A handsome police officer and a beautiful woman meet in unlikely circumstances and fall in love. Could anything be more romantic? A straightforward tale of two people from different worlds who meet in an isolated cul-de-sac, look into each other's eyes and instantly fall in love. But wait, not so fast - there will be many twists and turns in this tale of ecstatic love and devotion. What role did fate play in determining their future? There are many what ifs to consider. What if... Elizabeth had decided to turn back from the walk before she had reached that cul-de-sac? What if... Timothy had left for his shift earlier? What if... A small boy on a bicycle had not taken a turn from the alley towards the cul-de-sac in that crucial moment? What if... Elizabeth had not accepted the commission to write a history of the Botanic Gardens? Distracted by her work on the book and all the research it entailed, she had become less vigilant in watching over Timothy's activities. Would she have been able to prevent him from becoming embroiled in a situation which would endanger his career? What if... Elizabeth had not listened in to the alarming conversation which revealed to her the dangerous situation and fear they would have to face together? And finally: What if... David's ingenious plan had failed? A brilliant career would have ended in disgrace - all because of a bad decision. Gentle Reader: The book you are about to read is not your usual romance novel, man meets woman, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. BORING. Tension and drama are pervasive throughout. To paraphrase Bette Davis in the movie All About Eve, 'Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride'. Surprisingly, the book has descriptions of gardens and even some gardening tips - well, why not? Love can blossom in a garden as well as anywhere else; perhaps even more so if there are lilac bushes planted in strategic positions. The comical antics of two of the minor characters might give the reader a few chuckles - maybe even a guffaw or two. The flame of the two protagonist's passion was ignited when they first looked into each other's eyes - a flame that would burn as brightly through the years as when they first met. Timothy and Elizabeth, lovers and soul mates forever. "Too Late For Regrets" Gentle Reader: Don't we all at times have regrets? Author's Note: There is a secret or a mystery in a section of the book. The reader will have to decide whether there is any factual evidence to support Timothy's belief - or was it just wishful thinking on his part? You, the reader, can speculate and arrive at your own conclusion.