“As he walked out into the North Carolina sunshine, Lola's hand in his, a smile curved one corner of his lips. Not so long ago, he'd stood on the burned-out bridge of the Dora Mae, thinking himself cursed with a beautiful underwear model and her sissy little dog. He'd always believed Lola Carlyle would be the death of him."We never did get around to watching Pride and Prejudice," she said, a teasing glint in her beautiful eyes.Yeah, she would most definitely be the death of him, but what a way to go.”

“Do you know what else I think? I think I like the idea of Lola Carlyle worrying about me." He slid his knuckle along her jaw to her chin and she held her breath.”

“You’re beautiful.” His words warmed her skin and tugged at her heart, and this time she believed he meant what he said. He rested his forehead against her, his dark hair in stark contrast to her white flesh. “I knew you would be. I’ve always known. Always.”

“You're beautiful, Delaney, and you could have anyone you want. Why me?" She knew she wasn't beautiful, not like her mother. But the way he looked at her and touched her, and the tone of his voice when he said it made her almost believe him. He made her believe anything was possible. "Because you make me not want to say no.”

“He'd already planned on checking out the house for her, but what he hadn't planned on was her hooking her hand around the back of his belt and urging him forward like a human shield. Now, there were times in Dylan's life when he hadn't minded women using his body, but they'd always been naked a the time. He didn't know how he felt about being used as a target so Hope could run like hell if anything hit him first.-Dylan”

“Luc scored forty and slapped the darts in her palm. “The light sucks in here.”“No.” She smiles and took great pleasure in announcing, “You suck.”His gaze narrowed.Weeks of anger and hurt poured out of her and she said, louder than she’d intended, “And worse – you’re a whiner.”A collective intake of breath caught their attention and she and Luc turned and looked at the guys watching a few feet away.“Lucky’s gonna kill Sharky,” Sutter predicted from the sidelines.By taut agreement they both went to their respective corners. Jane shot and scored sixty-five. Luc scored thirty-four.“Now remind me. Why do they call you Lucky?” she asked as she reached for the darts.He pulled them back out of her reach as a slow, purely licentious smile curved his mouth. A smile that told her he was remembering her on her knees kissing his tattoo. “I’m sure if you think long and hard, you’ll remember the answer to that.”“No.” She shook her head. “Some things just aren’t that memorable.”

“Stay away from me, Nick." She held out a hand to hold him off. He grabbed her arm and pulled her against his chest. "I can't," he said softly.”