She wasn't a child anymore.

She could get through this.

In any event, she sincerely doubted it could get any worse.

The lot behind Monty's was fairly full.

Graham frowned.

He would have chosen a far less trafficked place.

But if coming here made her feel better, maybe it was worth it.

Pulling up into a space, he stopped the car and got out.

She didn't wait for him to open her door.

She liked being her own woman, he thought.

Good.

She might look fragile, but she would get through this.

Graham opened one of the four doors leading into the restaurant and

held it for her.

Before she could enter, a crowd of teenagers pushed their way through,

laughing, oblivious to the fact that they had nudged her out of the way.

He took her arm.

"Sure you don't want to go somewhere else?"

She shook her head.

Suddenly she wanted very much to be here, where she had gone countless

times before.

She needed to have something familiar, to follow a normal pattern and

forget the craziness that hovered just outside her.

"I'm sure."

Graham shrugged and ushered her in.

He was probably being overprotective, he thought.

They wove their way beyond the booths to the front counter.

Despite the fact that it was past lunch hour, the restaurant was

crowded, and getting more so.

He looked around.

The walls were littered with framed movie stills dating back to the forties.

The booths were circa that era.

The entire restaurant had a Hollywood flavor about it.

She probably loved it here, he thought.

He remembered her affinity for old movies.

Maybe the noise and familiar decor would change how she was feeling, she thought-scared and shaky and so damn exposed.

She glanced over her shoulder at Graham.

She felt exposed in more ways than one.

Turning, she stepped out of line.

"Why don't you get me a large cheeseburger, fries and a soda?"

He grabbed her arm before she could leave.

"Where are you going?"

Very carefully she extricated her arm.

She didn't want him touching her.

No matter what she told herself to the contrary, his touch unleashed

things within her, things that were better left alone.

"To the ladies' room to throw some water on my face."

She read his mind.

"It's in the back and you can't come with me, Gray."

Graham nodded, but he wasn't happy about it.

"Why didn't you go before we left?"

The question made her laugh and eased a little of the tension shooting

through her shoulders.

"You're beginning to sound like a father."

Her smile widened at his glare.

"Line's moving," she observed.

He moved forward, looking at her grudgingly.

"I want large fries," Caitlin added as she hurried away.

She just needed a few minutes to pull herself together, Caitlin

thought.

Just a few minutes to herself and she'd be fine.

That was all she had wanted to begin with, before Graham had

strong-armed his way into accompanying her.

The bathroom was in the rear of the restaurant.

She allowed herself to absorb the atmosphere as she went.

Pushing open a swinging door marked Rest Rooms, Caitlin walked into a

narrow corridor that was located just behind the kitchen.

While the dining area had a festive motif, the bright atmosphere ended abruptly beyond the door.

The corridor leading to the rest room was dim and stark, not unlike