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“Coh talk about Win Everything is ready here Let’s go get dressed”

Vivi Ann followed her sister to the Eagles’ restroo on one of the stall doors In the hustle and bustle of getting ready, she forgot all about Winona’s hissy fit and concentrated on looking her best She curled her long blond hair on big electric rollers and sprayed it all to stay in place It only took a little loss—to accentuate her features Then she dressed in a flowy sleeveless polka-dot dress with a wide crystal-encrusted belt and her good boots

For the next two hours, she was on top of the world The banquet was a complete success Twice the number of people she’d expected had shown up and everyone had had a great tiiven away all of the prizes and thanked people for participating, she was already fielding requests for a fall series

“Next tiive away a saddle,” she told Luke as he swept her onto the dance floor “We need really great prizes And lots of cash That’ll keep the back We could do two jackpots a hed at her own enthusias she had right now, and she didn’t want it to stop

When the banquet was finally over, and the place had been cleaned up and everyone had gone home, she still wasn’t ready to leave

“Let’s go for a walk,” Luke said, bringing her heavy woolen coat

“That’s a great idea” She snagged a half-ene and carried it with her Hand in hand, they walked through town She kept up a steady streaic of her success, she was a little surprised to find that they were at the Waves Restaurant It was closed down for the night, but Luke led her out to the deck, where they found an elow fro restlessly on the beach below, she said, “Did you seeof it for hours, replaying it in her head so she would never forget it “I know it , but I know he’s always felt that he didn’t live up to his father’s legend If we e a viable business, it will be his way of leaving hisanother Grey that people remember”

“I think I know another reason your dad was s”

“Really?”

“I talked to hiht”

“And that’s slasses she’d brought with them

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a s the box to reveal a dia

It was like getting popped in the head by a fastball; you knew instantly you should have seen it co and ducked She tried to think of how to anshat to say, knowing that only a yes and tears would make him happy

“It made your dad smile,” he said

Vivi Ann felt tears sting her eyes, but they were all wrong, not the kind he deserved at all “It’s so early, Luke We’ve only just started dating We haven’t even—”