“I'm glad you and Ash came to my rescue," I replied, leaning into his arms."Anytime." Only it wasn't Josh who said it, it was Ash. I saw her standing next to us and realised I was sitting half in Josh's lap. Our arms were still tight around each other. Blushing, I scooted into my own chair. "Can we go now?" she asked. "Whilst you were snogging, I developed the most spectacular headache. Surely the two events are unrelated, nevertheless...”

“Oh my God. You think you're my babysister, don't you?"He grinned and patted me on the shoulder in the most patronising way possible."Go fly a kite," I growled, turning away.A couple of seconds later, he caught up. "I could do that," he said, like I'd made a serious suggestion.”

“Are you willing?"Through the shadows, he found her gleaming eyes, her slightly curved mouth. "No, it's too reckless. Too irresponsible.""You're sounding like a father. Or a constable, Constable.""I'm both, Miss Connor."He watched her lips tilt and flow into a glorious smile. "Rory's in bed, safe and sound. Most of the town is in bed, safe and sound. And you're here, with a pragmatic woman who can take care of herself. Two adults and one magnificent challenge.""More like a dare," he said and drained his glass.She took a step closer, until her skirt brushed his knee. "Call it a dare if you like.""No." His resolve slipped a notch when she crouched before him, the pleasing angles of her face flooding into view. She was much, much too tempting."I'll do it all. You don't have to participate. That should be enough to prove my case.""I wasn't serious when I said that. I'm sure you're not, hell, frigid."She leaned in, her hands sliding along the arms of the chair, her face fading out of view as it closed in on his. A scent, provocative and earthy, stole in with his stuttered breath. "You see, Constable, I'm always serious." He watched her moisten her lips, so near he could almost taste her. "Close your eyes. I've heard that's the way it's done.”

“Cassia and I sit as near to each other as we can. She leans into me and I keep my arms around her. I don't fool myself that I hold her together- she does that on her own- but holding her keeps me from flying apart.”

“They were a mother's words, words I would say to my own daughter if I were concerned for her”

“Additionally, Adam’s room had an absolutely massive bed with a plump feather tick that she knew they would put to good use.“Shall we christen it now?” Adam whispered in her ear, his arms stealing around her from behind in spite of the footmen who were still busy bringing up their luggage. Skimming his lips over her cheek, he playfully caressed her nape in a way that never failed to drive her wild. “I could shoo them all out and lock the door. We wouldn’t even have to take off our clothes, I could just tumble you down and toss up your skirts. What do you say, wife, shall I tup you now, or would you rather wait until later?”

“Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli."No. Were discussing.""Are you sure?""Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords on my neck standing out? Am I waving my arms around?""No.""The were not fighting.”