There. Let the gods of friendship and common sense strike him dead.

She had platonic all but tattooed on her forehead.

She moaned in playful disappointment. "You shouldn't have canceled. It would be fund to take a picture. You'll be laughing at this years from now.

Dude, we both know it's only going to get worse. You're like a ticking sex bomb.

After he left the planet with his brothers, he'd imagined he'd live out his life alone. That was until he met Annabelle. His memory lingered back to the day he stepped into her bakery. His brothers were still unpacking when he decided to take a walk into town. The first time he saw her, she was placing muffins into a customer's bag. Even with her messy hair bun and stained pink apron, she was pure perfection. His entire body warmed when he got a backside peek at her pink tank top and itty bitty jean shorts. Before he knew what was happening, he'd gone inside and sat down in the same booth he sat in now. And when she came to the table to take his order, she'd bit down on her bottom lip. He'd known then those lips would complicate his life, but he had no idea just how much.

Since the moment I saw you, all I can think about is ways to get you out of that dress." Squeezing her perfectly rounded ass, he softly growled. "So yeah, I like it.

There are things I need to say first. Things you need to hear before we go any further." She tensed. "Oh, God, are you married?" He chuckled. "No, nothing like that." "Good," she replied, letting out a relieved breath. "I want you to know you've made this very difficult for me. I had a speech prepared. Then I see you like this." His finger continued to trail down her stomach, tracing the rim of her panties. "And I can't even remember my damn name.

I don't want to move out of bed." "I don't want to move out of bed either. Let's live here.

For ya, love, I will be anything ya want... even a potato.

Would it make you feel better if I had a panic attack?" Jane sat on the couch and suppressed a small yawn. "I mean, it's almost four in the morning and a little early for a panic attack, but I can try to muster up the energy to fake one.

He took her hand from her head and held it in his. "Your beauty could make a rose blush." "Are you... drunk?

So, the MacGregors." "Yeah." Jane nodded with a long sigh. "The MacGregors." "I don't get what the big deal is with them," Charlotte said. "If you saw under their kilts, you would get what the big deal---" Annabelle tried to break in.

You and I have been friends long enough to know how to treat each other . . . I'm leaving for college. I think I've outgrown the rules.

Her fingertips dug into his shoulders as she pressed closer. Then her lips parted to his, and there was no mistaking the passion in her response. Wild and sweet… His eyes were closed, but in his mind’s eye he saw the lights of the giant tree, and he knew he’d found a Christmas memory worth keeping.

He felt lightheaded, almost dizzy, as he deepened the kiss, his fingers curling lightly around the tendrils of her hair. His other arm encircled her waist, pressing her closer, and for a moment he went for broke, kissing her with everything he had. And now that he knew he wasn’t going to get his face slapped, he slowed down to take his time and do it right. The outside world simply ceased to exist. There was only Chloe, warm in his embrace, as her lips responded to his.

It’s ok,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.

His expression was strained. "I'm trying like hell to be the good guy here. I need you to go inside and lock the door behind you to keep out of trouble.""I thought Wildstone was safe.""It is. The trouble isn't going to come from the unknown. It's going to come from me. Go, Quinn. Now. And lock your door."She stared up at him, mesmerized by the thought of him being trouble, images going through her head of him proving it to her, all of them involving little to no clothing and a bed.

Everyone knew that bugs traveled in packs. Only the stupid ones got caught. The smart ones lay in wait for her to go to sleep so they could attack.

Some people aren't meant to stay in your life. But, that doesn't mean you can't carry a piece of them in your heart.

Mom used to tell me not to worry when people didn't get me. People throw rocks at things that shine - from the mixed up files of Tilly Adam's journal

Hey there,” she said, her blue eyes shimmering.Collin swallowed hard, and took her in his arms, cradling her head against his chest. “Hey, yourself,” he murmured into her hair, and kissed her head. He held her there for as long as he could without it becoming awkward, then gripped her shoulders and stepped back.

I'm good at a lot of things," he murmured.

The open zipper at the bottom revealed two important details: her ass was as luscious as he had imagined, and she wasn't wearing any panties. His palms started to sweat. How was he supposed to fasten her dress when all he wanted to do was tear it off?

The elevator doors had barely shut before Olivia's fingers were at the buckle of the belt cinching the waist of her trench dress. Drunk on his nearness, she ignored the security camera in the ceiling. It didn't mean a damn thing. Hell, who was she kidding? She was the wild Sweet triplet, the one voted most likely to do anything, and all she wanted to do right now was Mateo.

Oh my god.”He didn’t turn or say anything even though the frustration in Honor’s voice made it difficult.“My pants are stuck. I don’t think I can get them off without some help. Jesus, wet jeans are heavy and uncooperative.”A grin stretched across his face. “You want my help?”She let out a deep breath. “Yes, but you have to close your eyes.”“You going commando tonight?” he teased.“No, but…”He shut his eyes and turned. She took his outstretched hand and tugged him down to the ground. Once there, she helped him latch on to the bunched up denim at her thighs, he guessed. Do not peek, Bishop. Do not peek.“But?”“My panties are white and now see-through and there’s not a lot to them.”“Gotcha.” There wasn’t a red-blooded man alive who wouldn’t peek. “Let’s get these off you.” He pulled, she pushed and wiggled, and he got the pants to her feet in no time.“Thank you,” she said, a little out of breath.“No problem.”“Bryce!”“What?” Christ, she had sexy legs, and the barely-there material at their juncture left little to the imagination, so his thoughts leaped to about a dozen dirty scenarios.“Your eyes are open!

His smile, a little mischievous around the edges, had her melting into the sand. Then his lips brushed hers, and the stars collided. She cupped his face in her hands and shut her eyes.Kissing had always ranked high on her list of favorite things to do, but Bryce took it to a whole new level. Forget about his mouth on her fingertips, this linked to all her happy zones and more.He'd literally swept her off her feet and his kiss quickened the beat of her heart. His lips were soft and warm and hungry. His kiss moved through her like warm honey, filling all the places inside her that had been cold for so long. He slid his tongue along the seam of her lips, licking her before he pressed further. She willingly opened to him, stroked his tongue, kissed him harder. He groaned. He tasted like champagne and everything good as he delved deeper and committed a full-on assault inside her mouth. His hand gripped her waist. They sank further into the sand.She clutched his shoulders, smoothed her palms down his back. He pulled gruffly away, nipped at her ear. "You have no idea how much I want you," he said.

