Page 163 of Dangerous Encore

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11

Lacey

There'ssomething on our dining roomtable.

A littlepinkbox.

Acakebox.

Mal steps out of the kitchen in jeans and a t-shirt, a mug of tea in his hands. Not his usual steamingsencha.

Something milky andbeige.

"A chai?"Iask.

"Withalmondmilk."

"Doesthatmean—"

He nods to the little pink box. "You want to do thehonors?"

"This is going to be the cake?Ourcake?"

"Itis."

"Okay." This is going to be our cake. And I have my dress. And what with the relaxed, accomplished look on Mal's face, I figure we probably have our date, and our exact venue, and our colors.Everything.

I set my purse on the table and pull open thecakebox.

There's a square slice, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting in a modern, swirlypattern.

I break off a piece with my hands and motioncome hereto myfiancé.

Hedoes.

He makes a show of bringing his mouth to my hand, sucking the cake off my fingers, licking every drop offrosting.

His eyes stay glued to mine. "Perfect."

He breaks off a piece and brings it to mymouth.

I'm a lot less graceful about getting mytaste.

I swallow and lick my lips. "Perfect."

"You have yourdress?"

I nod. "Pipertoldyou?"

"With some commentary about how she won't give me anydetails."

"How traditional." I scoop another bit of frosting and lick it off my finger. "I'm getting measured for alterationstomorrow."

"Good. We have anofficialdate."

"Yeah?"

He smiles. "NextSaturday."

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