Page 43 of Mr. Dangerous

I broke in. "You'rebeautiful."

"Rob."

"Every day," I told her lightly, touching her lower back to steer her out the door of the hotel room before she could argue with me. "I told you. Every day, for twenty-fourmoredays."

We took a cab to a dim sum restaurant in China Town. As the bright storefronts flickered by on our way through the historic area, I said, "You know, dim sum was my favorite when I wasakid."

I assumed my father was trying to be disarming with his choice of restaurant. Mitch did that well. Growing up, our house had felt like the center of the world, and not just because that was the nature of childhood. Mitch and a series of companions -- two wives, many girlfriends – had entertained a broad and colorful cross-section of New England. There was always someone interesting coming to dinner. There was always someone being charmed. For a long while, I had been charmed byMitch,too.

As the cab nosed alongside the curb, I knew that I was going to be disappointed if Mitch charmedNaomi.

"What do you know about Mitch?" Iasked.

"I know he wouldn't approve of taking the help to lunch. But I'm sure he doesn'trememberme."

"Mitch is pretty much an asshole," I said, coming around to open her door. "But he's not a classist asshole. Not that I know of,anyway."

I held my good hand to her. She side-eyed me, then slid her palm against mine, allowing me to hand her out ofthecar.

"Not that you know of. You know, I can open my owndoors."

"Do you mind medoingthis?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "You do the gallant thing well, I have toadmit."

"Gallant." I felt a rise of happiness. "That's not something you hear every day. Makes me feel like a knight of the roundtable."

"I wouldn't go that far," she said, her fingers sliding away from my palm. I resisted the urge to reach for her hand as we headed up the sidewalk to the red-carpeted stairs into therestaurant.

Inside the restaurant, Mitch already waited at a round table in the red-and-gold dining room. For a second, I was reminded of childhood trips here after going to the museums and special birthday dinners. Chocolate milk andshumai.

Mitch sat with his legs crossed, ankle on thigh, wearing a black t-shirt and a gray blazer. He was rapidly typing a message on his Blackberry with his thumbs. His dark hair was touched with silver, but of course, the gray made him look mature and interesting. Despite the fact that he'd maimed one girlfriend, there were always new onesliningup.

Mitch looked up and saw us, and his face brightened. He dropped the Blackberry on the table and stood, flashing an easysmile.

"Son," Mitch said warmly, reaching out to hug me. I returned my father's hug, for the first time in years, leaning in with one shoulder. "It's so good toseeyou."

"It's been a long time," I said in return. I pulled a seat out for Naomi, who sat gracefully, unfolding a yellow napkin into her lap. I took the seatbesideher.

The round table seemed too big for the three of us. Maybe we should have waited to do brunch until Liam came in. It would have taken some of the pressure off me to make friendlysmalltalk.

"This is Naomi," I said, touching Naomi's arm. "A friendofmine."

Mitch nodded, no trace of recognition in his eyes. "And what do you do,Naomi?"

"She owns her own business," I said. "Professional problem-solver."

Naomi quirked her eyebrows, but letthatpass.

Two waitresses came out, pushing the steam carts from the kitchen. We ordered one ofeverything.

"You might like this," I said, offering one of the silver steam bowls to Naomi. "It's a beef ball. Not a trace ofseafood."

"I don't hate seafood," she said. "I just don'tpreferit."

It sure had seemed like she hated it the day before. I wanted to know if she preferred eating seafood or being carjacked, but I wasn't about to tell thatstory.

Naomi dropped a round dumpling onto the tablecloth as she tried to fish it out of the silver dish with chopsticks. She handled her chopsticks in a way that suggested a lack of familiarity. I bit my lip, wishing I’d suggested a different restaurant to Mitch. Her eyes caught mine and her cheeks suddenly flushed, her eyes dropping to thetablecloth.

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