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"I know" Lynn suddenly see about her shoes

Ruth e"

"Ruth," Lynn said sharply Ruth turned to face her "I’ to do I was upset and I took it out on you"

Ruth had pretty ured that out on her own "Paul and I connected, so no harlad you did because I think Paul is great I know he’s a soldier and all, but he’s a nice guy I only met him that one time, but I could see he’s ten tiuy I hope totheir brief exchange She wondered what they’d talked about

"All’s well that ends well," Ruth said

"Shakespeare, right?" Lynn asked "In other words, all is forgiven?"

Ruth laughed and nodded, then started into the house

Paul picked her up at five-thirty and they drove to a Mexican restaurant in don Kent Paul had arranged for her to h school sweethearts and Brian had known Paul for o way back," Brian said when they were introduced He slid out of the booth and they exchanged handshakes, with Paul standing just behind Ruth, his hand on her shoulder

"I’m pleased to meet you both" They were a handsome couple Carley was a delicate blonde with soulful blue eyes, and her husband was tall and muscular, as if he routinely worked out

"We’re pleased to meet you, too," Carley said when Ruth slipped into the booth across froot in beside Ruth

"I insisted Paul introduce us," Carley said as she reached for a chip and dipped it in the salsa "Every ti his leave, he already had plans with you"

Ruth hadn’t thought of it that way, but realized she’d ize for that"

"We only have the teeks," Paul explained

"You’ll be back in Seattle after the training, won’t you?" Brian asked

"Maybe, but…" Paul hesitated and glanced at Ruth

"We only just met and…" Ruth let the rest fade away He would be back and they’d see each other again, but only if she could accept his career in thetime for theiving Ruth teeks to fall head over heels in love with me" Paul said it as if it were a joke

"If she doesn’t, there’s definitely so with her," Carley joked back

Ruth s She hadn’tit off until the last possibleand soon, in a ain She wasn’t ready--wasn’t ready to decide and wasn’t ready for hiht because of their babysitter, so they left the restaurant first

Ruth had enjoyed the spicy enchiladas, thebetween Paul and Brian Carley had told story after story of the two boys and their high-school exploits, and they’d all laughed and joked together

Paul and Ruth lingered in the booth over cups of dark coffee, gazing into each other’s eyes He’d switched places so he could sit across from her If she’d met him under any other circus None! It was so easy to fall in love with this man In fact, it was already too late; even Paul’s mother had seen that Ruth knew him After all the letters and e-mails, all the conversations, she felt as if he’d beco," Paul said unexpectedly

"What a why I find life in the ed "Close"

"Do you want to know my answer?"

Ruth was already aware of his reasons, but decided to hear hio ahead"

"I like the structure, the discipline, the knowledge that I’ about freedoot troubling for Ruth

Before she could state her own feelings, Paul stopped her "I know you don’t agree with me, and I accept that, but I ae that--I wouldn’t"

He stiffened, then reached for his coffee and held it at arh, but the , you looked like you wanted to challenge s were that transparent

"I guess now is as good a time as any to ask where I stand with you"

"What do you an to creep up her spine They had only a couple of days before he was scheduled to leave, and she was going to need every minute of that time to concentrate on this relationship

"You knohat I’, Ruth"

She did She met his eyes "I’m in love with you, Paul"

"I’m in love with you, too" He stretched his hand across the table and intertwined their fingers

Her heart nearly sprang out of her chest with happiness and yet tears filled her eyes

To her astonishhed "This is supposed to be a happy moment," he told her

"I a again Of your involve in a war, any war"

"It’s what I do"