Free Miss Congeniality by Marie Garner Page A

wants. I’m dying here. And as far as the radio bit, I was unaware it was worthy of losing appendages, but I would gladly lose my hand if it meant I could keep my hearing intact.” She reached toward the knob, but he stopped her by laying his hand over hers. She moved her hand, ceding to him temporarily.
    “Why am I just learning you’re a weirdo?”
    “I have all these layers you don’t know about.” She stared out the window, knowing her comment hit a little too close to home for comfort. Wanting to shake off the mood she felt herself falling into, she decided to mess with him a little bit. “Besides, until you know my tastes in music, you should keep it to something generic.”
    He scoffed, “What is generic to you? Some pop princess singing about love?” She scowled, unwilling to let him know he was pretty close to the truth.
    “I’m just saying heavy metal isn’t on everyone’s playlist. I don’t know about you, but I like country.”
    “Honey, I’m from Oklahoma. All I am is a good ol’ country boy.”
    “Right,” she muttered sarcastically, but she noted two things. One, he changed it to country, and two, he never did tell her where they were going. She would just have to work on her persuasion skills when it came to him. Ah, well , she thought, leaning back and closing her eyes to enjoy the ride.

    Lance took her to Disneyland. Brea didn’t know what she’d been expecting; something adult maybe, but she loved it. The park was geared toward little children, no question about it, but there were also plenty of activities for adults to take part in. He had planned everything, complete with Fast Passes and VIP treatment. He had to have spoken to someone at Disney because there was no way he managed to pull this off in a couple of days without some serious help. She loved that he put time into their date and loved how he was making sure she had a great time.
    He was equal parts attentive and sweet, irritating and bossy. He bought her frozen margaritas because she wanted a drink, and she made him wear Mickey Mouse ears. She couldn’t believe he wore them, but she loved this new playful side he was showing her. And while Lance made sure they did everything she wanted to do, he was very adamant about what rides he would not go on and sticking to their schedule.
    “Who would think you were such a task manager?” Brea remarked when they went to yet another stop on his busy agenda.
    “Believe it.” He smacked her ass as they weaved through the crowds. She pretended to look affronted but couldn’t hold it when he rubbed the part he had just offended. “Besides, you’ll like this one. We’re going to ride the Haunted Mansion.”
    “Why would I want to do that?” She tended to shy away from anything remotely scary.
    He threw his arm over her shoulder and leaned close. “Dark hallways, reclining seats, why wouldn’t you want to do that?”
    Brea grinned up at him. “Sounds like you have a bit of experience with this.”
    He kissed the grin away. “Perhaps. But I may have just Googled it.”
    “Should I thank the internet?” she joked.
    “No, you should thank me. Right after I take you for a ride.”
    “You play your cards right and I just may let you.” She leaned up and pursed her lips, signaling another kiss, which he happily obliged. The unmistakable click of the camera broke them out of their reverie. Lance looked up, noticing the paparazzo clicking away. He held up his hand to ward him off.
    “Can’t you see I’m having a day with my girl?”
    The paparazzo jumped right on his statement. “Are you saying you’re an item?” Wrong thing to say, if the way Lance stalked toward him was any indication. Brea grabbed his arm to stop him as the photographer continued taking pictures.
    “It’s none of your damn business if we’re an item.”
    The guy lowered his camera. “The public deserves to know.”
    Lance growled, and Brea gripped his arm so hard she knew she would leave