Absolutely, Positively

one she had made to her aunt the previous night at dinner.

    I'll be careful.

    She did not know which should concern her the most, the safety of the Abberwick Foundation assets or the safety of her own heart. She had a nasty suspicion that she was falling in love with Harry Trevelyan.

    Maybe it was just sexual attraction, she reassured herself.

    She slanted a sidelong glance at him. His powerful, elegant hands appeared relaxed and yet in complete control as they gripped the wheel. Quiet competence radiated from him no matter what the circumstances, she thought. There was a core of strength in him that compelled respect on a very primitive level.

    If this was just passion, it was heady, potentially dangerous stuff.

    I'll be careful.

    Right. She would be careful the way a mountain climber was careful when approaching Everest. Careful the way a spelunker was careful when descending into a deep cave. Careful the way an astronaut was careful when stepping out into space.

    “What kind of car is this?” Molly asked curiously. “I don't think I've ever seen one quite like it.”

    “You haven't. It's one of a kind at the moment. It's a Sneath P2. One of a series of prototypes. Friend of mine designed and built it. It's got the aerodynamics of a racing car, the strength of a well-made European touring car, and an engine which is supposed to go for years at a time without a tune-up.”

    “Amazing. Why did your friend give it to you?”

    “I helped him obtain the venture capital he needed to build the prototypes.”

    Molly gave him an inquiring glance. “I think of you as an academic type, but I suppose in your line of work you come into contact with investors all the time.”

    “Yes,” Harry said evenly. “But unlike the Abberwick Foundation, they all want to back projects that show real potential for repaying the investment.”

    Molly chuckled. “Me, I just want to throw the money away.”

    “How did things go at the airport this morning?”

    “Fine.” Molly was startled by the quick change of subject. “Why do you ask?”

    “It feels strange when they leave home, doesn't it? I know your sister is only going away for a month this summer, but in the fall, it will be for real. That's when you realize that things have changed forever.”

    Molly smiled wryly. “Okay, so I cried my eyes out in the rest room after she left. I'm all right now.”

    “Glad to hear it. Try to look on the bright side. No more rock music posters in their bedrooms and no more lying awake at night waiting until they finally come home. Look at me. I've been teen-free for two years now, and I'm a new man.”

    He understood, Molly thought. He was trying to make light of the turning point she had faced that morning, but he knew what it had been like for her. Harry had been through the same experience, accepted the same responsibilities.

    “I'll take your word for it,” she said.Oh, my God. This is getting serious .

    Harry lapsed back into silence. The beautifully tuned engine of the exotic car hummed to itself. Molly settled down into the leather seat and watched the lush farmlands speed past the window. In the distance the Cascades rose toward a clear, blue sky. The future, which had seemed to be shrouded in mist a few hours ago, began to look bright once more.

    The silence lengthened. Molly stirred and glanced at her watch. She realized that Harry had not said a single word for nearly twenty minutes. It wasn't the lack of conversation that had begun to bother her. It was the gathering tension she felt. It was radiating from him.

    “Is something wrong?” she asked.

    “No.” Harry did not look away from the road. “I was just doing some thinking.”

    “You're not looking forward to this trip, are you?”

    “Not especially.”

    “This may sound like a dumb question, but why are we driving all the way to Hidden Springs if you aren't anxious to see your relatives?”

    “I told Josh I'd have a talk with his grandfather,” Harry said. “Leon is giving him a hard time. He's leaning on Josh. Trying to convince him that he doesn't need to finish college.”

    “Josh's grandfather would be your uncle, right?”

    “Right. My father's younger brother.”

    Molly thought about that. “Why didn't he take charge of his grandson after Josh's father was killed?”

    “That would have been difficult. Uncle Leon was in jail at the time.”

    “Jail?” Molly turned her head to stare at him. “For heaven's sake,