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Chapter One

I’d reached the part offootstep, one breath that was a little too loud, and the gahtly ajar It looked as though anyone could walk right through, but the door wasn’t what kept out intruders Anyone who tried to pass through that doorould wake up in a body-shaped dent on the opposite wall

Anyone, that is, who didn’t have htly ajar door was the et through, but there was the risk that would ap, shivering as I crossed the powerful wards Moving my foot slowly forward, I eased the door open, bit by bit, then I paused and heldcarefully The scratch of a pen confirmed my fear that the room was occupied

At this tiet up?

At any rate, it was tiap in the doorway, edging sideways into the cha sound lanced down and saw that I’d stepped on a wadded-up piece of paper After holdingany reaction fro more carefully where I stepped

I’d almost made it to the paper-and-book-strewn table in theup fro here?”

I let out the breath I’d been holding in a disappointed sigh “I was hoping to beat you here and surprise you with breakfast But since you were already here, I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast Now, I guess I’ve just brought you breakfast, hold the surprise”

“I’ht and stretching his back “Mostly because I thought it was lunchtime”

I moved behind hi Have you been here all night?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

I caood look at hiht believe you this tiet here?”

He took off the cotton gloves he wore for handling rare books and rubbed his eyes “Oh, I don’t know I did go hoot up early and thought I et to work”

“If you think it’s lunchtime at seven, how early is ‘early’ to you?”

He blushed sheepishly, then changed the subject “Did you bring coffee?”

“Coffee and cinnamon rolls”