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A woman's voice said, "Miss Somerville, I have the president on the line."
Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to see Dan standing next to her, a grin the size of a football field spreading all over his face. "Now, Phoebe."
She regarded him blankly. "What?"
"Now."
His meaning slowly penetrated her brain, and she stared at him in disbelief. He meant now! She pressed her hand over the mouth of the receiver. "Dan, it's the President! I can't—"
He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unbearably smug. She realized that he had been waiting for a moment just like this. That rat! He had set her up, and now he was going to spend the rest of their lives teasing her unmercifully about not having the guts to take his dare. That cocky, infuriating jock! Somebody definitely had to take him down a peg or two.
The President's voice boomed over the wire. "Congratulations, Miss Somerville. It was an amazing game."
"Excuse me, sir." She gulped. "I have Miss Somerville right here." She shoved the phone at an astonished Sharon Anderson.
Dan gave a hoot of laughter. She grabbed him and pulled him through the crowd. Just as they reached the door, she spoke.
"You'd better be worth it, studmuffin."
In the background, Sharon Anderson, after a stumbling start, had risen to the occasion. Much to Ron's bemusement, he heard her say, "I'm fine now, Mr. President. Yes, it was quite harrowing. By the way, sir, I want you to know that all of us in the Stars' organization share your concern about adequate funding for preschool education…"
"Studmuffin?" Dan pulled out onto the highway. "You called me studmuffin!"
Phoebe was still trying to catch her breath. "This game can go two ways, Coach. Don't be surprised if you're in the final two minutes of the Super Bowl—"
"You wouldn't."
"I might."
He looked over at her and smiled. "Speaking of the Super Bowl. Will you marry me as soon as it's over?"
"How about Valentine's Day?"
"Too long."
"Groundhog Day?"
"Deal." The Ferrari raced down the ramp onto the Tollway. "You know that we've got a few problems we need to talk through before we get married."
"I'm not getting rid of Pooh."
"See, there you go being antagonistic. Marriage means learning to compromise."
"I didn't say I wouldn't compromise. I promise to take the ribbon out of her topknot before you walk her."
"You're all heart."
Phoebe's smile faded. "I want children, too. I always have. I just needed to know you loved me."
"I hope you know it by now. I never loved anybody in my life the way I love you. I want children, but not nearly as much as I want you."
"I'm glad." She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and then released it. "I don't want to send Molly away. I want her to stay with us."
He glanced over at her. "Of course she's going to stay with us. Where else would she go?"
"I thought you might want more privacy."
"Once that bedroom door is shut, we'll have plenty of privacy. Actually, when I mentioned problems we need to talk about, I was referring to the Stars."
