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b22b63f
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I know that any man who cared about you would have made it his business to find you a long time ago. I would have. If I thought you had any feelings for me whatsoever, I'd tear up the country looking for you. And he never even tried." Well, she thought, she had told him the whole, sad story. "There are things to resolve about that, but--" "Before you pull up stakes, you'd better try to think clearly, Franci. There's still time for you to be..
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Robyn Carr |
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fe878b2
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I hope I live to see you at sixty-two. I'd like to hear firsthand just how you handle people pushing you around as though you're some doddering old--" "I didn't do that! I'm just being cautious. It's not your age, it's your...your... You're a woman out on the road alone, Mom! And if I remember my geography, from Las Vegas to Reno is a pretty lonely stretch of road." "I'll lock my car doors so the wild mules don't get me." "What"
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Robyn Carr |
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470d0cc
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Cocktail weenies?" he asked, holding up a little can. "Who gives cocktail weenies to a needy family?" "I mighta done that," said Hope McCrea, pushing her big black glasses up on her nose. "The can is bulging," Jack said. "Been a while since I had a yen for cocktail weenies," Hope replied, unrepentant. Jack pitched the can in the trash. "Sorry, Hope. Can't take a chance on killing anyone our first try at this."
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Robyn Carr |
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db12955
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Will you wear this?" The diamond wasn't large as diamonds go, but from Ellie's perspective it was enormous. She never in her wildest dreams expected jewelry. "Is it real?" she asked in a breath. When he nodded, she asked, "Can we afford this?" "Ellie, we can't afford anything!" He laughed. "Noah, have you lost your mind? I don't need something like this! I'd rather have a washing machine!" He took her chin in his big hand, tilted her face u..
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Robyn Carr |
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e20731d
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George, please sit down," Luke said. "Visit a while." "Thanks, don't mind if I do." George pulled a chair over from an empty table and sat right beside Maureen so that she was sandwiched between himself and Art. "What brings you back to town so soon?" he asked her. "I'm, ah, visiting." "Fantastic," he said. "A long visit, I hope." Luke took his seat, chuckling as he did so. "I have a brother here right now--Sean. You might remember him as m..
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Robyn Carr |
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7a5efa0
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Do you think it's a bad omen to meet in a cemetery?" she asked him. "I have a special fondness for this place," he said. "This is exactly where you completely lost control, threw yourself at me and passionately kissed me. I like it here." "I think I surprised myself more than you," she said. "Impossible. I thought I'd have to chase you for years before I got a kiss."
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Robyn Carr |
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aba037a
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I don't know who's more upset with me--T.J. or Sean. T.J., because there's another man in his territory, a man he didn't know existed. Or Sean, because he thought he got his girl back, and he got a lot more than he bargained for." "Well, I'm sure you had your reasons..." Viv said. "That's just it--I had no sense of reason at all! I swear, all that man has to do is..." "I'm okay with not knowing those details," Vivian said. Then she fanned h..
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Robyn Carr |
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80482ae
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Gee, Sean, you've had an interesting few days." "Tell me about it. Then I spent the night with her." He boldly connected eyes with Noah, waiting to be told how many Hail Marys that would cost him, but Noah didn't even flinch. "It was like coming home, I swear. I was never so happy in my life--I found my girl again. I told her how much I'd missed her, how much I loved her, and when the morning coffee was perking, her daughter came bouncing i..
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Robyn Carr |
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f0740a1
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She was wearing an old sweatshirt and pair of jeans, big fluffy slippers and had some kind of feathery dusting thing on a long handle in her hand. And she looked delicious. He wanted to tackle her on the spot.
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Robyn Carr |
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19f121d
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You about ready for some input?" Noah asked. "It's free advice, and you're under no obligation." "Go for it," Sean said. "Forget all that--it's in the past. You'll work through it, hopefully without hurting each other. Right now? Get to know your daughter. It's the most important part of this whole drama. Get to know Rosie. Whether you want to be a father or not, you are one, so press on--start a relationship with her right away. Both of yo..
