Page 30 of Her Greatest Adventure

“I need . . .” I trail off. The alcohol in my blood begins to sing with terrible, problem-bringing ideas. A flash of lightning fills the street as thunder rolls over us in one long, thrilling rumble. It’s either a sign of spectacular proportion or a warning. I choose option number one.

“You need . . . ?” he echoes softly.

“I need to do something. Something I’ve never done before. Something completely crazy and idiotic.”

“Everything you do is crazy and a bit idiotic,” he says, somehow without judgment.

I nip at my bottom lip before saying, “I want to go farther than all those things.”

“What are you talking about?”

The devil on my shoulder pounds its fists to its chest while the angel sighs, turning away and covering its ears.

Cooper would never agree to what I have in mind. But what if he did? What if Icouldconvince him to do something totally fucking bonkers? The idea of beating odds set against me is like dangling a steak in front of a wild, hungry dog. The warm thumping of blood beneath my skin is near rabid as adrenaline comes racing in.

“Marry me. Tonight.”

His eyes go wide, surprise and alcohol making them appear glossy. He blinks slowly, watching me like he’s waiting for me to jump up and say,Just kidding!I don’t move a muscle, still lazing over him like a human blanket.

“You’re not serious.”

I roll my eyes. “Is it that funny of an idea? Marrying me in Ireland?”

“Funny? No. Scary? Fucking hell, yes.”

“Live a little, Coop. Take a risk.” I drop my voice to a whisper and lean closer, flashing my teeth. “Be wild.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he stares at me, unblinking. “We’re drunk.”

“That’s why we should do it.”

“It is a bad idea.”

“Bad ideas are the fun ones,” I argue, refusing to back down.

“We’d regret it in the morning.”

“Not for long before we got . . . what’s the word?”

The corners of his mouth curl into a dopey smile. “Arnold?”

It still doesn’t sound right, but I don’t care. “Sure. That.”

“It won’t ever go away, though. Even after. Forever.”

“I wouldn’t regret it. What if I never got married again? At least I could say I did it once.”

“We’re drunk.”

“You already said that.”

“I’m older than you. Others might think I forced you into it.”

That makes me laugh. A bird-scattering, chest-aching laugh. Cooper doesn’t find it as funny as I do, but that doesn’t stop me.

“Then they don’t know me well enough. That means they don’t matter.” I jab a finger into my chest. “I don’t get forced into anything. Plus, it will be a secret.” I move the finger to his lips and press. “Shh.”

I flush when he takes my fingertip between his teeth and softly bites down. His eyes grow dark, his stare heavy. “A secret?”

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