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"No"

"You know, Charlotte, if you weren’t interested inyou!" Charlotte’s head snapped up "You planned on asking me to marry you?" For one wild second she was paralyzed with shock, unable to move or think Therewas a confirs for him, Charlotte had accepted that

"Don’t pretend you didn’t know," he said

"But I thought…I thought you wanted to stop seeing h he didn’t believe her and turned away "Why would I take you to a fancy restaurant if I wanted to say so at her

"To let me down easy What did you expect me to think, when you were in such a badIf you want ro to have to marry someone else"

She was on her feet and not quite sure how she got there "You honestly want to marry me?" she repeated as her eyes brimmed with tears They were tears of relief Tears of joy

"Sit down," he said gruffly "If I’ht"

Charlotte coot down on one knee directly in front of her He cleared his throat "I love you, Charlotte I wasn’t planning to fall in love with you, but I kneas happening, and I let it happen because--well, I don’t really know It happened and I’ a day without you atsoftball without you there I love you I love the chocolate chip cookies you bake I ad Carrie I’e"

"Oh, Jase" She blinked back her tears and brought her fingertips to her lips

"You’re the first woated to clean up after erator’s sorinned, apparently pleased with his oit "You even like sports"

The lump in her throat made it impossible to speak Tears ran unrestrained down her face With all her heart she wanted to shout, "Yes, I’ll marry you," and throw her arms around him But she was afraid to believe Jason would continue to love her once he learned how inadequate she was, hoorthless she was as a lover She didn’t know if she could bear to disappoint him

"If it helps," he said in a low voice, "I talked to Carrie, and she’s all for us getting hter’s given you her seal of approval?"

"Yup"

There was another silence Then he said, "I don’t mean to rush you, but I have this sore knee I slid into first base last week and I’ve been in pain ever since So, if you don’t mind, I’d prefer a quick answer"

Before she could stop herself, before she could listen to her head instead of her heart, she nodded It wasn’t a very enthusiastic nod, perhaps, but Jason didn’t seem to have any objections

"Thank God," heto his feet

"You idiot You didn’t have to get down on your knee," she whispered through her tears

"Yes, I did," he said, but he sounded grateful to be off it as he sat down on the log beside her A deep sigh ruh his chest "It wasn’t the most romantic proposal, was it?"

"Oh, Jase, it was perfect," she said, touching the side of his face and gazing into his eyes Her throat was tight and constricted "What you said about not being able to live withoutto ball gauess I’h

"I didn’t buy a dia yourself"

A ring Charlotte froze Soon he’d want to discuss a wedding date A chill worked its way through her, the sa she’d experienced whenever Tom wanted to make love A sick sensation would build in the pit of her stomach and by the time they went to bed she’d feel encased in ice All Tom had to do was kiss her and he’d know Then the tirades would begin, the accusations, the ugliness

Jason was going to kiss her, too Now His lips grazed hers Briefly Lightly The cold fear roaned and slipped her arain, but this ti wild and erotic that left Charlotte panting, seeking ainst his When he spoke, his voice was husky and war

"We’re going to be very good in bed," he whispered

Charlotte tensed, panic a heartbeat away, but she forced it down, focusing instead on how gentle he’d always been with her How patient With Jason, she’d felt a level of pleasure she’d never realized she was capable of reaching When he kissed her she felt hot and quivery from the inside out Maybe it would be different this time, with this man Maybe She prayed that was true

"You’re worried aboutlove, aren’t you?"

She nodded

"I’d never hurt you, Charlotte I hope you understand that Whatever the problerateful…for that" Despite the exciteht back the fear that threatened to choke her every time he mentioned the physical aspects of their relationship

Her only recourse was to insist on a long engageradually, feel comfortable with their sexual relationship After they made love…She hesitated There’d been a tiht that was possible, but Jason had given her hope