Devon wrinkled her nose.

Devon wrinkled her nose. "It sounds so ... sordid when

you put it that way," she protested. "But, yes, Luke was

giving me money to marry him. A whole lot of money,

actually." She sounded wistful.

"And you're giving that up to go live on a dairy farm?"

Cat asked, then winced at the incredulous tone of her own

voice.

The idea of Devon living on a dairy farm had been

difficult to grasp even before she knew the truth behind her

engagement to Luke Quintain. Now it seemed even more

incredible. It wasn't that Devon was mercenary. Not

exactly. It wasn't money that Devon loved. It was all the

pretty things it could buy. Shopping wasn't a hobby; it was

an avocation. It was one of the things that made her good

at her chosen career as a decorator―she got to shop for

beautiful things and get paid for doing it.

"Money can't buy happiness," Devon said with the air of

someone presenting an original truth. Cat might have been

impressed by this new, improved Devon if she hadn't

continued, "Besides, I have the engagement ring Luke gave

me, and that's worth a fortune."She picked up a small

leather jeweler's box from the nightstand and snapped it

open to admire the ring inside.

"You can't keep that ring," Cat protested, appalled.

Even from several feet away, she could see the way the

light caught on the diamonds.

"Why not?" Devon snapped the case shut and closed her

hand around it as if afraid Cat might try to snatch it from

her. "Luke gave it to me. It's mine."

"Luke gave it to you because you were going to marry

him."

"I was going to marry him."

"But you're not going to marry him now," Cat pointed

out.

"I don't see what that has to do with it." Devon picked up

her purse, tan leather, made by coach and another gift from

Luke, and tucked the ring box safely inside. "It's not like I

lied to Luke. I did plan on marrying him. He gave me the

ring, and it's mine. I'm sure he'd want me to keep it."

"Traditionally, you're supposed to give the ring back."

"So?" Devon set the purse on the bed and turned back to

finish packing her makeup. "Traditionally, you're supposed

to be madly in love with each other when you get married.

Luke and I had a business arrangement. He gave me the

ring for getting engaged to him. We were engaged, and the

ring is mine. Besides, it's worth a lot of money. It would be

stupid to give it back."

That was so typically Devon, that mixture of naivete and

ruthless practicality. with a sigh, Cat gave up any thought

of trying to get her stepsister to change her mind. Short of

arm wrestling, there was no way Devon was giving that

ring back. Realistically, it wasn't as if the value of the ring

was going to make a significant impact on Luke Quintain's

bottom line. Whatever it was worth, it was probably pocket

change to a man who bought and sold Los Angeles real

estate like baseball cards.

"So you'll take the letter to Luke?" Devon asked, focused,

as always, on getting what she wanted.

"I don't think―"

Devon picked up the envelope and held it out. "If you

don't take it to him, I'm just going to drop it in a mailbox."

Cat hesitated, but she knew the other woman well

enough to know she would make good on her threat. Even

if it hadn't been a love match, Luke deserved better than to

have the U.S. Postal Service give him the news that he was

being jilted. She crossed the room reluctantly and took the

envelope, which was addressed in Devon's childishly round

handwriting, with-incredibly-tiny hearts dotting the i's in

Quintain.

"Devon, are you sure you―"

"I'm positive." Devon zipped shut the tote holding her

cosmetics and glanced around the room to see if she'd

forgotten anything. Satisfied that she had all the essentials,

she looked at Cat. "I really appreciate you doing this," she

said, as if she hadn't virtually blackmailed Cat into it. She

frowned a little. "I'm sure Luke will remember you. Pretty

sure, anyway. I mean, who can forget that hair?"