He caught her elbow before she'd taken more than a few steps. "Are you walking home?""Yes.""It's," he glanced at his watch, "nine o'clock."She shrugged out of his hold and continued on her way. "The Boogeyman doesn't come out until ten, so I'm good.

Regret isn't real," Tuck said. "It's something invented to punish ourselves.

He wanted nothing to do with her. He wanted everything to do with her.

She picked up a taco, took a big bite, and moaned as it made its way down to her stomach. "I want to marry this taco.""Lucky taco."Honor stilled. That voice. That one-of-a-kind masculine scent. Bryce stood right behind her.

I think it's our obligation to play, Honor. It's just a game, so can I kiss you?”"Yes.""Plan on one minute in heaven, Honor." A split second later his lips were on hers.

The cute little fish had big eyes and a rounded body with black polka dots and fins on either side of him that fluttered like hummingbird wings."He's staring at me.""He knows a beautiful thing when he sees it.

Give me a few minutes," he said, sounding tired but happy, "before I make good on my promises."She circled his nipple with her finger. "That's a pretty short recovery time.""You inspire me.

I may be clean cut on the outside, but make no mistake." He moved even closer, close enough to see her pulse jump at the base of her neck. "I like to get very, very dirty when nobody's looking.

I think it's our obligation to play, Honor. It's just a game, so can I kiss you?

Your….your bat cave?” Emily responded.“Yes, I’m quite proud of it. I put those visiting Boy Scouts to good use building bat houses, and now I’ve got dozens of them lining the walls of my tool shed.” She ran a hand down her long, witchy hair. “Bat houses, I mean. Not Boy Scouts. I don’t have any Boy Scouts in my shed.” She looked around, and Ryan couldn’t help but wonder if anyone might indeed be missing a Boy Scout.

Private fireworks are far superior to public fireworks.

We don’t have to tell secrets. We don’t have to talk at all. We could just, you know, kiss . . . and stuff.

Damn, I really want to kiss you.

He turned his head to look at her, trying to think of ways to plead his case. Some way to dazzle and beguile her and make her glad that it was him she was here with. Something witty and persuasive, but she turned at precisely the same moment he did, with invitation in her eyes, and all he could come up with was, “Damn, I really want to kiss you.” Her hesitation was a mere fraction of a second. “Me too,” she whispered. It was all he needed to hear, and in an instant she was in his arms. He kissed her, hard, with no prelude, no artful negotiations or seductive machinations. Just hungry kisses that sent his mind spinning and his body following. She kissed him back with equal enthusiasm, with one hand on his chest and the other wrapped tightly around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Her mouth was sweet, as sweet as he’d imagined, with lips so soft he could have fallen over the edge of that lighthouse and thought the sensation was just from her touch.

That place is turning into the Hotel California.You know, you can check in, but you can never leave.

Maybe you should get a very large life insurance policy on the next husband,” Lily suggested slurping her coffee loudly. “You know, before he makes an ash of himself.”“Very funny, but don’t think I haven’t thought of it. It’s an unpredictable way to score more rental properties, but I do seem to be good at burying men.

It’s hard raising parents.

There are no bears on the island.”“Really, are you sure because I was hiking with my Dad and I’m sure I saw one? Either that or it was a humongous man-eating badger, with fangs. It might have been frothing at the mouth.”“Man-eating, huh? No problem then. I’m a girl.

Life had a way of shifting under her feet like quicksand and she had learned to just make the best of it. Like Gigi always said, ‘when God closes a door, he shoves you out the window.

Too bad he was officially the enemy.

Just one more?” he said, holding up his thumb and index finger to indicate tiny. Oh so small. “Just one more little one? I don’t think that was my best work, and what if this is the only time we ever kiss? Then you’ll go on for the rest of your life thinking that’s the best I can do. I don’t think my ego can take that.” He sure as hell hoped this wouldn’t be the only time they ever kissed. In fact, he was going to make damn sure of it, and then some. But for the moment, this angle was going to work for him. He could see her indecision. He leaned closer, his lips nearly touching hers. Her eyes fluttered shut as he whispered against her mouth, “Just one more.

Her life was more like a series of tattered Post-it notes with hastily scribbled goals written in dull pencil. Some of them stuck. Lots of them didn’t.

I’ve had pedicures before, and I’ve had milk shakes. Just never at the same time. And it’s glorious.

I think if we ignore that night, that kiss, then we’re both denying a part of who we are.

Jeez, you two,” Savannah muttered. “Shush. It’s like free porn,” Riley teased.

Matt?” “Hmm?” “Kiss me.” He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “Sweetheart, I thought you’d never ask.

Speaking of cupcakes, Will wants two dozen off your special menu to take on the road after the wedding.” “The, erm, peach kind?” “The peach kind,” Lindsey said. “I like the peach kind,” Josh said. Mikey had named them Sex on a Peach. And they were Kimmie’s second biggest seller, after the Hairy Dicks, which were coconut cake balls strategically placed with Dahlia’s chocolate-covered, ice cream-filled bananas. And Josh’s frown had disappeared, and now he was grinning as if he knew it. All of it.

He liked the way her smile infected him and infused a bit of heat into his cold bones—a warmth missing until he'd opened the door to her flower shop.

Her eyes slid closed, her secret places pulsed in anticipation, and his lips settled onto the skin beneath her ear. That was magic. She held perfectly still. He pressed a kiss to her neck. Then another, lower. A third, even lower. She squirmed. He dropped his hands. “Sorry. I---“ “Don’t stop,” Kimmie whispered.

Your mother can’t hear you here.” “Distance is no match for my mother’s eavesdropping and mind-reading skills.” “I had steel anti-mind-reading plates installed this week. Specially designed to be Marilyn-proof. Also sounds an alarm if she gets within two hundred yards of the building, and I sent the guards downstairs to ninja training. You’re safe.

