Page 224 of Dangerous Encore
Theycan'tlie.
They give hisintentionsaway.
Andthey'remine.
They'reallmine.
Officially.
He nods. "We fly out the morning after your last final. The wedding is the next day, atsunset."
A wedding in Hawaii atsunset.
Marriage inparadise.
Is this reallyhappening?
I barely managetonod.
"I talked to everyone. They're on board. The hotel has someone who could do hair and makeup. Her portfolio is up on my laptop if you take a look. Everything is ready. I just need you tosayyes."
I want to say yes. Of course, I'm going to say yes. But—"How did you get fromI don't know if I can do thistolet's get marriednextweek?"
"I did somethingcrazy."
"Yeah?"
"I asked for advice. For help. I never would have done that before. It's being with you, Piper. You… You're the best thing that ever happened to me. Youknowthat?"
My lips presstogether. "Yeah?"
"Hands down. I wouldn't have figured this out for anyone else." He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. My index finger. My middle finger my ringfinger.
He traces myengagementring.
He looks up at me, those dark eyes on fire. "I talked toMiles."
Of course. The Sinful Serenade singer is also a recovering addict. Only, he always seemshappy.
Well, happy is relative with these guys. They're all moody anddemanding.
"He told me shit I should already know. But it helps hearing someone else say it." His voice is strong, sure. "I love you, Piper. I never doubt that. But, I'll always wonder if I'm going to slip. If I'm going to drag you down with me. If I'm going to prove myself right, that I really am the worst thing that ever happenedtoyou."
"You're not. You're the best thing that ever happened to me." He is. I wish I could convince himofthat.
"Sometimes, I do believe that. But, other times… I don't know if it's my brain chemistry or my past. I guess it doesn't matter." He stares into my eyes. "There's always going to be a part of me that thinks you're better off without me. Most of me knows that's wrong. But, that voice never quiets. Notcompletely.”
Words get stuck in my throat. There's nothing I can say to convince him he'swrong.
He's the best thing inmylife.
But thosedoubts…
They're stillthere.
They creep intohismind.
I can see it in the way he gets quietsomedays.
