The toddler started making this whine/moan noise while pawing at Tabitha. I know as a woman I'm supposed to have this innate love of babies, but the truth is, they kind of remind me of zombies. They stumble around, arms out, moaning. And if they get a hold of you, they suck the energy out of you.

A pair of great heels was much more satisfying than a man. They lasted longer, and better yet, they didn’t leave me for someone prettier.

I wanted to kiss you for a long time, and I decided that might be my only chance. I’ve been miserable ever since.” Troy ran his fingers along her jaw. “It was almost better when I didn’t know how it felt to kiss you.

Troy smiled down at her, and her heart jumped into her throat. The lights turned his skin colors. Red, green, blue. Glimpses of every shade of Troy, and they all looked good. The song ended, and the world seemed to stop, just her and Troy, standing in the middle of the floor.

That's when it hit me. I had to go through a lot of bad relationships first, but I'd finally found him. My very own Prince Charming. Turns out they do exist.Touché, Cinderella. Touché.

When I look at you, you know what I see?"I met her gaze, finding it suddenly hard to breathe."I see the guy who saw me when no one else did," she said. "That's what matters to me. That's who you are.

He covered my hand with his. "No matter what happens, we're friends first. I hope you know how much having you in my life means to me.

Mind-blowing sex?" I couldn't believe I'd asked, but how could I not? It was like dangling a giant slice of chocolate cake in front of a hungry person on a diet and telling them not to take a bite.

You're my friend who happens to be pretty and female. You do realize being your friend doesn't mean I don't have a penis?

Excuse me? Do you mind if I sit next to you? This spot has the best view of..." I glanced out the window. "The... gravel roof.

You went to a party, did a keg stand, and got so drunk you forgot half the night. Congrats on this amazing milestone in your life." He squeezed my leg. "What are you gonna do next?""Uh, Disneyland?

I couldn't imagine choosing shopping when sex was an option.

I haven't done anything you're supposed to do. Like get so drunk you puke and don't remember the rest of the night.""Overrated, I swear."She looked at me, that deadly look on her face, and I held up my hands. "Fine. You wanna get drunk and puke, I'm not gonna stop you.""But I want to do, like more than just drinking." Her brow furrowed and I could practically see the wheels in her brain spinning. "I should make a list and outline a plan."I was going to point out that list-making wasn't the best way to let loose, but I decided to let it go.

Why didn't you tell me I had syrup on my face?" Lyla asked when I settled behind the steering wheel. Her tongue darted out, licking the corner of her lip. I went to put the key in the ignition and missed.

As for the making out with strangers, that was a one-time thing. Jeff keeps texting, and I feel bad, but I've been ignoring him -- the kissing was just so awful.""Yeah, he'd probably not be a good choice for number seven either.

When I mentioned that I'd always wanted to have sex against the wall with a woman in a skirt, she said, "Well, how convenient. I just so happen to have a skirt on, and there are several walls in here.

Let's get you into a room and conduct our own chemistry experiment," he said against my lips."Or maybe we'll just find a table to bend you over, since chemists do it on a table... periodically.""Mmm. I love it when you talk nerdy to me.

I think it’s cool that you care about your heritage, but yet you don’t conform. Promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll never lose that feisty, impulsive side of you.

I love you. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen years old, and I’ll love you until the day I die. And I just… needed you to know that.

There's this party tomorrow night. The client with all the ex-husbands is throwing it, and I've got to go. I know it's last minute, and that Fridays are really busy for you. I'm also sure it's going to be boring. Anyway, if you can't go, I completely understand. But if you don't come with me, I'll be forced to meet rich, eligible bachelors who may or may not have all their original teeth and hair."I bit my nail as I waited for his answer, trying to prepare myself for the possibility he couldn't go."You're not really giving me much of a choice," Jake said. "Not when I know you've got a weakness for bald men with dentures.

He put his hand on my thigh. "No worries, I got you now babe.

You don't even know me," I said."And whose fault is that?""Cinderella's"Two creases formed between Jake's eyebrows."Cinderella's?""Yeah, Cinderella screwed me over." Without any more explanation, I got into my car, pulled the door closed, and fired up the engine.

Cinderella was the first fairy tale I remember - the one I was most obsessed with because of the gowns and magic and pretty shoes. Yes, her home life was less than ideal - and considering the talking mice and birds, she probably needed serious therapy.

