Her heart bumped. “True.”

“For example, say, a traveling salesman.”

“Salesgirl,” she corrected.

“Salesgirl. Or a new teacher at the school.”

She nodded. “New schoolmarm in town? That only works in Westerns.”

He nodded. “True. We're dealing with a modern chick flick here, right?”

“I'd say so, yes.”

“So it would have to be someone spunky.”

She shook her head. “I prefer the term highly motivated.”

“Okay, so someone highly motivated, and of course she'd have to be very pretty, although she doesn't think she's very pretty.”

She just nodded. Leaned closer. His arm moved around her.

“And, let's see…she'd have, what? Blue eyes?”

“Brown.”

“Right, of course. Brown eyes, and wavy hair, probably reddish blonde.

Something that glinted in the starlight like diamonds on spun gold.”

She nodded. “Wow, that's pretty colorful for a scientist.”

“Quiet, I'm on a roll. And she'd have maybe a sprinkle of freckles around her

nose like a dusting from a dandelion.” He traced the side of her nose with his finger. “You know. Kind of that girl-next-door look?”

“Mmm,” was all she could say as she nodded.

His face was inches away. “Know anyone like that?”

“I might know someone,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.

She was in a tree house, knees on the floor, leaning forward, wearing apurple dress. Yellow flower-shaped plastic barrettes from Bailey's Five and Tenin her hair. The smell of strawberries and pine boards. Please, God, don't let ourbraces lock together.

He kissed her, long and slow this time, his right arm reaching around her back, his left cradling her neck. She felt like she was home. Not her house, not

this town, just here. With Peter, on this porch.

It was more than a kiss. It was a confirmation of what had been missing all

these years. More than some fuzzy, nostalgia-fueled dream. It was real this time.

They separated, noses almost touching.

“That was much better than seventh grade,” he said. “Even better than

Chicago. I think we're getting the hang of this.”

A dog barked, the stars silently looked on.

“Yes,” she agreed wholeheartedly.

It felt right. It was right, wasn't it?

Then why was there this sinking, hard feeling in her chest?

The blanket of cool stars above her reminded her where she was. This wasn't

the glow of Chicago's eternally lit sky. It was an unavoidable reminder that, even here in Peter's arms, she was still miles away.

But those thoughts could wait until later. It would all work out, somehow.

It had to, right?

Chapter Twenty-Two

Peter heard the knock on his office door frame. He knew who it was without even looking up.

“Here early?” Lucius asked.

“Apparently.” He paused. “I have some labs to grade before the field trip at

Nitrovex this afternoon.”

Lucius nodded. “The field trip. Forgot about that. Want me to take over?”

Peter did look up now. It was tempting. Last night had been a wash after Kate showed up—a great wash, but still, he had gotten behind. But then, he might see her there. She had her presentation after lunch… “No, I can swing it.

Just a few more to go.” He yawned.

“Didn't get to them last night?”

“I got a little…sidetracked.”

“Hmm. Been a long time since I got sidetracked.”

Peter looked up. “You should try it sometime.” He went back to his papers.

“Maybe with Carol.” He smiled. That should shut him up.