looked, the way she smelled, the way she smiled at him. "Come here." He

held out his arms. When she was in them, he found he couldn't let go.

In the hours that had pa.s.sed, he'd thought he'd calmed himself But now,

holding her, it all crashed down on him.

He'd almost lost her.

She could feel his rage building, degree by degree. "Don't," she

murmured. "It's over. It's really over this time."

"Just shut up a minute." He brought his mouth to hers, hard, as if to

convince himself she was whole, and safe, and his. "If he had-"

"He didn't." She lifted both hands to his face. "You saved my life."

"Yeah." He backed away, digging his hands into his pockets. "If you

have to be grateful, could you get it over with fast?"

She tilted her head. "We haven't had much of a chance to talk."

"I'm sorry I couldn't come back with you."

"I understand. Maybe it worked out for the best, gave us both a chance

to settle."

"I haven't been able to pull that off yet." He could still see her,

teetering on the edge of the root Wanting to block the image, he turned

to pace the room. "So, how was your day?"

She grinned. It was going to be all right. It was going to be just

fine. "Dandy. Yours?"

He shrugged, kept moving, picking up little odds and ends and setting

them down again. "Emma, I know you're probably tired."

"No, I'm not."

"And the timing sucks."

"No." She smiled again. "It doesn't."

He turned back. She looked so beautiful, the dress shimmering down, the

light from the fire catching in her hair, glowing on her skin. "I love

you. I've always loved you. We haven't had a lot of time to let

things just happen. I'd like to say that I'm ready to give you that

time."

He picked up a crystal b.u.t.terfly then set it down. "I'm not."

"Michael, if I wanted time, I'd take it." She stepped toward him. "What

I want is you."

After a long breath he took a small box out of his pocket. "I bought

this months ago. I'd wanted to give it to you for Christmas, but I

didn't think you'd take it then. I'd figured on being traditional,

having a candlelight dinner, music, the works." With a half-laugh, he

turned the box over in his hand. "I guess it's a little late to start

being traditional now."

"Are you going to give it to me?"

With a nod, he held it out.

"I'd like to say something before I open it." Carefully, she studied his

face, every inch, every angle. "If this had happened five or six years

ago, I wouldn't have appreciated it, or you, the way I can tonight."

Her hands weren't steady. She let out a frustrated breath as she

fumbled with the lid. "Oh, Michael, it's lovely." She looked up from

the ring. "Absolutely lovely."

"Be d.a.m.n sure," he told her. "You take it, and that's it."

She strangled on a laugh. "That's the most romantic proposal a woman