No way, no way, no freaking way this is happening.

I don’t know whether I should scream with excitement that Eva is inviting me onstage, or die of embarrassment that Trent is going to make his fake proposal to me in front of thousands of people, but I don’t have a choice. I need to play along with the stunt. I can’t help but think what a total riot this will be for the game show audience when they see what their idea evolved into.

The audience at the concert, on the other hand, is eating this up with a spoon. They scream, they cheer, they whistle and shout encouragement as I reach the stage, blushing furiously.

Eva gins at me.

A woman in black jeans and a T-shirt comes on stage and fixes a microphone on to Trent’s face.

“Okay, Cassanova. Now’s your chance to woo your girl.” Eva pats Trent on the back and steps out of the spotlight.

Trent looks different. There’s a lot of color in his face. He’s smiling as he takes my hands. God, his palms are sweaty. Or maybe it’s mine that are so slick. The band starts playing the intro to the song. “It’s a beautiful night…” he sings. “We’re looking for something fun to do…”

“Oh, my God,” I murmur, looking up to keep from giggling like a crazed person. I’m supposed to be completely into this moment. Laughing wouldn’t be the right reaction.

“Oh, baby. I think I wanna marry you.”

The crowd goes nuts, screaming almost as loud as they did for Eva. It gives him confidence, obviously, because he starts moving back and forth. He’s dancing. Oh, sweet everything, he is dancing. And he’s pulling me along with him, twirling me in circles with our hands locked.

“Is it that look in your eye?” he sings. “Or…whatever the next line is…hey, baby, I think I wanna marry you.”

I see Eva clapping for us out of the corner of my eye as he spins me one more time and her fans start chanting Yes! Yes! Yes!

I squeal when he wraps his arms around my waist, and lifting me high above his head. “Don’t say no, no, no,” he sings, beaming. “Just say yeah, yeah, yeah…”

He puts me on the ground. My knees are so wobbly, I’m scared I’ll fall. To my surprise, he gets on one knee and pulls a blue velvet box out of his pocket. My eyes widen with shock. He pops the box open. Jesus H. Christ. The sparkle of the stone‒it’s so big it can’t possibly be real‒blinds me. I can’t think. I can’t speak. I can’t…I just stand there frozen.

“Will you marry me Dakota Manning?”

This isn’t happening. I know it’s not really happening. The emotions behind it aren’t there. It’s all a show. We’re just onstage making complete fools of ourselves. That’s actually what my life has become since I told Mr. Douglas I’d have to take a two weeks off to get something done.

But man, do I wish it wasn’t all fake because my heart is swelling up like a balloon about to burst. I can’t take my eyes off him.

His face is lit up, more gorgeous than ever, then I’m in his arms and this is wild, but it’s also perfect, too. Like the most amazing dream. Suddenly, out of nowhere, while standing in front of that sea of humanity, I wish with all my heart it were real. Because…damn it…I love him. I’m in love with this man, and I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life.

I want more than anything to tell him I’ll marry him. For real. Forever. But all I can do is nod because, hell, we we’re playing a game. This is a Dare Me stunt.

Trent slips the ring on my finger.

My phone vibrates in my jeans pocket. Surreptitiously, I slip it out and glance at it. Five words.

“What?” Trent mouths, a frown on his face.

I throw my hands around his neck and lock our lips together. Not for a second, did I think it would become a real kiss. I thought I would just press my lips for enough time to make it convincing, then we’d part and our dare would have been completed successfully, so I’m completely unprepared for what happens.

The magic of the situation takes over.

His mouth opens, his tongue sweeps into mine. His hand runs down my spine and wraps around my hips. He pulls my body tightly against his, so close it feels as if we are one being. I can actually feel his heartbeat. Strong and fast. His erection, hot and hard presses into me. My brain feels like it is on fire.

Then the world stops spinning.

There is no one else but us.

Only us.

Our breaths mingling. My whole body trembles uncontrollably. My heart flutters like the wings of a butterfly. I lose myself in the most beautiful kiss ever. In the history of mankind. Nobody has ever kissed like this. It goes on and on.

Then Trent raises his head and looks down at me. His eyes are shining.

I stare into his eyes. One side of his mouth quirks upwards. I take a deep breath.

The audience thinks I just accepted his proposal and they are cheering, clapping and whistling. Eva comes over to give us both a hug. I want to thank her for being so gracious, but security is already clearing us off the stage. As far as they are concerned, we’ve done more than enough damage tonight. Needless to say, they surround us and lead us out of the hall.

The big guy that fell on the floor while trying to catch Trent closes the gate with a clang. “You’re more than welcome to listen from the parking lot.”

Our phones buzz at the same time:

I can’t believe we just did that!” I laugh, breathless, as we walk across the enormous lot to where we parked beside each other. My knees still feel a little weak, and I have to lean on him. He wraps an arm around my waist and that feels good. I close my eyes for a second as my head rests against his chest and God, do I wish it were all real.

“Let it never be said I’m not willing to go the extra mile.” He chuckles. “Whew. I was sure they’d arrest me for a minute there.”

“Tell me about it. I thought you must’ve lost your mind, and then I realized what was happening. Boy, they don’t pull any punches, do they?”

“No, they don’t. I bet none of the others would have the balls to climb up those lighting rigs. I nearly fell a couple of times.”

“Shit. Imagine if you had fallen?”

“I would have dragged my broken body to the stage,” he says dryly.

I laugh. “Now why did I think you didn’t know any pop music?” I tease, moving away from him and leaning against my car. “When you knew ALL the words to that song.”

He rolls his eyes with a grimace. “Okay, you got me. I had to learn the words when I was best man at my buddy’s wedding.”

“Right, right. I’ll buy that. So they chose the one thing they knew you could sing.”

“They trawl thought our Facebook pages and use the information there against us, Dakota.”

I frown. “True. They used it against you twice now, but not against me.”

He grins. “Maybe you’re such a sweetheart there’s nothing to use.” He pulls me into a hug, the breath from his laughter warm against the side of my neck. “Can you imagine how many videos are gonna go up online after that?”

“Oh, you’ll go viral, for sure. That was some stunt you pulled.” I pull back with a smile. “Remember me when you are internet famous, okay?”

He kisses the tip of my nose, and I close my eyes for that split second as my heart lets out a mournful cry.

“I’ll be sure to mention you in my acceptance speech.”

My heart thuds painfully. “What acceptance speech?”

“You mean they don’t give awards for becoming internet famous?” He grins, touching his forehead to mine.

Oh God, I thought he meant when he won the million dollars.