“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.”

“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...”

“I do believe in God. I think God has given so much power to people, and intelligence, and said, 'Well, you are on your own. Maybe I'm tired, I need a nap. You are mature. Why don't you look after yourselves?' And I think He's been sleeping too much.”

“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.”

“But my friend IS the sea, Mr. Diego. He has been my friend since I was very young, my only friend, and I can't bear to hear him crying. he's lonely. I came here to keep him company.""Boy, the sea is not your friend, especially not today." "Excuse me, Mr. Diego, but I think you are wrong. He is my friend, he says good morning to me every day.”

“Gideon laughed. "I like to be direct.""Okay," I said. "But I warn you, I like to be evasive, inserutable and generally send mixed messages." "I doubt it.""Human interaction is not my strong point," I told him. "Not seriously.""Seriously," I said. Thinking: There is so much about me he doesn't know. Gideon put his hand on my leg. "What's your strong point, then?""Goats," I told him. "I am excellent with goats.”

“He likes you. You like him, you're just scared. Well," she glanced over her shoulder and dropped her voice, "unless you tell me he's some freaky psycho-killer..." I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Then I'm not letting you mess this up for yourself. Your creepy hermit status is officially over.”