June 1st 2013
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"You're lying. You're just teasing me."
He lifted one shoulder, picking at the tip of his hook. "Hmm."
She licked her lips. "You know that's not really an answer. And anyway, I thought genies could only grant three wishes."
"It's a cursed chest, the genie can deny the wisher nothing. Endless treasure."
"And it's inside your cabin, maybe it's not a lie. Seems like the kind of thing a dastardly pirate would want to keep close to him."
Eyes sparkling, he tipped his head. "Perhaps. Or perhaps it was an elaborate lie to force you to bend over so I could sneak a look at your red drawers again."
Biting her lip, she tugged the frock down, only now realizing she'd completely exposed herself to him. "You jerk."
He laughed. "Be that as it may, you will not leave this room unless you change. So what will it be, little bird? Trust or no?"
"Why do you keep calling me that?" she growled, more because if she didn't, she'd laugh. The man was obnoxiously hot and funny, who knew the villainous Hook had it in him?
"Because you've the skinny little legs of a bird and you fell in front of me like a chick from a nest. I'll admit, I've another reason for asking you to change. I despise your clothing. In fact, I fight the urge to rip it from you."
At first she almost grinned, until she noticed the sparkle in his eyes was gone. One part of his story did seem true, Hook hated Pan as much as the book portrayed. ~ within Chapter 7
"Call me a bastard," he growled, refusing to censure his thoughts in that moment because his heart was thumping too hard and his chest ached with something he could not name, "but I aim to ruin you for any other man." ~ within Chapter 13For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Marie, then please check out her website.
“You can have cars delivered?” Her voice echoed the amazed look on her face.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Kirsten, then please check out her on the Goodreads' website.
He laughed. “With enough money you can have just about anything done.” He loved how innocent she was about money. Her sister had known exactly how to use it, and had expected him to buy her an expensive gift every time they went out. She was a refreshing change.
“Well how will I feed her and diaper her today?” She only had two diapers left and enough formula for one more bottle. They wouldn’t make it through the next three hours, let alone the next twenty-four.
He shrugged. “Connie can go. Make her a list.” His tone of voice made it clear he was used to ordering others to do whatever he didn’t want to do.
“Faith has been riding in that car since the day she was born. It’s never hurt her.” She had to make one more protest. She couldn’t just let a man she’d met the day before buy her a car. People didn’t really do that, did they?
“There’s always a first time. I didn’t know about her before. Now that I do, she’s not riding in that rattle-trap.” He didn’t say another word as he turned to go back into his office.
Bailey turned and stalked to the kitchen to make a list for Connie. “Your daddy is a pain in the butt, Faithy.”
“I heard that!”
“You were meant to!” ~ within Chapter 2
Julia reached out as Damien fell, but she had been too far away, changing. Her suit was only halfway on, and she quickly pulled the straps up over her shoulders and stepped over to the edge of the dock.For more information on this book and/or any other books by Aubrey, then please check out her website.
"Damien?"
He had gone under the surface of the water, and Julia waited, but he did not come up. Worry arced through her nerves.
"Damien?"
She looked around, but there was nobody else at the lake. Taking a deep breath, she jumped into the water. She gasped in shock at the cold, sputtering as she spun around in the water, her hands reaching out to try to find him.
Damien's head popped up from the lake surface behind her with a splash. She turned to see him, his dark hair dripping with water.
"Are you naked?" he asked. His eyes were closed, and he was grinning.
"Damien!" A rush of relief swept through her. She clung to one of the wooden dock pillars, her feet treading water. "No, I am not naked!"
"Darn," he said, swimming over to her. His hand reached out and she took it, guiding him to the pillar. He grasped the wood and hung there next to her, both of them breathing hard.
"That was a test," he said, as soon as he had caught his breath.
"A test?"
"To see how much you care about me dying."
"A test? A test?!" She splashed his face. She was so happy about him being alive that she didn't care how much water he got in his nose.
"Yes," he said, laughing and running his hand through his wet hair. ~ within Chapter 11
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Monday mornings are always difficult. You just finish the weekend and it feels like a lifetime until it comes around again. But, today was different, I knew the sooner I got going, the better my day would be.
