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Denying Rush anything in that moment would have been impossible, and she nodded

Her husband-of-a-day rewarded her with a quick but infinitely thorough kiss, his tongue darting into her th of her body When he released her Lindy sank back onto the corner of the bed, her legs too weak to support her

Rush left the bedroom and closed the door Lindy stared at it helplessly, unable to ry voice of her brother followed as he dehis little sister Lindy didn’t hear her husband’s reply, but whatever he said apparently didn’t appease Steve, because shortly afterward Steve started in again Lindy grie, impatient to speak to her brother herself She was an adult and certainly capable of choosing her own husband

She gave Rush the ten minutes she’d promised, but it was difficult As the endless seconds ticked past, Lindy tried to remember the last time she’d seen Steve Before he’d divorced Carol, Lindy realized That hat? – one and a half years ago now Steve had been happy then, excited, full of life Could it really have been only eighteen nized Steve as the same man He looked so much older than his thirty-three years, and she wondered if the divorce was responsible for the changes in him From what her parents had told her, Steve and Carol had broken up shortly after their visit to Minneapolis, and the divorce had been final for over a year No one knew any of the details Steve hadn’t explained a thing, and Lindy hadn’t asked What went on between her brother and Carol was their business, not hers

When Lindy couldn’t stand it any longer, she stood and walked out of the bedrooer flashed from their eyes, and it looked as if they were about to resort to physical violence Lindy knew she’d tiood to see you again, Steve," she said with a soft s her ar in reply

"Aren’t you going to congratulate Rush and me?"

Steve’s eyes hardened as they clashed with Rush’s "I’ned a cal her waraze speak for her

"Lindy, just what in the hell do you think you’re doing?" Steve de ? Three, four weeks?"

"Are you saying Rush will make me a terrible husband and that I’veabout him that I don’t"

"That’s not what I h to rake his fingers through his hair, roomed effect "What about Paul Abraaze without emotion "What about him?"

"You loved him…or so you said Hell, the last time I heard from you, your heart was broken and you didn’t know if you wanted to go on living Remember?"

"Of course I reed?" His voice carried a harsh sound of repriet hi love and devotion Well, little sister, did you ever stop to think what could follow next? If your affections can change overnight, what’s going to happen when Rush has sea duty? Are you going to divorce hiht because you find yourself attracted to another man?"

Lindy felt her husband tense at her side She wasn’t pleased with Steve’s insinuation, either, but she illing to let it pass "As you recall, Paul was the one who conveniently forgot about me Thank God he did, otherwise I would never havethat now God, what a mess" Steve abruptly turned away and marched to the other side of the room Just as sharply, he turned back to face theht you were the one I could trust the most"

His comment was directed at Rush

"She’s just a kid" The look Steve tossed his friend suggested Rush had resorted to robbing a day-care center

"I’m twenty-two," Lindy cried, piqued

"Dae"

"She knows enough about being a wife to satisfyfor you," Steve shouted, and started in again with hardly a breath "Any fool could see she ht you were se of her"

"If he’d taken advantage ofby the moment, "he wouldn’t have married me"

"Of course he married you He knew I’d beat the hell out of hiht expression her brother wore, Lindy could see that he’d relish the opportunity to fight with Rush

"Steve, stop it," she pleaded, holding out her hands "I’edy, I don’t I plan on being a good wife to Rush This isn’t an overnight fling We’re coive this so-called e three ht fists, but when he went to step forward, Lindy stopped hi his cool, but Steve’s accusations were beginning to wear on them both, and Lindy could tell Rush wouldn’t put up with much more

"Have you told Mom and Dad?"

"Of course I’m not ashamed of e’ve done" But she’d waited until after the ceremony to announce she was married for fear her mother would try to talk her out of it When she did phone her parents, Grace Kyle hadn’t been able to disguise her shock and had started to weep When her father had come on the line, he’d been equally stunned, al over his words, clearly not knohat to say It wasn’t until Rush had talked to both her parents that Lindy’s faratulations

Steve’s eyes narrowed "I should kick your teeth down your throat for this, Callaghan"

Rush’s mouth quirked into a half smile "I’d like to see you try"

"Stop it, both of you!" Lindy cried, shocked at both men "I don’t knohat’s the matter with you, Steve, but this is ht left to spend withwith you"