“Arik passed another smug look to Brian, then toMegeara. He was getting tired of her mistrust—not that hedidn't deserve it. It was merely causing him aggravation—aninteresting emotion that. He didn't like it. It was tooaggravating.”

“Solin seemed to take his brother's challenge in stride as heturned to Geary. "So tell me, lovely lady, where on earth didyou happen to find my wayward brother?"She glanced at Arik over her shoulder to see him watchingher before she answered."Floating in the sea, but he won't tell me how it is he came tobe there.""Knowing Arik, I'm sure he angered someone who threw himin, hoping he'd drown.""Actually they threw me in hoping I'd land on someone elseand drown them.Unfortunately, you swam away too fast.”

“A smile curved his lips.Stunned, she stood there unable to move as she saw the one thing she'd never thought to see form him. A real, full-blown smile. The man was absolutely gorgeous."My God, you have dimples."His smile vanished instantly. "I know.""No, no, no, no, no!" she said, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Don't you dare hide those. They're beautiful."He dodged her touch. "They look stupid."She let out an aggravated breath. "They are sexy as all get-out. Trust me. Dimples like those will definitely get you laid.”

“It’s a yes then? (Arik)No. I thought I’d walk through hell to reclaim you and carry your baby just for the heck of it. Who needs marriage. (Geary)I do! (Arik)Good. I can let you live another day. (Geary)”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend or family you’d rather be with? (Geary)Only Solin, and honestly, he’s not this soft. Even if he was, it’d be gross. (Arik)”

“I take it you didn’t get the permits...again. (Brian)What was your first clue? (Geary)Oh, I don’t know. That stomping stance as you walked down the street, clenching and unclenching your fists like you’re already choking someone, or maybe it’s that way you’re looking at me like you could claw out my eyes when I haven’t done anything to piss you off. (Brian)Yes, you have. (Geary)And that is? (Brian)You don’t have a gun. (Geary)”

“Looks like you’re naked.”His jaw worked as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I beg your pardon?”“Beg all you want, you’re still going to be naked.” Tabitha paused at the wicked image in her mind. “Come to think of it, a gorgeous, begging, naked man… that’s the stuff of fantasies. Begging won’t get you your clothes, but it could get you something else.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.”