Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
need a little awakening as to how well you have had it.”
When he stepped away, she looked up at his face and saw he meant
every word he said.
Paul awakened to find Miriam stirring the coals and adding wood to his fire.
The blanket slid down his bare chest as he sat bolt upright and stared at her.
He was dreaming. He must be. Rubbing his face, he looked around and saw
her shawl across the back of his chair and a case on the table.
She turned toward him and smiled. “Good morning. It’s almost light.”
She was real all right. Panic set in. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m moving in with you.”
“What?”
“I said I’m moving in with you.” He stared at her as though she had gone
out of her mind. She came and sat on the edge of his bed. He pulled the
blanket up to cover his bare chest.
Miriam watched Paul, and she couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of
the situation. It was his own fault. If he weren’t so stubborn…
“This isn’t the least bit funny,” he said through his teeth.
“No, it isn’t,” she agreed more solemnly. “I love you, and I’m not going to
let you go off to the mountains and ruin your life.” He looked endearingly
confused. His hair was poking up in all directions, like a little boy’s. She
reached out to smooth it down, and he drew back, his eyes filled with
alarm.
“Go home, Miriam,” he said, desperate. He had to get her out of there!
Did she know what it did to him to have her say she loved him? If she didn’t
leave now, he didn’t think he would be able to resist her. But she didn’t
move. She just sat looking at him with a patient smile. He heard a roaring in
his ears and bellowed, “I said go home!”
“No,” she said simply, “and I’m not giving you your clothes, either.”
His lips parted.
She folded her hands and placed them demurely in her lap, then smiled
at him. The look in her eyes made him hot all over. He could barely get his
breath. This was insanity! “What are you playing at, Miriam Altman? What’s
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