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Medieval Lucinda didn’t recognize the vast array of flowers; she would have no idea how this was possible in February--and she still loved every inch of the surprise But Lucinda Price knew that the pure-white peonies were ift They were the syori’s eternal love

The candlelight flickered on his face He was s but looked nervous, as if he didn’t knohether she liked his gift or not

"Oh, Daniel" She raced into his ar her in a circle and steadied the wreath on her head

"They’re called peonies Not traditional Valentine’s flowers," he said, tossing his head thoughtfully, "but still, they are … so of a tradition"

Luce loved that she understood exactly what he meant

"Perhaps we could ested

Daniel plucked a large blosso it close to her heart How ? Luce could see a gliot old

"Yes, our very own Valentine’s tradition," heelse Oughtn’t there?"

"Peonies and"--Luce racked her brain She didn’t need anything else Didn’t need anything but Daniel … and, well … "How about peonies and a kiss?"

"That’s a very, very good idea"

Then he kissed her, his lips diving toward hers with unsurpassed desire

The kiss felt wild and new and exploratory, as if they’d never kissed before

Daniel was lost in the kiss, fingers woven through her hair, his breath hot on her neck as his lips explored her earlobes and her collarbone, the low cut of her dress Neither of the

An itch of heat crept up Luce’s neck, and her pulse began to race

Was it happening?

She would die of love right here, in thewhite forest She didn’t want to leave Daniel, didn’t want to be cast into the sky, into another black hole with only Bill for a companion

Damn this curse Why was she bound to it? Why couldn’t she break free?

Tears of frustration welled in her eyes She pulled away fro hard, waiting for fire to sear her soul and take this body’s life

Only--when she stopped kissing Daniel, the heat faded, like a pot being lifted off a fire She flew to his lips again

The heat blooh her like a rose in su was different This was not the all-consuuished her, that had exiled her from past bodies and sent whole theaters up in s someone you truly loved--someone you were meant to be with forever And for now

Daniel watched her nervously, sensing that so the matter?"

There was so much to say--

A thousand questions jockeyed for the tip of her tongue, but then a gruff voice jarred her iination