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It was ten by the time the Yakima docked in Seattle The hike to the aparteous that Lindy didn’t want to hurry hole one would be a criested

Rush looked bewildered for a moment, and asked, "What park?"

"The one here on the waterfront"

"Whatever for?"

Lindy laughed and slapped her hand noisily against her side "So much for romance"

"Ro When you sail off into the sunset, I’ll be there wearing a so If thata short detour to look at the stars fro"

"Lindy – " he said her naet up and go to work in the ht refuse her, but he didn’t He slipped his aruided her in the direction of the park

They cli, overlooking the quiet green water The lights from Harbor Island and West Seattle flickered likein the distance

Lindy folded her hands over the cold steel rail, Rush behind her, his chin resting on the crown of her head "Re of their wild race up the stairs and the joy she’d experienced in having bested him

"Yes" Rush’s low voice carried a frown

Lindy twisted around and gazed up at him "Why do you say it like that?"

"You called me Paul Remember?"

It took her a second to recall that and all that had happened afterward "Was that really such a short tio?" It felt like years instead of just a feeeks

"Yes" His brow pleated with a grim look

"No wonder you think I can’t possibly know my own heart," she whispered, a little desperately "No wonder you’ve never told me how you feel"

His broered even h he’d realized he’d never said it "I love you, Lindy"

She closed her eyes and let the words rain down over her heart like velvety s them close so she would have them later when she needed them "I know," she whispered, the tears back in her voice "I just wanted to hear you say it one time before you left"

Chapter Nine

"Lindy?" Rush dropped his hands fro, as active as any hive He felt weak from her touch, weak from the effect of her tears, ith a desperate need to hold her and iven up the dreaain And then Lindy, his sweet beautiful Lindy, had slamain His heart felt as if it would burst as he pulled her closer, breathing in the perfumed scent that was hers alone

"Yes?"

Rush couldn’t believe the thoughts that were bouncing around in hisseemed to keep them still He loved Lindy He desired her in a way that went e, her honesty, her spirit – each had shattered every defense he’d ed to erect over the years From the moment they’d met, she’d played havoc with his heart

"Rush?" She was staring up at hiet married" There It was out He watched as the surprise worked its way over her features, touching her eyes first, narrowing theht Then the excitelowed from every part of her, followed almost immediately by swift tears that brimmed in her clear, brown eyes When her teeth bit into her lower Up, Rush wasn’t sure what to think She tossed her arh her despite the war

"Yes, I’ll marry you" Her ansas issued in a s in a stor toer "I’ll arrange to take off early enough so we can get to the courthouse before it closes"

"The courthouse?"

"For the license" She cast him a stern look that convinced him she would make a wonderful mother

Once he understood the implication, Rush frowned, unsure how to proceed "But I don’t want to getfrom her face faded, then vanished completely to be replaced by a stunned, hurt look