As she stepped onto the porch, she let out a sigh of appreciation and satisfaction. She'd spent the past three weeks catching up on her past, learning about her relatives, going through the family albums, spending time with Maria, listening to stories about Isabella as a child. Most important, she'd spent time with her mother.

Isabella had made some progress. It was a miracle, the nuns proclaimed. Her father thought it was the diamond working its magic. Christina didn't know the answer, but yesterday when she'd visited her mother, Isabella had actually looked at her, and she'd lifted her hand and stroked her hair. She was coming back. How far back no one could say, but it was a start.

Christina had also spoken to Vittorio. She'd persuaded him that it was in his best interests to allow the diamond to remain with Isabella. He still didn't want his sons to know the truth about her mother or about Christina, so he'd agreed to trade the diamond for her silence. It was a bargain she was willing to make. Vittorio had also agreed not to press charges against her father. The Kensingtons and Barclay's had happily let the whole matter drop; they had other problems to deal with. Jeremy had been arrested for David's murder. And Alexis was coming to terms with the fact that not only was her husband a killer, but her cousin, Nicole, was the one who had orchestrated the plan to have Evan steal the diamond.

Nothing would be the same again at Barclay's, but Christina didn't care. That life seemed very far behind her now.

The sound of a car chugging up the narrow road to the house made her heart skip a beat. Every day she'd wondered if he'd come, if he'd forgotten about her, moved on with his life. She'd wanted to call him, but she'd stopped herself a dozen times. They'd each agreed to work out their own lives first. And then whatever happened...happened.

The rental car pulled up in front of the house. J.T. stepped out, wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket. He slipped the dark glasses off his eyes as he strode toward her. Her heart melted under the force of his smile, the promise in his eyes.

"Miss me?"

"More than I could ever say," she replied.

"I quit my job."

"So did I," she returned.

"How's your mother?"

"She looked at me yesterday-at me, not through me. There was something in her eyes. It might be my imagination, but I'm hopeful."

"That's what I like about you-you never lose hope. This place looks good, better than the last time I was here. Is your father around?"

"No, he's decided to move back to San Francisco for a while, give me some space." She swallowed hard, not sure what to say, but she knew she had to ask the question running through her head. "Are you staying?"

"I thought I would." He closed the space between them with a quick, impatient stride, his hands cupping her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Is that all right with you?"

"How long?" she whispered.

"How about forever?"

"I don't know if I'm going to stay here forever."

"That's fine with me. I don't care where you go, as long as I can go, too."

"That sounds romantic and completely impractical," she said, feeling tears creep into her eyes. "One of us has to work. Maybe both of us."

"So we'll work. We'll find jobs. We'll make a life somewhere. We don't have to decide today. In fact, I think we've both rushed into career decisions in the past. I played football for my father and moved into the FBI so I could catch Evan. You went into museums and an auction house to follow in your father's footsteps. Why don't we take our time? Figure out what we really want?"

She felt a rush of pleasure at his words. The future could work itself out. Right now she was more interested in the present. "What are we going to do while we're taking our time?" she asked with a smile.

He grinned back at her. "I have a few ideas."

"I'll bet you do." She pressed her lips to his and murmured, "I love you, J.T."

"I love you back."

OTHER BOOKS BY BARBARA FREETHY.

Companion book to Played:.

Taken.

Don't Say a Word.

All She Ever Wanted.

Golden Lies.

Summer Secrets.