Josh squeezed her arm. “I’ll behave,” he murmured. “For now.” She’s going to pickle your cucumbers.” “He has more than one?” Natalie whispered. “That’s between me and Kimmie,” Josh replied.

When he grasped her hand, he felt the calluses on her palm. He was thinking about how tough she was, and then she smiled. It was tentative and brief but it touched his heart, and then she was gone. He watched while she disappeared over the hill and then took the box into the kitchen, refilled his coffee and opened the lid. 36%

More. Give me more.I don't know if you're ready for this. He's shirtless.You're killing me. Is he built?Like a Greek god.Nooooo.....so unfair. I don't have any hot neighbors, just acres and acres of corn fields.

I have a fabulous idea.Oh, I don't like this. Last time you had a fabulous idea I wore a cast for six weeks. I still can't straighten my arm completely.That was years ago. This one will work. Do you have any exceptionally handsome men friends, willing to be my fiancé?

Heaven’s Bakery help them all.

He was the most handsome nightmare she had ever met.

He was sort of Kimmie’s boss. And he wasn’t just a thorn in General Mom’s side – he was a whole stinking rosebush. If the rosebush were six feet of hunky, cake-blaspheming, rich playboy.

If my mom sees you here, she’ll ---“ “Paper the walls with my innards while the innocents watch?

But he knew how to kiss a woman until she needed his kisses more than she needed to breathe. Until her bones melted. Until she gave him exactly what he wanted.

Is he nice?” one whispered over her gum paste roses for this weekend’s wedding cakes. “Um, obviously,” Kimmie said. “You’re why he’s always coming around? I know he’s hot stuff in Chicago, but he always seems so stiff when he comes here,” another added from the sink. “Honey, you want them stiff,” a third said…

Right on time, sugar.” Josh draped his arm around her shoulders and steered her through the lobby. “Traffic okay?” “Yeah, except when that alien spaceship landed on I-90 and then all those crickets jumped out to perform Beethoven’s Fifth on kazoos. Otherwise, clear sailing.

Are those the Edible Undies cupcakes?” one of the women in the kitchen asked. “They’re the Nipple Lickers,” Kimmie answered. “Without the nipples.” “I heard you perfected the Sex on a Peach cupcakes,” another feminine voice said. “Can you squeeze me in for a double order of Spank Me Strawberries the weekend before Knot Fest?

On my honor, I ain’t ever tasting another woman’s sexualfavors. Even if the bakery offers ’em up in a cupcake wrapper andcalls ’em whipped dreams.

The Milked Duck was empty, save for Dahlia’s two part-timehelpers, but they were all rushing around, anticipating the firstguests for her Risqué Flavor Tasting event any moment now.The up front freezers were stocked with Chocolate Orgasm,Peachy Passion, Sexual Favors, Mikey’s favorite Cherry Popperand more. She had a case of Sin on a Stick treats ready to go and atemporary menu up on the board behind her.

This Chocolate Orgasm is the best chocolate ice cream I’veever had.”“Mikey helped with that one,” Dahlia heard herself say.Mari Belle laughed, a light, pretty sound. “I sense hisinfluence in the Hazel’s Nuts.

One side of his lips quirked up in a sexy smirk. “Got a cure forthat frustration you got going on,” he said.“Got a cure for your ego?

What, was there something special in your ice cream?” he said like an ass.“Estrogen,” she said. “You might notice some swelling in your boobs and shrinkage in your package for a few days.

I am so not kissing you tonight,” she informed him.He chuckled softly. And if she thought his smile wasdangerous, his chuckle should’ve been classified as a biologicalweapon. Sin in a sound wave.“But now you’re thinking about what it would be like, ain’tyou?” he said.“Only my stupid parts.

He looked up from the paper he was scribbling on and offeredher a lopsided grin. “Hey, sweet pea. You bring me anythingspecial?”The lopsided bit wasn’t odd, but there was something forcedabout it. “Got a fresh bag of cat food outside.” Cat food that she’dbought with the twenty he’d left to pay for his ice cream.He pushed his makeshift drum set aside and rose with astretch. “Words every man dreams of hearing. Make my night ifyou say you got catnip too.”She tried not to giggle. She tried hard.But she couldn’t help herself. “Extra strength,” she said.This time, his grin came out bigger, less forced. “Woman ofmy dreams.”“In your dreams,” she said.

Two years ago, she had inherited The Milked Duck Ice Cream Shoppe in downtown Bliss from Great Aunt Agnes. After gettingher degree in sociology and then bouncing around the country, waffling from job to job and one relative’s couch to another, she’d finally found where she fit: creating and serving happiness to the locals and the destination wedding tourists in Bliss.

Those gray eyes slid back to her. “Your shower big enough for two?”“Yes, but the cats don’t like to get wet. Neither does theguinea pig. But you might have some success with the lizard.”Bad, bad move. Because both corners of his mouth weregetting in on the smile action. He moved them one at a time, first the right corner, then a slow follow from the left corner.And then he showed his dimple.

I can’t make a first impression like the one I made on you. That would be horrible.” “Slow down there, princess. How do you know what kind of first impression you gave me?” Rowan made her ‘are you for real?’ face. “I think it’s safe to say getting tangled in dog leashes and then having one of the dogs urinate on you ranks up there with worst first impressions ever.” “I’d classify it as most memorable…. I knew right then my life would never be the same.

What if pretending is interfering with the person you’re meant to be?” he said.

I’m in awe of you, Rowan Palotay,” he said softly. “And plan to make love to you for the rest of the night, but right now, I want you to be a good cowgirl and ride me.” His finger hooked around the string of her panties, and he tugged them down and off. “The boots stay on.

He tasted like chocolate and hazelnut liqueur and she wanted to feast on him for the rest of the night. His kiss… his kiss took her to another place where fireworks blazed.

Fair warning, though,” he added quietly. “When I hold you against me, I don’t plan on letting you go….” She gently ran the pads of her fingers down his cheek and around his clean-shaven jaw. His face really was a work of art. “Perfect. Then I’ll be right where I want to be.

Phew. I thought I was going to have to slay a few dragons for you while I was here.” “I’m no damsel in distress, Your Highness. I can take care of myself.

