Alex grabbed our things from the bike and bought them inside then he fastened the tent closed, securing us in. Come here, babe, I'll keep you warm.

The urge at that moment to reach across and touch Willow--to link his fingers through hers as she rested her hand on her thigh, or stroke her bright hair back from her temple--was almost overpowering. He crossed his arms over his chest. Yep, definitely time for a coffee break, he said, closing his eyes. You see right through me.

Dora appeared, placing Alex's coffee in front of him.Your girlfriend is a wonder, honey,she siad to him, squeezing willows shoulder. Willow's smile turned strained at the word girlfriend. He could see her wanting to correct the woman and then deciding to let it pass.

This is the ultimate bad-boy date, isn't it? Breaking into a different country. Hey, it makes a change from hot-wiring cars together. Been there, done that....Alex seriously, are you sure no one's going to shoot us?

A framed photo on a dusty bookshelf caught his attention he moved closer and picked it up silently. A small girl with long blond hair was standing under a tree, her face tilted up in delight as its feathery leaves brushed across her face, framing it. A willow tree. Willow.

A good angel is only a dead angel.

Touching his hair, she leaned hesitantly forward, and he folded his arms around her, sinking into sensation again as they kissed--the slight weight of her on his lap, the smell of her. He glided his hands up the warm dip of her spine, felt her shiver and press closer. He could never get enough of this. Never.

She felt so human that he could barely carry on a conversation.

His hands as he worked were deft and sure, but so gentle -- he was being careful not to hurt me any more than he had to. I sat very still, hardly daring to move. I was in love with him. The knowledge swept through me, truer than anything I'd ever known. Oh, my God, I was in love with him.