Wha ever that meant.

She looked down at her hand.

"Oh damn."

He didn't see anything to warrant her distress.

She wasn' hurt.

"What?"

"My ring. It's gone."

She held up her hand.

Her ring finger was naked.

"I must have lost it when I was strug gung with him in the

storeroom."

The thought of losing it, the outward symbol of what she had hoped to

build, was unbearable.

She turned, ready t tear the storeroom apart until she found it.

Graham's hand on her shoulder held her back.

She tried to shrug him o "Gray, I have to find it."

"Is this it?"

He held up a ring.

She took it from him, confused.

"This isn't mine."

It was a small band encrusted with tiny diamonds.

She raised he eyes to his.

"It's gorgeous."

He took the ring from her and slipped it on her finger "It's yours."

She was afraid to lead with her heart again.

"But-" He cut through her protest.

"All you have to do is accept what comes with it."

A smile began to form in her eyes.

"Which is?"

Me.

Caitlin wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You idiot, accepted you a long time ago."

She searched his face, at tempting to understand.

"What made you change your mind?"

"I didn't change my mind so much as lose the will to fight against

myself anymore."

He smiled into her eyes, her beautiful turquoise eyes.

"I tried to picture life without you again and couldn't. I can't give

you up, Caitlin, not of my own free will."

His expression was rueful.

"I don't have any where you're concerned."

"Nice to know."

Her body leaned into his, drawn by the heat, sealed by the need.

It was finally really going to be all right.

The relief was enormous.

As was the anticipation.

"This marriage of convenience hasn't been convenient for me at all."

He whispered a kiss along her temple.

"For me, either."

She liked the sound of that.

"Want to do something about it?"

He saw the mischief that entered her eyes.

Kane was right, sometimes you didn't know how damn lucky you really

were.

"Such as?"

"Closing up the store and going to a hotel for the night?"

She thought of her wedding night and her smile widened.

"Someplace tacky."

"Sounds good to me."

She started -for the door, but he held her back.

Now was the time to share the rest of his news.

"When I called my mother to Verify Jake's whereabouts, she told me that

my lawyer called."

"Oh?"

She braced herself "Celia's husband convinced her it would be better

for everyone concerned if they went ahead and adopted a baby on their

own. She finally agreed. So there's really no need for a marriage of

convenience anymore."

"Good I, owed She all herself to enjoy the momentary confusion that rose to his eyes.

"Now the real thing can start."

She turned toward the shop again.

"Just let me go in and get one of the negligees before I lock up."

But he caught her hand before she could enter.

"Nothing against your merchandise, Caitlin, but you're not going to