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circled her wrist, and he could actually feel the leap of her pulse.
    Knowing time was out, he took comfort in that single unspoken sign and ordered himself not to be greedy. Not to jeopardize the hard-won victory by an irrational act of emotional hunger and physical yearning.
    Placing the towel in her palm, he folded her fingers around it and made himself let go.
    "I'll put this away," she said in a pitifully vain attempt at normal conversation, obviously reluctant to leave the haven of the trap he'd created in exchange for their parents' company.
    "Good idea." He smiled, tenderly tucking a stray curl behind her ear and grazing a finger across her lobe.
    "Then I'll go help Mom," she added before turning resignedly in the kitchen's direction, carefully stepping around the litter of glass and vegetables.
    "Cammie."
    "Yes?" She stopped but didn't turn to face him.
    "Sit with me at the game?"
    She hesitated, and his hand clenched tighter around the mop handle.
    When she agreed with a single, stilted nod of her head, he relaxed, silently rejoicing in the triumph.
    She took another step and he said again, "Cammie."
    "What now?" This time she whirled to face him, her hands wringing the towel. "How can you expect me to go in there and act normally when you keep dragging this out? I'm going to have to give the performance of my life as it is, Grant."
    "You forgot something." He managed a smile in lieu of a satisfied smirk and reached up, latching onto another glass jar. "The tomatoes."
    * * *
    It was dusk when they gathered beside Grant's car. Dorothy hugged Cammie close.
    "We're so glad you could come and be with us today. We miss you kids, you know."
    "I miss you too, Mom," Cammie said, returning the embrace.
    "What about me?" Edward teased as he kissed her on the cheek. "Don't I get a mention?"
    "You too, Dad." She hugged him tight to prove it.
    "I hope you had a good time today," Dorothy said. "You seemed anxious about something, Cammie. Is everything all right?"
    "Oh sure, Mom," she lied around a mouthful of guilt. "I'm fine. And the game was great. Almost as good as your cooking."
    Great? she repeated silently. Torture. Unbelievable, skyrocketing, "if he touches me or looks at me that way again I'll go out of my mind from wanting more and what in God's name am I thinking?" torture.
    "I know how tied up you get with your work," Dorothy added, "so don't go forgetting we've got a celebration next weekend."
    "A celebration?" Cammie racked her brain, the one that hadn't spit out a coherent thought in two days, trying to remember.
    "Why, Cammie," her mother exclaimed, "it's your day. Seventeen years ago you came to live with us. You know we wouldn't miss celebrating that any more than we would Christmas."
    "And this year we've got a special surprise." Edward's eyes twinkled.
    "Now don't you go giving it away," Dorothy chided. "It's no surprise if you spill the beans."
    "Give me a kiss, Dotty, and that'll shut me up."
    "Oh, you!" She giggled girlishly before pecking him on the mouth.
    Grant chuckled. "Still frisky after all these years."
    "Speaking of frisky..." Dorothy looked Grant up and down with a mother's speculation. "When are you going to bring a girl home with you, son? Twenty-eight years old and racing around in that hot rod while you're still sowing your oats. It's a crying shame the way you carry on, and don't you think I don't know about it. Aren't you ready to settle down yet?"
    "I'm ready. I've been ready. It's just a matter of getting the right girl to settle down with me."
    Cammie could feel his gaze lock on her. She darted a glance at Mom and Dad, and was grateful that they didn't seem to notice. Their attention was on Grant as they pursued one of their favorite topics. Cammie had heard it all before, but never had the words taken on such startling overtones.
    "Well," Dorothy said, "when you meet her, you'll know."
    "Yes." Grant made the affirmation quietly, but with enough impact that Cammie swung her gaze around to