The moment the words escaped Debra''s lips, she wished she could reel them back in.


    She''d seen the affection in Juan''s eyes, unchanged and unyielding. He''d gambled everything on her once, and she knew he''d do it again in a heartbeat.


    "If you want, they''re all yours," Juan said without the slightest hesitation.


    "What if I''m not joking?"


    "I''m not either."


    "Forget it. I''m tired of this game. What''s next?"


    Debra marched towards the amusement park exit, leaving Juan stunned in ce.


    She tossed over her shoulder and said, "Don''t tell me this is all you''ve got nned."


    Juan always had a backup n. And with a grand gesture like renting out an entire amusement park, there had to be more. After all, he had even conquered his acrophobia. "There''s more," he said, following her lead.


    Whenever he tried to get closer, Debra would step forward just in time. The distance between them seemed to be as unbridgeable as that single step.


    Across town at Marion''s ce, Randy catapulted off the couch. "You''re kidding me."


    Erica''s voice crackled through the phone. "I''m dead serious. Juan rented out the whole amusement park. Do you think he''d do that for nothing? It''s Debra''s birthday."


    "Damn! He''s pulling out all the stops,"


    "Marion,e out.


    is


    Mario andy mumbled, h trying to steal Debra Jor


    He burst into Marion''s room, but no one was inside.


    "What''s going on? Where''s Marion?" Erica asked anxiously.


    Randy scratched his head. "Beats me. He''s not here."


    "What? How is that possible? Check the bathroom." Erica was confused.


    Randy snorted. "No, he''s not hiding under the sink."


    He wondered if Marion had figured out Debra''s birthday and had gone off early to prepare for it.


    He sighed, switching gears. "Forget it. n B. I''ll book a restaurant. You figure out how to pry Debra away from Juan."


    "Got it." Erica hung up.


    Juan ushered Debra into a mall. After a lunch of her favorite dishes, they descended to the lobby. What had been an empty space was how a floral fantasia. A giant screen zed "Happy Birthday, Debra."


    Balloons bobbed among the blooms, and elegantly wrapped gifts teetered in a towering pile. Juan looked a bit unsure but led Debra to the center of the lobby. én.swnovels


    "I didn''t know what you liked, so I prepared some gifts that girls usually like and had them wrapped." Debra''s eyes widened. She gestured to a sports car sporting a massive bow. "Is that part of the package?" Juan rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly uncertain. "Maybe. Probably."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.