Free Courting Katarina by Carol Steward Page B

little more time. They’ll understand.”
    “I already pushed the interview back as far as I could. They really wanted me there tomorrow—today, whenever Tuesday is.”
    “We’ll do what we can to make it. I’ll do everything I can to get you there on time. You’ll have to trust me on that.” His embrace loosened and Alex stepped back. “After a day like today, it makes you wonder if God has other plans, doesn’t it?” He turned and walked to the car and turned out the lights.
    She didn’t respond. She couldn’t believe God wouldn’t want her to get this offer. Why, God? What do You want from me? She’d worked so long to make it possible. Spent most of her savings on the prototype mold. It had to work out.
    Alex dug through the pile they’d retrieved from the car and returned a few minutes later with a pair of wool socks and a sweatshirt.
    She rubbed her arms, not actually cold, but mentally,the chill wouldn’t go away. “What do you mean, God may have other plans, Alex? Why wouldn’t He want me to make this deal?”
    He shook his head. “It was just a random thought. I didn’t mean anything by it.” He tried again to hand her the clothes.
    “I need this contract.”
    Alex let his hand drop to his side. “I never said you didn’t. But sometimes our prayers aren’t answered in quite the way we want them to be. God knows what we need, even before we ask. He also makes it very clear that He’ll provide for our needs. Just like tonight, Katarina.”
    “So I’m just supposed to sit around and wait on Him? I don’t think so.” It wasn’t a question, and she really didn’t want Alex to answer. It didn’t matter what he said. There were limits to what she could expect from others—including God. She’d learned that a long time ago. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a way to that interview.”

Chapter Nine
    K atarina slipped the sweatshirt over her sundress and held her arms out. The sleeves dangled like wings from her fingertips. A soft giggle escaped. “I don’t think I’m going to need your sleeping bag after all.”
    “I wouldn’t bet on it. Here, you’ll need these, too.”
    She accepted the wool socks, stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Alex. I’m really sorry about the way everything turned out today.” Katarina rushed over to the sleeping bag and sat down while he stood there feeling as if his emotions had just been struck by lightning.
    Alex pulled his nylon sleep sack from his bag and stuffed the liner inside, then stretched out on the grass nearby and turned his back to her. He wonderedwhat she’d have done if he’d wrapped his arms around her and kissed her properly? Engaged or not, you’re far too irresistible to let another chance slip past .
    He heard the rustle of Katarina tossing and turning. “You okay?”
    No answer.
    “Katarina?” Alex raised himself up on his elbows. In the moonlight he could see her sit up. He raised his voice and repeated her name. “What are you doing?”
    A timid voice whispered, “Trying to find how to zip the sleeping bag.”
    “I forgot all about that,” he mumbled.
    “What?” She cocked her head toward him, and he realized she couldn’t hear him.
    Suddenly everything was different. Unable to stop the feelings of protectiveness, he scooted over to her. “It needs a new zipper put in, and I forgot all about it. Here, let me help. Did you take your hearing aid out, or did it fall out during the accident?”
    “I took it out. I can’t sleep with it in. Sorry.”
    “No problem. I forgot is all.”
    After a few minutes the two of them were able to free the tab, but they still had to get the teeth lined up properly so it would close. He put the miniflash-light in his mouth to hold it so he could see.
    “Alex, you’re going to break a tooth. Don’t do that! Here, I’ll hold it for you.”
    Alex wiped the moisture from the handle onto hisshirt and handed it to her. Katarina leaned close to