aint Anne's into the Sunday afternoon glare, she had been awake for twenty-six hours straight. At three

n black turtleneck jumper under her trench coat, with a small plaster coveri

indow table in a tailored navy suit, typ

" Preston said, glancing at

te chair and sat down, rubb

at the hospital, and I just fin

d his laptop s

re today to show some sincerity as a prospective wif

n her throat, Rosie raised

nly came today to apologize for leaving

back in his chair, looking her up and

, you wouldn't have turned up looking li

ached for the handle, her exhausted wrist trembling slight

isgust and wiped the

ng. Didn't your mother teach you that a woman's greatest assets are

fore the caffeine could even reach her bloodstream, her exhausted brain began shut

ackground is respectable enough," Preston droned on. "As long as you res

as a soft, even breath c

ad closed her eyes and fallen fast asl

purple. Never in his life had a woma

amming his palm down on the tabl

turned their heads to stare. Rosie jolted a

what ha

nting a trembling fin

during a date with me? Y

x hours of exhaustion, the terror of a knife at her throat, a

er fingers with a napkin, an

ell asleep because I spent the night saving lives wh

aze, Preston stepped back half

leftover woman! With an attitude like yours, I'll bet every p

through the café as patrons

eside the table, her v

lf, Preston. Even if every other man in London dr

s hands out with

tter than me right now! Don't tell me you're plann

urled around the

ween her and the concrete steps, and the quiet warmth in his eyes when he had asked if she was hurt. She ba

fted h

already met a man who is a thousand

ughing, his voice ec

me? Who is he, then? A billi

the brass bell above the caf

eyes sweeping the room as they secured both sides of the doorway. Behind them walked a tall figur