Out of Character (37 page)

And she’d truly fallen in love for the first time in her life with the only man she could see spending forever with.

“I don’t mean to pressure you,” Paul said. “Can I at least call you?”

Why was she trying to be logical about this? Love wasn’t supposed to be logical. She turned back toward him. “I’m not sure I’ll be available by phone.”

His features tightened. “I understand.”

“Because I’ll be sailing.”

“Sailing?”

“For a couple weeks off the coast of Italy, if the offer’s still open.”

He was beside her in an instant. “We’ll leave today.”

She shook her head. “Today I’m planning on visiting your parents. I hope they’re still as enthusiastic about our marriage after they’ve met me.”

“You’ll marry me?”

“Under one condition. One non-negotiable condition.”

He raised his hand. “Anything. I swear it.”

“You will never,
ever
under any circumstances pretend to be dead again.”

“Done.” Then his lips were on hers.

After a long moment, Jillian forced her lips a fraction of an inch from his. She was breathing so fast she barely got out the words. “Maybe we should wait until tomorrow to see your parents.”

When she was eight, Diana decided she wanted to be Nancy Drew. But no matter how many garbage cans she dug through, conversations she “accidentally” overheard, and attics she searched, she never found a single mysterious letter, hidden staircase, or anything else even remotely mysterious or suspenseful. She worked as a lawyer, a soda jerk, a stay-at-home mom, a hospital admitting clerk, and a conference host for events ranging from Lutheran music to the International BB Gun competition. She spent long hours volunteering in a nineteenth century mansion allegedly full of secrets and a few ghosts. Still no luck.

Diana ultimately decided the only way she was going to inject any mystery or suspense into her otherwise satisfying life was by writing about it. A five-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award, Diana’s the author of Golden Heart winner DANGEROUS AFFAIRS and FATAL TRUST. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family and a Wheaten terrier puppy. She’s still on the lookout for some real life mystery and suspense.