waved to his cousin then walked away, Tophyr following him chatting his ear off.

Caroline suddenly realized she was alone with Damian. She turned to look at him only to find him looking at her. That made her face heat up. He was as handsome as his cousins but had a roguish air about him. The Stark green eyes were the one thing that stood out on him. It seemed as if he was looking straight through her.

"What are you going to do now?" she heard herself asking. It was not like her. She usually let the man talk to her.

"I'm thinking of taking a job at the New York Times. If not, I'll be a freelance photographer. I haven't decided." He replied as his eyes swept the room. "What about you?"

"I work for Tophyr at the art gallery she owns in Brooklyn."

"Do you like art?"

"I tolerate it. I'm much more inclined to music."

"Classical or modern?"

"Both."

Damian nodded, letting everything sink in as he continued to look around the room. He saw his older cousin walking towards him, his wife in tow. He felt Caroline shrink behind him. Obviously she was still skittish around Dayton.

"Good to see you, Damo," Dayton said as he got in hearing distance. He hugged his cousin as soon as he was close enough.

"It's good to be home, Day," He replied with a smile. His eyes went to the woman standing beside him. "You must be Izzy."

She smiled, batting brown eyes. "Good to meet you, Damian. Dayton has talked nonstop about you."

"Tophyr said Derek was saying the same thing."

Dayton's gaze was drawn beside his cousin. "Caroline?"

Caroline stepped out from behind Damian. "Hey, Dayton."

"What are you doing here?"

"She's with me." Damian stepped in quickly. He stepped back and threw his arm around Caroline, pulling her against him. He could feel her quaking beneath his arm. She really was nervous.

Izzy and Dayton looked at each other. "Since when?" she said.

"Since Tophyr introduced us this afternoon. I asked her to accompany me this evening."

Caroline gaped at the bold faced lie. His family knew he was lying but he had a good poker face they didn't argue with him. Dayton wanted to but thought best to leave it alone. He took Izzy's hand and led her away after a farewell to his cousin.

Damian turned around. "You owe me big time."

Then he walked away, leaving Caroline alone and thinking.