Adrian was silent in the car on the way back to his place. Natalie let him brood, well aware he'd eventually bring up what was bothering him — and she could guess what it was.

They were back in his apartment before he finally spoke to her. "I wish you wouldn't try to talk him into it," he said gloomily, dropping down into his chair.

"Why not? You don't want him there?" she challenged.

"Of course I do," Adrian protested. "It's just that I don't want you to be disappointed when he doesn't show up."

"He came for Christmas," she said stubbornly. "That took a lot of persuading too, but I managed."

"Christmas was just the four of us," he pointed out. "A wedding will have innumerable people there that he doesn't know."

"Weddings are important for families," she maintained. "If my family is going to be there, then yours…" She trailed off, her cheeks going pale.

He sat up straight at the look of horror on her face. "Natalie, what's wrong?" he asked sharply, ready to spring from his chair.

She closed her eyes. "I just realized I'll have to tell my mother that we're engaged."

"And that's bad because…?" he prompted.

She opened her eyes and twisted her fingers together. "Well… the thing is…" She bit her lip and shrugged apologetically. "I… kind of never told her that we were together in the first place."

"Natalie!" Adrian sat back, genuinely shocked. "Why not?"

"Because," she said, throwing her hands in the air. "She gave me so much grief for dating and marrying Mitch that we were virtually estranged for years. We're finally in a good place again and I didn't want to… you know… rock the boat. And I never expected to get engaged, so…"

"You didn't think we'd ever go visit at some point?" he said, exasperated.

"I guess I thought we'd cross that bridge when we came to it," she admitted.

"Has Julie told her anything?"

She opened her mouth, and then shut it again, feeling foolish. "I don't know. I hadn't thought of that. I assume not since I haven't heard a scream of outrage come from the direction of Pebble Beach lately, or gotten any nasty phone calls."

He massaged his temples. "Surely it won't be that bad. I thought your mother liked me."

Natalie considered. "She probably does. At least, she doesn't actively dislike you, which is almost the same thing. But there's no way in hell she'll want me to marry you."

"Why not?" Adrian asked, indignant.

"Because, to her, a fiancé isn't 'suitable' unless he has a blue-blooded pedigree and a bank account to match," Natalie said darkly, flopping down on the couch. "That's why she was so opposed to my marriage to Mitch. He wasn't good enough for me in her eyes."

"Maybe her attitude has changed, especially considering what happened with your brother," Adrian suggested.

Natalie shook her head. "She wanted me to get together with Paul Buchanan a few years ago, remember?" She shuddered at the memory of the man who was now spending life in prison for the cold-blooded murders of his stepmother and his butler.

"Well…" Adrian searched for something comforting to say, but could come up with nothing. "Let's start with calling Julie so we can see if she's said anything to her grandmother. Then we can go from there, all right?"

Natalie blew out a breath. "Right. Okay." She dug her cellphone out of her purse and hit Julie's speed-dial number.

"Hi, hon," Natalie said when Julie answered.

"Mom! Hi! Oh my gosh, congrats, Mrs. Monk-to-be! Were you surprised?" Julie bubbled.

"Very surprised," Natalie said with a smile.

"Did the dining room knock your socks off?"

"It did," she laughed.

"Do you like your ring?"

"It's gorgeous. I love it." Natalie admired it again as she spoke. "I hear you helped pick it out."

"It was so much fun. There were dozens of really beautiful rings there, but that one just seemed like it had your name on it. Mr. Faddis thought so too. He's so sweet."

"Yes, he is," Natalie agreed. "Listen, Julie, I was wondering… have you said anything to your grandparents about Adrian and me lately? Say, since New Year's?"

"No, but they've been on their cruise so I haven't talked to them much."

"Their cruise?"

"Yeah, they went on a big Caribbean cruise in mid-January. I think they got back last week, but I've been so busy at school that I keep forgetting to call." Julie paused. "Have you told them yet?"

"About our engagement? No."

"Have you even told them that you're involved with Mr. Monk?"

Natalie winced. "Um… not really."

"Mom." Julie's exasperated tone was oddly similar to Adrian's. She'd never noticed that before.

"I know, I know. But you know how your grandmother can be."

"She might freak out initially, but she'll come around."

"Maybe." Natalie wasn't convinced.

Julie sighed. "Just call and get it over with. The sooner she knows, the sooner she can start dealing with it."

