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“How about we take this basket of rass to plop down on to enjoy this co, and you can tell me all about why this is a bad idea”

She hesitated for a ht”

That was good enough for him He knehen to take “yes” for an answer He closed the door before she could change her mind A few minutes later, Alex smiled at Cameron across the console of his SUV With the picnic basket tucked at her feet, the two of them were headed to the National Mall He hadn’t had a chance to visit the iconic park since he’d moved to town, but he’d seen how beautiful the ht sky What better place to convince this beautiful woive him a chance?

He found a parking spot along Constitution Avenue That had to be a good o He’d take all the good luck he could get right now

After Carabbed the basket and blanket with one hand and resisted wrapping his fingers around hers as they headed for the Mall After her insistence that she didn’t want hi her, he wouldn’t violate that boundary unless she made the first move

Ca htened “I’ht We’ve done the typical touristy stuff, but this is a”

He found a quiet spot in the rass and set the basket down The two of theht not have planned this evening, but it couldn’t have been more perfect if he had He didn’t need fancy dinners—he did much better if he relaxed and had a chance to talk to a woman To charm them, as Cameron had said Sure, he could turn it on if he had to, but really, he just liked talking to wo

Why did he have to go and think about kissing? Noouldn’t be able to picture anything else Caht for s Yet

Cahed as she pulled a container out of the picnic basket “This is definitely the girls’ doing We have sandwiches with the crusts cut off, packages of apple slices and chips, cupcakes, and juice boxes” She whipped her other hand out “And thanks to Mom, ith plastic cups”

He took the bottle from Cameron, poured two cups of wine, and then leaned back on one hand Caht the cup to her lips, appeared to hesitate for just a moment, and then sipped the deep red liquid Neither of thees as the final rays of the sun sank behind the Lincoln Meet so poetic? Ca it out of him

Ca the silence “My life is so busy that I never take time to appreciate how beautiful it is around here”

“I agree” But his comment was intended more about the woman beside him than the sky

He had to get ahold of himself She was here under protest, which meant he had to tread carefully He took a bite of his crustless hairls It was clear nohat they were up to

Well, he had a e for the way to go to convince Cameron to take a chance on him Maybe if he told her a littleher back Seeing the sunset over DC reminded him of one of his more peaceful times on deploy the day, out on patrol or assisting with the refugee camps We barely had an opportunity to catch our breath But every chance I got, I would cli containers tucked in the back of ca sun over the desert dunes”

She fiddled with her plastic cup, took a sip, and then stared at the swirling liquid