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"How When?"
"Remember the incident at the White House last spring?" "Of course. Ben told me you were involved in it."
"She was one of the hostages."
"Ah Stockholm syndrome."
Rapp frowned. Stockholm syndrome was a psychological term for hostages who began to sympathize with their captors. "Donatella, I wasn't one of the terrorists. I was the one killing the terrorists."
"Oh well, then Florence Nightingale syndrome."
"No." He shook his head and smiled. "I wasn't a nurse, either."
"Oh " She waved her hand in frustration. "You know what I mean."
"No, I don't actually, but we don't need to get hung up on this." Rapp stopped abruptly and studied Donatella as she nervously puffed on her cigarette. With a playful grin he said, "I didn't expect you to be so jealous."
"Of course I am, and you would be too if I was the one in love."
Rapp had to be honest. He thoughtfully said, "Yes, I'm sure I would be." He went around the desk and wrapped his arms around her.
Donatella stabbed her cigarette out in the ashtray on her cluttered desk. "This is a lone
ly fucking life we live. And now I'm all alone and you're not." She buried her head in his chest. "You re the only man I've ever really loved. The only person who really knows me."
Rapp stroked her hair. "I felt the same way about you too, but you know in the long run it would never have worked out between us. We're too much alike."
Donatella looked up at him. There were no tears in her eyes. She was too tough for that. "Yeah, you're probably right." She released him and took a step back. "Have you asked her to marry you yet?"
"Not yet."
"So you are going to ask her?"
Rapp nodded. "I really would like to meet her." She read Rapp's expression and added, "I'm serious. Don't worry, I won't do anything crazy. If you've fallen in love with her I'm sure she's a lovely woman."
"She's a reporter." Rapp wasn't sure why he'd offered that piece of information.
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
"Does she know about me?"
"No," answered Rapp.
Donatella thought about this twist for a moment. "You obviously trust her."
"Yes."
"Then I'd like to meet her."
"All right. I'll see what I can do." Rapp set his coffee cup on the desk and grabbed both of Donatella's hands. "I need something from you, and it's very important." Rapp looked into her beautiful eyes and waited for an answer.
Donatella could sense that something serious was on its way. She cautiously studied Rapp for a moment and then said, "I have always been there for you, and I always will be."
"Thank you. You know the same goes for me."
"Of course."