Bet said, “If we had gotten married back then, this is how it would be. We''d each be busy with our own lives and visit them during the holidays. And when we left, our parents would stand at the door watching us go. Vonnie, isn''t it good that everything is finally back on track?"


    Yvonne drove on in silence, thinking that what Bet said made sense.


    "But we''re not married," she mumbled after a moment.


    "Do you want to be? We can go get the license tomorrow," Bet offered.


    “Sandra just warned me yesterday not to get love-struck and to focus on my career," Yvonne said, her hands tight on the steering wheel.


    Bet just smiled warmly without another word. He hadn''t expected to be able to tie her down so soon anyway.


    When it came to Yvonne, he had all the patience in the world.


    They drove back to Cherry Bay.


    As soon as she walked in, Yvonne kicked off her shoes and held out her hand to him. "Where''s my present?"


    Bet took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm.


    "A kiss? Mr. Bet Thompson, you''re getting more and more perfunctory with me," Yvonne said, pouting her red lips.


    Bet ruffled her hair, then walked over to the TV console. He took out an exquisite gift box from a cab and handed it to her.


    Yvonne opened the box to reveal a beautiful wristwatch inside. It was a custom Patek Philippe, with her and Bet''s initials engraved on the back.


    "You still have this watch?" Yvonne looked at Bet, stunned.


    This was the watch he had given her for her eighteenth birthday. It had their names on it.


    Later, when she was on her undercover mission, during their worst fight, she had ripped the watch from her wrist and thrown it at him.


    The watch had hit the floor, and the strap had cracked.


    He must have been furious at the time because he picked it up and tossed it out the window.


    Yvonne had gone looking for itter but could never find it. She couldn''t believe it had been in Bet''s possession all this time.


    Thinking back now, he must have only pretended to throw it out the window. That liar.


    The watch was back on Yvonne''s wrist, but the strap had been reced with a priceless diamond-studded band.


    Bet took the watch from the box. It was a mechanical watch. After winding it, he fastened it around Yvonne''s wrist.


    "The time on this watch stopped the day you left me. Now, I''ve wound it again. I hope it never stops, and that you never leave me again."


    The watch felt cool against her wrist, but the sentiment behind it was warm.


    Bet had once told her that a watch represents time, and time, like love, is eternal.


    “Satisfied?” Bet asked, his arm wrapping around her waist.


    "Not bad," Yvonne nodded, smiling as she looked at the watch on her wrist. It really wasn''t bad at all, having love back in her life.


    "You behaved well today, so here''s


    your reward." Yvonne wrapped


    her


    arms around Bet''s neck stood


    on her tiptoes, and gently kissed his lips.


    The man''s lips were cool, with a faint taste of alcohol and mint.


    As their lips met, Bet''s arm around her waist tightened uncontrobly.


    After the passionate kiss ended,


    é


    Bet''s breathing was heavy, the corners of his eyes flushed red He swept Yvonne into his arms and strode towards the bedroom.


    Just as Bet, holding Yvonne, tumbled onto therge bed in the master bedroom


    bedroom, the phone that had


    fallen to the floor with his coat


    began to buzz.


    Bet wanted to ignore it, but he couldn''t.


    He was a soldier, and a mission coulde up at any time. Even on leave, he had


    to be on call 24/7.