They hadn’t been good months. About as ugly as a wet warthog and as messed up as a bumblebee in a snowstorm.

And this is Kimmie Elias.”Kimmie inhaled a loud breath. “I had a dream you were thelove child of Bugs Bunny and the abominable snowman, but in my dream that was a good thing, and you lived in a mushroom that hadsecret passages into outer space,” she said.And here he thought he’d already heard it all.

Did you call someone and tell them you’re safe?”“Called and told ’em I’m not dead. Not so sure about safeyet.

Lindsey had a nearly uncontrollable desire to run herfingers through his hair, to see if it was as soft today as it had been the last time she’d known him. And that thick stubble on his cheeks and chin was long enough to be soft too. The good soft.Especially against her softer parts.Intrigue and desire warmed the smileys on her panties.

Heard a rumor you can’t cook,” he said.She didn’t look away from her reading. “You know rumors.They’re always true.”She had him there. According to some of the tabloids, he had fourteen love children, two with aliens and one with the sister of Bigfoot.

She didn’t need a man. She wanted one.

Wow. You really know how to make a woman happy...""I have a night-eight percent success rate with always knowing what will make a woman happy," he said. Lindsey chuckled softly. "And how do you quantify that?""Would you like to know," he said.Nat wanted to know.

CJ stepped toward her. His hand found her cheek. Natalie's eyes drifted shut. He was going to kiss her. "Good thing we practiced five years ago," he whispered. Natalie whimpered out a pathetic laugh, but then his lips were on hers, his hand tangled in her hair, his other hand holding her against him.And he kissed her.

She hoped he kissed her.Only her.And that when he kissed her, he was thinking about her.Only her.If he kissed her, she would kiss him back.She would kiss him back with everything she had.Every last person in the stadium would watch her kiss him, and every last one of them would know she wouldn't have minded kissing him forever.

Get back to work.""Fine way to talk to your wife.""If you were my wife, I would've slapped your ass too."She stared at him a beat too long. She did love the feel of his hands on her ass.

My clue is that you're supposed to keep going once you've found me."His eyes narrowed. Thoughtfully, as though he were looking for the words she wanted to say instead. "Keep going in the maze?" he said slowly. "Or keep going somewhere else?"The man had an evil streak. "The maze," she said firmly.Helpfully. Like a dutiful daughter of Bliss."Because there are a few places I'd like to go with you.

She gulped her whiskey sour. The bar was hot tonight.CJ circled back to check on them. "You ladies doing okay?""Define okay." Natalie's whiskey seemed to be talking. Because the whiskey was the only thing that could've put that husky, suggestive tone in her voice. Yep, that was all the whiskey.He propped his elbows on the bar, which put his face level with hers, and fixed his undivided attention on her. There went her lady bits fanning themselves. With a few added whimpers. They remembered what his hands and body and lips felt like too."Content." His voice was low and raw, his gaze penetrating and unwavering. "Happy. Completely, one hundred percent satisfied."Her mouth went dry while the rest of her went up in needy flames that made her want to scratch the all-but-gone rash he'd tended so well on Monday."Nope," Natalie squeaked. "Not okay then.

He held a beautiful bouquet of mixed wildflowers and offered them to her. "They missed you." He brushed a kiss on her lips. "Just like me.

Hopefully we'll be doing this forever, but we'll only have one first time.

You busy?" she asked. He gave her a crooked grin, "Right now I'd say I'm completely engaged." She smiled demurely. "But I want to take you to my secret place." Bryce loosened his grip on her, giving her a full view of the quizzical, playful look on his face. "Is that a come-on? Because I'm way past ready to go to your secret place.

Leaning in, he brushed his lips on Holly's cheek, and whispered in her ear, "You okay?" She gave him a sidelong glance. "You might not promise adventure, but you sure do deliver.

I am debating about you, totally stumped between boxers and briefs." She winked. He shot her his sexiest look. "Let me know when you're ready for the big reveal.

He lay between her legs, propped himself on his elbows, and gazed at the sunset in her eyes. "I want to remember this moment," he said huskily.

I'm fine," she said. "I'm just hiding from the Queen General and her latest poster boy.""The Queen General?" Which one of his sisters fit that description?More like which one didn't."Queen General Marilyn," his visitor said. "Supreme ruler of Bliss and chairperson of Knot Festival."The words 'Knot Festival' twisted CJ's stomach, and the room seemed to climb ten degrees hotter. He tugged at his bow tie. The woman kept talking...Marilyn rewrote the Golden Husband Games rules so her Exalted Widower is eligible to be named Husband of the Half Century. And you know what? He's the reason my husband left me.

They don't like my kind in here," Arthur said to CJ...I own a shop on The Aisle. Huck there" - Arthur nodded at the barkeep - "isn't a fan of the wedding industry.""Why not?""Guy's been divorced three times and has a bar called Suckers in the most married-est town on earth. He caters to the underground wedding haters and single groomsmen.

You stay married thirty-four years, you don't have to prove who's got the bigger balls. Just take it for granted she does.

One day, son, you're gonna find yourself your everything. When you do, you tell her. And then you make sure you live it. Live it every day.

There's something you need to know," he said.Her own breath came out loud and uneven. He was entirely in her personal space, but she'd given him enough power as it was. She wouldn't back away, wouldn't let him see her agitation. He tucked her hair behind her ear. Tension took hold of her body. She shuddered, looked up to tell him to stop, but he bent forward, his lips parted, a single freckle on his cheek drawing her attention while his lips got closer and closer and closer until ---"For future reference," he said, "I never kiss horribly." And before she could blink or breathe or think, his lips closed over hers. His grip tightened in her hair, and when she should've protested or pulled away or kicked him in the shins, her body melted into his. Kissing him was wrong.... So wrong. She was so good at so wrong.

She was fixated on replaying the image of a tall, broad, Highland warrior marching into battle against the evil waterfalls of doom to rescue a stuffed dinosaur.He'd saved Cindy.For Noah.CJ Blue was making it very difficult for Natalie to continue to dislike him.

You're right. What Drew and I had was genuine. He loved me. That doesn't mean he didn't change his mind.

