"And that if she hadn't disowned me, I would have probably gotten

around to disowning her.

She just saved me the trouble.

Caitlin turned to face her friend.

Her mouth softened.

"Now, go home, Kerry. I have a business to run and it's not helping me

any if you're standing around wilting on the premises."

She nodded toward the closest display, a handful of slinky peignoirs

overlapping one another.

"These garments are supposed to be exciting, not sleep inducing."

Kerry nodded, glad for the reprieve.

"Don't have to tell me twice."

She hugged Caitlin extra hard and then left, passing a customer on her

way in.

Her mother's letter weighed heavily on his mind.

Graham placed his hand on her arm.

"Caitlin, we have to talk...."

She didn't like the look in his eyes and she had a feeling that she'd

like what he had to say even less.

"Not right now, Detective. I have a customer."

She crossed to the woman quickly, pasting on her lips a cheerful smile

she didn't feel.

Over the next hour there was a steady stream of customers coming into

the store.

She managed to keep none of them waiting.

Graham sat'back, feeling a measure of pride as he watched her, as well

as the prick of guilt.

He knew Caitlin's mother meant what she said and Caitlin was too proud, too stubborn to give in.

If he really loved her, he'd let her out of this marriage before her

mother carried out her threat.

But that was the trouble he did love her and he had finally stopped playing games with himself.

It had happened exactly the way he had feared.

She'd gotten so entrenched in his life that now he didn't want her to

leave him for any reason.

Ever.

He fingered the box in his jacket pocket, the one that had been there

for the past three days, and struggled with his thoughts.

His heart was doing battle and holding its own with his mind.

Maybe he should justThe telephone rang.

Caitlin had her hands full with three customers.

He rose and crossed to the back room.

"I'll get it."

Looking in his direction, Caitlin nodded, grateful for the help.

She put the call completely out of her mind until he emerged again.

When she looked, she saw that he was shaken.

She excused herself for a moment and left the three women to their

selections.

"What is it?"

The hospital clerk's voice was still echoing in his head.

Following Caitlin's example, Jake had rebelled and gone out to ride his

bicycle.

He'd been hit by a motorist as he darted out between two parked cars.

The paramedics on the scene had found the identification card Jake carried with him and had given it to the ER clerk.

He had called the precinct, which had directed the call to the shop.

His mouth was grim.

"That was someone from the hospital emergency room. There's been an

accident."

He saw her grow pale.

"Jake's been hurt."

It felt as if all the air had suddenly been extracted from her lungs.

How?

When?

Her mind whirled as she struggled to get hold of it.

"Wait, I'll get my-" He shook his head.

Damn it, how many times had he told the boy to be careful?

"No, you stay here. I'll tell'Reynolds to stay close. He'll keep an

eye on the - ings until I g-et-back."

Graham was already at the door.

He was cutting her off again, she thought.

Drawing that same damn line in the sand, separating her from the

others, just as he had that first day in his house.

She remained where she was.

"Call me as soon as you find out anything."

He barely nodded as he hurried out.

Caitlin had tried to keep her mind on her work, but it was