Page 142 of Dangerous Encore

"I… I don't want it to be this way, Mom. But it will. Until you change." I swallow hard. I'm officially uninviting my mom from my wedding. Which means I'm uninviting Dad. Which means another few years of frost.Maybemore.

Maybeforever.

But do I want my daughter to have to go through this kind of thingoneday?

Do I want her to hear that she's too chubby or her boobs are toosmall?

Do I want my son to learn he's useless unless he's aprovider?

Do I want anyone I love to have to walk on eggshells aroundmymom?

I know this is the right thingtodo.

But that does nothing to push the guilt frommygut.

Mal wraps his arms around me. "We'releaving.Now."

Right.

Okay.

I let him lead me out of the house. He presses the door closed calmly. No slamming. Notemper.

But there's anger in his piercingblueeyes.

More than I'veeverseen.

He reaches for thedriver'sseat.

"I drove here." I'm not sure why I'm arguing. I have no intention of driving after four glassesofwine.

"And you drank most of a bottle." He motionsget in. "You know I don't mind if you drink, baby. I like the way you getmouthy."

"Idonot."

He drops his voice to that low, demanding tone. "Get in thecar.Now."

Fuck. His voice sends heat straight to my core. It pushes away the nerves. The frustration. Thewhat the hell am I doingquestions floating aroundmyhead.

I slide into the car and click myseatbelt.

Mal follows. He turns on the car, pulls out of the driveway, and heads for thefreeway.

I turn the radio on and play with the stations until I find something I like. There. The "classic oldies" station is playing an 80s night. The song is pure energy. Exactly whatIneed.

After he pulls onto the freeway, Mal turns to me. He gives me a quickonceover.

He rests his free hand on my knee. "What are youthinking,baby?"

"Too manythings."

"You feelguilty?"

"I'm cutting my mom off. Officially. How couldInot?"

"Shedeservesit."

"Still." It's gnawing at my stomach. It's tugging at mychest.