An answering smile drifted across his tanned face. "What is mine, I intend tokeep.

Jennifer Merrick had stored all her tears inside her, and her pride and courage would never permit her to break down and shed them.

But he knew instinctively what he suggested was impossible. She'd been through so much, and held her tears back for so long, that Royce doubted that anything could force her to shed them.

An answering smile drifted across his tanned face. "What is mine, I intend to keep.