Page 76 of Dangerous Encore

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"I don't bring him up with your sister. I don't need to hear her thoughts about how Dangerous Noise is better than MilesDavis."

I laugh. "Does shereally?"

"She knows itirritatesme."

"Joel doesn't care if you like the band. But he does… he does want you tolikehim."

"He's good to you. That's what matters." His gaze goes to the beach view outside the window. "But I hate him for keeping my baby three-thousandmilesaway."

"I like itheretoo."

"You only think that because it's been so long since you've had a goodbagel."

I smile. "It has been a while." I follow his gaze to the crystal blue ocean. "It's beautiful here,isn'tit?"

"It's beautiful inManhattan."

"That too. But… I like being here. I like beingwithJoel."

"Youlikeyourhusband?"

"I love him. I wish you loved himtoo,but—"

"I do." Dad's voice gets serious. "Is there something betweenyoutwo?"

"No…sorta…"

"Make me a promise,sweetheart."

"Okay." I can do that, intheory.

"Promise you won't quit your job to tourwithhim."

"I won't. Hewouldn'task."

Dad's expression is pureincredulity.

"Everyone wants their spouse around. You and Mom were like that too. You always told each other you workedtoolate."

"We nevermeantit."

"Joel wouldn't either. He… he's the one who tells me I should work. Well. Sort of. He wants me to take thepromotiontoo."

Dad perks. "Smartman."

"Heis."

"You wouldn't know it from lookingathim."

"Daddy, you aren't supposed to say that. You're just supposed tothinkit."

"Anne tells me he's considered veryattractive."

I laugh. "You don't think he's good-looking?"

Dad looks to me and raises a brow. It's unusually playful for him. In fact, he's been happyallday.

Well, by hisstandards.

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