Page 122 of Dangerous Encore

I need to ease up. "Do you know what you're goingtosay?"

Her voice is soft, uncertain. "I think just the news, that we're engaged. Then I'll see how I feel. Then, we can telleveryone."

Ichuckle.

She attempts to imitate my deep laugh. "Explainyourself."

"It's asurprise."

"Oh! Is it a surprise party?" She turns enough to look me in the eyes. Her expression is bright. Her lips are curled into asmile.

I try to hold a poker face, but I can't help but smile back. Her enthusiasm is fuckingcontagious.

"Is there going tobecake?"

"You're not supposed toaskthat."

"Isthere?"

"Ofcourse."

"Chocolate?"

"Carrot."

She laughs. "Only carrot? Why not go all the way tospinachcake?"

"I asked, but the bakeryrefused."

Her smile spreads wider. "I like carrot." She leans in and brushes her lipsagainstmine.

I can still feel that buzz of electricity. That thrill of her kiss. Of knowingshe'smine.

She pulls back with a sigh. "And Iloveyou."

"I love you too." I reach up to run my fingers through her hair. She's stalling. If she stalls enough, she might talk herself outofit.

Her lips part with a sigh as she leans into my touch. Slowly, she brings herself upright and turns back around. "Okay. I'm going to call. Onthree."

She holds up her phone and navigates to the contactDad Cell. "One." She squeezes my fingers. "Two." She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Three."

She taps thecallbutton. Thenspeaker.

The dial sound flows through the cell'sspeakers.

I squeeze her hand back. She needs me to be strong here. I can't let her know how terrified I amforher.

Someone on the other endpicksup.

"Lacey, hey." Her dad's voice is affectionate and husky. A smoker's voice. "How are you,babygirl?"

"I'm good." Her voice is even. Still. "Howareyou?"

"A little tired. It's early. What are youdoingup?"

"Oh, is it?" She looks to the widow and takes in the bright sky. "I've been getting up early all week. We were shooting this awesome commercial on the beach at sunrise. It was a pain because we only had two hours at a time, the one before sunrise and the one after. But it's worth it. The final version looks beautiful. Even if everyone was cold and tired and cranky every minute weworked."

"Oh, what was it for?"heasks.