She wanted him to leave town with a smile on his face. She wanted to be memorable.

I'm going to find ways to make you blush, just so I can enjoy the journey.

I made the first move. Now it's up to him." "Telling him you should hit the sack and get it out of your system is not making the first move.

Well, she was through. If he wanted her, he'd have to do something about it.

I want you to stay here ...with me." "All night?" "All night." Drew cupped her face with his hands giving her a gentle kiss. "In my arms.

He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss away her uncertainty. But if he did that she would bolt. So he brushed stray hairs that had fallen out of her ponytail off her face instead. Ignored how soft the strands felt against his fingers. Pretended his pulse wasn't stampeding like a herd of bison on the plain.

Mistletoe was her new favorite holiday decoration. She would have to hang some in the kitchen. All over the house. And keep the green stuff hanging until Easter. Or Thanksgiving.

Trust wisely and believe in yourself, in your vision.

He sauntered across the kitchen, six feet of male hotness and charm, heading in her direction like a drone missile locked on a target.

She wore a simple purple long-sleeved turtleneck, but streaks of white across her chest - flour perhaps? - distracted him, made him want to volunteer for cleanup duty.

How did the date go?" "Bad. A text-a-holic...." "Not the good kind of trouble." "There's only one thing to say when this happens." "What's that?" "Next.

Maybe we should go to JT's or bowling or something."The lopsided grin on Reece's face was probably just as sexy as his kiss, Alesha thought.Reaching for her hand, he gave it a gentle squeeze. "If that's what you really want to do, we'll do it, but I think we can control ourselves for the rest of the night." Then he winked. "If that's what you really want.

They laughed.They kissed.They loved.

We'll have all night for slow and sweet," she said softly. "But right now, I really want that hard and fast you mentioned earlier.

He swallowed hard. "How do you feel?""I feel like I want to close these drapes, turn down the lights and crawl into that bed with you and spend the night making love with you. All night." She blushed furiously. ..."All night, huh?" he asked.She nodded.He gave her a sexy grin and repeated her earlier words back to her. "Deal.

I've been thinking about this all day," he said between kisses. "All. Day."Who was she kidding? She'd been harboring this fantasy for weeks. And then in a move that was becoming her 'thing', Alesha leaned back and pulled her sweater over her head and gave Reece a sexy smile. "Was this part of what you were thinking?"His hands came up and cupped her breasts, his breath ragged, but his eyes were on hers. "This is better.

Stop talking," she said boldly as she closed the distance between them until they were touching. "We can walk to the bedroom or you can carry me but if you don't decide soon I may just go insane.

Do you have any idea how badly I want to pick you up and carry you into my bedroom and make love to you?

Alesha walked up to him and looped her arms around his shoulders as she went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. She only meant for it to be a quick kiss but Reece's arms instantly banded around her as he took it deeper. She was readily on board. The man certainly knew how to kiss and she wasn't going to ask him to stop!...She squirmed for a moment and then reluctantly lifted her head. "Wow."He chuckled. "I kind of like that I keep getting that response from you.""I'm normally much more prolific with words but whenever you kiss me, I can't seem to remember any."His smile deepened. "Now I definitely like that.

He kissed her.He touched her.He fantasized about how incredible it would be to strip her down and make love to her.But tonight wasn't the night for that.With his mind made up, Reece simply enjoyed the moment -- the feel of her, the sounds she made and knew he probably wasn't going to get any more sleep once he left her and said goodnight.

Reece?" she asked softly."Hmmm?""Kiss me."And he did. There wasn't even a possibility of saying no.

She stared at him and nodded. "Yes, you're right." He cocked his head as if he couldn't hear her. "What was that?" "You're right." She gave him a little push and he had to laugh. "I heard you the first time," he admitted. "I just like the way that sentence sounds on your tongue.

I’m scared as hell to fall for you… But I’m more terrified to let you go.

You make me believe that things I’d given up on a possible.

I've got a hot shower and an even hotter bed only ten minutes from here." "Hotter bed?" "It's got a heater in it." She narrowed her eyes. "It does not." "Hand to heaven," he said. She narrowed her eyes. "Does this 'heater' run on electricity?" "Nope.

All he wanted was a long, hot shower and a long, deep sleep. Meaning that whoever this pissed-off brunette was, whatever deal she'd arranged with his flaky mother, they could talk about it after he'd scrubbed the jungle from his skin and rinsed the shampoo from his hair. "What do you mean it belongs to you? It can't belong to you. I just rented it," said the girl aiming that pink blow-dryer right at his heart. If he wasn't so damn exhausted, he might find that funny. She was holding the thing as if it would protect her. It was a blow-dryer! He nodded at it. "What do you plan to do with that thing, honey? Style me to death?

It's nice to see you. Aimee calls you Bigfoot, by the way." "Bigfoot?" "Yeah, you know, like a mythical creature that people say they've seen in the wild but no one knows for sure if it's real. That's you...

Lindsey imagined him looking like a model in his business clothes, shopping for toilet parts for her. Perfect. What girl wouldn't want a smokin' hot guy associating her with toilet parts?

She looks like a Disney princess, but is a total badass.

I prefer doing over watching.

There was no substitute for a post-coital cuddle.

Teeth clenched, she swiped the light switch next to the door, but all she got was a 'click.' 'Click, click.' "Ugh," Lindsey moaned. She'd need to flip a breaker, and for that she'd need a flashlight. But that would only fix things if the power was actually on. "I'm working on that." The deep voice with a drawl came from the dark hallway, and the man that matched it stepped out of the shadows.

Let's start with ice cream and go from there." "You're gonna love it." Holly nodded. "All their ingredients are fresh, and they make the most delicious, wackiest flavors you've ever heard of." Clearly she'd forgotten that Lindsey had come from D.C. "Like what?" "Honey lavender. Sweet corn raspberry. Toasted coconut fudge. Lemon fig....blueberry pie... marshmallow peach... salted caramel chocolate chunk...