I grabbed my jeans and my cute red t-shirt, as I looked into the mirror I noticed for the first time it hugged all the right spots. I still can’t believe the way I was looking at myself. I used to grab whatever wasn’t dirty and be content with that. But, I had a reason to look good. I clipped my hair back, leaving some of it over my shoulders. As I looked in the mirror one last time, I heard a car horn in the driveway.
I didn’t know who it could possibly be this early in the morning. I walked over to the window and smiled, it was Eric.
“Emily, I think you have a ride to school!” My mom called up from downstairs.
I grabbed my school work and headed downstairs with my stuff.
“Wow, Emily. You look fantastic.”
“Thanks, Mom, but really I’m not trying.”
She laughed again, “Sure.”
I hugged her good bye and headed out the door. I smiled at Eric as he got out of the car, “Emily, you look beautiful.”
He opened the door for me and I slid into his awesome Mustang, “Thanks for the ride this morning, you really didn’t need to do this. I don’t mind walking.”
He smiled, “How would it look if I let my girlfriend walk to school while I drove?”
I blushed again, “Girlfriend?”
This time he blushed a little, “I guess I never officially asked you, it’s just I had such a great time Saturday night.”
“I couldn’t agree more with you.”
He smiled, “So, would you be my girlfriend?”
“You sure your dad will be ok with this? I honestly don’t want you to lose focus on football and cause you any trouble.”
“Emily, you don’t have to worry about that. I will handle my father.”
I smiled at him as he pulled into his spot at the high school, “Let’s see if this will answer it for you then.”
I leaned over to him as I gently pressed my lips to his again. He responded very quickly to my lips, tasting them. ~ within the chapter titled 'IT’S OFFICIAL'
As I surfed the web, looking at articles, looking at clothes. I found a lingerie website and was amazed at what was out there. I giggled at myself trying to picture me wearing stuff like that. I definitely don’t think I’m ready for that. I laughed again as I heard my door open, I quickly shut my laptop and looked up.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Melissa, then please check out her website.
“Hey Gorgeous, your mom said you were up here, so figured I would surprise you.” Eric said walking into my room.
Mom never had a problem with him in my room as long as I left the door open, which made me laugh every time. She had nothing to worry about.
“Hey you, I’m trying to keep warm I figured staying in my bed would help with that.”
He laughed, “You will get used to it, you haven’t seen the worst of it yet, Babe.”
I sighed, “Lucky me.”
“So, what are you looking at on your computer?”
I blushed quickly, trying to grab my laptop before he could but he was too fast, he grabbed it as he sat next to me on my bed, opening it up.
I wanted to hide underneath my bed and never come out as the website popped up and displayed the sexiest lingerie that I ever seen.
“Wow, Em, anything you want to discuss with me?”
“No, please no.”
He laughed and scrolled through the pictures, “Well, if I get a say, I like the black one, but you look hot in red also, but I will leave the choice to you.”
“Please God, stop, I’m so embarrassed right now.”
“Why, this is hot!”
I threw a pillow over my face and wanted to die. ~ within the chapter titled 'SEASONS CHANGE'
"Simon, I beg to be introduced to your lovely new bride." He came around the table and clapped Simon on the shoulder as he beamed at Miranda.
Simon could not help reflecting that Arthur would have been just as effusive if Miranda had been four feet tall and possessed of hairy warts on her nose and chin. Arthur had always been a bit unsure of his ability to carry out the duties of an heir. Simon's mother had sarcastically called him the "heir-reluctant." Simon might have laughed, if it were not so patently true.
He patted Miranda's hand briefly and then released her. "Yes. Miranda, I am pleased to present you to my cousin Arthur. Arthur, this is my bride, Miranda."
Arthur beamed. "Welcome to the family, my dear. I have been telling Simon that what he needs is a bride and children-not a distant cousin culled from nowhere to learn to perform duties he's not very good at to begin with."
Miranda looked at him in puzzlement. "Culled from nowhere? Surely not."
Arthur colored. "Of course I am a bonafide Watterly. I am just from a very distant branch of the family. We'd quite forgotten our ties to the Dukes of Kerstone until Simon reminded us, I daresay."
