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Catherine's eyes flew to his It was the only thing they shared, that tih it was entirely selfish of her, she didn't want to give it up "I realize you have as est a schedule Unfortunately the afternoons are the only time I'm free"

"My schedule if far less restrictive, sir," she said, bolting to her feet "Don't worry I'llWould you likethe Kitsap Mall while I'm at it?"

The telltale muscle leaped in his jaw Catherine didn't knohy she was taking the offensive so strongly He was only saying and doing what needed to be done, what should have been said long before now

But she felt as if the rug had been pulled fro for her balance

"You may shop wherever you choose"

"Thank you," she returned crisply "Is that all?"

"Yes"

Catherine turned to leave

"Catherine" He stopped her as she reached his door She turned back, but he shook his head

"Nothing, you o"

Chapter Four

Catherine understood Conclusively Decisively

Commander Royce Nyland, her executive officer, she re her out Apparently it was easy enough to do He'd rerouted his es for her was a si the same level of success Royce Nyland had invaded her life As hard as she tried, her efforts to adjust her own attitude had done little, if any, good

She didn't want to feel the things she did for him, and frankly she didn't kno to deal with them This was a new experience for her Hoas she supposed to block hihts of him filled every minute of every day?

He'd ordered her to stop, she reminded herself When a superior officer spoke, Catherine, ever loyal, ever Navy, obeyed No one had told her it was going to be easy But then again, no one had bothered to explain how da like this had ever happened to Catherine before, and frankly Frankly, she didn't want it happening to her now

Royce didn't want to jeopardize his career She didn't want to jeopardize hers, either He had little use for love in his life; she'd lived without it so long she didn't knohat she was rew deeper and wider with each passing day, then, she deterra liked running in the streets, she ran on the base track at odd hours of the day She was careful not to infringe on Royce's ti on to this small link with hi, teeks after Royce had called her into his office for their latest discussion, Catherine parked her car close to the jogging track

She'd just finished her second lap when another runner joined her, co on her easily

"Good "

Catherine's throat constricted She'd worked so hard not to intrude on his exercise ti hours in order to avoid the possibility of the into each other

The ie was nearly overwhel Instantly she wanted to confront Royce, shout at him, dery"

"You're da here?" Her voice was low and accusing Suddenly she felt tired Tired of pretending Tired of ignoring e

"I need to talk to you"

"So talk" Her nerves were raw, stretched to the breaking point They had been for weeks

They jogged half a lap before he spoke For soer to communicate, for someone who'd broken the very rules he'd initiated, he see started

"I had to do it, Catherine," he said with enough force to shake the ground The words weren't loud, but packed with e, and love it too er vanished as quickly as it had risen and her voice trehtly despite her best efforts to keep it even and unaffected She wasn't nearly as good as Royce when it ca her emotions

"What I didn't realize was how da to be" He said this softly, as though adh it were ihtly at her sides She never expected hiiven every indication that pushing her frohts, from his heart, hadn't caused him a moment's concern Surely he must have kno difficult it was for her She'd buried herself in her work, repainted her entire apart to Johnny Mathis records in a futile effort to forget Royce But nothing worked Nothing

"Kelly asks about you every night," Royce confessed next

"I'hter in this hadmore difficult "I didn't purposely run into you that day"

"I know I' you, I just wish to hell it hadn't happened No," he altered quickly, regretfully, "that isn't true I'm thankful Kelly met you"

"It would have been better for us both if it hadn't happened" Yet Catherine would always be grateful for that one day with Royce and his daughter It gave her sohts

"There's a ru around," Royce said after a moment Catherine's heart tripped The fear must have shown in her eyes because Royce added, "It's not about us, don't worry"