Dances with Monsters(65)

"Daddy," she said, moving to her father's side and bending down to kiss his cheek.

"How ya doin', cupcake?" he asked mildly, but his steady gaze was on Heath. Drew didn't miss it and cleared her throat again.

"Daddy, this is Heath. Heath, this is my father."

Mr. Carnevale glanced up impassively at Heath as he moved toward him. Heath extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you, sir," he said quietly. "Thank you for having me in your home."

Mr. Carnevale's face stayed impassive, but Drew saw a gleam of appreciation and respect in her father's eyes and felt immense relief. Her father rose to his feet and reached out and clasped Heath's hand, giving it a firm shake, and Drew noticed a small half-smile form on her father's face. It was a good sign; it meant that Heath's handshake had been equally as firm. Drew had heard her father say on many occasions how important a man's handshake was to him, that it said a lot about him as a man.

"Anytime, Heath," her father was saying. "I'd like you to meet my brother, Gino."

Heath shifted his gaze to the slightly shorter man, who gave him a mere nod and took his proffered hand. "Nice to meet you, too, sir."

"And these two bums," Mr. Carnevale went on, "are my sons-in-law."

"Ryan," Toni's husband said, rising to his feet and offering Heath a handshake and a smile.

"Vince," Nik's husband said, doing the same. "Huge fan, man."

"Oh, thanks," Heath said with a humble nod, but Drew knew he was uncomfortable with any recognition of his MMA celebrity.

"Fan o' what?" Uncle Gino demanded grumpily.

"Gino, you don't know this kid?" Mr. Carnevale said, surprising Drew. He reached out and clapped Heath's shoulder. "He was in all the papers a few months ago. Big MMA guy. Fought his own brother, ah, marrone. Used to be a Marine, got an honorable discharge."

"Geez, Dad," Drew said. "I didn't know you knew his whole bio."

"What, I get it wrong?" Mr. Carnevale demanded. He glanced at Heath. "Am I wrong, kid?"

"No, sir," Heath said calmly. "That's what happened."

"See?" Drew's father continued, reaching out to pinch Drew's cheeks lightly. "Your old man knows what he's talkin' about."

"He's a hometown celebrity," Vince added. "Nah, forget that. He's a national celebrity!" Drew rolled her eyes; she knew he would inevitably ask for Heath's autograph at some point in time. Heath stood amicably, but she knew him well enough by now to know how uncomfortable he was with it.

"Okay, okay," she said lightly. "Give him a break, he just walked in."

"What's that you got there?" her father asked Heath, pointing to the bag in his hand.

Heath glanced down as though he'd forgotten he'd been holding it. "Wine, sir. I thought you and your family might enjoy it."

"Let me see this," her father said musingly, pulling the bottle out of the bag. He examined the label and nodded. "This is Drew's mother's favorite. And hers. And Gino's. Look, Gino." He held the bottle up so Uncle Gino could read the label and he nodded his approval.

"Very good," he commented.

"Thanks, Heath," her father said, then handed the bottle to Drew. "Take that in the kitchen. Go help your mother and your sisters." He affectionately cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lightly on both of her cheeks. "Go on. Let us men talk. Hey, you want a beer, Heath?"

Heath glanced at Drew over her father's shoulder and she nodded slightly at him. "Yes, sir," he said lightly. "Beer would be great. Thank you."

"Drew, go get the man a beer, will ya?" her father said, waving her off. He was smiling, and Drew knew that he was appreciating all the respect that Heath was showing him. She wasn't sure but she didn't think Ryan or Vince had ever referred to her father as "sir" in their lives. But she saw how immediately Heath had slipped into his old military bearings, and knew that showing this type of courtesy and respect to someone who "outranked" him in a sense was nothing new to him.

Drew knew he didn't drink right now, but her father had extended a gesture of hospitality toward him in his own way, and he'd be a fool not to take it. Besides, one beer wouldn't kill him. She hustled into the kitchen, seeing her mother stirring a big steel pot on the stove. Nik and Toni were standing by the sink, talking and laughing.

"Hey, there she is," Toni said with a grin. "The disco queen."

"Ugh, I hate you two," Drew replied. "Don't ever feed me tequila again."

"Bad night?" Nik asked, raising her brows.

"Something like that. Look, Mom," Drew said, changing the subject. "Wine. Your favorite. Heath brought it for you. Daddy's holding him hostage in the living room or else he would have given it to you himself."