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"I’ into Rush’s thoughts The ferry had been underway for about twentyfor the weather deck

"Sure Go ahead," Rush answered He didn’tride to and from the shipyard each day Most of the navy personnel lived in Kitsap County, across Puget Sound froes of living in a big city

Rush watched as Lindy ainst the stern, her hands on the rail The hipped the hair froainst her soft curves

Just watching Lindy, Rush felt his heart constrict When she’d been holding Ti the twins on her hips, Rush hadn’t been able to tear his gaze away from her The earth could have opened up and sed him whole and he swore he wouldn’t have been aware of it

Seeing her with those two babies had been the most powerful,physical desire for her was like a knife slicing into his skin and scraping against a bone – it had gone that deep Not once, not even with Cheryl had he thought about children He enjoyed Jeff’s sons They were cute little rascals, but seeing Lindy with those babies had created a need so strong in hiain He wanted a child Son or daughter, he didn’t care What did matter was that Lindy be their et enough of her as she stood, braced against the wind He thought about her belly swollen with his seed, her breasts full and heavy, and the desire that stabbed through hiht ball in the center of his abdoht of hts fro he’d stuh baby-doll paja now far exceeded anything he’d previously known And it was different in ways he couldn’t even begin to explain

Unable to stay parted froer, Rush left his seat and stepped outside, joining her at the railing

Wordlessly he slipped his arm over her shoulder Lindy looked up at him, and her eyes were unusually dark and solemn The effort it cost her to smile was revealed in the feeble movement of her mouth

"Lindy?"

She pressed her index finger across his lips the way she did when she didn’t want there to be questions between theh she strove valiantly to prevent the a wobbly breath, she pressed her forehead against his chest in a vain attempt to compose herself

Rush wrapped his arely lost as to what to say or do, and not co Her lithe fraainst him and he reveled in the feel of her softness pressed to him "Honey, what is it?"

She shook her head "Susan said…"

"She offend you?" Rush couldn’t ier rose in him instantly

Lindy swiftly jerked her head from side to side "No… no, of course not" Her arms were around his middle now, her eyes as dry as she could make them But her chin quivered with the effort

She lifted a hand and touched the side of his face, her eyes full of such tenderness that it was all Rush could do to ht we et it I nearly tossed you into the street"

"You were perfectly horrible So uncoant," he added, regretting every harsh word he’d ever said to her

The corner of her ood dose of healthy arrogance to put me in my place as I recall"

He brushed the hair froh it was difficult

"I disliked you soyou I could hardly wait for you to leave And no I dread it I wish I could be more like Susan She’s so brave"

"She’s had far more experience at this than you" Rush searched her face, and under his scrutiny the noran to quiver with unspoken anguish He understood then She was afraid, al it all inside Pierced to the quick by his own thoughtlessness, he tightened his grip on her and breathed in the sweet flowery fragrance of her silky dark hair

"Honey, nothing’s going to happen to unboats… theback to you, Lindy"

She brushed her hands down her cheeks to wipe away the sheen of tears "You think I’ silly and e is likely to happen, but I can’t help thinking…"

He took her by the shoulders then, gripping her tightly "No," he said sternly, his heart filling with a roped for the words to coerous; I’n ht this minute"

"You’d better coh it were a fierce threat and the consequences would be dire if he didn’t

Death was the only thing that would keep hi to hi was to Lindy "Then you’d better be waiting for aze held his and his hands slid frorip on her shoulder to stroke her slim, swanlike neck

"You still don’t trustsad and disappointed

"Yes," he answered, nodding his head for emphasis "I believe you" He wasn’t sure he should – she was so young, so susceptible – but God help hi him

He took her hand and brushed his lips over her palive a tinker’s da, he kissed her mouth