“Maybe we’ll admit this thing we have is perfect, not worth messing around with. And stay together forever. If you’re interested, that is.”She glanced away. “I could think about that.”He buried his face in her neck. “Think fast”

“I like the way you kiss-a couple of test kisses, then a huge kiss.”

“Don't leave yet," he said, his voice hoarse. "Let me do something. Let me feed you. Hold you. Rub your shoulders. Change your oil. Anything, please.”

“Tom. Tom, look at me. Has Nora agreed to marry you?""No, but she will because she has to.”

“Maybe we could, um, go sit in the truck?" he said, but even as he said it, it sounded so dumb. And not exactly the way he wanted her to remember a marriage proposal.”

“But you were concerned about making sure things, you know, didn't get serious.""Yeah, because I'm an idiot.”

“Marry me. You'll learn to love me, I promise.”

“How do you know?”“Well, I don’t, I’m making this up, but I bet I’m right.”

“It didn’t take much to turn a man solitary-being the new guy too often, being controversial now and then, a couple of unsuccessful attempts at a lasting relationship with a woman…”

“You’re a good date,” he said.“You thought of it as a date?”He nodded. “From the beginning.”

“He’d never been shy, but he’d always been a little uncertain around girls. He just couldn’t believe they liked him.”