Chapter 1

APOV

These past couple of days have been amazing. The Kavanaghs gave Kate and me a trip to London as a graduation present. This is my first time out of the United States.

Kate's brother Ethan came with us to visit some of his friends he met last year. We're staying at this fancy hotel called the Covent Garden Hotel - It's the fanciest place I've ever been. Each room is decorated differently. Our room has blue and white striped walls with blue patterned drapes. The king bed is gigantic and the plush headboard almost reaches to the ceiling. It's luxurious and quaint at the same time.

I've promised Ray at least one call to let him know I'm doing OK. "Hi Daddy. I hope it's not too early; I'm not good at the time difference thing."

"Hey Annie. Any time is a good time to talk to you. So what have you been up to?"

"We've been having so much fun. Yesterday we had afternoon tea at the Brasserie. Our table was filled with all these different cakes, scones with clotted cream, and little tea sandwiches. My favorite were the Coronation Chicken Salad sandwiches. I felt like I could have been the Queen myself here. And, of course, I had my favorite English breakfast tea."

"That sounds great, Annie. I'm glad you're having a good time. Be careful, OK?"

"Yes, Daddy. Bye"

"Bye, honey."

I miss Ray. He's been my rock. I was nervous he would be upset the Kavanaghs gave me such an expensive gift but he was all for it. I want to make sure I remember everything we've done, so I replay our trip so far in my head. I sigh to myself at all the great experiences far.

Last night we saw 'An American in Paris' at the Dominion Theatre in the West End. It was such an experience. I fell in love with the characters. Of course the story isn't set that much differently from most of my favorite books. It made me want to have a grand romance where I am swept off my feet. I think that is just a dream though.

Today for fun we went to King's Cross Station and posed for pictures at platform 9 ¾. Then we got a bird's eye view on the London Eye. At first I was nervous but once I saw the view I was captivated and forgot about my fears.

After, Ethan and his friends took us to Maman Le Mot which is a secret bistro where it's like we're in 1943 and we have to do a secret mission for the French resistance. It was so much fun and when we finished we ended up in an area that looked like Moulin Rouge where we had a delicious three course dinner and drinks. I'm glad the guys were with us because between all of the laughter and drinks I'm not sure we'd make it back to the hotel OK.

This morning we went to the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. Ethan pretended like he was going to lock Kate away in the tower until she threatened to tell their mom about the time he tried to smoke oregano thinking it would be like pot. Their mom couldn't figure out where her oregano got to in the kitchen. They always make me laugh when they are together and it makes me wish I had a brother like him.

After a lunch of authentic fish and chips served in newspaper with fried candy bars for dessert we rented Boris bikes and rode around Hyde Park. I never laughed so hard as when Ethan and his friends were showing us their "sick tricks" on the bikes. Half the time I was laughing so hard I couldn't even pedal.

Now I'm in the hotel bar waiting for Kate so we can have a quick drink before heading out for the evening. As I'm drinking a pint and checking texts on my phone I look up and see the most gorgeous man in the world. He's muscular and strong looking, his hair has a chaotic look to it with these shimmering copper highlights. And his eyes - his eyes are a shade of gray I've never seen before making him look so deep and so complicated. Suddenly our eyes connect. Shit. I've been totally busted staring at a complete stranger. I can feel myself start to blush. Just when I think I see his lips curl with a hint of a smile Kate comes in and breaks my trance. She looks really good wearing a red long sleeved mini dress with her strawberry blonde locks pinned up into a messy bun.

She lent me one of her dresses: a short black lace dress that hugs the curves that I actually have and her Christian Louboutin black very prive peep-toe red soled pumps. If it weren't for Kate and her closet I would always be wearing my jeans. These shoes are gorgeous and unlike me, they embody sexuality.

As we're walking out of the bar we walk past the Greek god and I make eye contact again. I could have sworn I heard a sharp intake of breath but if it was it was probably over Kate. She could have any man wrapped around her finger. I wish I had half of her confidence.

The next couple of days we were total tourists visiting all of the must-see sights London and trips to Stonehenge and the homes of Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. Looking at the enchanting landscape around us it's easy to see how they were able to write novels of love found and lost.

We're leaving today and of course we're running late. I think Kate will be late to her own funeral trying to get her hair and makeup just right.

CPOV

There are some issues at our London offices so I've had to stay here for a week. I'm not really happy. The hotel I usually stay at is closed for renovations so I'm stuck here. I will admit that the suite is nice although a bit too colorful for my tastes. I sometimes wonder why I get these huge suites when it's always just me. But then who would I take? Certainly not a sub so that pretty much means just family. My only 'friend' Elena has been trying to get a hold of me but I'm ignoring her. Lately I've found her to be annoying and feel like maybe I've grown out of her. I guess we don't really need each other anymore and we never truly had anything in common except for sex.

I'm bored, so tonight instead of working I'm sitting here in the hotel bar enjoying a glass of Sancerre. I look up and see this beautiful brown haired angel. Her hair looks like silk, her skin of porcelain, and the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen. She's absolutely captivating. I sit, studying her expressions, reading what I can imagine are texts as she smiles one minute and furrows her brows the next. I don't think she knows how radiant she is. Just then she looks up at me and our eyes lock. She's more than beautiful, she's breathtaking. She starts to blush this rosy pink from her neck up to her cheeks. I feel something unfamiliar - more than lust. I mean, I'd love to fuck her in every possible way but there's something else that I can't quite place my finger on. Before I can even make a move to get up and talk to her, something I never do, her friend comes and they leave the bar. She walks past me, her shapely long legs floating her past me. My heart rate spikes and my pants get suddenly tight forcing me to take in a quick breath to try and calm myself. This girl plays on my mind all night and even in my dreams. No one has ever affected me like the beautiful stranger.

A couple of days later I'm finally checking out so I can take my jet back home to Seattle when suddenly, this mane of beautiful chestnut hair is all arms and legs falling into me. By instinct I reach out and catch her. When she looks up I see it's her - the beautiful stranger. That unfamiliar feeling is there again. Her shimmering blue eyes look up at me. She blushes letting me know I have the same affect on her.

"Um, I'm sorry, uh…" she looks up at me questioningly.

I smile at her. "Christian…"

She tries to catch her breath, "Thank you, Christian. I'm Anastasia."

Before we have another chance to speak her friend yells, "Ana! Come on! We're going to miss the flight!"

Ana looks over at her friend and then to me. She quickly and politely thanks me again and is gone. Damn. The things I could do to her.