d with
all these years is part of mine。〃
〃Is？〃 Ross asked softly。
〃Was；〃 she corrected herself； looking directly at him。 He couldn't miss
the pleading in her gaze。 〃I'd like to put it behind me now。 Will you
help？〃
Her pulse tripped for a minute until Ross's wide smile sent it racing
on。 〃That's why I'm here。〃
She frowned。 〃Why are you here？ I mean； how did you know to be at the
airport？〃
〃Your parents。〃
〃You talked with them？〃
〃Yesterday。〃 He looked pleased with himself。 〃You were overdue in Little
pton。 Lee called me； we plotted your course； and put two and two
together。 When I realized you'd gone home I knew why。 It was all I could
do not to join you there。 But it was something you had to do； wasn't
it？〃
She nodded。 〃I told them about you。〃
〃Lucky you did。 It made the explanations simpler。〃 He paused； vaguely
playful； vaguely curious。 〃What； uh； exactly； did you tell them？〃
〃That you loved me； that I loved you； that you'd asked me to marry you。
But I also told them that I had to work things out there with them； to
finally accept Crystal's death； if I ever hoped to be as much of a woman
as you deserve。〃
At the last； all playfulness drained from Ross's face； leaving a
vulnerability that was the flip side of his usual strength。 His hand
trembled slightly when it cupped her face。 〃Have I told you h