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crying out for
recognition and I must know what it means.”
    “Even in light of the proclamation?”
    “Until the scroll is found the Law isn’t defined.”
    Evan’s disapproval hung heavy between them. The Heavens did
not acknowledge loopholes. There was only right and wrong with no shades of
gray to confuse or excuse.
    “And what of the human?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You are facing temptation, Ren. Humans have been out of
bounds for thousands of years. Are you going to pull Adam into sin with you?”
    Icy apprehension slithered down Ren’s spine. He hadn’t
considered any danger to Adam. But Adam was exempt from judgment under the Law.
    “The law of prohibition is an angelic law, not a human one,”
he said, mentally reviewing the information he’d studied before leaving Heaven.
“No, he does not know the Law. Only I am subject.” So long as he was unaware
Renatus was an angel, he could not be judged. Ren would make sure Adam remained
ignorant until it was time to leave him.
    “And you are willing to face the consequences?”
    “I may be punished, but I will not Fall. Whatever small time
I have here is worth any reprimand from on High.”
    Evan gave him a long look, filled with questions that Ren
didn’t want to face.
    “You are treading where no wise angel dares. I am frightened
for you, Ren.”
    Not long ago Ren had uttered nearly the same thing and his
fears had been misplaced. As were Evan’s.
    “I am aware of the risk.” A risk he had to take soon.
    Tonight.
    It might be his only opportunity to feel the touch of this
man, to explore what might be.
    He would take advantage of the time he was granted and pray
he would not pay for it with damnation.

Chapter Three
     
    Adam paused before crossing the street and took a moment to
study Ren as he stood waiting by the door of the café.
    Beautiful. There was no other word to describe him. He drew admiring
looks from men and women alike but unlike most pretty men he seemed completely
unaware of his effect on others. There was no hint of smugness, no flirtatious
smiles or self-assured looks. He was modest, maybe even vulnerable.
    The entry lighting for the shop caught the white points of
Ren’s collar, making them gleam in the dusky light of early evening. The
corduroy jacket he wore over it looked like something salvaged from the days of
grunge. The dull, chocolate-brown wide-wale fabric was worn in spots and the
faux sheep lining was ragged with age. The decrepit coat seemed out of sync
with the polished man he’d met at lunch, and it made Adam wonder what other
interesting quirks his date had.
    Ren shuffled his feet, glancing around self-consciously and
looking like he’d prefer to be invisible. The action was oddly endearing.
    Then Ren saw Adam, and vulnerability vanished, replaced by
simple happiness.
    Adam waved in greeting and crossed the street. Reaching Ren,
he waved again, suddenly too nervous to speak. In that moment he was a teenager
once more, red-faced and tongue-tied when the quarterback of the football team
sat next to him in class. Only this time, the man standing before him wasn’t
interested in cheating on a test. Ren was there for him.
    “Good evening, Adam.” Ren’s face flushed and his breath came
hard and a little too fast, sending puffs of steam into the chill of the night
air. The formal greeting was at odds with his body’s response. The contrast was
oddly satisfying.
    “Hi, Ren. It’s good to see you again.” He nodded toward the
door of the coffeehouse. “Did you want to eat here tonight or find
somewhere…quieter?”
    Ren glanced toward the doorway as a group of men inside
burst out in laughter. “Quieter sounds appealing.”
    “I know a place not far from here. Some of the best Italian
food you will ever eat. It’s just a few blocks away. We can walk, or if you
want to take your car, we can meet there.” And, if he slipped the host a few
dollars they could get one of the booths that almost guaranteed