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He sat at the opposite end of the garden froe His back was to me, but I would have known hi with that odd ot, the more detailed his features becalints that the sun brought out in his dark hair When I finally reached the pool's end, I cao farther

"Sage," he said, without looking up "Figured you'd be south of the border by now"

"No, you didn't," I said "You never would've given me the note or come all the way out here You kneouldn't leave"

He looked up at ht sun "I was pretty sure you wouldn't leave I hoped you wouldn't leave Jill and I debated it forever What'd you think of itude? Pretty brilliant, huh?"

"Genius," I said, trying to hold back my smile Some of ain Just Adrian and me "You took a risk I'd knohat those nu out here all day"

"Nah" Adrian stood up and took a step toward ure it out"

"Not that sain "It took estured around us "And how is it possible that you knew this place existed, but I didn't?"

His fingertips traced the edge of my cheek, and suddenly, the war compared to the heat of that touch "It was easy," he said, holding aze "I had to start my search somewhere, so I typed 'ancient Rome' and 'California' into my phone This was like the first hit"

"What search?" I asked

He smiled "The search for some place more romantic than Pies and Stuff"

Adrian tipped my face up toward his and kissedNo, the world beca as ever, full of that same passion and need I had never believed I'd feel But today, there was even er had any doubt about whether this rong or right It was a cul of one

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer I didn't care that ere out in public I didn't care that he was Moroi All that mattered was that he was Adrian,battle I'd just signed on for to right the wrongs in the Alcheht that I'd also signed myself up for disaster, but I didn't care In that ether, there was no challenge too great for us

I don't kno long we stood there kissing Like I said, the world around one Tiainst mine, in his scent, and in the taste of his lips That was all thatof our unfinished business in the dream

When we finally broke the kiss - much too soon, as far as I was concerned - we still stayed locked in an elance to the side, where two sthe to melt aith happiness as I looked up into his eyes

"This is a lot better than loving froazed into ed your mind? I mean, I knew you'd never be able to stay away from me, but I won't lieyou had ainst his chest "It was a coood advice fro anecdotes - I have to tell you about his kitchen, by the way Plus, I kept thinking about ere on the table"

Adrian shifted just enough so that we could look at each other again It was one of those rare et this straight The future of our relationship hinged on advice froirl, a probably untrue story from a one-eyed Chihuahua trainer, andyou on top of silverware and china?"