"And I haven't heard yet. But we want to be married as soon as possible. We can't let anyone know, at least not right away. The whole thing has to be handled delicately."

"Of course. But once you're married, the Navy wouldn't separate a husband and wife, will it?"

"You're joking, Mom?" Catherine asked with a light laugh. "I thought you knew the military better than that. The Navy does what's most convenient for the Navy. Royce and I have no right falling in love in the first place."

"But he'll be in Virginia, and you might well end up stationed in Washington."

"We don't know that yet. Royce is pulling every string he can to make sure that doesn't happen. Even if worse comes to worse and I do have to stay here, it won't be forever. Eventually we'll be together."

"I don't like the sound of this, Catherine," her mother said in low, concerned tones.

"Trust me, it's essential for right now."

"Not necessarily. Sweetheart, don't you think you should consider resigning from the Navy?"

It was an argument Catherine had been having with herself for several days. She'd talked it over with Royce, and they'd batted the idea back and forth several times, but she'd been adamant and he hadn't pressured her. "I'm not leaving the Navy," she argued forcibly with her mother. "I'm not giving up my career just because I happened to fall in love."

"You'll always be an attorney, and frankly, I've never understood why you don't simply join a law firm, you'd do much better financially."

"That's an old argument and not one I'm going to get involved with now. I've come too far to resign now. Besides, of all the people in the world, I would have thought you'd understand my feelings about the Navy. Resigning isn't even up for consideration. Royce knows that and accepts it."

"But, Catherine, sweetheart, be reasonable, what man wants to be separated from his wife by thousands of miles?"

"You're making it sound like a foregone conclusion that I won't be transferred with him. In every likelihood I will, so quit worrying about it," Catherine stated heatedly. She immediately felt contrite. Her mother wasn't telling her something she hadn't already debated long and hard. The Navy was important to both her and Royce. Catherine noted, however, that no one suggested he resign his commission and become a civilian because he wanted to marry her.

"What about children?"

"Mom, I don't think we're gong to accomplish anything productive going over this now. I've got less than two weeks to make all the necessary arrangements. Royce is detaching from his command here, which helps. Can you send us whatever it is we need to file for a wedding license in California?"

"Of course."

"Good." But her mother was right. What about children? Catherine didn't know if she was being greedy to want it all. A career, a family and the Navy. That was a question she had yet to face.

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of frantic activity. Catherine barely saw Royce, barely talked to him. Late in the week he and Kelly flew to Virginia to make the necessary arrangements for housing.

Friday after work, Catherine returned to her apartment in a haze of concern. Over the next two days she spent hours on the phone with her mother, arranging for the florists, photographers and trying on every wedding dress within two counties.

Royce called her late Sunday evening. "Hello, beautiful," he greeted in a soft, sexy voice that curled her toes.

She was exhausted physically and mentally. "Hello yourself," she answered, fighting back a powerful need to have his arms around her. Instead she forced herself to ask all the right questions. "Did you and Kelly find a house?"

"Within the first day. It's perfect. Three bedrooms, nice family room, a large kitchen and all for a reasonable rent." Royce hadn't been able to obtain housing on the base, which made the move just a little more difficult. Kelly had considered it important to accompany him on this trip so she could scout out the schools and choose the right kind of neighborhood, which meant one with lots of girls her age.

"What did Kelly think of Virginia?"

"It was radical this and radical that. At least that's what I seem to remember her saying. Right now everything's new and fun. I don't think she's going to have any problems making the adjustment."

Catherine snuggled up on the sofa, the phone cord stretched as far as it would go from the kitchen wall. Her gaze rested on the photograph of her father, lingering there for several moments. "Kelly's going to be making a whole lot of adjustments in the next few weeks." It worried Catherine that Royce's daughter was suffering the brunt of the sacrifices they each were forced into making for this marriage.

"Kelly's resilient. Trust me, she would have willingly moved to the jungles of darkest Africa if it meant you were going to be part of our family."

"I love you." Catherine felt the need to say it. It suddenly seemed important for her to voice her feelings.

"I love you, too." After the hectic craziness that had surrounded them for what seemed like months on end, it was good to sit in the solitude of her home and cherish the words she'd longed to hear for so many weeks.

"I didn't want to love you, at least not at first," Royce admitted roughly. "God knows I tried to stay away from you."

"I tried, too."

"I'd give anything to have you in my arms right now."

"That's all going to change soon, and I'll be in your arms for the rest of our lives." She said it as a reminder to herself, wiping the moisture from her cheek. She should be the happiest woman in the world. Within a matter of days she and Royce would be man and wife. Yet the envelope sitting on the corner of her desk was a constant reminder of how quickly that happiness could be tarnished.

