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They’d walked to the restaurant, and when they stepped outside, they noticed the evening had cooled considerably Phoebe had brought a sweater; Hutch held it politely as she slipped her arms into the sleeves
"That was a divine dinner"
"It always is," Hutch said "That’s why I chose this restaurant"
They walked side by side in silence, and then Hutch reached for her hand "The book said hand-holding is acceptable after the second date," he told her
"I see," she said with a nod
"There’s quite a list of rules, you know"
"I guess I didn’t," she said "What other rules are there?"
"For one thing…" He paused "Hey, I’hed
"Why do you want to know?" he asked
"Just curious," she said
They strolled down the well-lit street, holding hands, swinging the your curiosity?"
"Actually, yes," she replied
Hutch stopped walking and looked down at her They’d coht
"I wondered what the book had to say about kissing"
"Kissing," he repeated "According to the rules, it would be within the scope of respectable behavior to…"
"To do what?"
"To kiss you on the third date"
"The third date? When was this book published?"
"1952 I picked it up at a secondhand bookstore--after reading Dating for Dummies I happen to love old books and I found the advice in the older one "
They had sonew similarities between them "I love old books, too I’ve collected the she said would surprise hiraphies for , and Hutch escorted Phoebe to her door "I had a great ti to smile up at him
"I did, too"
He hesitated, so Phoebe tookonto the tips of her toes, she slid her arms around his neck and kissed hihtened his eical Roe; Hutch si shared, as though it belonged to her as much as him When he lifted his head, he kept his eyes closed for several seconds Then he cleared his throat "That was very…nice"
"Yes" Phoebe pressed her hand to his heart, feeling the heavy thudding against her palain She wouldn’t have believed it was possible, but the second kiss was even better than the f irst
"Good night, Phoebe"
"Good night, Hutch" She felt ith longing as she fu, she set her purse down and iht on her phone She checked caller ID No surprise there-- the call had come fro again?" Ellen asked, skipping at Anne Marie’s side as she held Baxter’s leash
"To the park" Anne Marie hadn’t told herwith Tim Carlsen She still wasn’t sure what to say or howa "friend"
"Can I have some ice cream?" Ellen asked
Anne Marie sed"
"Goody"
Ellen was so easily pleased, her trust co by introducing her daughter to Tiht phone call, she’d been racked with indecision More times than she could count, she’d picked up the phone, determined to cancel And then, overco to let this play out
As recently as an hour ago, she’d been convinced it was a terrible rant Tiested h, there he was, sitting on the circular stone edge Children raced around the park, their glee and excitement infectious in the afternoon sun
He stood as they approached, and Anne Marie’s heart felt lodged in her throat
"Hello," Ti, the girl looked up at Anne Marie
"Hello, Ti further or make any effort to introduce him, Tim bent down and thrust out his hand "You ed closer to Anne Marie "This is Baxter," she said,toward the Yorkie, who stared curiously at Tihty storm with just about everyone he encountered for the f irst ti quietly and without reservation accepted him as a friend
"Mom said she’d buy entle "What a great idea I’ll get ice creaht back"
"Okay"