“Lily? She couldnt see his face, but she knew his eyes were on her. She could feel them. A beat passed. Then another. He flicked the flashlight on, his eyes zooming in on her mouth. Dont suppose you...”

“Youre killing me in this proper little suit, he said, skating a heated look over her shirt. My place or yours? She swallowed thickly, the hand against his chest beginning to sweat. I-Im busy. Youre...”

“He drew in an answering breath, and she waited to hear the quip, the joke, the dab of levity for the most intense moment theyd ever shared. But he only dropped his head into the crook of her neck a...”

“This is good, he told her.She gave him a slow blink. You like wine?Doesnt everyone?You strike me as a beer-from-the-can kind of guy.I am.”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart. He sent her a wink, a devilish one, the same one he no doubt used to sear the panties off his dates.”

“Lily?” She couldn’t see his face, but she knew his eyes were on her. She could feel them. A beat passed. Then another. He flicked the flashlight on, his eyes zooming in on her mouth. “Don’t suppose...”

“She was an idiot. An adorable, gorgeous, feisty, funny, sweet, sexy idiot.”

“Did you miss me?A little bit, she said with a shrug.You have tears running down your cheeks, he said with a grin. I think you missed me more than a little.”

“I don't know what the future holds. I only know that I want to be with you. You and me. Everything else is negotiable.”

“He asked, looking at her dark-rimmed eyes, "You do not sleep?"She shivered. "No. I do not want to sleep any more. I sleep too much already. It is so cold, where Quincy sends me in my sleep. Deep in...”

“There had stood a great house in the centre of the gardens, where now was left only that fragment of ruin. This house had been empty for a great while; years before histhe ancient man'sbirth. It wa...”

“You coming or not?" he repeated impatiently.I was going to say no. But then, glancing at the curtains, I thought, it's probably no more spooky out there in that cemetery than it is here in my own b...”