Charly had been silent up to this point, wondering how he was going to proceed. She smiled at him now, trusting him completely and loving him with all of her being. She settled closer to him, then glanced up and asked, "Want to play some Battleships?"

"I assume you're joking. There's only one thing I want to do and it's the same thing I wanted to do the night we were stranded together, and every night since. I don't know how it happened, Charly, when I swore I would never again be vulnerable to a woman, but I'm in love with you. More in love with you than I ever thought it possible to be in love." He was twisting a coil of her hair around his finger, and she realized that his hand was shaking.

"McKinnon, are you nervous?" Her own feelings were so strong and so right that she had no more doubts about their future. She knew it would work out in some fashion that was best for both of them, and she was content to let it happen.

Rolling away from her, McKinnon slid off the bed and went to the desk to pour them each a glass of wine. She had discovered that the directors all kept drinks available in their rooms, even though some of them didn't drink. She knew McKinnon rarely drank because they had discussed it the evening they were out to dinner together.

Handing her the glass, he sat beside her on the bed and took a sip of wine. Setting the glass down, he unbuttoned his shirtsleeves and rolled them up to his elbows as though he found them restricting. He ran his hand through his hair, causing it to stand up on one side, then tried to flatten it down again. She realized he was extremely nervous about something, but couldn't imagine that the prospect of making love with her could be the reason.

"Bear with me, Charly. This is really difficult for me. It's so long since I've really communicated with anyone that I'm a bit rusty." He took another sip of wine, then set the glass aside and swung his legs up onto the bed beside her. He pulled the pillows up behind their heads and placed an arm around her shoulders. Then he shifted his position again and fussed with the pillows once more.

"For Pete's sake, McKinnon, settle down and talk! I won't bite. I might even help you out if you hit a rough spot. Just talk to me, because your anxiety is starting to rub off and I was feeling great."




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