Every now and then, we change our minds. It's our prerogative. The big secret is" - I leaned in conspiratorially - "sometimes, even we don't know why. There are times after we pick a fight where we're as confused as you are. But there's no way we're admitting it." I shrugged a shoulder, "That's why we have boobs."Jake's eyebrows shot up."See, after we've acted crazy, and the guy's wondering what he's doing with us, we use them to mesmerize him, so he forgets that we're crazy." I shot Jake my most seductive smile and leaned the assets in question against his arm. "And by the way, if you look at my cleavage right now, even though I'm the one talking about it, I'll accuse you of not caring about what I saw and of just treating me like an object."Jake swallowed hard, keeping eye contact with me, though I could tell he was fighting his impulse to look down. A mischievous glint flickered through his eyes. "And treating you like an object would be bad?

Oh, I'm just checking out books." I glanced at the one I was holding. Somehow, of all the places I could duck into, I'd wound up in the erotica section. In my hands was a book about bondage. Somebody kill me now.

I remember when all you ever talked about was finding a guy and getting married. You'd hog the TV, watching those sappy chick flicks --""Then I grew up and learned why they always end the movie after the guy and girl get together. That's when everything falls apart.

I put my hand on his arm. "You know, Drew was exaggerating. I'm a nice person. Most of the time."Jake raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smile on his lips. "So, you didn't really slap a guy in the middle of someone's wedding?"I bit my lip. "Technically, I was at the reception, and I know it sounds bad out of context, but I swear he deserved it."Jake looked down at me and I noticed again how blue his eyes were. My gaze moved to his lips.Mayday, mayday, mayday.

So you like to read? Or listen, anyway?""I've found it helps me stay on the treadmill longer. But I always like to have a paperback on hand, too. I need to swing by the bookstore for another one, actually.

Jake buried his face in my neck and kissed a burning trail up it and along my jaw. "Should I ride the elevator of our building up and down all night, hoping you'll show?" he asked, his voice husky. "Or should we just plan to meet?

Are you sure this isn’t crazy?” “Oh, I’m sure it is crazy. But isn’t that our thing? Or have you gotten boring now?

Well, I go wherever the ring takes me. Not because I’m a gold digger or anything; it’s more of a Lord of the Rings thing. This ring gives me powers. Though I’m totally going to lose it when my hair falls out and I start calling it ‘my precious.

Look, I know you’re a guy—” “Damn straight.” “And there’s some man rule that you’ve got to be all macho—” “Rule number three, actually.” Both of her eyebrows shot up. “Would you just let me finish before I make you cry and break rule number three.

I do love you. I love you so much I can hardly breathe, and I don’t know how we’ll work everything out, but I want to. I’ve never wanted anything more.

In all fairness, darlin’, I should probably warn you that this ain’t my first rodeo.

Dani had threatened to kill him. This must be the way she planned to do it. Her dark hair was down around her shoulders and she was wearing earrings that glittered in the sunlight. The purple dress she had on showed off her toned legs and hugged her curves. The supply of oxygen to his brain cut off, and he was pretty sure his heart had stopped a couple of beats ago.

Nate wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Let's get you back and I'll build you a fire."She liked the way he said it. He'd build HER a fire.

If you could travel anywhere in the US for a vacation, where would you go?"He reached up with his free hand and rubbed his jaw, two creases forming between his eyebrows. She wanted to take over for him, brush her fingers across his whiskers, make him groan the way she had earlier. But she decided to behave herself.For now."I've always wanted to go to Yellowstone," he said. "See all the wildlife. Maybe go fishing."...."I'd pick a beach, Florida or California. Where I could be in my bikini more than not, rarely wear shoes, and wake up to the sound of the ocean.""Well, if you're gonna be wearing a bikini, I'm switching to a beach vacation with you."...."Okay, so foreign vacation," she said, snuggling against him. "Then where would you go?"...."Let's just cut to the chase and say wherever you'd go.

Nate wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Let's get you back and I'll build you a fire."She liked the way he said it. He'd build HER a fire.” ...As they walked toward the house, he reached out and took her hand. The gloves blocked the skin on skin feel, but a jolt still went through him.Speaking of fire, he was pretty sure he was playing with it right now.

