Angel in Disguise Read Online Free Page A

that only proved he was an even better actor than she was, for certainly he knew what those bad-boy eyes did to a woman. Who could ignore eyes like that? The way they crinkled at the corners when he smiled, they could steal her heart away and make her glad they had. Heaven help her if she let herself fall for another handsome charmer.
    A bubbly, balding man introduced himself as the date coordinator. “You guys!” he exclaimed, beaming at them. “You’re something else. Looks like your date will have to be a two-parter.”
    “Two-parter?” Pete echoed, sounding startled. “You mean go out twice?” Disbelief filled those blue eyes.
    Sunny didn’t know what he was so upset about. A guy with Pete’s looks didn’t come on a show like Dream Date because he needed a date. He probably wanted to get noticed by someone in show business. You’d think he’d be happy with more TV exposure.
    “Most of the time we send our couples to a restaurantor a resort for their dream date,” mused the coordinator, “but it will take a couple of dates to reflect your preferences. There’s the backpacking, the camping…”
    “We can skip that part,” Pete muttered.
    “The home cooking…”
    “A restaurant’s good,” Sunny said. “In fact, I’d love a restaurant!”
    “Well, yes, but we’ve got to do the home-cooking thing.”
    “Not for me we don’t,” Pete said flatly. “I can have pot roast some other time.” One corner of his mouth tilted. “With Mom in her backyard.”
    “Thanks, kids. Nice attitude.”
    “It’s asking a lot for Sunny to cook,” Pete persisted.
    She agreed. Totally.
    “The problem is,” the coordinator said with professional patience, “the next time you’re on, the audience will expect your date to reflect the matches you made on this show.”
    “Next time?” Pete murmured.
    Sunny heard him, but the coordinator either didn’t or ignored the alarm in Pete’s voice.
    “For the first part of the date, Sunny, we’ll have you cook Pete’s favorite dinner at your place.”
    Sunny couldn’t hold back a tiny whimper.
    “Or at Pete’s if you’d rather.”
    “No!” If she had to provide a meal, she’d take the home court advantage. “My place is fine.”
    “What was the menu?” the coordinator asked an assistant.
    “Pot roast, mashies and corn on the cob.”

    “Don’t forget the cheesecake,” Pete muttered bleakly.
    “Chocolate chip,” she added, trying hard not to laugh. Talk about a stretch. No way could she manage that meal.
    The coordinator checked his list. “That’s right. We can’t forget dessert! Sunny, we’ll provide groceries, flowers, candlelight, wine, the works. If you’d like, we’ll send in a cleaning team to make everything party perfect.”
    She should seem appreciative, but it just wasn’t in her. They could forget the flowers and keep the cleaners. Send a chef.
    Frowning slightly at his notes, the coordinator continued. “For the backpacking/camping part of your…”
    A faint sound, maybe a groan, came from Pete’s direction. Again, it was so soft, Sunny thought she may have been the only one to hear it, especially when the coordinator went right on talking about Big Bear and free camping gear.
    She glanced Pete’s way and saw he’d shaded his eyes with his hand. The lower half of his face looked grim. She wasn’t thrilled with the plans, either, but she had the decency to hide it.
    “Any questions?” the coordinator asked. “No? Then I guess that wraps it up. Have fun, kids. You make a great-looking couple. We’ll see you here in the studio in a couple of weeks for the report-back taping. Okay?”
    It wasn’t, but Sunny had the manners to fake it. Pete, on the other hand, didn’t even look up. What was his problem?

    As the staff left the room, Pete stirred from his end of the couch. Leaning toward her, he touched her arm. “Are you going to be all right with this?”
    Probably not, but he’d never know it. “Sure,” she answered,