Were they doing fine on their own? She had no idea. But she did know that they were the only team that had stayed together from the beginning. If he wasn't attracted to her, she thought, he would have suggested switching by now. Wouldn't he?

David lifted his head, and Jenny felt his dark brown hair brush against her cheek. He took a step away, turned and looked at her, his lips still curving in a smile.

Jenny thought he was going to kiss her, which made her nervous. Not that she didn't want to, but she wasn't a master of the romantic moment yet. She tucked her hair behind her ear and cleared her throat.

"I think we're in luck," he said, poking a finger at the list. "Look at Number 13."

So much for the romantic moment. Well, it was too soon, anyway. She guessed.

" 'A flown coop,' " she read, " 'a.k.a.: a syndrome for parents of college freshmen.' " She looked at David. "An empty nest, right?"

He nodded. Then he kissed her.

"I've been wanting to do that for an hour," he said, and she felt his breath on her hair.

Jenny smiled, her face against his shoulder. *We only met an hour ago."

"I fall fast." He laughed, pulled away, and shook

out the list. "Okay, an empty nest. Like I said, we're lucky."

"I give up," Jenny said. 'Why are we lucky?"

"The bluff's the best place to find an empty bird's nest," he said. "And the lucky part is -- I just happen to be one of the best climbers around."

"And you're modest, too," she commented.

"I said one of the best, didn't I?" He put his hand on her shoulder and spun her toward the car. "Come on, let's get going."

"Let's?" Jenny didn't budge. "You might be a good climber, but the only thing I've ever climbed was a street in San Francisco," she said. "It was steep, but it was paved."

"That's okay." He put his arm around her shoulder and nudged her forward. "I won't laugh if you sUp."

Jenny reluctantly got into the car. 'Who said anything about slipping?" she asked as he slid into the driver's seat. "I'm talking about a major fall. The kind that breaks bones."

"That won't happen," he said, starting the car and pulling away. "I'll be right behind you."

"You mean you're going to make me go first?" Jenny kept up the joking tone, but her hands were getting clanmiy. Definitely not good for climbing.

"I mean I'll let you go first," he explained. "That way, if you do fall, you'll fall on me and I'll be the one with the broken bones."

"But that's not going to happen, right?"

"Right," he agreed with a laugh. "Don't worry, itil be fine."

Jenny took a deep breath and surreptitiously wiped her sweaty palms on her thighs. Just think, she told herself, if you make it, you can tell Mom and Dad and maybe they won't bug you to go up with them for a while. // you make it. Great way to put it, Jenny.