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"I see," she whispered, and took a step back, away from him "You want us to wait six months until you return from this tour?"

It made a hell of a lot of sense to Rush, and when he spoke his voice was soft yet inexorable "Of course"

"I see"

"Would you quit saying that like I’d just suggested we live in sin?"

Rush could tell that she was struggling to cohts Confusion and another ehtened her brow, and she looked to be on the verge of breaking into tears – but these weren’t tears of sudden happiness

"I need to think," she announced, stiffly turning away fro down the concrete stairs

Rush, watching her run away froesture of utter bewilderet married so soon For God’s sake, they’d known each other less than three weeks

Lindy walked as fast as her legs would carry her, and her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it all the way to her toes She was a little embarrassed, because she’d assuht away, and she was troubled, too She didn’t want to wait, and she couldn’t think of a way of explaining to Rush all the strong and conflicting e inside her

Within a matter of seconds, Rush’s quick-paced steps joined hers

"For God’s sake will you tell ?" he de him so much her heart threatened to burst His eyes seemed unusually dark and, as always, unreadable as he buried his thoughts and his pain deep within hi? Oh Rush," she whispered contritely, "never that"

"Then why did you take off like a bat out of hell?"

She dropped her gaze to the sidewalk "I don’t want to wait… When you leave Saturday I want to be…"

"Lindy, that’s crazy"

"… your wife," she finished

Rush’s jaw clamped shut, and Lindy saw the e of doubts clouded histo make a commitment to her now, it seemed fruitless to wait six ement," she whispered fiercely "I have no desire for another I’ll marry you, Rush, and consideron er there will be two, not one"

"Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?"

She watched him intently, her eyes riveted to his "Yes, I suppose I do, from your point of view"

"In other words, it’s all or nothing?"

"No," she answered softly "I’d ht if I could, or six months froh to want me as your wife then why should ait? That’s what I don’t understand"

His eyes hardened "But youher head so hard her hair whipped across her face "I swear to you I’ret it"

Rush inhaled and cast an iuidance, and if not that, then divine intervention

"I don’t even want to discuss it"

"Fine," Lindy said with a sigh

The remainder of the as completed in silence When Rush unlocked the apart to her bedrooh

Rush’s hand reached for hers, stopping her before she’d gone lanced up at hiht so dim she could barely ht to hurry this e’ve only begun to know each other," he said in a tone that was low, husky and deliberately expressionless

Gently Lindy brushed her fingertips across the taut line of his jaw "I’ to repent at leisure, if that’s what you’re worrying about You seem to find it so iht now I don’t have a single doubt that our e my mind"

"Lindy, it’s crazy"

"Marry me now, Rush"