Royce paused, and although he must be exhausted, Catherine realized he'd picked up on the fact she

was miserably unhappy. She tried so hard to hide it behind busy questions and a cheerful facade.

"Are you going to tell me?" he demanded softly.

"There's no need to spoil everything now. You'll find out soon enough.... You're back safe and sound, and that's what matters. Mission accomplished. Kelly's happy. What more could you possibly want?"

"You."

"Oh, my darling, you have me. You've held on to my heart for weeks on end, don't you know that?"

"I already know, Catherine," he told her softly. "You don't need to hide it from me."

She sucked in her breath. "When did you find out?"

"Friday before I left."

Her request for transfer had been denied. The worst scenario. Her worst nightmare. She was going to be stationed in Bangor while Royce and Kelly were on the other side of the country.

"Oh, Royce," she asked softly, "what are we going to do?"

"Exactly what we're planning. I'm marrying you, Catherine, come hell or high water."

Chapter Twelve

The wedding ceremony took place Friday evening in a small San Francisco chapel with the pastor from Marilyn Fredrickson-Morgan's church. The altar was decorated with brilliant red poinsettias, and although Royce wasn't much into flowers, he was impressed with the traditional Christmas flower that crowded every square inch of floor space around the altar. Catherine and her mother had done a beautiful job. Even Kelly who'd first suggested a pink color scheme approved of the festive red bows and other complements.

As for the ceremony itself, Royce remembered little of what progressed. The moment he'd stepped over to join the reverend and viewed Catherine slowly marching down the aisle toward him, he'd been so lost in her loveliness that everything else around him had faded.

Even the small reception afterward with both families and a few close friends remained hazy in his mind. Catherine fed him a piece of heart-shaped cake bordered with red roses and sipped champagne. They even danced a couple of times.

There had been gifts, too. Royce couldn't get over how many when there were less than fifty people at the entire wedding.

Kelly had been in her element. Royce's parents had flown in from Arizona, along with a couple of his aunts and uncles. Even his younger brother and his family had managed to make it up from the southern part of the state. Kelly had basked in all the attention. She'd taken to Marilyn and Norman almost as quickly as she'd taken to Catherine herself.

His daughter delighted in announcing to any and everyone who would listen that he and Catherine owed everything to her. She'd also sounded like something of a parole officer when she admitted to Catherine's mother that she'd personally seen to it that no hanky-panky had been allowed before the wedding ceremony.

At the moment Catherine was changing clothes, something she'd done once or twice already since the wedding. He couldn't understand why she insisted on dressing when he fully intended on undressing her the minute they arrived at the hotel room he'd booked.

Royce would much rather have chosen someplace romantic for their honeymoon. Unfortunately they weren't going to have a whole lot of time together before he assumed his duties in Virginia. With a limited time schedule, Royce quickly decided he'd rather spend it in bed with Catherine than on the road seeking out the perfect romantic hideaway.

A private room on one of the beaches might have worked out nicely, but the San Francisco hotel offered one advantage the others didn't. Room service.

Royce had two short days with Catherine, and he sure as hell didn't plan on spending any of it sightseeing.

It seemed to take the taxi forever to reach the hotel. They chatted about the wedding, teased and even managed to kiss a couple of times. It wasn't until they'd registered and were on their way up to the honeymoon suite that it hit Royce.

He was nervous.

Royce Nyland jittery! It was almost enough to make him laugh. Marriage wasn't a new experience to him. He'd been through it all before. If anything was different it was the fact he and Catherine had yet to make love.

Sandy had been sleeping with him for months before they'd seriously discussed getting married. Royce wished to hell he'd made love to Catherine before now. It might have eased the knot twisting his gut.

No it wouldn't, he amended promptly. When it came right down to it, he was glad they'd waited. It hadn't been easy, even with Kelly wagging her finger under their noses at every opportunity.

He didn't need his daughter reminding him to be good, or anyone else for that matter. The Navy had seen to it all on its own. He'd followed the law book, with only a few minor infractions. He'd made the best of a sticky situation. But, by heaven, Catherine was his wife now, and he was ready to attempt a new world's record for lovemaking!

A warm sensation softened his heart. He was doing everything right this time. Right by Catherine. Right by himself. Right by the Navy. There was a gratifying sort of comfort knowing that.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"A little." Royce swore she sounded as on edge as he did, which pleased him. At least he wasn't the only one experiencing qualms.

"Do you want to order something from room service?" He found a menu by the phone and scanned the list of entrees. Nothing sounded particularly appetizing, but if Catherine was interested, he'd order something for her.

"I'd be willing to eat something," she said lightly, but Royce wasn't fooled. Dinner was a delay tactic for them both.