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Chapter One

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He knew Ava’s daily routine down to the minute

It wasn’t a difficult routine to learn She never varied her routine It was the saht ten for work She was at her desk at the ballet school by eight thirty She taught two classes before she had lunch at her desk, and then two s with the school and company

The sa returned at six to collect her Back hos She rarely ordered food for delivery On weekends she stayed in, except for the special evening where she attended a perfor a full hour and a half before the perforet into the theater before the crowds arrived, and then returning a full hour after, when the crowds had dispersed It wasn’t just because she moved slowly, but she preferred obscurity She didn’t want anyone to see her, or recognize her, not when she’d once been Manhattan Ballet’s principal ballerina, loved and adored for her grace, talent, and beauty

Ava’s life consisted of work and the ballet Just as it had always been work, and the ballet, although before she’d been on the stage, not in the back row of seats in the auditorium

He knew her routine because he had her followed The security detail was discreet and she never even knew they were there, just as she didn’t know the town car was his, and the driver his, too She didn’t know the Manhattan Ballet had initially given her the first part-tie so for her—or he’d pull his support The coest benefactor, after all

She didn’t know he’d been in the background opening doors, s the way for her return, and he didn’t want her to know

It was enough that she orking, and that she’d been promoted several times from a part-time, assistant teacher for the children in the dance school, to working with the older students and the professional dancers in the corp

Malcolm McKenzie didn’tNot when one was looking at the long-ter-term Ava was his wife and the mother of his son

The only proble Jack, Ava didn’t re Malcolm

Chapter Two

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It was cold and the cold made her hurt even more than she normally did, which meant she moved even more slowly

Ava sratefully at her door’s front door open for her He was such a nice man, so patient, too “Thank you, Robert,” she said, aware that she was , more like a shuffle than a walk The cold made her stiff, and the stiffness knocked her off balance If she had the energy, she’d go back upstairs and get her cane This was one of those days when she could have used the support

“Need a hand, Ms Galvan?” Robert asked, obviously concerned by her liress of a snail She was certain it was painful to watch

She flashed the door to put him at ease How could she complain to him when he stood for hours in the bitter weather?

“No, I’ at the pave for ice It’d only take onedown and then she’d really hurt

“Sure you don’t want me to lend you an arm—”

“No, Robert I’hty-nine”

He laughed, as she’d intended “Very good, Ms Galvan You have a good day”