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"I was hoping you ht come with me"

She tensed and stared at hi?"

He took her hand and gripped it tightly "What I', Loren S for your hand in e"

She stared at hi," she said, her voice choking

"I' the tears form in her violet eyes "I love you, I loved you for what seems an eternity, and I want you to be my wife"

She sat there tre, the iron maiden of the House of Representatives, the lady who never backed down despite the political pressure, the woton Then she took back her hand and held it with the other over her eyes as she sobbed uncontrollably

He came around the table and embraced her around the shoulders "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you"

She looked up, tears flooding her eyes "You fool, don't you kno long I've waited to hear those words?"

Pitt was bewildered "When the subject cae was out of the question because ere already married to our work"

"Do you always believe everything a woman tells you?"

Pitt gently raised her to her feet and kissed her lightly on the lips "Forgivelate as well as stupid But the question still stands Will you marry me?"

Loren threw her arms around his neck and flooded his face with kisses "Yes, you fool," she said in the throes of ecstasy "Yes, yes, yes!"

42

When he awoke in the , Loren had already left for her apartress He felt a glow reht around hi to attend at the White House, he didn't feel in the mood to put on a business suit and play the role of bureaucrat Besides, his er had to iolf shirt and a sport coat

Another black Lincoln, driven by a Secret Service agent, aiting when he walked froar The driver, broad-shouldered, but with a fairly substantial belt line, said nothing as he sat behind the wheel, letting Pitt open his own rear door The journey to Al's condo was conducted in silence