His Until Midnight Read Online Free PDF

way of farewelling his old mate. Like downing a half-bottle of whisky.
    ‘He always did love a good label,’ she acknowledged.
    A little too fondly as it turned out since Blake’s thirst for good liquor was deemed a key contributor to the motor vehicle accident that took his life. But since her husband sitting in his den enjoying a sizeable glass or three with the evening newspaper had given Audrey the space and freedom to pursue things she enjoyed, she really couldn’t complain.
    The natural pause in the uncomfortable conversation was a cue to both of them to eat, and the tart seafood amuse-bouche was small enough that it was over in just mouthfuls.
    Behind her, the gentle buzz of dragonfly wings close to glass drew her focus. She turned to study the collection that gave the restaurant its name. There were over one hundred species in Hong Kong—vibrant and fluorescent, large and small—and Qīngtíng kept an immaculate and stunning community of them in the specially constructed habitat.
    She discreetly took several deep breaths to get her wayward feelings under control. ‘Every year, I forget how amazing this is.’
    And, every year, she envied the insects and pitied them, equally. Their captive life was one of luxury, with every conceivable need met. Their lives were longer and easier than their wild counterparts and neither their wetland nor food source ever dried up. Yet the glass boundaries of their existence was immutable. New arrivals battered softly against it until they eventually stopped trying and they accepted their luxurious fate.
    Ultimately, didn’t everyone?
    ‘Give him a chance and the dragonfly curator will talk your ear off with the latest developments in invertebrate husbandry.’
    His tone drew her eyes back. ‘I thought you only flew down for the day? When did you have a chance to meet Qīngtíng’s dragonfly guy?’
    ‘Last Christmas. I unexpectedly found myself with time on my hands.’
    Because she hadn’t come.
    The shame washed in again. ‘It was...too soon. I couldn’t leave Australia. And Blake was gone.’
    He stared at her. Contemplating. ‘Which one of those do you want to go with?’
    Heat rushed up her neck.
    ‘They’re all valid.’ His silence only underscored her lies. She took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t come last year, Oliver. I should have had more courage.’
    ‘Courage?’
    ‘To tell you that it was the last time I’d be coming.’
    He flopped back in his chair. ‘Is that what you’ve come to say now?’
    It was. Although, saying it aloud seemed to be suddenly impossible. She nodded instead.
    ‘We could have done that by phone. It would have been cheaper for you.’
    ‘I had the Testore—’
    ‘You could have come and not told me you were here. Like you did in Shanghai.’
    Every muscle tightened up.
    Busted.
    She generally did her best to deal with Shanghai contacts outside Shanghai for a very specific reason—it was Harmer-country, and going deep into Oliver’s own turf wasn’t something she’d been willing to risk let alone tell him about. But how could he possibly know the population had swelled to twenty-five-million-and-one just that once? She asked him exactly that.
    His eyes held hers. ‘I have my sources.’
    And why exactly were his sources pointing in her direction?
    ‘Before you get too creeped out,’ he went on, ‘it was social media. Your status listed your location as the People’s Square, so I knew you were in town.’
    Ugh. Stupid too-smart phones. ‘You didn’t message me.’
    ‘I figured if you wanted to see me you would have let me know.’
    Oh. Sneaking in and out of China’s biggest city like a thief was pathetic enough, but being so stupidly caught out just made her look—and feel—like a child. ‘It was a flying visit,’ she croaked. ‘I was hunting a Paraguayan harp.’
    Lord. Not making it better .
    ‘It doesn’t matter, that’s in the past. I want to know why you won’t be returning in the