Page 26 of Dangerous Encore
I grab a napkin and hand ittoher.
She dabs her eye and nodsthankyou.
Violet steps out of the bathroom and looks to me. Her eyes flare with concern.Everythingokay?
Inod.
She turns to her mom. "Isitgood?"
Mary motions to the cake. "Delicious." She pushes herself to her feet. "I should get going." She moves to Violet and wraps her in a hug. "I'll see you at the rehearsal dinner, sweetie, and not a secondsooner."
Violetnods.
Mary whispers somethingtoher.
Violet blushes. "Goodnight,Mom."
"Good night, sweetie. And you too,Ethan."
Violet walks her mom to the door and says another goodbye. She sighs as she clicks the lock onthedoor.
She presses her back against the door. Her eyes meet mine. "Let's never get marriedagain."
"What ifIdie?"
"Don't talkaboutthat."
"Still?"
"You want me to loveagain?"
"I want youhappy."
"So long as I carry you around by my heart like Mom does withAsher?"
I let out a soft laugh. "Well, yeah, your new man has to respect that you'll never love him as much as you loved me." I go to Violet and I wrap my armsaroundher.
She presses her forehead to my shoulder. "I don't like thinking about something happeningtoyou."
"Meeither."
Her eyelids flutter closed. She presses her lips to mine then pulls back with a sigh. "You tastelikecake."
"Youtoo."
Her lips curl into a smile. "It's amazing, how much lighter I feel with that one thingdecided."
"Everything is decided, honey. I have a few more calls to make tomorrow, but it's all confirmations. Everything isready."
"Yeah?"
I nod. "It's going to be fucking perfect. Of course, no matter what happens, I'm gonna think it's perfect. I'mmarryingyou."
Her smile spreads over her lips. "You reallythinkthat?"
"Ofcourse."
"Me too." She slides her arms around my shoulders. "What didMomsay?"
