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Then they both burst out laughing.
"That is way arrogant, even for me," said John Paul. "As if you and I were so valuable that they'd bet the farm on us falling in love with each other."
"Maybe they knew we were both so irresistibly charming that if we ever met, we couldn't help falling in love."
"It's happening to me," said John Paul.
"Well, it's not happening to me at all," she said.
"Oh, but I do love a challenge."
"What if we find out that it's true? That they really are pushing us together?"
"So what?" said John Paul. "What does it matter if, by following my heart, I also fulfill someone else's plan?"
"What if we don't like the plan?" she said. "What if this is like Rumpelstiltskin? What if we have to give up what we love best in order to have what we want most?"
"Or vice versa."
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I," said John Paul. "Even in cultures where marriages are arranged by the parents, you're never actually forbidden to fall in love with your mate."
"I'm not in love, Mr. Wiggin."
"All right then," he said. "Tell me to go away."
She said nothing.
"You aren't telling me to go away."
"I should," she said. "In fact, I already did, several times, and you didn't go."
"I wanted to make sure you knew exactly what you were throwing away. But now that you've eaten my food and heard my confessions, I'm ready to take no for an answer, if you want to say it."
"Well, I'm not going to say it. As long as you understand that not saying no doesn't mean yes."
He laughed. "I understand that. I also understand that not saying yes doesn't mean no."
"In some circumstances. Ab
out some things."
"So the kiss is still a definite no?" he said.
"I have salad in my teeth, remember?"
He got up onto his knees, leaned over to her, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "No teeth, no salad," he said.
"I don't even like you yet," she said. "And here you are taking liberties."
He kissed her forehead. "You realize that about three dozen people have seen us sitting here eating. And any one of them might walk by and see me kissing you."
"Scandal," she said.
"Ruin," he said.
"We'll be reported to the authorities," she said.