"You're probably right," Natalie admitted.

"Of course I am," Julie said cheerfully. "Hey, are you still at Mr. Monk's place?"

"Yes."

"Can I talk to him?"

"Sure." She handed the phone over to Adrian, saying, "She wants to talk to you."

He accepted the phone and said, "Hi, Julie."

"I told you she'd love the ring."

"You were right," he said. "She liked my clothes, too."

"Didn't I tell you she would?"

He smiled at her smug tone. "Well, thank you."

"And I told you that you'd thank me later, which you are now doing."

"You've made your point, Julie," Adrian said dryly.

"I know, I just wanted to rub it in," she said cheerfully. "Listen, if Grandma freaks when you tell her, don't let it get you down. She'll come around eventually."

"I'll keep that in mind." He noticed Natalie motioning for the phone. "Your mom wants to talk to you again."

"Okay. Take care, future stepdad!" she said brightly. Adrian handed over the phone, still a bit flustered at being called "stepdad."

"Hey, Julie?" Natalie said to her daughter. "The Stottlemeyers invited all of us over for dinner tonight to celebrate. Are you free?"

"Um… sure, as long as it's not a late night. I have an English test in the morning."

"No, I don't think it will be; both the captain and T.K. have work tomorrow. Dinner's at seven so we'll pick you up at the dorm at six, okay?"

"See you then. Love you, bye!"

"Love you too," Natalie said, but her daughter had already hung up.

"So, do you think she's excited?" Adrian asked with a straight face.

Natalie laughed. "Maybe just a little."

She heaved a sigh, staring at the phone in her hand, and then shrugged. "Well, once more into the breach," she said, and dialed her mother's number.

To her dismay, the butler informed her that although her father was out playing golf, her mother was indeed at home, and he'd transfer the call to the terrace, where she was enjoying her morning coffee. Natalie had hoped her mother would be out, giving her a good excuse to avoid the conversation until later.

"Hello, Mother," Natalie said tentatively when Peggy Davenport came on the line.

"Natalie, darling, how are you? I haven't heard from you in months!"

"How was your cruise?" Natalie asked, ignoring the subtle rebuke. True, the last time she'd talked to her parents was around Christmas, but the phone did work both ways.

"Oh, it was marvelous. We had a wonderful time. We went with the Pennyworths; you remember them, don't you? I think you knew their daughter in high school."

"Um, I think so. Allison, right?" she said, remembering Allison Pennyworth as an entitled snob two grades above her who wouldn't give Natalie the time of day.

"That's right! You know, their older son Aaron was just divorced again; we should arrange for you to meet him. Maybe the fourth time will be the charm."

Natalie rubbed her forehead. "No, I don't think so."

"Why not? He's newly single, you're very single. And more importantly, he's rich."

"Well, the thing is… that's why I called." Natalie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm kind of seeing someone."

She cracked her eyes open to see Adrian nodding at her encouragingly.

"You are?" Her mother's tone sharpened with interest. "Is it serious?"

"As a matter of fact, it is."

"Have we met him before?"

"Yes, you have."

"Not that Navy fellow on the submarine?"

"Steven? No, not him."

"Oh, good. The last thing you need is another man who's going to virtually abandon his family by gallivanting overseas for months on end."

Natalie counted to five, trying to keep her temper contained.

"Is it that police officer?" her mother continued. "The one who was hurt at Jonathan's wedding? He was a smart fellow and he obviously liked you quite a bit."

"Randy and I are just friends, Mom." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, he's involved with someone else right now."

"Well, for heaven's sakes, who is it, Natalie?"

"Mom… it's Mr. Monk. Adrian Monk," she corrected quickly.

There was a full five seconds of silence. Then, "I'm sorry, dear, could you repeat that? I think we have a poor connection."

Natalie braced herself. "I said, Adrian Monk."

He mother spoke sharply. "That isn't funny, Natalie Jane. It's a joke in very poor taste."

"I'm not joking, Mom."

"But… he's your boss!"

"I know."

"And… and… for heaven's sake, Natalie, he's… he's crazy! He has a condition! Good heavens, what are you thinking? Have you taken total leave of your senses?" Her mother was shrieking now.

Natalie massaged her forehead as Adrian, who looked very concerned, moved to sit beside her.

"I'm thinking that I love him," Natalie said shakily, on the verge of tears. Her mother's fury always caused her defenses to crumble.

