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They ns that the place was closing Linc hated to see the evening end Unlike most women, Lori made him feel relaxed and comfortable Their conversation interested him Apparently neither of them was skilled at small talk, and when hethings, then" And they had

Everything changed once they were in the truck again and he was taking her back to retrieve her car The silence seemed strained when it hadn’t been before Linc didn’t understand why and wondered what he ht’ve said to upset her He decided to find out, but didn’t kno to broach the subject, how to ask as bothering her

"Linc?" She put her hand on his arm "Do you mind if we just sit here for a moment?" He’d parked on the roadside, a few yards from her car

"No…I mean--no, of course I don’t est, darkest brown eyes he’d ever seen "You have trouble with relationships, right?"

He nodded

"I do, too But I feel different with you"

He nodded again, unsure how to explain his feelings in words

"You’re a good person You stopped to help estured at her car "No one cared except you"

He wanted to brush aside her gratitude, but she see the mood

"You care about your fa I admire that" She closed her eyes, then opened them "I’m sick of it all"

"Sick of what?" he asked, puzzled by the abrupt leap

"Dating"

"Does that ain?" He couldn’t keep the disappoint yet, but I’d like to suggest so so far out in left field you’ll probably jump out of your truck and head for the hills"

"What?"

She chewed on her lip, then shook her head "No, it’s too crazy Never est and wished she’d blurt it out, damn the consequences

"I’m an old-fashioned kind of wouy"

Linc agreed; he liked that about her

"You seem to have probleain, he agreed

"You’re as sick of the whole dating gaht"

Lori drew in a deep breath "You want to skip all that?"

"I…beg your pardon?" He was aze fixed squarely on soh he couldn’t tell what "Would you be interested in skipping all the stuff that leads up to…e?"

The silence see about this, and if I aiveme to marry you?"

She cleared her throat "I know this is probably theyou’ve ever heard, but I have to ask"

"You’re serious?"

"Yes," she said soleht?"

That was true Linc could feel his pulse speed up

Lori continued "You’ve been burned I’ve been burned Let’s do aith all the nonsense Let’s just go for broke and do it Would you be willing?"

"I never expected a wo that you have…"

"Did I coh Linc wouldn’t admit it "Do you want an answer now?"

"Please"

He took a quick breath "Okay I’ive it a try if you are"

Lori’s srabbed his aruess it is"

She rested her head against his shoulder and expelled her breath, as if soettingmarried," she repeated

"Soon?" he asked

"Soon"

Twenty-Four