"So what made you decide to make Amy want McGregor?"

Tim held back a groan. He'd hoped the subject would be dropped and forgotten, but Abby was standing before him, arms akimbo, waiting for an answer. Granted, the Landon ordeal had occurred the day before, not nearly enough time for it and his book to be forgotten.

"Don't read too much into it," he said as he looked away. "Crawshaw wanted me to add some romance to the story."

"And Amy and McGregor were your only options?" she replied, a teasing tone in her voice.

He blushed a bit. "Well…no. But she said McGregor was really relatable and a lot of my readers want someone for him."

"Mm-hm," she murmured unbelievingly. "So why make him reject her, then? Why not give the readers what they want?"

"Crawshaw didn't think it should be so…corny."

"And you just do whatever Crawshaw says?"

"Well, she is my publisher. I want her to keep accepting my books."

Abby grinned but shook her head. "I guess whatever Crawshaw wants, Crawshaw gets."

"Kind of."

"Just remember what I said: no marriage!"

He held his hands up in defense. "I heard you loud and clear, Abby! I can assure you, McGregor and Amy will not have a wedding anytime in the near future."

Satisfied with his answer, Abby bound off toward her lab, leaving Tim to finish what he'd been doing when she'd approached. Luckily, he'd been able to minimize the document before she could see it. After the Landon fiasco, Tim had reluctantly agreed to switch from his typewriter to a computer, lest another crazy Gemcity fan should follow Landon's lead.

"Will you, Amy?" McGregor asked. He never thought he'd ever pop the question to any girl, figuring he'd live his life a loner. "Will you make me a happy man?"

Speechless, she nodded before running into his inviting arms. "No wedding," she whispered firmly. "Just us; just you and me."

"We'll elope," he promised. "Tomorrow or even tonight if you'd like! Just say the word!"

Tim sat back and reread that. Technically he'd been telling Abby the truth. After all, an elopement wasn't a wedding. Sure, it still resulted in a marriage, just the same, but…well…he'd deal with Abby when and if the book got published. By then, maybe—just maybe—she'll have warmed to the idea.