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"Honestly, Cara give it a rest," Clint says

Unsure of what to say, I go ahead and let the first thing that comes to mind out of my mouth "What are these terms niece, nephew, uncle?"

Randall gives a bark of a laugh and claps er brother, Stanley Cannon, is Cara and Clint's father So I'm called their uncle and they are called my niece and nephew"

"They're titles," Moira supplies, "to denote blood relations"

I nod"Well, it's nice to aze to Clint, who looks as happy as a puppy to have me there, and then over to Cara, who looks like she's undressing me with her eyes

A quick glance over at Moira, and I see she hasn't failed to notice Cara's look She's staring at her as if she wants to pull her hair out, and I smile internally Now Moira understands perhaps what I was feeling when that guy Michael put his hands on her Maybe I'll get to see toet theree to do it naked No clue why, but that idea appeals to me immensely

"What would you like to drink?" Randall asks "I've got a variety of wines and beer Maybe some bourbon?"

"I'll pour," Clint says, walking over to a wooden bar filled with various bottles and glasses "Cara you want a glass of bourbon, right? And a vodka tonic for Uncle Randall What about you, Moira?"

"I'll have a glass of white wine I don't care what type"

Clint nods as he starts pouring liquids into various sized glasses "What about you, Zach?"

"I'll try the bourbon too," I tell hi no clue what that means

I steal a quick glance at Moira and she gives ly suggest you only have one It can sneak up on you"

I lean back toward her "I need the fortitude to get through tonight"

She snickers at me, and I love that we are back to where we can joke with each other

After Clint gets all the drinks poured, he hands them out to each of us I take a sniff of the bourbon, and the scent is pleasing Woodsy, shtly sweet

"I'd like to make a toast," Randall says, "to welcos"

Cara and Clint call out, "Here, here," but Moira doesn't say a word She knows I'm not happy with those words just uttered

Everyone takes a sip of their drink, except me I look directly at Randall "I'm sorry, Randall But this isn't my home and it never will be"

The warm smile slides off Randall's face, and he takes a step toward me His eyes are sad "I'm sorry, Zach That was insensitive of ht now, but I'ive me and accept my friendship I really only wanted to ive you an opportunity to coe for you to return whenever you want Until then, I hope you will let me share my memories of your parents with you, and you will at least have a good experience while you are here"

Man, that was good So good in fact, I actually findup to the old man I nod at him andto hihto have such a fabulous ti to make sure of it"

Cara then leans in and presses her body into ood, but I'd rather have Moira standing this close tobody from what I can see, but she doesn't overwhelm me the way Moira does

Nothing has ever overwhelmed me the way Moira does

"Let's head in to dinner, shall we?" Randall says as he offers his arm to Moira "Zach, you can escort Cara in, and I'll take the lovely Dr Reed"

My hackles raise slightly to see Moira loop her arive her a kindly pat on the hand However,in just behind, and his eyes are pinned on Moira's ass

It makes me want to kill the motherfucker, but I know Moira wouldn't take kindly to it

Cara leadsroom with a table that seats twenty-four byme to a chair near the end, she releases her hold onat me, and I wonder what I'm supposed to do

Shrugging my shoulders, I pull my chair out and sit down, then watch as Randall escorts Moira to the chair opposite of me, and pulls it out for her to sit in Okay so that's a custom I didn't know about I look back up at Cara, but she's already pulling her own chair out to sit down beside me

"In polite circles, Zach," Cara tells entleman should pull out a chair for a lady"

Moira puts her hand over her mouth to hide a se world for a long ti in polite circles"