"I don't have to answer now, do I?" Paula said in a low tone. She looked away so she didn't have to face Samuel's hopeful expression directly. "Just let things flow as they are—naturally. Don't rush! Rushing in a relationship will never be good for us."
"I'm sorry, I was just afraid that if I don't do it first, someone else will do it. Didn't mean to burden you at all," Samuel replied, somewhat embarrassed. He then picked up a box from one of the paper bags containing nine large strawberries and offered it to Paula. Of course, Paula happily accepted. She liked the fruit, especially the big ones.
"How did you know I like strawberries?" Paula asked, biting into half a strawberry in her fingers. Her beautiful lips were moist and wet from the abundant juice as she bit into the fruit.
