“All right,” she said thoughtfully, biting the corner of one lip. Her eyes brightened. “How about cherish?”

“Cherish.” Zach repeated it as if he’d never heard the word before. “Okay, it’s a deal. I’ll cherish you.”

“And I’ll cherish you,” she said emphatically, nodding with satisfaction.

They walked along the pier until they came to a seafood stand, where Zach bought them each a cup of steaming clam chowder. They found an unoccupied picnic table and sat down, side by side.

Occasionally they stopped eating to smile at each other. An oddly exciting sensation attacked Janine’s stomach whenever that happened. Finally, finishing her soup, she licked the back of her white plastic spoon. She kept her eyes carefully lowered as she said, “I want to make sure I understand. Did we or did we not just agree to get married?”

Zach hesitated, his spoon halfway between his cup and his mouth as an odd look crossed his face. He swallowed once. “We decided to go through with it, both accepting that this isn’t the traditional love match, but one based on practical and financial advantages.”

Janine dropped her spoon in the plastic cup. “If that’s the case, the wedding is off.”

Zach threw back his head and stared into the sky. “Now what did I say that was so terrible?”

“Financial and practical advantages! You make it sound about as appealing as a dentist appointment. There’s got to be more of a reason than that for us to get married.”

Shrugging, Zach gestured helplessly with his hands. “I already told you I wasn’t any good at this. Perhaps we’d do better if you explained why you’re willing to marry me.”

Before she could prevent it, a smile tugged at her mouth. “You won’t like my reason any better than I like yours.” She looked around to ensure that no one could overhear, then leaned toward him. “When we kissed a few minutes ago, the earth moved. I know it’s a dreadful cliché—the worst—but that’s exactly what I felt.”

“The earth moved,” Zach repeated deadpan. “Well, we are in an earthquake zone.”

Janine rolled her eyes. “It happened when we were in Scotland, too. I don’t know what’s going on between us or even if we’re doing the right thing, but there’s definitely…something. Something special.”

She wasn’t surprised when Zach scowled. “You mean to say you’re willing to marry me because I’m good at kissing?”

“It makes more sense to me than that stuff about financial advantages.”

“You were absolutely correct,” he said evenly. “I don’t like your reason. Is there anything else that makes the prospect appealing?”

Janine giggled. “You know,” she reflected, “Gramps was right. We’re going to be good for each other.”

A flash of light warmed his eyes and his hand reached for hers. He entwined their fingers as their eyes met. “Yes, we are.”

* * *

The wedding was arranged so fast that Janine barely had time to reconsider their decision. They applied for a license that same afternoon. When they returned to the house, Gramps shouted for joy, slapped Zach on the back and repeatedly hugged Janine, whispering that she’d made an old man very happy.