"You might change your mind," she said airily. "I might kick. Or what if I say unladylike things in my sleep? What if I bite?"

There had been a time that Nina took the stairs on a whim. Now, she headed straight for the elevator. With a soft sigh she leaned against the back wall and rested her arm across her belly.

"Did you see the way people were looking at me?" she asked with a grin, her eyes closed for a moment. "In the bar? Saints, I'm impressed no one tried to say something. The bar tender looked ready to call the police or something when I asked for the whole bottle."