19. Lottie
20. Joan
21. Lottie
22. Diana
MILESTONE
23. Joan
24. Lottie
25. Diana
26. Diana
27. Lottie
28. Diana
29. Lottie
30. Joan
31. Lottie
32. Diana
33. Joan
34. Lottie
35. Diana
36. Diana
37. Joan
38. Diana
39. Lottie
40. Joan
41. Diana
42. Lottie
CROSSROADS
43. Lottie
44. Joan
45. Diana
46. Lottie
47. Diana
48. Lottie
49. Joan
50. Diana
51. Lottie
52. Joan
53. Diana
54. Lottie
55. Lottie
56. Joan
57. Lottie
58. Lottie
59. Diana
60. Lottie
61. Joan
62. Diana
63. Joan
64. Joan
65. Diana
THE CAUSEWAY
66. Lottie
67. Lottie
68. Joan
69. Joan
70. Lottie
71. Joan
72. Lottie
73. Joan
74. Diana
75. Lottie
76. Joan
77. Lottie
78. Joan
79. Lottie
80. Diana
81. Joan
82. Lottie
83. Diana
84. Lottie
85. Joan
DESIRE LINES
86. Joan
87. Lottie
88. Joan
89. Lottie
90. Diana
91. Diana
Acknowledgements
About the Publisher
3 August 2008, 11.30 p.m.
All was silent except for the sound of the waves reaching the beach. ‘Happy anniversary,’ he said.
Lottie frowned. ‘Anniversary?’ Turning, she tried to see his expression. ‘Are you taking the piss?’
He traced her mouth with his finger. ‘Would I do that?’
‘Yes.’
She felt rather than heard his laugh as his body was stretched out next to hers, thigh to thigh, hip to hip.
‘We’ve been together for a month and a half.’
‘So, we’re celebrating half months as well as months?’
He kissed her long and slow and she wasn’t sure what they had been talking about as his hand ran across the skin of her back, just above her jeans.
‘I celebrate every day, every minute, every second that you are mine.’
Her breath caught and held, and she looked up to the sky. The milky way stretched above, vast and mystical. She was captivated. The universe and all its glory filled her. Here on this beach, wrapped in his arms, was where she wanted to be always. It could happen if they wanted it enough and she believed they did.
‘Alex?’
‘Yes?’ His arm tightened around her.
‘Will . . .’ Just then a shooting star sped across the sky and seemed to fall into the sea. She wished with all her heart that she could be in Alex’s arms for the rest of her life. She rolled onto him. ‘Did you see it too?’
‘The shooting star?’
‘Yes.’ He kissed her.
‘Did you make a wish?’
He nodded and pushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ears. ‘I did.’