The Dating Plan(102)

“I remember every moment I spend with you.” He pulled out a silver ring with a Sharks logo on top. “I keep my fan gear in Hamish’s warehouse. I grabbed it when I left with the bike, just in case.” He slipped the ring on her finger. “Daisy Patel, my humraaz, love of my life, will you marry me?”

Her happiness bubbled over and she punched her fist in the air. “Go Sharks!”

“Is that a yes?” He looked up, frowning. “It’s a little less romantic than I had anticipated . . .”

“Of course it’s a yes.” She pulled him up and kissed him, her body pressed against his, their hearts beating as one.

“So . . .” Liam pulled back. “Date #8. Wedding. If we want to finish the dating plan in the allotted time, we’ll need to pick up my sherwani and sword and book our flights to Vegas.”

“Is that what you want?” Plans and lists and schedules were the furthest thing from her mind now that her heart was so full.

“I want you to be happy, and if finishing the plan the way we wrote it makes you happy, then that’s what I want to do.”

“Plans can be changed.” Daisy shrugged. “Rules can be broken.”

“I think I might have proposed to the wrong woman.” His lips whispered over hers, and he followed the touch with a long, soft kiss that scrambled her brain.

“It would be a terrible waste if you only wore your expensive sherwani for a ten-minute wedding.” She ran a finger along the edge of his jaw. “And that sword. No one would see it but me and Elvis. Not even Sam.”

Liam sighed. “That would be a terrible tragedy.”

“What if we amended the plan to change the date?” She feathered kisses along his jaw. “And maybe instead of Vegas, we could have it here, and invite your family, and my family, and there would be music and dancing and lots of food.”

Liam twisted his lips to the side as if considering. “Pork vindaloo?”

“Extra hot.”

“Jalebis?”

“Of course.”

“I want all the food we had at your dad’s house the other night and at the Dosa Palace, plus Priya’s cake.”

“Done.”

“And no Shark Stew.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“What about the crunchy treats?”

“Kurkure Masala Munch? You’d be the groom. You could have as much as you could eat.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I can eat a lot.”

“You won’t be disappointed.”

He rubbed his lips with his finger. “I suppose just this once I can agree. I’ll expect the amended spreadsheet by the end of the day.”

Daisy pressed up against him, sliding her fingers through his damp hair. “How about we go to your place and amend it together? Our fake wedding day starts at midnight, and I want you naked in a bed that isn’t broken to celebrate the end of the plan.”

“Spreadsheet birthday sexy times.” He gave a satisfied growl. “I’m in.” He turned, gesturing to his bike. “Whenever you’re ready to ride again, your chariot awaits. It has the highest pillion seat safety rating and I’ve bought you head-to-toe body armor to go with it.”

Daisy laughed. “Seriously? Is that your new bike?”

“It will be as soon as I sign the paperwork. I finally understood something Hamish told me.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s not about the ride. It’s about who is in the pillion seat.”





? 34 ?


“LIAM!” Daisy’s eyes widened when she saw him in the mirror behind her. She’d slipped out of the tech conference to smooth down her hair before her pitch session. “What are you doing in the ladies’ restroom?”

“I have to show you something, and I thought I’d get arrested if I pulled it out in public.”

Her gaze dropped below his belt, and he laughed. “I always knew you had a dirty mind.” He opened his sports bag and pulled out a sword. “I’m talking about this.”

“Oh my God.” Daisy groaned. “You picked up your sherwani, didn’t you? Our wedding is six months away.”

“Deepa called to say it was ready, and Sanjay wanted to see it. I couldn’t wait.” He beamed, and Daisy knew it wasn’t just about the sword. After a long conversation, Sanjay and Liam were as tight as they’d ever been. When they were all together at her father’s house, joking around and throwing snark, it was like time had stood still.

Liam held the sword up to the light. “The outfit is in my new SUV, but I was afraid to leave the sword in case someone stole it.” He lunged forward, thrusting at the menstrual pad dispenser. “En garde. I will protect my lady’s honor with my life.”

“If you keep that up, you’ll get a sword full of pads.”

“Don’t you need them for your pitch? A few strokes and I can fell the evil machine and you can have all the pads you want.” He lifted an admonishing eyebrow. “Or do you prefer to steal them?”

“I did not steal them,” she huffed. “And I’m not Tyler. I had all my product samples packed and ready for the pitch three days ago. I have backups and backups for the backups as well as three copies of all the documents, and I’ve practiced my pitch so many times I could do it in my sleep.” When she hadn’t heard back from Tanya, she’d assumed the worst, and had arranged to attend the Vizio Tech Con to try and find investors for the new, streamlined Organicare, with its cutting-edge branding.