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"We both are"

He left her then, hurrying across the rooather his own coat Catherine didn't linger Within a few h a sea of parked cars for Royce's

Before she could spot his black Porsche, he pulled to a fast stop directly in front of her

The passenger door opened, and Catherine slipped inside She had barely had ti her h kiss

"Royce," she cried, alare of her open ue Despite the fact there could be several i them ouldn't take kindly to this public display of affection between two officers, one subordinate to the other, Catherine found herself drifting toward hiears so hard and fast they ground angrily The car shot forward Royce didn't take her far Just to the other end of the parking lot where it was dark and private "There's no need to be so i for her even as he spoke "You're going to have the opportunity to ht for the rest of our lives"

Chapter Eleven

"Have you gone out of yourhappiness that refused to be contained

Royce eased to a stop at the red light, leaned over and kissed her soundly Once ue to tantalize and tease His eyes were closed when he pulled away "I a to deny it, "crazy in love with you"

Catherine felt as though she were in a haze "I can't believe this is happening"

"Believe it"

The light changed, but Catherine was convinced that, had it stayed red er, Royce would have reached for her a second ti me?" The joy seemed to bubble out of her like fizz frone If Royce had claimed he was headed for the moon, she would have held on for the ride

"My house," he told her without hesitating "Your house," she repeated slowly "Kelly's going to want to be in on this If ait until aze ed features relaxed into a coaxing s to be sohed and rested her head against the hard cushion of Royce's shoulder It felt so incredibly good to be with hi in this world to describe it

A couple of minutes later, Royce eased his Porsche to a stop in his driveway He turned off the engine and in one smooth movement reached for her He kissed her hard and fast, and Catherine kissed hi

Royce rily drink from her love His hands were in her hair, and when he drew hi hio inside," he suggested, as though they'd best do it soon or else pay the piper

Catherine nodded At the ed brain

The baby-sitter, a neighborhood teenager, was slouched across the sectional in the fa Pepsi She looked aze left Royce and rested with candid curiosity on Catherine

"Kelly's asleep," the teenager explained, her gaze drifting away froh to speak to Royce

"Fine, thanks for co out theit for her "Goodbye, now"

"Bye" Cindy peeked around the door at Catherine one last ti the coertips

Royce eased the door closed and locked it after the teenager When he turned back, his s Catherine couldn't understand "I apologize for not introducing you, but there's a very good reason I don't want Cindy to knoho you are" He raained patience "Although heaven knows she's probably already guessed"

"Don't worry about it" Catherine stepped forward and pressed the tips of her fingers over his ure out that Cindy was the daughter at so to let anything or anyone rain this night"

Gripping her by the shoulders, Royce braced his forehead against hers "Have I told you howto listen to it again if you're inclined to tellhers "Get ready because it's going to take ain The entle and sweet, so sweet that Catherine had trouble believing everything that was happening between thely easing hith to pull away from you"

Catherine didn knoho found it more difficult, Royce or her

"Wait here," Royce said, positioning her at the bottom of the carpeted stairs "I'll be back in just a mo the to Kelly, but as far as she could tell the conversation was strictly onesided

Royce appeared at the top of the stairs a fewKelly draped over his shoulder The youngster had on her robe, one patterned with the faces of her favorite rock group, and her feet were dangling with hastily donned fuzzy slippers

"Kelly?" Catherine coaxed softly "Your father and I have soirl slowly lifted her head from her father's shoulder "Catherine?"

"I told you she was here," Royce re her eyes with shtened "But you said Catherine couldn't come over anymore I'm not supposed to phone her or even say her naht first"