David was in Texas. Barky was in Hungary. Mac Stevens—my father—was in San Diego.

And so was Jeremy. What was he?

The man she loved.

They were both in San Diego, and suddenly she couldn’t stand the idea of not seeing them. She didn’t know if either of them would want to see her. Perhaps they’d forgotten those crazy days in October...or wanted to forget.

But she had to try. She had to know.

When he got home from work on Christmas Eve and walked out onto his deck, Jeremy’s heart skipped several beats, and he had to stop himself from lurching forward, grabbing her. He was afraid she would prove to be only thin air, a vision.

She was wearing one of her jumpsuits, a short one, bright fuchsia. And she was barefoot. A slender leg was thrown over one arm of the deck chair, and her hair was shining in the afternoon sun. She’d cut it to shoulder length; it made her look even sassier.

Papers, maps and charts were strewn all over his table.

“Ashley.” It was just a breath.

But she turned sideways and smiled up at him. Her eyes were even brighter, more vivid than he remembered. He felt a stirring of a deep, familiar passion. She was so sexy. His life had been empty without her.

“Hello, Jeremy,” she said, still smiling. “I stole some o.j. out of your fridge.”

“What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “Studying charts.”

Charts. “Why?”

“I’ve decided to fund a research project on marine archaeology in the Pacific. There must be some interesting ships sunk around here—something. Anyway, my friend Nelle Milligan’s thrilled.”

He couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying. Were they just friends? Didn’t she know what she was doing to him? He moved toward her. “Is this an institute project?”

She shook her head. “A new outfit.”

“Oh. I—”

“Based in San Diego. We’re calling it the Crockett Foundation. I’m supposed to be chairman of the board and president. It’ll mean relocating to the West Coast, but what the hell, I could use a change.” She pulled her lips together and nodded decisively. “I’m selling Touchstone. Caroline’s buying it.”

He wanted to jump up and yell, but she was acting so funny. Why? What was on her mind? He said cautiously, “Why San Diego?”

This time when she looked at him, he saw the fear in her eyes. “Because you’re here.”

He grinned as the relief and joy washed over him. “That’s all I need to hear.”

The fear vanished in her eyes, leaving only the brightness. “Is it? Don’t you want to hear that I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you?”

“Not hopelessly, Ashley.”

It was all he could bring himself to say. They ran to each other then and clung together in the fading sunlight. Nothing had ever felt so right to him, Jeremy thought. She was strong willed and direct and argumentative...and so was he.

“We’ll make a hell of a pair,” he said.