She closed her eyes, soaking in the feel of his hand, then opened them and stared at his perfect face as longing wrapped itself around her heart. "If this is a mistake, it's one I'll gladly keep making.""I don't think it's a mistake, I just want to do things the right way.""Not everything's always black and white. And you don't always have to put what you want on hold for everyone else.

Hey, Kelsey." He squinted at her. "I knew the water in Charlotte was a problem, but I didn't know it made hair turn purple," he joked.Kelsey smiled at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, it looks like the water here makes your hair fall out, so I guess I'll stick with Charlotte's.

He dipped his head to kiss her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he slowly lowered her back to the floor. He took his time tasting her lips, her tongue, memorizing the feel of her curves against him. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.She gripped the front of his shirt, holding him in place. "Don't stop." "No, no more stopping." He kissed her again, getting lost in the blur of clothes being tossed off, her skin under his fingertips, and the hum of his heart as he fully let himself fall.

Mom laughed. "Well that's why, when it's real, you do whatever you have to do to work it out. Screw stability. Forget common sense. Make a move.

Every second around this girl was asking for trouble and he'd never wanted to be in trouble so bad in his life.

Nate came back into the kitchen, his hair slightly messy from having had the beanie on. The gray thermal Henley he wore gave him a rugged, all-man look that made her heart skip a couple beats. For someone who was the opposite of her type, he sure was hard not to look at. Add the quiet sense of humor she'd seen last night and delivering chocolate chips, and he'd tiptoed into perfect territory.

Kelsey flopped next to him, propping her elbow on the back of the couch so she was facing him. "Do you have something against happiness?""Yes. Don't tell anyone, but I moonlight as the Grinch.

You don't have any baking stuff, do you? I like to bake when I'm hyper. My mom and I were supposed to make all the Christmas cookies tomorrow, but it looks like I won't be there for that. We always make chocolate chip ones shaped like trees and stars and such because sugar cookies are good and all, but there's no chocolate and when chocolate's an option, why wouldn't you have it?

She'd gotten even prettier over the years.And now she was in his house.And he had no idea if this was the best thing to happen to him or the stupidest thing he'd ever done.Kelsey watched Nate go, thinking this might've been the worst decision she'd ever made. Okay, so it wasn't nearly as bad as that time she'd decided to go on the Sky Screamer at the amusement park when she was drunk.

Marion's town slogan was "Where Main Street Meets Mountain." That was one of the reasons she'd loved the town, with the nearby woods, its colorful shops, and the feeling that time hadn't touched it the way it had the cities.

From now on, every Christmas, let's have a tradition where we eat soup out of a can by the fire.

He caught her staring and waggled his eyebrows. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she worked to recover. “The minivan suits you. I think you should get one.”“Sweetheart, I already have to beat the ladies off me with a stick. If I get one of these bad boys, I might cause a riot.”“Do you ever stop?”“I can go all. Night. Long.

Maybe the key to moving on was distancing herself from Wes. Not all the way. Just a little bit.Enough to let someone else in.

You're the one person whose opinion I care about. When I'm with you, the past dissappears, and I'm a better person.

I just wanted one more day." More tears welled up in her eyes. "But it would never be enough. I could keep asking for one more day for the rest of my life.

You started that one.”Her mouth dropped open. “I didn’t say anything!”“Sweetheart, your eyes said it all.” He lowered his hand from his cuffs and jerked his chin out toward the darkness lit with twinkling bug butts. “Now, behave, will you? I’m trying to watch bugs catch a mate. See if I can’t get some tips.”“Hell, make your ass glow, and I might take back everything I’ve said about you.

A guy approached her, beer bottle in one hand, smiling at her in that way guys do when they think they’re good- looking enough to smile and get anything they want. “My friend and I were just talking about what a sausage fest this was, and then you came in.” He ran his appraising gaze down her body, lingering on the V of her neckline.Faith crossed her arms. “That works out, because I’m here for a weenie roast.He put a protective hand over his package—probably without realizing he was doing it—but his smile widened.

In other words, he looked like uniformed police hotness, and she wasn’t entirely uninterested in being cuffed. Wait. That’s a bad thought. I don’t mean it. She took him in again, her throat suddenly dry. Well, she didn’t exactly not mean it, but she knew better than to want it.