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She nodded. "Oh, yes. It will be interesting to find out-"

  "I don't care about the treasure," he suddenly said roughly. "And I'm tired of your talking about Irana and Pauley and Ferguson." He stopped and turned to face her. "I want you to talk about me. I want you to talk about us. That's why I came here. Now cut to the chase. You've had your damn time and space. A hell of a lot too much of both for me. Now talk to me."

  "What do you want me to say?" No, that was too passive, and she was not feeling in the least passive. "And just why did you come here? It could be because you wanted to tell me that I was right to take that time, and you decided that we couldn't make a relationship work. How do I know?" She stepped closer. "But here's what I do know. I've never met a man who I wanted or respected as much as I do you. Do I love you? I think I do, but I'm never going to be sure unless I live with you and share something besides threats and trauma. We deserve that chance to dis¬cover who we really are together. So that's what I'm going to do. If you don't want to do that, then I'll just have to follow you around and dog your footsteps until you give in. You'll have to have me arrested as a stalker to get rid of me. And when they let me out of jail, I'll come to you again." She drew a deep breath. "So why not save time and give in now? I promise I'll make it worth your while."

  He smiled. "What an interesting offer."

  "Is that all you've got to say?"

  "Yes, I'd better accede graciously because I'm clearly not going to change your mind." He reached out and cupped her face in his hands, and said thickly, "Thank God."

  For a moment she couldn't get her breath for the rush of sheer joy. Oh, yes, thank God. She said unsteadily, "I believe that means I'm not going to have to do any serious pursuit."

  He kissed her lightly. "It means that I'm taking you up on your promise to make it worth my while." He kissed her again, not so lightly. "For the next fifty or sixty years. After that, we'll renegotiate." He pushed her away and took her hand. "But right now you're going to show me your cottage. It has a bed I assume?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Then we'll start there, and we may end there." He smiled down at her. "But maybe tomorrow we'll take time for you to take me to your woods, and you can show me a little of what your father taught you." His warm grasp tightened on her hand as they started down the beach. "If we're embarking on this journey of discovery, I think I want to know that side of you, too."

  Iris Johansen

  ***

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