He slowed his pace, taking advantage of the fresh-water spray area to wash the salt water away. Toweling off, he watched her slip into her skirt and blouse before sitting with her back to his chair, towel-drying her hair. Having no idea how to bridge the suddenly awkward gap between them, he made his way to her side and sat down, prepared to wait on her lead.

The butterflies dancing in her stomach were testament to his presence. She felt the heat of her renewed color as the personal details of their afternoon replayed in her mind. What had possessed her to ask him to touch her? And she had enjoyed it, had wanted it to continue. What must he think of her? Knowing that prolonging the confrontation only made things more uncomfortable, she slowly turned and faced him.

The torment evident in her expression tugged at his heart. That she was out of her realm of experience was clearly evident and he longed to make things easier on her. When she finally met his gaze, he signed, "THANK YOU."

Confusion momentarily replaced her embarrassment. "For what?"

"Thank you for trusting me with the details of what happened yesterday. That you opened up willingly to me means a lot." Taking one of her hands, he clasped it gently, rubbing it softly with his free hand. "And thank you for trusting me, above all others, to try and help you through it. What Scott did yesterday was wrong. It was violent and angry and utterly vicious. You are a wonderful, uniquely special individual, Sue. For you to grant me the opportunity to replace an ugly memory with what I hope is a more memorable one, humbles me."

"You don't think what I did was wrong?" she asked timidly, struggling to keep her eyes on his mouth, desperately wanting to turn and hide. "You aren't dis...ME DISGUST YOU?" Her control was too tenuous to continue as she resorted to sign.

Scooting forward and gently framing her face, he smiled into her eyes as he shook his head. "There is no way you could disgust me, Sue. What we shared was private and beautifully intimate and hopefully just a beginning," he admitted, watching her gaze sweep back to his, searching. "I've been waiting for the right time to tell you what's been on my mind, to find out if you share my desires. Now seems like the best moment possible."

"Wh...what do you desire?"

His gaze roamed her delicate features, taking note of the glimmer of hope he saw simmering in her eyes. "Not what...who. I desire you," he told her honestly. "I want more from you than what others have. Friendship, while wonderful, is just not enough. I want certain rights, for you to have certain rights. I want to date you and only you. There is no one else I am remotely interested in. You have captured my attention, my imagination, my heart; I am absolutely smitten with you.

"Wow," she muttered inanely, at a loss for words.

His smile was hopeful. "Was that a 'wow' you feel the same way or a 'wow' you don't know how to let me down?"

"That was a 'wow' I didn't know anyone still used the word smitten," she told him, her face straight, but her eyes twinkling.

"How about I use the word attracted or besotted, bewitched, captivated, charmed, dotty, enchanted, enraptured, entranced, fascinated, fond..."

She laughingly stopped his list of words and shyly whispered, "I do."

Reaching and removing her hand after kissing her palm, he asked, "You do what?"

"I share your desires."