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“It can wait,” Tara insisted and came around the desk to turn his swivel chair away froraceful half turn and slid onto his lap Ty experienced conflicting reactions—a trace of i a silent appreciation of her beauty She coers into his hair “When I ca with so about?” Tara inquired in idle curiosity

“The ranch,” he lied while he breathed in the perfumed scent of her body, conscious of the desires her physical presence was stirring

“I wish you’d let Daddy help” Quickly, she added, “But it’s your decision and we aren’t going to discuss it tonight”

When her left hand calitter around the black opal of her engage It reminded him of the fevered anticipation he’d felt when he’d selected the ering the ring and thinking of all it signified

“Are you happy, Tara?” There was soly absent inquiry, a sense of knowing he hadn’t found what he’d been seeking with this ring and wondering if she had

“I’ve never been happier” There was an underlying fervency in her voice “It’s all turning out just the way I hoped it would” An avid light gleaht now you’re having business problems Your father left the ranch in such a financial mess But we’ll work out of them You already know there’s a way to solve the to her father’s proposal “I know you’re anguishing over the decision, but you’ll oing to be”

“Yes” But there was a lack of enthusiasm in his reply

“You don’t sound very happy,” Tara chided hihtly

“I haven’t had very ed and continued to hold her ring hand, his thuht-colored opal It seemed to hold his attentionwith Cat? She appeared very ht”

“She had some silly quarrel with Repp” Tara dised for all of us to go riding to because she wants to visit that crazy uncle of yours instead I don’t think you should let her go”

“Culley’s harmless” Ty saw no reason to object “I wouldn’t worry about her”

The lack of attention he was paying her began to bother Tara He see else “Ty, what are you thinking about?” she finally insisted on knowing, a touch of apprehension in her voice

When he looked up, one of the rare times he’d met her eyes since she’d entered the roohtfulness of his gaze “I was thinking about a man’s promise and what itwith added pressure

“That sounds very serious” Tara tried to laugh, but there was an instant when she was frightened by the specter of another woman Yet there was reassurance in his comment, so she used the peculiar code of honor observed by theknot that bound Ty to her “But I guess they are serious, because I meant the vows I made to you ere married I am your wife—for better or worse”

“Yes” His reply was slow in corips with reality Maybe it was finally growing up and acknowledging that he had a responsibility to Taraand to the e they had made If he couldn’t find the coht to seek it elsewhere He owed it to hi a shaone out of their relationship, leaving only the fiery side, then so be it