Absolutely, Positively

drinking.”

    Tessa glanced at the ad. “My friend at the newspaper told me that the article was planned for today's issue. I got the ad department to cooperate.”

    “Nice going. Remind me to give you a raise one of these days.”

    “Will do. Look, are you sure you know what you're doing here, boss?”

    “Well, maybe a raise would be overkill. How about a nice letter of commendation for your file?”

    “I'm not talking about my raise,” Tessa said. “I'm talking about your marriage plans. Your aunt and her fiancé are worried about Trevelyan's intentions. I heard them talking to you the other day.”

    “They think he's after the assets of the Abberwick Foundation.” Molly frowned. “Actually, I think it was Cutter who put the idea into my aunt's head.”

    “I hate to be the one to say this, Molly, but it's not exactly a paranoid thought. In fact, it's a realistic possibility. The only reason you even met Trevelyan in the first place was because of the foundation.”

    “I'm the one who found him, remember? He didn't come looking for me.”

    “Yes, but he certainly moved fast enough after you introduced yourself, didn't he? Molly, let's get real. I know you're a successful businesswoman, and you've done a terrific job raising your kid sister. I realize that you had the full financial responsibility of your family after your mother died.”

    “So?”

    “So, while I'll admit that you've had some experience with harsh reality, you haven't had a lot of experience with the male of the species. Molly, what do you know about this guy?”

    “Enough.”

    “Bull. You knew a lot more about Gordon Brooke, and look how that ended.”

    “I seriously doubt that I'll ever walk into a room and find Harry boffing a counter assistant on a pile of coffee bean sacks.”

    Tessa threw up her hands. “Can you be sure of that?”

    Molly smiled. “Absolutely, positively.”

    “Buthow can you be sure?”

    Molly considered the matter briefly. She could think of no way to describe the bond she sensed existed between herself and Harry. There was no way to explain that if anything ever happened to sever that bond, she would be aware of it immediately. Things would not get to the counter assistant boffing stage without her sensing well in advance that something had gone dreadfully wrong in the relationship.

    But even without that intuitive knowledge, Molly knew that she had logic and reason on her side. Harry's relationships with his difficult relatives proved that he had a history of making commitments and sticking by them, even when he wasn't given much encouragement. And she intended to give him plenty of encouragement.

    “Harry's the loyal type,” Molly said simply.

    Tessa's nose ring quivered as she drew a deep, resigned breath. “Have you told Kelsey?”

    “No. She's very busy at that summer workshop. I don't want to distract her. I'll give her the news when she comes home.” Molly smiled. “You and Kelsey can both be bridesmaids.”

    “Don't tell me you're planning a traditional wedding?”

    “With all the trimmings,” Molly assured her.

    Harry wandered slowly through the darkened corridors of the Seattle Aquarium. His attention shifted from one illuminated display tank to the next. Cold, emotionless eyes gazed out at him as though aware of his presence.

    A chill moved through him. He could almost feel the creatures on the other side of the glass assessing him. He knew that as far as a fish was concerned, he fell into one of two categories. He was either food or a threat.

    The world was simple when one possessed a simple brain governed by simple imperatives, Harry thought. Decisions were easy. Choices were limited. Complex emotions were nonexistent.

    One didn't need complicated, disturbing emotions when one was trapped forever in the dark abyss. Only the simple ones were required. Anger. Fear. Hunger. There was no room for hope.

    Harry paused in front of a large tank occupied by several cold-eyed denizens. He drew a deep breath, allowing the memories of last night to flood him with warmth.

    Molly wanted him. She was not afraid of the darkness in him. She had asked him to marry her. She wanted to have babies with him.

    Harry let the knowledge sink into his soul. Flames flickered in the darkness.

    He gazed into the display tank for a while longer, and then he turned and walked out of the shadowed passages of the aquarium.

    Outside Molly waited for him in the bright sunlight.

    He