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Robyn Carr |
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1deaeba
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You about ready for some input?" Noah asked. "It's free advice, and you're under no obligation." "Go for it," Sean said. "Forget all that--it's in the past. You'll work through it, hopefully without hurting each other. Right now? Get to know your daughter. It's the most important part of this whole drama. Get to know Rosie. Whether you want to be a father or not, you are one, so press on--start a relationship with her right away. Both of yo..
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Robyn Carr |
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229b388
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I didn't want to face it. I knew you'd be angry...she'd be confused--things could get real complicated. And I was afraid you might not acknowledge...her..." He frowned. "Not acknowledge her?" he asked in confusion. She took a deep breath and stiffened her spine. "I knew you didn't want a child--you were very clear. And really, I didn't want anything from you. So I thought you might say she wasn't yours and you didn't want--" He grabbed her ..
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Robyn Carr |
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f894fc0
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I'm positive he's still scared of me. I know he's been slapped, but I hold the sole distinction of taking him down." "And she put a boot on his chest to hold him down while she threatened his life," Jack said. "I'm telling you, I almost exploded with lust. I had to marry her." Ellie"
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Robyn Carr |
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6452852
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I had a good job, made good money, was taking good care of my kids. That club is totally legal. Maybe it's not tasteful, but it's legal. Most of the women dancing in there are single moms. That judge--he had it out for me. Maybe I should've let him buy me dinner." Noah's eyes narrowed and he glowered. "He didn't want dinner." "Yeah, that's why I said no," she said. "You"
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Robyn Carr |
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fea516c
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Listen, I was wanting to ask you a couple of things. Like about your daddy. What do you know about your daddy?" She turned back to the stove again, very busy, very intent on her imaginary project. "He has a big plane," she said without looking at him. "He's bery important with a big plane." "Is that so?" She nodded. "I have news for you, Rose. It turns out I'm your daddy. How about that?" She looked over her shoulder at him. She didn't look..
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Robyn Carr |
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2e57d50
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She hadn't had quite this much attention from T.J. since they'd started dating. He must feel completely threatened. She wasn't sure if that amused her or worried her. But she turned off her phone just in case T.J. decided he had something more to say.
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Robyn Carr |
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a427eb0
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Were you ever lonely, Franci?" he asked in a whisper against her neck. "Without me?" Her eyes popped open, but she kept her breathing even, pretending to be sleeping. "I never thought about it, about being lonely without you," he whispered. "But I kept wondering why I was so empty." He kissed her neck. "I looked for you in so many women and never understood why it didn't work. Never understood it was because I loved you." She pinched her ey..
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Robyn Carr |
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e38820e
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He could tell by the expression on her face, there was going to be some drama about last night. He mentally prepared himself; she was going to warn him it didn't mean they were getting back together. She could say that all day; he wouldn't argue with her. But he wasn't leaving; he wasn't letting her walk away from him again. Franci
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Robyn Carr |
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c2fabb7
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I think loving someone and losing them can leave a hole in your heart.
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Robyn Carr |
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11deeb9
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He went into the hall bathroom that separated the two bedrooms and lifted the lid. He yawned. He scratched his head and felt foreign objects in his hair. While he continued to aim the stream into the commode, he leaned to the left to look in the small mirror over the sink and almost had heart failure. He actually might have jumped and briefly missed the pot. Sean had little-girl "things" in his short hair--clips, bows, ponytail bands, jewel..
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Robyn Carr |
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d944da0
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I was just about to tell you when she came bounding in the front door. Rosie doesn't walk anywhere." "You were just about to tell me? A few years after the fact?" "I told you I needed a commitment, that I wanted a child...children. You were adamant--you were not interested in the same things I was." "You might've left out a couple of things--like you were pregnant. That red hair and those green eyes--they've been in my family for generation..
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Robyn Carr |
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611a59b
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He heard a low, faint growl and looked toward the end of the couch to see that little blond-and-white dog baring his teeth. The little bastard was wearing a tutu. "You bite me again, we're going to have cocker spaniel soup," he said by way of warning. Harry pranced away. "By the way, you look ridiculous," Sean called after him. "Who are you talking to?" Franci asked as she came into the room. "Harry. He hates me. Animals usually like me--wh..
