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'She leftat the altar Of course I was furious Who wouldn't be? But I wasn'ther, to be frank, until her father had the heart attack, and after that I just wanted to find her and get her to the hospital in tiently bit her earlobe

Sian curled the waro that was hurt?' She tried to yank his head back, but it wouldn't budge

'What do you o? Why do you think the Japanese are so set on never losing face? Nobody likes looking a fool, and there's no joke so funny as the bridegroo at the altar, except, of course, the bride left standing there!'

'That wouldn't be funny!' Sian thought aloud, gri

'There you are, then Music-hall jokes to most people, but if it's you in that situation the joke isn't so funny, even if you aren't actually in love' He put a hand under her chin and forced her head back so that she had to look up at him

Green eyes wide and shi with a mixture of happiness and passion, Sian stared back as he searched her face with that intent gaze

'Sian?' His voice was unsure, husky 'Will you listen now? I'm in love How about you?'

'I don't know,' she wailed, afraid to ad so serious

Cass watched her lips; they trembled under his stare and he leaned over to kiss theently, and then with a rapidlyexcitement and desire that swept them both away He had both arms around her and pulled her on to his lap; she wound her ar to hold back or disguise what she felt There was a terrible sense of relief as she let go of her defences, giving in with hunger and yearning and a driving sense of need

Cass groaned her na thickly; she could hear his heart crashing inside his ribs with an al violence, and her own heart beat far too fast Her blood was overheating until she was burning up, but they went on kissing, touching each other with hands that shook, both of the around them

It was the cry of a bird overhead thatwide, drowning in passion Cass looked down at her with a dazed expression, his face dark red and his eyes glittering

She laid her head against hihly 'I feel as if I've just run a marathon'

He cradled her on his lap, in his arms, his head on her hair 'That's odd So do I Maybe we did?'

She gave a little gurgle of laughter 'Where are we? I can't remember'

'In the garden; hear the birds?'