"You simply cannot be serious, Natalie. You… you need a vacation. Or an institution. Or something!"

Adrian couldn't stand the stricken look on Natalie's face anymore. He plucked the phone out of her hand and held it to his own ear. "Mrs. Davenport, this is Adrian Monk," he said firmly.

"Listen, you lunatic, I don't know what you've done to my daughter, but you leave her alone, is that clear?" Peggy Davenport blasted furiously.

"I happen to be in love with her." Adrian patted Natalie's knee comfortingly. "In fact, I asked her to marry me last night, and she said yes."

"WHAT?" Her screech was nearly apoplectic. "Look here, if you think to marry her because you're waiting for an inheritance, you're wasting your time. She won't get a nickel."

Natalie, who could clearly hear her mother's ravings, winced at that and buried her face in her hands.

"Furthermore, I intend to press charges against you for clearly hoodwinking an innocent woman into your… your strange delusions. Do I make myself clear?"

Adrian was speechless for several moments. "I'm going to hang up now," he said carefully. "Goodbye, Mrs. Davenport." He punched the "END" button and stared at the cellphone in disbelief.

"I was wrong," he said hollowly. "It was that bad."

Beside him, Natalie started sobbing, and his heart nearly broke in two. He tossed the cell phone onto the coffee table and gathered her into his arms.

"It's just what happened with Mitch all over again," she wept. "I'm so sorry she said those things about you."

"It's all right, sweetheart," he soothed. "We'll just… give her some time to cool down."

"She took four years to cool down last time," she gulped.

"Maybe this time it'll only take her two," he joked, trying to cheer her up.

It didn't work.

He sighed and leaned back on the couch, holding her close as she cried. He rubbed her back as her tears tapered off, searching his brain for comforting words but coming up empty. Finally, he had an idea. Maybe a change of subject would take her mind off things. "Hey, you know what being on this couch with you reminds me of?" he asked.

"What?" she said, wiping her eyes with a tissue.

"The first time I tried to kiss you." He smiled affectionately at the memory, rubbing her arm and resting his cheek on her head.

"After we'd fallen asleep on the couch watching movies," she said, sniffling.

"That's right. And if Leland hadn't called at just the wrong moment, who knows what might have happened?"

"Why didn't you try to kiss me again?" she asked curiously.

He shrugged. "I couldn't work up the courage. Of course, I didn't realize we'd end up sleeping together later that night," he teased.

She giggled, just as he'd hoped she would. "The way you act now, I'm surprised we were able to share a bed and have nothing happen."

"Well… I wouldn't say nothing happened," he said, deadpan.

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Only that I woke up before you did that morning, all snuggled up next to you, and discovered that I was very aroused," he murmured in her ear.

Her cheeks pinked. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she'd woken up first and felt his arousal. "You were?"

"Mmhmm. And later on, when you were in the shower, I couldn't stop thinking about you in there." He played with her hair. "It was the first time in twelve years that I'd felt desire like that."

She smiled, and his heart leaped. "I remember having some pretty graphic thoughts myself, while I was driving home."

"Really?" He couldn't say why that pleased him so much. "Do tell."

"I was thinking that your shower was so much nicer than mine, and that it was large enough for two people," she admitted. "And then I wondered what it would be like to… you know. Share it with you."

"We'll have to try that sometime," he said, feeling aroused by thought. Down, boy, he scolded himself, remembering her soreness that morning. She needs time to recover.

"Did you ever — " she began, but cut herself off. "Never mind."

"Were you about to ask if Trudy and I ever showered together?" he said calmly.

"It's none of my business," she said, blushing. She'd been honest when she'd told him that she didn't mind when he talked about Trudy, but that didn't mean she expected him to share every intimate detail of their lives together.

"You can ask me anything you want," he told her, rubbing the palm of her hand with his thumb. "And to answer your question, yes, we did. Fairly often, actually." He grinned. "It is a nice shower."

She laughed, and the sound was balm to his soul. "Feeling better now?" he asked gently.

Natalie sighed. "Yes, I am."

"Good." He studied her face critically. She still looked worn out. "What do you say we take a nap? We didn't get much sleep last night."

She smiled tiredly. "That sounds nice." She gave him a look of mock consternation. "But don't get any other ideas. I don't think I'll be able to walk tonight if you do."

He raised his hands in surrender. "No monkey business, I promise."

Laughing together, they disappeared into his bedroom.