“I’m thinking the only developments will be the medics removing his body and the cops leaving after doing a few more interviews. On the surface, there’s nothing suspicious about his death.”

“Maybe, but I need a good strong coffee to keep me awake enough to drive home. Besides, we really can’t plan our next move until we read Jules’s notes.”

“Good point.” I motioned for him to lead on and, after waiting for a couple of cars to pass, we ran across the road and headed for the other café. But as Lugh pushed the door open, a frisson of awareness hit. I stopped and looked around but couldn’t immediately see a reason. Aside from the nosy parkers still clustered around The Duke, there were few other people out on the street. I suspected the fact it was so damn cold was one reason for this; the other would be the ominous and rather dark cluster of clouds gathering overhead. While I could feel the thunderous power of the storm deep inside, all any sensible person had to do was take one look up and know it was either get inside or get drenched.

As if to emphasize this point, the sky rumbled, a deeply ominous sound that rolled through the air and echoed through my being. A few seconds later, lightning flashed. It was in that momentary streak of brightness that I saw him.

He was tall and dark skinned, wearing a black trench that emphasized the width of his shoulders and muscular arms. He moved with a grace and power that drew the eye, and I wasn’t the only one to notice. There might not be many of us out on the street, but more than one woman cast a second glance his way.

“Beth?” came Lugh’s question, “What’s wrong?”

“I just spotted Cynwrig. Go grab us a table, and I’ll be there in a minute.”

He cast a glance up the street, then nodded and made his way inside. I hurried after Cynwrig, not wanting to call out until I got closer. But he must have sensed my presence, because he stopped abruptly and turned around, his gaze unerringly finding mine.

The slow, delighted smile that stretched his lips sent my hormones into a feverish dance. I watched him approach, enjoying the sensuality evident in every step.

“Well, well,” he murmured, sliding a hand around my waist and pulling me closer to his big, powerful body. “What an unexpected delight to find you here in Liverpool.”

I didn’t reply. I just tangled my fingers in his thick, dark hair and pulled his lips down to mine. Our kiss was all heat, passion, and promise, and it made me wish we were somewhere—anywhere—else, so we could explore the desire that burned around us.

By the time I released him and stepped back a fraction, neither of us was breathing very steadily.

“That, dear Bethany, was a cruel thing to do to a man when we’re in the middle of a street.”