“Momentarily forgetting this wasn’t one of her She-wolves, Sissy automatically teased, “Good thingmy brother likes women with meat on their bones ’cause your ass is gonna be gettin’ wide.”As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could take them back.But without missing a beat, Jessie shot back, “Cool. Now I can start wearing your jeans. I thoughtthat was only going to be possible during the late stages of the pregnancy.”

“So she was ‘my lady’ now, not ‘miss’. That was what she had always wanted, wasn’t it? Why did the words chill her? There was something so cold and final about it, like the click of a door closing behind her. Her childhood was over, and now there was only her place in the ‘great game’, and whatever role Uncle Maxim had chosen for her. There was no going back.”

“I have a great idea, Gregori," she told him wickedly. "Let's take a commercial flight.""What?" He was staring at her mouth. She had a great mouth.A perfect mouth. A sexy mouth. Mon Dieu, he wanted her mouth."Doesn't a commercial flight sound fun? We could take a night flight, mingle with people.It might even throw off the reporter.""Nothing is going to throw off the reporter.He is tenacious.And there will be no commercial flight.There will be no discussion on this,either. None. If we go to New Orleans,and I am not saying we will, commercial flights are out.""Oh,Gregori,I was only kidding. Naturally we'll do things your way," she added demurely.He shook his head,exasperated at himself. Of course she had been teasing. He wasn't used to anyone treating him as Savannah did. Outrageous woman. "I need to go out and talk with Wade Carter."She stood up instantly, expectantly, her blue eyes wide in anticipation. "Tell me what you want me to do. I can probably manage mist.I'm stronger now,using your blood.I can back you up."Amusement warmed the cool silver of his eyes. "Mon Dieu, Savannah, you sound like a cop movie.”

“It figured that the one man that treated her like a woman was the one that made her wish she was a man so that she could kick his ass.”

“(Rico) “What’s it going to take to get you to dance with me?”She crooked her index finger and motioned him to come close. “A million in your bank account and seven inches in your pants.”Without missing a beat he replied, “The million I have, but even for a woman as beautiful as you, I won’t cut off three inches.”Olivia’s eyes went wide and she burst out laughing.”

“What?" she asks, but I don't answer. Instead I kiss her, one time, and try to tell her in that single gesture everything that she'll forget as soon as she turns away. I tell her I love her. I tell her I'll miss her. And then I let her go.”