Maybe he dates girls in Denver when he goes there for business but he never asks out girls around here. I think he's simply there for looks." The same could be said for Lindsey's ex, Hopper. He had been good for looking at but not much else. "That might work for a little while," Lindsey said, "but I prefer my men fully functional." Holly's gaze locked on something behind Lindsey. Her hazel eyes widened and her lips formed an 'O'. She tipped her head forward, prompting Lindsey to turn and look ... straight into the eyes of Carden Crenshaw.

He opted for a flaky, apricot-filled croissant and Columbian coffee. Dani chided him for being unimaginative, then proceeded to eat most of his, while ignoring her own. "I'd be glad to buy you one." Dani gave him a wide-eyed, innocent stare, then popped the last bit of his breakfast into her mouth. "I couldn't eat another bite.

Depends on whether you talk to the Montgomery sisters," he said to Lindsey. Holly chuckled lightly. "Now, that's a whole other old TV show mash-up right there. Hmm...I'd say 'Charmed' meets 'The Golden Girls'." "With a little 'Bewitched' thrown in for fun." Carden pressed his index finger to the tip of his nose and twitched it back and forth, somehow making himself seem more irresistible.

What's your name, big guy?" Carden asked. Blue let out something between a bark and a howl that sounded just like," Bluuuue." "Good boy," Carden said, and gave Blue the dog biscuit. Blue took it in his mouth and crunched it into pieces, eating it bit by bit instead of gobbling. That's all it took for Lindsey to fall head-over-heels for Blue. His owner wasn't too bad either.

He smoothed his fingers along her jawline and lifted her chin, kissing her gently, testing. Lindsey went light-headed with the rush of sensation, the touch of his lips leaving her longing for more. Clutching his shirt in her fingers - napkin and all - she pulled him closer, melting into his kiss. Carden took it from tentative to tender, then parted her lips with the velvety sweep of his tongue. She matched his languid rhythm, hypnotized. He was all chocolate and caramel, creamy cool and sweet. 'Sinfully delicious'. No doubt he was 31 flavors of trouble, but resisting him seemed impossible.

We've been given a second chance. How many people can say that?

She smoothed her fingertips down his cheeks and cupped his face in her hands. "I'm not sure it can get any better." He sucked in a ragged breath. "Oh, darlin'," he said, sliding his finger beneath one of the straps of her sundress and guiding it off of her shoulder. "I promise you it can." He kissed the spot where the strap had been and drew his fingers up her thighs with a light, feathery touch. "And I'm a man who keeps his promises.

Two old women described as "Charmed meets The Golden Girls with a little Bewitched thrown in for fun" were bound to have something curious to contribute.

He cleared his throat. "I did get carried away with you. Couldn't help myself. And when I said it wouldn't happen again..." He risked skimming his fingers up her smooth shin. "I hope I lied.

Twining his fingers through her ponytail, he cradled the back of her head, seducing her nearly senseless with a single kiss - on a mountainside covered in wildflowers, under the summer sun and an endless sky.

I came all prepared for a lapis show-and-tell, but you know more about it than I do."... Lindsey gave him a pleading look and brushed her fingertips over the back of his hand, sending tingles up his arm. "Show me."... "When it's cut and polished like this, it practically glows. Golden specks of pyrite dance across the blue, like stars in a denim sky.

I'm scared as hell to fall for you." He loosened his embrace, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her tenderly. "But I'm more terrified to let you go.

Lindsey looked at him coyly "Grilling is your specialty?" She shook her head. "You really had me fooled." He set the platter on the island, joined her near the sprawling sectional sofa in the living area, and took her in his arms. She'd never get tired of that feeling. "Had you fooled how?" he asked. "I thought kissing was your specialty." Carden captivated her with his sultry gave. "Grilling... Kissing..." He brushed his lips over hers, teasingly light and feathery. "Take your pick, darlin;," he said in a low whisper, pulling her closer.... "Stay tuned," he said with a rasp in his voice. "I've got a couple other specialties, too.

How can it hurt so much to love someone?

I could use a shower myself." He pulled her close and kissed her, tucking his hand beneath the sheet and smoothing it down the satiny curve of her hip. "We'd get to breakfast a lot quicker if we took one together.

Alex had a nice big cock and knew how to use it.

Why is the TV on, and why aren't you on the way to naked?"... "My head and the rest of me" - he drew her attention to his erection - "heard sex. No putting that genie back in the lamp...

She stepped over to the model. "The little town looks so sweet in the moonlight." And so did Lindsey. Her sexy silhouette had him riveted in place. He knew better, but his instincts urged him to go to her. Joining her next to the model, he skimmed his fingertips over her bare shoulder and down her arm. He reached her hand and languidly laced his fingers between hers. "Not nearly as sweet as you look," he whispered close to her ear...

I can taste sunshine and hope on his tongue. I want this kiss, this taste, to last forever.

I'd rather have sex than dessert.

She wasn't going to explain how the morning she woke up alone she had gone back to the same salon that had cut and dyed her hair and had the woman change the color back. She wasn't going to tell him that she hadn't been able to stand the thought of looking into the mirror to see that girl anymore. The girl who had been born the day she met Alex and died the day he left.

I guess you can't estimate the speed of a teenage boy when he thinks he has a shot at sex. He never had a shot. But if he was that fast removing his pants, can you imagine how quick the sex would have been?

How devastating to find 'the one' and not be 'their one.

Something tells me that Alex has some demons and I can tell you from experience that those suckers don't go down easy.

He'd gotten in a quick swipe with his tongue the moment he'd been close enough to reach. Then, just to be sure, he went in for another sample, bathing Alex's leg with saliva, careful to miss the dangly bits between the man's legs. Edgar didn't get what the big deal was. He licked himself there all the time. However, Jack made a big deal out of it so he avoided that area like he'd been taught.