And happy to have done so, Simon thought to himself as he remembered the arguments that had preceded Arthur's agreement to be trained as Simon's heir. It was only the fact that, as the closest male relative, he would indeed inherit the title and lands whether or not he trained for the task that convinced him to take the offer and come to learn about his future duties. ~ within Chapter 12
Resolutely, she cleared her head of thoughts she could do nothing about and began writing again in a careful, flowing script her mother would have exclaimed with pride over. Duchess of Kerstone. Yes, her mother would have been pleased.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Kelly, then please check out her website.
She thought of the life her sisters would bring to this austere home tomorrow. Swift upon the heels of that thought was the worry that Simon's health would be adversely affected. Well, then, Katherine and she would need to be even more observant than they had been. Not that there had been much to discover.
She wondered if Simon had tried the tea she had brought him this morning. The brew had smelled quite awful even with the lemon and sugar they had to add to make the odor more inviting, but Katherine thought it might help.
Try as she might to see Simon's point of view, she could not see the harm in drinking a cup of herbal tea. But his warning still rang in her ears — he did not want to be dosed.
When he had raised an eyebrow at the tea, she had forced herself to lie and say that Cook had over brewed it. She wondered if he had believed her. At least, if he had not, he made no protest. She took comfort in that small victory. ~ within Chapter 15
When Rose turned around to address Simon, she was presented with the ridiculous vision of him scrunched up uncomfortably in a chair clearly meant for a woman’s parlor—a diminutive woman, at that—with his legs crossed awkwardly, his elbows resting together on one knee, and his head held high in some attempt to look suave and sophisticated, while it was clear he was anything but.
Rose couldn’t help herself as she burst out laughing.
Simon growled at her merriment while he unfolded himself from the chair and, taking two steps to his right, settled into a much larger, much more comfortable armchair.
Her mother had returned from a recent shopping excursion with a variety of new chairs, most of which she had put in the library until she could decide where to place them in the rest of the house. Rose had seen this happen before and invariably all of the temporarily placed furniture ended up remaining where it was from that point forward. ~ within Chapter 4
Try smiling; it hides a multitude of sins.
—The Duke of Lancaster ~ within Chapter 5
“Do you think if I held you on my shoulders you could reach the window?”For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Catherine, then please check out her website.
“Enough to see inside, maybe, but I don’t think I would be able to open it.”
“That’s all right,” Simon replied. “I don’t believe that type of window opens anyway.”
“Then why do you want me to reach it?”
“I just want you to look around. Hopefully something you see will give us an idea of where to look for the entrance.”
“Oh,” Rose said. “That’s quite a good idea.”
“I’m so glad you think so,” Simon responded wryly.
Rose caught his tone and she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Very mature,” Simon muttered, as he crouched down to allow Rose to sit on his shoulders.
“It would behoove you not to make snide comments to a person who will very soon be able to step on your head,” Rose suggested.
“And it would behoove that person not to do anything that may cause me to drop her on her pretty little bum.”
“Point taken,” Rose acknowledged with a nod as she climbed gingerly onto his shoulders, clinging uncertainly to his head.
“Hmph,” Simon grunted, both in response to Rose’s acquiescence and with the effort needed to raise them both up from his bent position. ~ within Chapter 13
Queen Thomasine almost rue the day she’d had a son.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Kae Elle, then please check out her website.
Non, that was not quite right, for she loved her son dearly. But she’d be hard pressed to refrain from admitting that the comfort of a daughter would have served quite pleasant. Someone with whom she could embroider, or titter on about the failings of men. She sighed. It would have made for excellent bonding experiences.
Regrettably, that had not been her destiny.
She shook away the fantasies and turned to the misfortune at hand. For days now, seven to be precise, Prince had moped about the palace, hoping against hope, his lovely young woman would somehow reappear. Drop into his life the same way she’d dropped out.
Thomasine had deliberately let a full sennight of his nonsense persist before finally summoning him to set forth she and her twin’s underhanded scheme. ’Twas not without some guilt, however.
She quashed the feelings ruthlessly.
“Have you decided what it is you are to do now, mon fils? You have spent this week past doing naught but brooding and sulking about.”
His gaping shock was most telling.
“Mamán,” he said sharply—deeply offended.
