He thought of what he longed to do; what duty and the need for a clear head, the need to be alert, prevented him from doing.

But this was no time to even think about that.

He had to place his personal feelings and desires on hold until Taylor

was caught.

Until she was safe.

"Caitlin-" Something in his voice made her look at him.

He wasn't about to continue lecturing her.

There was something else there.

"Yes?"

He let it drop.

For now.

There was no use starting something that couldn't go anywhere at the

moment.

He promised himself that tonight they'd talk.

Meanwhile, he could sympathize with the way she felt, cooped up, even

if the policeman in him knew it was for the best.

"Ut me make a few phone calls to arrange things and then I'll take you

in."

That wasn't what he had been planning to say to her, she thought.

She told herself to stop hoping.

The mountain never came to Muhammad.

And Muhammad, it seemed, couldn't make a dent in the damn mountain.

She nodded.

"Wise choice."

He blew out a short breath.

Yeah, right.

This definitely went against his better judgment.

"Not the way I see it."

The squad car remained in front of the house.

Another one was waiting, parked in front of the lingerie shop, when

they arrived.

Graham told Caitlin that the patrolman's name was Reynolds.

"How long does this protective custody go on?" she wanted to know as

he pulled into the parking lot in front of her store.

"Until I say it stops."

She frowned.Were so many patrolmen necessary?"Why aren't you enough? You were before."She got out of the car."I wasn't personally involved before. You're my wife now."y In name only. Caitlin raised a brow as she approached the front door.

"Might do you good to remember that."

She tossed the remark over her shoulder before she pushed the door

open.

He watched her walk in, her hips swaying ever so slightly.

I remember, Cait.

All too well.

The bell went off, announcing her arrival.

She was,quickly the center of an impromptu reunion of one.

@ threw her arms around her and held on tight.

"I've never been so happy to,sec anyone in my whole life."

Kerry looked toward Graham.

"You, too, -Detective."

He murmured something unintelligible in response.

Caitlin laughed.

The two customers in the store looked on in mild surprise.

Caitlin scanned the store.

"Where's Eva?"

"Out sick. It's only me today."

She lowered her voice.

"I'm so sick of lingerie I may burn all mine."

"Shh."

Amusement shone in Caitlin's eyes.

"Don't let anyone hear you say that. It's bad for business."

Kerry was definitely drooping.

She had never been able to hold a candle to Caitlin where energy was

concerned.

"I'm beginning to think I'm bad for business. We haven't been doing

that well the last couple of days."

"Don't worry, the cavalry is here," Caitlin assured her.

She glanced over her shoulder at Graham.

"Sorry about that."

She was in her element here, Graham thought.