She stared at him. Her head tipped to the side and she narrowed her eyes. “That’s the best you can come up with? What kind of platitude is that?” “Give me a second. I can do better.” He lifted her hand, then reached for her other one. He pulled her close so they stood toe to toe. She shivered a little. He didn’t think it had much to do with the cold. Her arms were bare, but the evening was warm. “Everything happens for a reason. God works in mysterious ways. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”“You suck at this.” But she was smiling. She was so achingly beautiful. He slid his hands up her arms to her elbows so they were closer still. And then she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and he forgot how to breathe. He stood in the shadows, holding her in his arms, wanting to do the right thing and afraid he’d screw it all up. Her hands nestled the small of his back, thumbs hooked through his belt. Her lips brushed against the sensitive base of his throat. Awareness burned through every single spot her body came in contact with his. This was Danni, all grown up. He wanted one little taste. Just a bit.So he kissed her. And, without a second’s hesitation, she kissed him back. The world around them rocked back on its heels.Then some small noise interrupted—the sound of footsteps, passing too close. He lifted his head, not wanting any intrusion, and the moment ended as fast as it had begun.

Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Jordan curled her hands around the lapel of his jacket and tugged him closer. In her heels, she was almost his height, and when she pressed her body against his, her mouth was a scant inch away. Jordan flicked her tongue over his lower lip and whispered. "It might even border on obsession.

But make no mistake about it, Jordan. When the time is right and you're ready" - he trailed his forefinger along the edge of her palm and stilled when she shivered in response - "I have every intention of getting you into bed. And sleeping will have little to do with it.

A hot man like that was made for more than friendship.

Did you need Jordan for something, Cookie?" Gavin asked with thinly veiled impatience. Hands back in his pockets, he took a step away from Jordan. "Or do you merely excel at crappy timing?" "Sorry, Chief." Cookie's short purple-and-blue hair stuck out in a hundred different directions, and she winked when she peeked out from behind the swinging door.... "It's a gift." "That's not what I would call it," he grumbled.

You okay?" He moved past her into the kitchen and deposited his beer bottle in the sink. "You're all flushed." "I'm fine," she said a little too quickly. "It's hot in here, that's all." Oh sure. It was a little hot anywhere he was. The kitchen...the living room... the polar ice caps...

I must have a screw loose," she muttered under her breath. Satisfied the counter was clean, she squatted down and put the cleaning supplies away in the cabinet beneath the register. "Yup. There's definitely something wrong with me." "Are you looking for confirmation on that?" Jordan's heart hitched in her chest as Gavin's familiar baritone filled the shop. "Or am I supposed to argue with you?

Is there a problem? I mean, I wasn't expecting you, or anyone, tonight."Drew held out a hand to help her from the car, snatching it back when she got out on her own."There is a problem.""What?" He tensed. "Did M.J. come back? Is he giving you trouble?""I can handle my brother."Tyler moved closer. Drew stepped back, his eyes suddenly wary. Sighing she grabbed the front of his t-shirt, the fingers of her other hand threading through his thick, dark hair. Soft. She remembered the feel like it was yesterday. Her hope had been that he would as eager as she was. The attraction was still there, it was time to do something about it. Apparently he wasn't going to make this easy. So she did what she had all those years ago when he wouldn't make the first move—she kissed him first.Prime rib to a starving man. Ten years without even a taste, Drew couldn't help but devour her.The kiss was primal, out of control. Mouths seeking the angle after angle, tongues duelings. And the way Tyler tasted. Sweet and spicy and utterly delicious.In his dreams, he imagined this differently. Slower. He would show her how a man kissed as opposed to the boy he had been. One touch of her lips on his and all those grand plans flew out the window along with any common sense he ever possessed. Tyler was in his arms. Familiar yet new. He needed her and he was never letting go.Drew's hands went under the hem of her shirt slowly sliding up her smooth, hot skin. He could feel the erotic combination of vulnerability and strength in the subtle muscles of her back. She had filled out, they both had. He wanted to spend days discovering all the differences then start all over again, just in case he missed something the first time.The kiss was neverending though the desperation, instead of lessening, scaled higher. He could lift her into his arms, carry her into the house, rip every scrap of clothing from her delicious body and fuck for hours.Fuck. Well, fuck.The word wasn't exactly a bucket of cold water, the desperate heat running through his veins needed more than that. But it did lift the haze. If he didn't stop this right now, there would be no turning back."Tyler."The word sounded foreign, all guttural. His voice was hoarse with passion and his body was calling every swear word known to man. Why are you stopping? Beautiful woman. Willing. Her hands all over you. Right now she was reaching between his legs. The first caress was almost his undoing. It felt so good, so right. No could touch him like Tyler.The sexual haze enveloped him again. Don't fight it, his body urged. Feel her lips on your jaw, your neck. God. Her teeth biting your earlobe. That alone brought him close to going over the top. Damn his good intentions. Talking was way overrated. Pulling her in until their bodies were flush and he could feel every long, luscious inch of her—plastered against him. Drew was going in for another kiss when her words did what his own reasoning couldn't. It wasn't a bucket of cold water, it was a fire hose—turned on full blast."Fuck me, Drew. Right here, up against my car. Let's get this thing done, once and for all.

Do you want to have to tell the doctor at the emergency room that the reason your wound opened up was because you couldn't keep your you know what in your pants." "First of all, I don't think I'd have to say you know what in front of the doctor.

Jack looked over to the foot of the bed to see Edgar watching them; head cocked to one side and tail wagging furiously. “You don’t think he saw us, do you?

Relax.” She soothed the rigid line of his jaw with her other hand. “I wouldn’t want you to ruin that beautiful smile by breaking some teeth.” “Then let go of my dick.” Sighing with obvious disappointment, Rose did as he asked. “Do you remember what you said to me the night you, you know,” now was not the time to blush, “went down on me?” “Sweetheart, right now I’m having trouble remembering my name.

She drank in the sight of him, sure that anything so perfect had to be a dream. He seemed bigger with just a towel wrapped around his waist. It was amazing what wonders clothing could hide. Over six feet of long muscled male. Bronzed skin, lightly dusted with hair seemed to glow as he walked towards her. He moved like an athlete. Strong, confident strides that ate up the distance between them in no time. Her hands wanted to touch him, anywhere, everywhere. His impossibly flat, firm stomach seemed to call out for her mouth to trace the ridges; her tongue eagerly memorizing every smooth, muscled inch. “Lose the towel.” She wasn’t asking, she was pleading. Jack let the cloth fall to the floor. Eyes wide Rose gasped. Mother Nature had been very kind to Jack Winston, and she was about to be a very grateful beneficiary. “Rose, sweetheart,” Jack stepped back when she would have touched him. “Oh, come on, Jack,” she groaned in frustration. “I’ve been a very good girl. Now it’s time for my reward.

