“Would you?”
She punched him. “You’re an idiot.”
“Still, don’t piss him off. And make sure you’re both back here for the 21st. Want me to verify times for you?”
“What? No. I don’t know.”
“I’ll work on it. Don’t ruin this for us.”
“I’m so glad you’re concerned for my well-being,” she said to his back.
Then Ed cornered her. “Look, do what you have to do, but we need Damon to stick around for our final game after Christmas. Playoffs are the weekend after. And a few guys from a rival architectural firm on the Avalanche have been bragging that they plan to take first place this year. No way can we let that happen. I hate those guys.”
She sighed. “I’m so glad everyone is worried for me and not about your stupid game.”
“Hey. Don’t blaspheme. Do I make fun of your stupid court and squeaky shoes and tiny hoop?”
“All the time.”
He ignored that. “Anyway. We talked to Damon the other night. He’s a good guy. And not just because he’s coaching us. He likes you. He respects you.”
She waited for it.
“And he promised us NHL playoff tickets!”
“Can he even do that?”
Will joined them just as she noticed her father dragging Damon deeper into the kitchen. Before she could save him, Mona sauntered over to ask about Marlie’s future with the potential serial killer with a dimple. Trust her mom to focus on the bruiser under all the smiles.
Good luck, Damon. You’re on your own.
Damon followed Irv into the kitchen for a quick rundown of the lasagna recipe. More like an excuse to question him without Marlie watching. A nice little father-prospective son-in-law chat, as Damon liked to think of it.
“Go for it,” Damon said when Irv finally stopped talking about pasta.
“I’m sorry?”
“You want to know what I’m doing with your daughter. Do I plan to use her, lose her, hurt her, etcetera. Should I even think of messing with Marlie in a bad way, you’ll crush me after your sons are done dismembering me and your wife buries my body where no one will ever find me.”
“Er, okay. Not exactly as I’d have put it, but sure. Let’s run with that.”
Damon smiled. “Marlie mentioned you’re an engineer. You’re a logical kind of guy.”
“I am.” Irv nodded.
And that had decided how Damon would play this parent-meet. He’d been thinking about it ever since Marlie had first mentioned dinner with her parents. Damon wanted to be forthcoming with her family. He’d start there and work his way up to their stubborn daughter.
“Well, logically, I just met your daughter last week. We clicked, because she’s a pretty firm and no-nonsense kind of gal.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“She’s super cute, smart, and aggressive. Like a badger or wolverine, but pretty.”
“Ah, okay.”
Damon grinned. “I like all those qualities in a woman. Plus, I’m a little afraid of her.”
Irv couldn’t hold back his smile. “Like I said, she’s a lot like her mother.”