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Robyn Carr |
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074d8dc
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If you want to say good-night to Rosie before you go, now's the time. Her light is going off in..." She looked at her watch. "Fifteen minutes." "Fine," he said, standing. "Did I do all right today? I mean, she didn't run screaming from the room or anything." "You did very well, Sean. I'm impressed." He smiled a small smile, asking himself why that felt so good coming from her."
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Robyn Carr |
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c2f19bf
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Let me stay over," he said. "No. I have things to get ready for tomorrow. I teach a couple of classes on Monday and Thursday mornings and keep office hours for students in the afternoons. Then I work my twenty-four-hour shifts in Redding on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Tomorrow starts a real busy week and I--" "Okay," he said. "I'll watch TV while you get your stuff together." "No. You'll seduce me and I have a child in the house." "Gee, ho..
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Robyn Carr |
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3c9f092
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scars are much tougher than virgin skin.
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Robyn Carr |
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a6a398a
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When she heard him in the doorway, she looked up from her place on the floor and a coppery curl fell over her forehead. He couldn't help but smile at her--she looked cute as the dickens with her hair piled on top of her head and drowning in his shirt.
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Robyn Carr |
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5d80743
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I think you've just about exceeded your limit for small talk, Sean. And you're fidgeting. Either you have to go to the bathroom or you have something to tell me." She squinted at him. "Are you wearing makeup?" He frowned, then thought back to the day before. "Oh. Sort of. Some kind of cover thing for my...rash. I guess I'm allergic to...must be pizza..." "Pizza?" she asked, confused. "With your lifestyle? That would be tragic." "I" --
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Robyn Carr |
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218ce49
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Good Lord," Maureen interrupted him. "What did your father and I do to turn you boys off marriage?" she asked, half pleading, half annoyed. "I thought we had a good marriage, your da and me. He was so wonderful to me. I tried to take good care of him and you boys! It makes me wonder where we failed that the lot of you are terrified of marriage." "It"
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Robyn Carr |
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cab19cf
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They'd only gone a few steps when she whacked him in the back of the head. "Ma!" he yelled, a hand going to his head as he whirled on her. "Holy Mother Mary, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! Were you raised by wolves?"
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Robyn Carr |
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d167101
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Can't you wait for bed?" "I could, but the house is full of people. Why'd you insist my mother had to stay with us in the house? She was perfectly willing to take a cabin." "First of all, there's only one cabin empty and it's hunting season, and second, I'm not going to have your mother stay under a different roof when we have two perfectly good upstairs bedrooms. That would be rude. Besides, we're married--we're allowed to have sex in our ..
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Robyn Carr |
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26be35f
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Sean briefly wondered if in an earlier life he had pissed off a bunch of tough old goddesses; he was surrounded by strong, opinionated women.
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Robyn Carr |
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0730ecb
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Jo Ellen, honey, can we start over? We used to have something pretty special, you and me. I don't think it's too late for that." "Ah. I think I know what you want. Pretty sneaky." "Huh? What?" he asked. "Bedroom stuff," she said. "That's what this is all about." "Oh, phooey," he scoffed. "That's not what I'm after. I just want some good feelings to go with the great way we manage this marriage. Know what I mean?" He leaned toward her. "I wa..
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Robyn Carr |
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32ee725
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I told you," he said. "I gave you my word, my commitment, that I'd stand by you, wouldn't let you down. I'll love you forever, never let you down, stay with you from now on. I couldn't have made love to you under any other terms. It's not just some notion of mine, Ellie, but part of who I am. When I make promises like that, I don't back out. No matter what." She"
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Robyn Carr |
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04f8fd9
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We're home, shortcake. Let's find your jammies." She squirmed and murmured, not letting go of his neck. He laughed at her and said, "I can't help you change clothes if you don't let go." With her face buried in his neck, she asked, "Are you still my daddy?" Sean felt his heart catch. All at once he was filled up with so much emotion he was sure he wouldn't be able to swallow if he tried. And he suddenly couldn't focus his vision. He turned ..
