Page 199 of Dare to Love Me

It’s fine, though. Because next week, Iwillbe sipping a cocktail with an umbrella in it, poolside, at a five-star resort in Goa.

I just need to survive Mongolia first.

“Daisy,” he calls over his shoulder, his voice carried by the wind. “Are you okay, darling?”

“Yeah, great!” I nudge Wild Horse forward, which he interprets as a gentle suggestion rather than a firm command.

The three of us—Edward, me, and a silent Batu—continue our ascent up the mountain, each step making me slide further back on my steed. I’m painfully aware of how my delicate bits are going to smell after this. If Edward thinks he’s getting any hot tent action tonight, he’s got another think coming. I’m goingto need industrial-strength soap, possibly an exorcism for these knickers, and maybe one of those power washers they use to clean the sides of buildings.

I mentally list all the things I’m going to do in Goa next week. Take a long,civilized, soap-heavy bath. Shag Edward senseless, including allowing him the privilege of going down on my gloriously clean lady parts. And then—oh sweet heaven—reunite with my phone for the marathon scrolling session of my dreams.

Because I have not had phone signal for three days.Three days.

Edward’s been banging on about how “liberating” it is to be disconnected from technology, how it’s “good for us” to be present in the moment. Easy for him to say—his idea of entertainment is reading medical journals.

Hang on—maybe there’s coverage up here? Is that how it works? The higher you go, the better signal you get?

I discreetly slide my phone out, making sure Edward can’t see. He’s been so smug about this whole “digital detox” thing.

No signal. Not even a flicker. And I’m dying to know what’s happening onMarried at First Sight. Have Jess and Matt consummated their marriage yet? Has Dave revealed his secret child?

As we climb higher, I sneak glances at my screen. Edward turns and smiles at me, and I whip the phone away so fast I nearly dislocate my shoulder. I don’t want him to know I’m being superficial up a mountain surrounded by all this majestic whatnot.

Wait—is that—

One bar!

I have coverage!

My fingers fumble across the screen, checking emails with the desperate fervor of someone who’s been told civilizationcollapsed while they were offline. And there it is—an email from the network about the interview!

“OH MY GOD!”

“Daisy, sweetheart?” Edward twists around in his saddle, concern creasing his handsome face. He spots my phone clutched in my white-knuckled grip.

Cue the frown. That deep, disapproving furrow of his brow that tells me he’s about to launch into another lecture on the virtues of digital detoxing.

But I don’t give him the chance. “I got the interview! The celeb interview show!”

In my excitement, I accidentally kick Wild Horse in the sides. He gives me a look that says I’ve just violated our unspoken agreement and does a little buck that nearly sends me flying.

Edward grins at me from his horse. “Darling, that is amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

Eek! I’ve been waiting to hear if I’ve been selected.

If I make it out of Mongolia alive, I have an interview with a proper TV show. One where I get to do what I do best—charm, flirt, and sass my way through conversations with reality TV stars. I was made for this.

And even if I don’t get it? Well, at least I know there areoptions. I am a woman with a bright future ahead of her, even if that future currently involves chafed thighs and the lingering scent of yak.

Batu doesn’t seem impressed by my career news. Neither does Wild Horse. Fair enough.

But Edward is looking at me like he knows exactly how much this means to me. Like he’s genuinely, wholeheartedly proud.

I beam back at him, still bouncing uncomfortably in the saddle, my heart doing something warm and ridiculous in my chest. I’m in a good place. A really good place. And for once, I actually believe it might last.

Even Sophia and I are good. We even double-date sometimes with Giles and Edward.

We had a proper heart-to-heart after the wedding. Lots of tears and apologies and promises to do better on both sides.