Page 23 of Dangerous Encore
"Okay, since now." Her voice softens. "I love you, Ethan, and I want this. I want you. But I can't take any more thinkingaboutit."
"Let metakeover."
"There'ssomuch—"
"You have a spreadsheet with names, emails, and phone numbers. I canhandleit."
She sighs with relief. "Areyousure?"
"Yeah."
"We haven't even pickedacake."
"I have an idea about that. Do youtrustme?"
"About cake? I don't know. You really dismissed itearlier."
I feel my laugh in my toes. "Evenso."
"Yeah,Ido."
"Let mehandleit."
"Okay."
"You still soundexhausted."
"Iam."
"I want you in my arms, honey. Fuck, the things I want to do tocomfortyou."
"I, um… I can't now. Mom and Piper are in the other room." Need fills her voice. "And Mom is going to come home with me. For something. I, um, so… it might be a littlewhile."
"Icanwait."
"I can't. But I guess I have to." She takes a slow breath. "How can I miss you when you're tenmilesaway?"
"I miss you too. You want me to drive over and pick you uprightnow?"
"Yes, but I need to finish this. I love you. I'll seeyousoon."
"I loveyoutoo."
I can feel how much this is weighingonher.
Maybe I can't do anything about the nagging feeling inmygut.
But I canfixthis.
* * *
The door creaks open.Violet's voice flows intotheroom.
"Ethan. My mom is with me, so I hope you'redecent."
She steps inside. With her makeup dark and her hair in some elaborate style, she looks ready foraball.
She looks fuckingirresistible.