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Robyn Carr |
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555e67c
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He was wearing a very sharp dark suit, blinding-white shirt and royal-blue tie. It brought out the sheen in his black hair, which had finally been trimmed, and his magnificent blue eyes glittered. "Whoa,"
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Robyn Carr |
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ec71c8a
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My new daughter-in-law is certainly pregnant and I'm not sure she even realizes it herself yet! She is moody, nauseous, cries at the drop of a hat, and they want a baby. Vivian, I have to get out of there so they can be alone together for this news. I remember when I was barely pregnant with Aiden and my mother-in-law just wouldn't leave. I thought about killing her in her sleep!" Viv laughed. "I have a spare room if you think your life's i..
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Robyn Carr |
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5b6eadd
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Where is she? I thought she'd be down here to say hello by now. And she's helping with the music for the rehearsal." "How much help?" George asked dubiously. Noah laughed. "Poor girl, she really wanted to play for them. Once the piano arrived and was tuned, she got right on it. But I guess Ellie's been away from the piano a little longer than she thought--it was pretty rough. Not to mention the language this old church had to endure. We dec..
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Robyn Carr |
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bb07ac0
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Let's get this over with," Walt blustered to Noah. "They're setting up some mighty fine-looking food back at the house and those Riordans are circling like starving dogs. I'd like to get back there while they're still sober enough to make the toasts." Noah"
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Robyn Carr |
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406759e
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Let's get this over with," Walt blustered to Noah. "They're setting up some mighty fine-looking food back at the house and those Riordans are circling like starving dogs. I'd like to get back there while they're still sober enough to make the toasts." Noah looked at his watch yet again. "Let's give Ellie another minute--she's helping with the music tonight. Tomorrow is a no-brainer, she can just start the CD and--" "You sure she's coming, N..
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Robyn Carr |
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9a00ff0
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Ellie! No!" He rushed to her. "God, no! You can't be leaving me! Don't!" He grabbed her face and covered her mouth in a hard, desperate kiss. Her eyes flew open in stunned disbelief; she stopped breathing. He released her mouth but not her face, which he held in his hands, his fingers threaded into her hair. "You can't go, Ellie, you can't. Don't you know how much I love you? God, I'd be nothing without you. I never thought I'd get to feel ..
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Robyn Carr |
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bf25039
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Luke, I love you. I promise that each day I have you in my life, I will show you my love." Noah's eyes drifted to Ellie's and a smile played about his lips as the bride and groom spoke. "Shelby, I love you. In each day of our lives together, I will show my love. And where there is injury, I will pardon without hesitation." "Where there is doubt, Luke, I will have faith in you." "In times of despair, you will be my hope." "In times of darkne..
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Robyn Carr |
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ac01468
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I need some time for the rest. I just don't take something like marriage lightly. If I do it, I'll mean it, and I won't change my mind. But I think you'd do it right now for all the wrong reasons." "Does this have anything to do with the guy you didn't let stay last night?" he asked. "My boyfriend?" she asked, smiling. She knew it was naughty to taunt him like that; she wasn't thinking of T.J. as a boyfriend at the moment. "It would be nice..
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Robyn Carr |
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0309caa
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Mooommmm-eeeee! What are you dooooo-ing?" Sean broke away abruptly and turned scarlet. There, at the end of the couch, stood Rosie, her pajama bottoms and panties missing, Harry standing beside her, his tail wagging out of his tutu. Sean grabbed a throw pillow and held it over the bulge in his jeans, although there was no way Rosie would know what was going on with him. "Kissing Sean," Franci said very naturally. "Where are your pants?" "I ..
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Robyn Carr |
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498e5fd
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Congratulations, man," his brother Aiden said. "How about that, huh?" "Uh, how about what, Aiden?" he asked cautiously. "A little girl, I hear. Three and a half? Almost four?" "Who told you?! How do you know that?" "Who do you think? Luke. He said you caught up with Franci. He told me about the reason she bolted a few years ago. Bet you were surprised, huh?" "I told that son of a bitch not to say anything yet!" "I"
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Robyn Carr |