Page 166 of Dangerous Encore
"I have no idea." We clink glasses. I take a long sip. Not quite a whiskey sour, butnotbad.
"Toast time!" Piper squeals. "Yes, I love toast time." She climbs onto the couch. "Can I gofirst?"
"Can anyone stop you?" Kitteases.
She nods. "If no one brings me a glass." She looks to Joel. "Champagne,please."
"Am I your bitch?" Joel teases, but he still goes straight to the kitchen, pops open a bottle of champagne and starts fillingglasses.
Bella grabs me and pulls me into the center oftheroom.
NexttoMal.
We're now the official guests ofhonor.
It's more attention than I'm used to. Even if it's only myfriends.
I slide my arm around Mal'swaist.
He leans down to whisper. "This is all going to be at myexpense."
My laugh is more giggle than I mean it to be. "Itis."
Joel brings over our glasses of champagne. He hands over Mal's. Then mine. "You sure you can put up with him,Lacey?"
"Don't give her ideas," Malteases.
"It's the sex," I say. "Worth almostanything."
"Must be with his personality." Joel winks at Mal. "Guess he'sbeautifultoo."
"He is." I laugh. "Andtall."
"Freakishly tall, though,"Joelsays.
Bella laughs. "Baby, leave heralone."
He turns back to his wife. "Well, I could be incentivized." He nods to theirbedroom.
She licksherlips.
"It's our place. No one can ask us to stop." He moves toward her. This is a small apartment. It only takes him three steps to wrap his armsaroundher.
"It's not our party." She runs her fingers through his hair. "It's for Mal andLacey."
"And you don't think they're as big of perverts as we are?" He leans in to whisper something inherear.
She nods and presses her lipstohis.
Then they'remakingout.
Itistheirplace.
And she ispregnant.
They get extraleeway.
Piper clears her throat. "Anyone who'd like can watch the show." She nods to Joel andBella.
