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He climbed in next to me and started the car “We should be fashionably late, as requested”

I panicked a little over that decision, knowingI was going to be wearing so fifteen or twenty ht push the envelope

Too late to do anything about that now I couldn’t turn back time and have him arrive earlier I seriously had to shore up the defenses and jump into this idea with both feet It really was an all-or-nothing game plan

I made small talk on the drive to Napa while, in the back of o The closer we got to the vineyard, the less chatty I felt

Ten or fifteen minutes of silence passed He asked, “You okay?”

I nodded “Just freaking out a little Maybe we should have left earlier so we could stop off for a drink before the party”

He reached over and put his hand onit a squeeze “Relax We’ll rock it Your family won’t knohat hit them”

We took the turn onto the long, winding road of the vineyard When we reached the parking lot, I could barely breathe It was filled with cars I recognized The Bentleys, the Mercedes, the Jaguars The Carlisle clan was out in spades So too were the Corbetts

I looked at Michael “Maybe this is bad idea”

“Oh, hell no” He shut off the engine and got out of the car “We’re in it to win it”

I did a last-minute makeup and hair check and freshened my lipstick I took a deep breath as the car door opened Michael offered ripped his hand so tightly he frowned

“Hey, chill”

I nodded and took a deep breath “No turning back now”

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to him “You look fantastic Don’t doubt it for a second You’ll be the hottest woman here”

I laughed “You’re definitely good for o—and my nerve”