Not only did Micah have no idea Damon’s birthday was coming up, the message – timestamped at 10:25 AM – was from an unknown number. Judging by the brisk, but relatively polite wording, Micah might have guessed it was from Sophie, or perhaps Joelle’s fiancé, Fernando.

Which is why the message immediately beneath it was even more mindboggling.

Well? Can you make it? This is Caprice, by the way. Timestamped a mere five minutes later.

(He’d accidentally kept her waiting for hours. Whoops.)

As far as Micah knew, Caprice hated him. Micah couldn’t say he felt quite the same ire towards her, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t still pissed about the charity gala and how she’d tried to hook Damon up with her friend – right in Micah’s face.

It was more than a little suspicious that she was suddenly inviting him to her place.

Maybe she and Damon had had a heart-to-heart over the holidays?

Yeah, or maybe he threatened to take away her allowance if she doesn’t play nice.

Micah had to admit, the second option seemed more likely. But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to improve his relationship with the woman. And if Caprice was going to offer an olive branch, he’d be a fool not to take it.

Especially with the whole birthday curveball.

Christmas had been stressful enough. He had no idea what to get Damon for his birthday. Surely, one of his sisters would throw him a bone and give him an idea.

Although, if not, he supposed he could always revert back to Tessa’s suggestion, back when he’d asked her what he should get the man for Christmas, and just cuff himself to Damon’s headboard in nothing but a pair of lacy panties.

Now that he was sure he wouldn’t be brutally rejected, the idea had some merit.

But first, apparently, Micah had a party to co-plan.

I’ll be there. But… I don’t know where you live?

He wasn’t surprised when she answered within minutes.

You know El Taco Rosa on 69th Street.

It was a statement, not a question. Micah wondered if Damon had told his family it was where they’d had their first “date”.

I do.

I’ll pick you up there in an hour. Don’t be late.

Which was how Micah found himself loitering a small distance away from the alleyway where he and Damon had first met an hour later. Back then, he’d been undercover in a canary-yellow crop top and an obscenely tight pair of leather pants.