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"You wouldn’t dare drag me out in the middle of Times Square, would you?"

"Where’s your sense of adventure, Miss Preston?"

"My sense of adventure wants nothing to do with the middle of Times Square on New Year’s Eve"

He shook his head "So is that a yes?"

She smiled "Yes"

The door to her father’s study opened, and her father was laughing, his arm linked with Evelyn’s as the four of them spilled out Carolina wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her

"What’s that about?" Drew asked

"I think you’re about to find out"

"Oh, good, Carolina, you’re here," her ht? What kind of news?"

"I’ll let Gray and Evelyn tell you" Her nant," Gray blurted out

"Well, I’etto Gray and giving hiratulations, buddy"

"Thanks"

Carolina gave Evelyn a hug Again "I’ed her brother

"So it looks like the kids have set a date The wedding will be in May"

"I’ll definitely have a belly by then, but hopefully I won’t be grossly pregnant The baby’s due in August"

"And I don’t care, because I’ne was uncorked, though Evelyn settled for juice, and toasts werePreston baby The fa wedding plans Carolina was shocked and humbled when Evelyn asked her to be her maid of honor Of course she accepted immediately, and then she was doubly shocked when Evelyn asked if Carolina would own

"Are you sure, Evelyn?"

"I can’t think of a better designer to ners ould love to hter-in-law"

"Yes, but I want you to do it And you’ll be working with an expanding waistline No easy task"

Carolina laughed "I can handle that, but I don’t want you to feel like you’re under any obligation My feelings wouldn’t be hurt at all if you have a favorite designer you want to use"

"I want you to do it Unless you’re too busy Then I’d coht noith Fashion Week and launching your line" Evelyn sat back "I didn’t even think of the imposition"

Carolina took Evelyn’s hands in hers "I’d be honored to et my sketch pad and we can talk about it if you’d like"

"Are you kidding? I’d love that"

Carolina dashed upstairs and grabbed her sketch pad, then cahed out a few sketches, allowing for Carolina’s expanding belly With Evelyn’s suggestions, they came up with some ideas It wasn’t yet refined but by the time they finished, they had at least a few options

"I love these They’re unique and beautiful for a spring wedding"

"I’lad you like the s to do--and now, so do I In fact, I need to callto be so thrilled"

They hugged, and Evelyn went off to find Gray so they could do a video call with her parents

Carolina wandered off and found Drew in the living roos She leaned against the doorway listening to the to hear hi her father stood for, in fact he deeply opposed some points She knew her father would respect Drew’s viewpoint And to Drew’s credit, he didn’t get angry, just listened to her father speak about the things he believed in and why It was a very civil discussion and Dreas polite, but passionate, just as her father was

She was impressed When her father looked up and saw her, he srinned "Not on your life I’ve had way too uments with you over the years I kno hed and stood "Oh, co up for yourself and what you believe in Unfortunately, I have a few calls to make, so I’ll have to leave the two of you"

Her dad shook Drew’s hand "If you ever decide to leave hockey and join politics, I’d say you have a good future ahead of you"

Drew laughed "I think I’ht where I am, sir, but I enjoyed the discussion"

Her dad walked by and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then left and headed down the hall to his office, leaving her with Drew

"Eventful Christ deal for you to design Evelyn’s wedding dress, isn’t it?"

"It is"

"Whichon Can you handle it?"

"For fa an arm around her shoulder "Well, aren’t you just a superhero?"

She laughed "Not quite But I’ And I work very well under pressure"

"Do you? You mean like the pressure of one of your fa ?" He laid his hand on her thigh It had been such a busy day, and she’d missed his touch Part of her wanted toit too much