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"I’m supposed to meet him outside?"

"That’s what he said"

Ruth made an effort not to snap at her "You didn’t think to ed "It slipped ument, she collected her raincoat, umbrella and purse Surely she would receive a heavenly reward for controlling her teive her one; she wasn’t going to play those kinds of childish gaes had never seemed more pronounced than it had in the past teeks

Because of the rain, Ruth couldn’t find convenient street parking and was forced to pay an outrageous amount at a lot near the restaurant She rushed toward Ivar’s,sure she arrived in plenty of tiht have upset Ruth if not for the fact that she was finally going toon her hair, dress andthat was far more important--what she’d actually say when she saw Paul for the first tih her mind as she crossed the street

Ruth hoped to sound witty, articulate and well informed She so badly wanted to impress Paul and was afraid she’d stumble over her words or find herself speechless Her other fear was that she’d take one look at hi into tears It could happen; she felt very eh letters and e-mails

Thankfully, by the time she reached Ivar’s, the rain had slowed to a drizzle But it was still wet out and ray Her curls, which had been perfectly styled, had turned into tight wads of frizz in the humid air She was sure she resembled a cartoon character more than the fashion model she’d strived for earlier that afternoon

After the longest ten-minute wait of her life, Ruth checked her watch and saw that it was now one minute past six Paul was late She pulled her cell phone fro; unfortunately Paul didn’t have a cell, so she punched out her home number Perhaps he’d been delayed in traffic and called the house, hoping to connect with her

No answer Either Lynn had left or purposely chose not to pick up the receiver Great, just great

To her dismay, as she went to toss her cell phone back inside her purse, she realized the battery was low Why hadn’t she charged it? Oh, no, that would’ve been ured it out Paul wasn’t late at all Somehow she’d missed him, which wouldn’t be that difficult with all the tourist traffic on the waterfront Even in the rain, people milled around the area as if they were on the sunny beaches of Hawaii Someone needed to explain to these tourists that the water dripping down from the sky was cold rain Just because they’d dressed for the sunshine didn’tin tight ringlets all around her head Either of two things had happened, she speculated First, her appearance was so drastically changed fronized her and assumed she’d stood hi Paul had gotten a gli a word

For aRather than waste the last of her cell phone battery phoning her rooain, she stepped inside the restaurant to see if Paul had left a e for her

She opened the door and lowered her umbrella As she did, she saw a tall, lean and very handsoet up from a chair in the restaurant foyer

"Ruth?"

"Paul?" Without a thought, she dropped the umbrella and moved directly into his e fiercely

When it beca at theo

"I was outside--didn’t you tell Lynn that’s where ere ?"

"No" He brushed the wet curls from her forehead and smiled down at her "I said inside because I heard on the weather forecast that it was going to rain"

"Of course, of course" Ruth wanted to kick herself for being so dense She should’ve guessed what Lynn was up to; instead, she’d fallen right into her roo"

A nu the at Paul He seemed unable to break eye contact with her, too

The hostess came forward "Since your party’s arrived," she said with a smile, "I can seat you now"

"Yes, please" Paul helped Ruth off with her coat and set the umbrella aside so it could dry Then, as if they’d known and loved each other all their lives, he reached for her hand and linked her fingers with his as they walked through the restaurant

The hostess seated them by the hich overlooked the dark, et Sound Rain ran in rivulets down the tehtest, sunniest day in Seattle’s history for all the notice Ruth paid

Paul continued to hold her hand on top of the table

"I orried about what I’d say once we lad, the words didn’t seem important"

"I’d al his mouth with the other hand, and she realized he was probably functioning on next to no sleep

"Stood you up? I would’ve found a way to get here no matter what" She let the truth of that show in her eyes She had the strongest feeling of certainty, and an involuntary sense that he was everything she’d dreaet to you, too" His fingers tightened around hers

"When did you last sleep?" she asked

His o I probably should’ve suggested we er than I had to"

"Me, neither," she confessed

He s smile

"When did you land?" she asked, because if she didn’t stop staring at hi," he told her "My family--well, you knohat fa for days and there was a big faether this afternoon I wanted to invite you but--"