ROSE FELT LIKE she had a neon sign flashing over her head—looking for a one night stand, only sex gods need apply.

Ah, here’s my SUV.” He made sure her dress was tucked into the car before shutting her door. “I’ll wait for you just down the road and then you can follow me home. Oh, and Jack? This is a one night only invitation. If you’re not okay with that keep on driving.

Rose was drowning in pleasure like she’d never known, just from a kiss. Jack wasn’t touching her any place but on the lips and yet she could feel it on every inch of her body. Long, sure strokes of his tongue made her ache for him to explore the rest of her with equal thoroughness. She needed to touch him, why wasn’t she touching him?

She was feeling so much all at once and yet she wanted so much more. She wanted Jack—naked—now. “I’m going to leave you, Rose.” She heard the words, but it took a moment for the meaning to register. Leaving? Was He leaving?

Kezia could’ve guessed from the soapy scent wafting over her shoulder. Soap and something else. The XY factor that made some men smell so good you just wanted to lick the nearest inch of available skin.

You must be very secure in your masculinity to parade around in those budgie smugglers.”“Oh, I’m very secure.” He see-sawed the towel over his back. “And I’m happy to show you the rear view of my budgie smugglers—oh wait—you already saw it when you were checking out my ass.

You’re like this frosting.” She swiped another swirl of it on her finger, stood and leaned forward to touch it to his bottom lip. “Pretty, momentarily pleasurable, but with no real substance or sustenance.

But baby, you started this.” The hand on her hip tugged her closer, her inner thighs brushing against the smooth fabric pulled taut over his long legs.She tugged at the fingers on her hip, wriggling at the same time, desperate to escape. “And now I’m ending it.”“I’ll decide where it ends,” he said.

So you’ll cheat to win, huh?”“I’ll use any means necessary to win.”Her breasts ached at the smoky tone in his voice, like he’d reached out and rolled her nipples between his fingertips.

Then Ben’s mouth descended again and her thoughts, as fickle as tiny fish, swam out of her head. Gentle brushes of his lips turned into more insistent strokes of his mouth. Sexually frustrated widow or not, there was little doubt the man could kiss her into a melted puddle of goo.

He held his hand out, palm up, watching her with soft, penetrating eyes, deep, dark eyes that called to her the longer she stared at them. “How ’bout you give me the benefit of the doubt every once in a while, hmm? I’d like a chance to prove I’m not that stupid kid anymore.

She hadn’t come for any of that. She came for him. Twenty feet in front of her, leaning back against the waist-high bar, stood the man she’d spent all day tracking down—the infamous Dillon James. The man who would soon have the power to take away everything she held dear.

A rush of sensation pulsed through her, lingering long after his touch. The towel quickly fell free. He caught it before it slipped to the ground and slung it over his shoulder. “Consider this your first time,” he said, his tone low and sultry.Good Lord... Paige could hardly blink. If this was any indication of the doc’s bedside manner, she could only hope for long-term, intensive treatment.

With a shudder of excitement, and without giving herself a moment to second-guess what she was about to do, she reached up to take his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. For a frozen moment he didn’t react, and she could feel her heart thudding in her throat, but then he groaned into her mouth and pulled her tightly against him. And God, he was a good kisser. She’d certainly never been kissed with such expertise. Somehow he was making her feel the kiss in places he wasn’t even touching.And then she stopped thinking.

You are no star, Gabby. You're the sky. The rest of us are just circling your orbit.

We all have our handicaps. You're not mine.

Deputy Grayson?" He turned to stare down into those soft green eyes, his pulse ratcheting up. "Yes, Miss Smith?" "Thank you." She touched his arm. "And no matter what happens, I promise I'm not a bad person."She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.... Warmth rushed through Nash and tingling spread from where Phoebe's lips had touched his cheek. He raised a hand to the spot and stared at the woman, a frown pulling his brows downward. He hadn't begun the day with the intent of finding a runaway bride stranded on the side of the road. Scenarios like that were only found in those unrealistic romance novels women liked reading.No. He hadn't asked for a kiss. But now that she'd done it, she couldn't undo it, and he couldn't unfeel it.

Nash." Lola nodded toward the disappearing SUV. "Deputy Grayson." She grinned. "His first name is Nash. He's one of the four Grayson brothers. Every last one of them is tall, dark and so handsome they'll make your panties damp.

Phoebe stared into his blue eyes. "What would you do if you ran away from a wedding in a car that didn't belong to you and discovered a body in the trunk about the time a sheriff's deputy rolled up behind you?" She flung her hand in the air, and assumed a high-pitched, sarcastic tone. "Hi, I'm a rich man's daughter with a dead man in my trunk. Could you help me get him out so I can be on my merry way?

He covered her hands with his. "Why the hurry?" "Seriously?" She stared at him, her jaw dropping. "I'm on fire! If we wait one more minute, I'm certain the sheets will spontaneously combust. I won't be held responsible if your house burns down because you wanted to waste time on foreplay.

When he stood before her naked, he couldn't believe this beautiful woman, with the pale skin, flaming auburn hair, and eyes the color of spring hay, lay waiting for him. Phoebe's cheeks flushed a pretty pink. "You look like you're hungry and ready to eat the proffered offering." "I am, and I will.

I'm concerned about the woman you're holding prisoner in there," Beckett said. "Knock three times if you're being held against your will." Phoebe gasped and answered, "I'm fine, too." "Good." Beckett said with a chuckle. "I was afraid I'd have to call the cops on my cop brother.

Of course ya love me. I'm very loveable.

It’s like your whole life you’ve been falling toward the earth, until the moment someone catchesyou. And you realize that somehow you’ve caught her at the same time. And together, instead offalling, you might be able to fly.” The ghost went to the discarded clipping and stared down at thephoto, riveted. “She’s a beaut, isn’t she?”“Sure,” Alex said automatically, although there was nothing of Zoë’s sparkling allure in thephoto, only a hint of resemblance.

She was thinking of doing a little Cuervo therapy.