“That's why we're going to disrupt the lunch," she (Kat) said."You know," Angus said, "I've got a little C-four that I've been saving for a rainy--""We're not blowing up my company, Angus," Hale said."Righto. Carry on, Kitty.”

“If it works, it works,' Kat told him.'And if it doesn't?' he asked.She looked at him. 'If it doesn't, then I've heard Monaco has the nicest prisons in all of Europe.''It does,' both Hamish and Angus said in unison. And with that, it was decided.”

“Can I see you outside for a second?" Kat glared at Hale, then walked to the patio doors and out onto the veranda.As Hale closed the door behind him, Kat heard Angus say, "Ooh, Mom and Dad are going to fight now.”

“I've never been on a date before," Isabella said to Mary as she got ready that night. "You've been on plenty of dates," Mary said. "No," Isabella said. "I've been out to eat with boys who were my boyfriend, but that's not dating. That's just parelle eating.”

“What is it?" When Kat's voice finally came into Hale's ear, it was cold and steady and even. All tease was gone. If she was angry at him for standing her up, she didn't show it. she just said, "Tell me what's going on.""Party crashers," Hale whispered. He watched Macey watching him. "Five, and they brought toys.""Guns?" Kat guessed."Big ones," Hale said. "You know this is what you get for doing a favor for your mother.""I know," Hale admitted."What are they after?" Kat asked."Hard to say," Hale said; again, he eyed the room."Who is that?" Macey asked."The reason I wasn't flirting with you,"Hale told her.”

“Yes, of course. But ... how?"Kat felt her crew around her: Hamish's arm hung around Simon's shoulders; Gabrielle's delicate hands draped through the arms of Angus and Nick. Kat's own hand found Hale's, then, fingers interlacing, palms pressing together so tightly that Kat knew nothing could come between them. Nothing. She looked at him. No one."It's easy," Kat said, "when you don't have to do it alone.”