Chapter 63

Saturday morning, Matt had mixed feelings about loading his luggage into his truck and checking out of the hotel, but he reminded himself that if Summer threw him out, he could find another place to stay until Monday.

As he loaded his briefcase, he picked up a small velvet box and flipped it open. The round diamond solitaire in a gold flower setting winked up at him. He'd bought it in Switzerland a year ago, when he'd been on leave from a posting in Germany. The moment he'd seen it, something about it had just said, "Summer". He'd been carrying it around like a talisman ever since.

Wishing himself luck, he stashed it at the bottom of his laptop bag.

On the way out to her rental house, he picked up several boxes of condoms, a six-pack of his favorite beer, a big bunch of bright gerbera daisies, and the chicken he'd promised her for lunch. He even bought her coleslaw, along with a green salad for him.

Trying not to look too anxious, he drove slowly, not pulling into her driveway unti