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Slowly, alainst her will, she sat up and opened her eyes She felt empty inside, depleted Shaky

A quick survey of the room told her Rush wasn’t anywhere in the ihed with relief

Co to her feet, she brushed the mussed dark hair away from her face and stumbled into the kitchen The coffee was ainst the base of the machine Lindy reached for the slip of paper and blinked several times in an effort to clear her vision Rush had duty and wouldn’t be home until late afternoon

Thank God

She wasn’t up to confronting him Not now, anyway What could she possibly say to him after she’d stripped herself emotionally naked and exposed her soul? Lord, she didn’t know, but she’d figure it out later Right now she wanted a hot bath and some breakfast, in that order

By five that afternoon, she’d washed s, baked a fresh apple pie and scrubbed the shower Occupying herself with a dozen domestic tasks until she was forced into the inevitable confrontation with Rush

She was frying pork chops for dinner when she heard the front door open, and she tensed, instantly filled with dread

An aard silence ensued when he stepped into the kitchen Since she wasn’t sure how to begin, she glanced around nervously and offered hi and she watched as his gaze bounced around the apart moment

Despite her best efforts, Lindy felt co straight through her with those impassive blue eyes of his

"I baked a pie" It was an absurd thing to say, but Lindy was quickly losing a grip on her determination to be cheerful and pleasant

"That’s not what I smell"

Lindy saw hi "What are you?" she asked, forcing a light laugh "A bloodhound?"

Obstinately Rush refused to respond to her atterew er kindled in his eyes "It smells like pine needles in here"

"Oh" Why, oh why, couldn’t he play her game? He had to kno difficult all this was for her "I scrubbed down the cupboards I think I was supposed to dilute the cleaner ainst the counter, her fingers gripping the edge She could feel a pulse come alive in her te to say to Rush, how she was going to act, but her conclusions had been vague and fearful That hen she’d decided she wouldn’t utter a word about what had happened, praying he wouldn’t, either She should have realized Rush wouldn’t let her forget it

"You’ve been busy"

She nodded eagerly "Yeah, I decided to spruce up the place a bit"

Her efforts didn’t appear to please hi to help her He had to knohat she was going through

"You said so your favorite dinner," she offered next, almost desperate All the while, her eyes pleaded with hi with thisout from under her every which way she turned

"That was thoughtful" Still he frowned, his broding his eyes, darkening them all thefork to turn the sizzling meat She dared not look at hiled her "I wanted to thank you, I guess"

"For what?"

Obviously Rush wasn’t going to exert the least bit of energy to help her The stoic look of the wooden Indian was properly in place once uise his emotions so effortlessly

"Lindy"

She ignored hi meat when it was totally unnecessary

"Lindy, turn around and look at me"

She shook her head

"Those pork chops are going to turn into rubber if you cook theer"

Forcefully she turned off the burner and slapped the cooking fork on the stove top "I could hate you for this," she muttered between clenched teeth

"Well don’t, because it isn’t any easier for nation when she slowly turned so that they faced each other onceabout him said he was the least bit unco the weather for all the reaction Rush revealed