She bit back a searing retort, irritated that young men dared think a mother could not possibly understand such a dilemma. Bah, what was it with today’s children? Did they believe their parents had sprung from the womb grown? Not experienced love and infatuations in their youth? That they had had a youth? ~ within Chapter 2
“You’re no farmer,” he said.
Kylie gave an apologetic sigh as she ladled out the soup. “Nor a chef, either.” Putting a bowl at the place she’d set for him, she said, “I’m a primary teacher at Gaelscoil Pearse—one of the local All-Irish schools. An bhfuil Gaeilge agat?”
A smile, almost too brief to be seen, passed across his face. “I speak a word or two, but none that I’ll be trotting out for an expert like you. And now you’re teaching it to the young? It’s a grand thing you’re doing.”
She felt her face color at the compliment; she received them so painfully seldom. Kylie smiled her thanks. “Milk? It’s fresh this morning.” At his “please,” she busied herself pulling two clean glasses from the shelf and the milk from her small refrigerator.
The milk, at least, would be right. The bread was another issue. On her pay, store bought was an impossibility. Home-baked, on the other hand, was a punishment. She sawed frantically at the loaf, wishing not for the first time that she’d had a mother long enough to teach her these basic things. With luck, Michael Kilbride had a forgiving nature because he’d have much to forgive after this meal. ~ within Chapter 1
“You mean you can cook this well and you’ve not shared with me? You’ve bloody well betrayed me in my own kitchen.”For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Dorien, then please check out her website.
Michael just looked back over his shoulder at her. “And how, exactly, did you think that dog of yours has grown fat as a sausage roll? And more important, how’d you think I avoided starvation? Though it was a near thing,” he added before deftly flipping the eggs, leaving their yolks perfectly intact. “And as for sharing with you, you’ll note I’m not much for tofu or whatever that gelatinous block of white stuff you live on is.”
Vi grabbed a pot of raspberry preserves. “The stuff in the fridge? I don’t live on that! I’m just keeping it till I remember what it is, or until it has a life of its own—whichever comes first.”
Michael laughed. ~ within Chapter 20
“I like you Aubrey. I can tell by your sarcastic undertones, rude comments and sheer lack of common decency that we’re going to friends in no time. I can just tell.”
“Whatever you say, Boss.” I grumbled.
I turned my attention back to my book until the timer went off letting me know that the food was ready. I expertly prepared the dishes. They looked as if they came out of a five-star restaurant. I placed them down on the trays in front of the boys. Jake devoured it and moaned the whole time earning a secret laugh from me. Maybe he wouldn’t be so awful after all.
He called to me over his shoulder. “If you cook like this all the time we’re skipping the friend stage and getting married.”
I take that back, we’re going to kill each other. I sat down and curled into a ball. I lost the battle of the heavy lids. ~ within Chapter 1 - titled 'Everywhere I Go' - Aubrey
I kept my promise last night to make up for Veronica and ordered Aubrey the biggest brownie sundae that the hotel had to offer. She moaned the entire time, which led to me having to excuse myself to the bathroom for the “shits.” This morning we were meeting everyone in the lobby for breakfast. Surprisingly , we got there first. Aubrey and I ordered waffles and bacon. Brett ordered eggs and sausage. Kevin came down next. He was always so laid back and easy going. Aubrey called him the Valium for the group. He said good morning to everyone and ordered his tofu scramble. Blake was next. He stumbled into the booth half awake. He ordered a coffee and put his head on the table. Derek was last. He showed up with a huge grin on his face. He was most likely up all night doing horrible things to corrupt the girl that he brought back to his room.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Sophie, then please check out her website.
“Good night?” Blake mumbled to Derek.
“She told me she wanted a magical night with a rock star. So I fucked her and disappeared.” Derek said.
Blake laughed, and Kevin scoffed.
“You found it offensive, I found it funny. That’s why I’m happier than you.” Derek said to Kevin.
“Acting like a dick won’t make yours any bigger.” Kevin said. “I’m sorry my sense of humor offended you.” Derek laughed.
“Alright, it’s too early for all these insults.” I reprimanded. ~ within Chapter 7 - titled 'Claws & Daggers' - Jake