Page 88 of Dangerous Encore
Accepting my husband, myfamily.
Joel goes off to do something. I'm not sure what. I'm too lost in all the stories Dad is telling about Mom's pregnancies, about me and Anne asbabies.
He's giving me all this advice, and all I can do is nod and take another bite of shrimp scampi and try to soakitin.
The meal goes fast, and the drive back to our apartmentgoesfast.
The city blurs around us. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, the air is warm andinviting.
This is a beautiful place, southern California. Venice Beach. Ourapartment.
It's small for three, but we'll make it work. Or we'll find anotherplace.
I squeeze Joel's hand as we take the elevator up to the third floor. "A lot is going tochange."
He nods. "You thinking aboutmoving?"
"How'dyouknow?"
"You stared at everyFor Salesign we passed on the way here." He pulls me into the hallway. "We can get a biggerplace."
"Maybe. I like this one." I slide my arm around his waist as he unlocks our front door. "It's where we fellinlove."
His smile spreads over hischeeks. "True."
"And it's… it just feelslikeus."
He pushes the door open for me and nodsafteryou.
I step inside. Joel would deny it, but he really is agentleman.
He's a goodhusband.
He'll be agooddad.
There's something thrilling about thinking of the man I love as a father. About us, raising a familytogether.
After he locks the door, he wraps his arms around me. Something hits my back. Apaperbag.
He smiles. "That's to celebrate." He leans down and presses his lipstomine.
I kiss him hard. The tension of the last few days melts as I slide my tongue into hismouth.
My hands go to his hair. They hold his headagainstmine.
He pulls back with a needy sigh. "This is fucking amazing,angel."
"Yousure?"
"A hundred percent.Areyou?"
"Yeah. But it's scary, how everything willchange."
Henods.
"What do you think you'll do withtheband?"
"I don't know." There's no fear or anxiety in his eyes. Or his voice. "We'll work it out. Everyone will be happyforus."
