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‘What? I don’t have to worry about the battery running out or a syste’

‘No, you just have to keep it dry and hope you don’t lose it’ They had reached an infor it to Polly Her hand was cool, soft Coh the streets together, no notebooks, no reports, no memories, hit him but he pushed it aside It took more effort than he cared for to refocus

‘I pro pavilion’ Was she really so oblivious to hisat the map in utter concentration ‘If I look at that part of the o into the wine quarter to start? Your father’s there on the regional wine stand this afternoon And no’ her eyespolite’

She held his gaze, cool and self-possessed before inclining her head, a curiously old-fashioned gesture ‘I’ll see you back here, then’

Gabe watched as she swivelled and walked away, her head held high, the dark gold sweep of hair still loose, covering the slim line of her back It was odd to see her hair down, not in the customary loose knot, for her to leave it unfettered It er, relaxed

What would it be like to tangle his hand in that hair? Let the silken tresses fold around his fingers?

She earing the pink dress she’d bought at the vintage fair and as Gabe followed the proud, straight figure as she disappeared into the crowd he had a curious sense of being out of time

Okay, tiet on To find his father, say hello, coested

As for the rest? It was ridiculous He wasn’t punishing the them

Protecting himself

If you had no ties then you couldn’t get hurt It was that simple

The food and drink quarter was situated on one of the several windy streets that led off the square, opposite the church Just a fewold friends and neighbours, watching his father do what he did best—enthusing about wine

A sroup of tourists pulled in by his father’s practised patter, sipping and tasting before parting ould no doubt be a considerable amount of money

Just a few o, say hi

He could even offer to help

Gabe stood for a moment and then slowly turned to face the church