“
This life’s hard, but it’s harder if you’re stupid.
”
”
George V. Higgins (The Friends of Eddie Coyle)
“
Funny, when you finally faced reality, it was amazing how clearly you could see things.
”
”
Mary Higgins Clark (Loves Music, Loves to Dance)
“
When someone is mean to me, I just make them a victim in my next book.
”
”
Mary Higgins Clark
“
You asked why I couldn't forgive you," Nick said, very quietly, and I jumped a little. "It was because you were the love of my life, Harper. And you didn't want to be. That's hard to let go.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
He was smoking hot. As in H-O-T-T, hott. I’d never understood until that moment why girls insisted on adding an extra t. This guy was extra-t-worthy.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I know I’m just a human woman, but so help me, if anything happens to her while she’s with you—”
“I assure you she’ll be in good hands.”
“Mm-hm, that’s part of what I’m worried about.” She pointed at his hands. “Hands off, mister.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I had to get over [him]. For months now, a stone had been sitting on my heart. I'd shed a lot of tears over [him], lost a lot of sleep, eaten a lot of cake batter. Somehow, I had to move on. [Life] would be hell if I didn't shake loose from the grip he had on my heart. I most definitely didn't want to keep feeling this way, alone in a love affair meant for two. Even if he'd felt like The One. Even if I'd always thought we'd end up together. Even if he still had a choke chain on my heart.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (All I Ever Wanted)
“
Good gracious, he was sexy—a word that had not existed in my personal vocabulary until that moment. This guy was sexy like it was his job or something.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I love you,” I whispered.
“I've loved you longer,” he said.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
We have to face difficulties to find out what our true strengths are. How we come back from failure is a very valuable test.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I'll tell you something, Harpy," he said, his voice almost a whisper now. "It never even occurred to me that we wouldn't make it. And it never occurred to you that we would. You were just waiting for us to go down in flames. I thought we could get through anything.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
The beauty of poetry is that it can mean different things to different people at different times.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Seriously,” I whispered, unable to look away. “You're doing the bedroom-eyes thing again.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Oh, dear Lord. I was in love with him. And there wasn’t a thing on earth, in heaven, or in hell that could have stopped me.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I was more myself with you during those three days than I’ve ever been with anyone in my life. It’d be easier if I could be fake with you, but you bring out everything in me, little Ann. All of it.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
There was nothing healthy about desperately wanting something you couldn't have.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I felt you come alive when we kissed, and I know you’re afraid of that. Afraid to unleash that other side of yourself.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
My girlfriend is a party girl angel who can kick some arse and cook.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Girl, all you have to do is say the word, and Mr. Lusty McLust a Lot here will be happy to whisper some dirty nothings in your ear.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Anna... the night of the summit, when you were saved, it was the only time in my life I've thanked God for anything”
Those words. They would melt me over and over for a long time.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Margaret the Churchwoman, her father the Dissenter, Higgins the Infidel, knelt down together. It did them no harm.
”
”
Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South)
“
She smiled, and there it was again, that aching pressure in his chest. Love, or a heart attack. Kind of the same thing.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Somebody to Love (Gideon's Cove, #3))
“
live your life as if you may lose everything.
”
”
Mary Higgins Clark (All Through the Night)
“
He was my drummer. My guy. Mine. I bit my lip to hold back a grin.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
...there is no way of truly knowing one’s heart until one is put to the test.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
My mother was an angel,” I blurted. “A guardian angel.”
Kaidan began to chuckle.
“What's so funny?” I asked.
“You. You're a walking contradiction. Horns and a halo. I don't believe it.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
The purpose of life is to find your way back to a spiritual way of thinking and living—to be able to get past the physical stuff.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
If only…the saddest words in the English language.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
Supposedly Kaidan’s having a difficult time ’cause he can’t say swear words in every sentence,” Marna said with a smile. “He’s determined to find signs for cursing or make some up himself.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Commandment #1: Believe in yourself. Commandment #2: Get over yourself.
”
”
Kristan Higgins
“
It's funny how, even long after you've accepted the grief of losing someone you love and truly have gotten on with your life, every once in a while something comes up that plays "gotcha," and for a moment or tow the car tissue seperates and the wound is raw again.
”
”
Mary Higgins Clark (The Second Time Around)
“
Those two need each other like a bullet needs a target
”
”
Wendy Higgins
“
Ready to s-snuggle?” he asked Kaidan, a slight clatter in his voice. Only Blake could joke on a night like this and get away with it.
Kaidan shook his head and undressed down to his boxers, too, the tension finally shedding away from his frame. “I swear, mate. If I feel something poke me in the back. . .”
Blake's laugh was dry. “I'm pretty sure my junk froze off, man, so don't worry.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Stop smiling. Every time you smile, an angel dies.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.
”
”
George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion)
“
Spend the night with me.” (...)
“I’m tired of living like I’m not alive.” He dropped his hands from my face to grip my shoulders. “I’m bloody sick to death of it. I want one night to be alive. With you.” He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on mine.
“Please, Anna. One last night and we’ll go back to being safe again. I need this. I need you.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
HIGGINS. Have you no morals, man?
DOOLITTLE [unabashed] Cant afford them, Governor. Neither could you if you was as poor as me.
”
”
George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion)
“
I want to introduce myself to every freckle on your body.
”
”
Wendy Higgins
“
Hey, princess of Popsicles! Queen of curlicue cones.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I stole glances at Kaidan's bare skin while the others were busy talking. That's my boyfriend right there, I silently announced.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
My whole life I’d fooled myself into thinking I didn’t need his love, but I’d been wrong. Everyone needed their father’s love.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
This is right, Kai. We love each other.”
He closed his eyes. “I'd do anything for you.”
“Just love me,” I whispered
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
God, you smell nice,” he whispered. “I've missed that smell. I've missed everything about you, little Ann.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Dear God!”
I screamed and buried my face in my pillow.
“What?!” I heard him ask. “Did you see a roach?”
“Why are you naked?!” I did not dare to lift my red face.
“Huh. Is that all?” he asked. “I always sleep in the buff. I don't know how you can stand all that clothing.”
“Unbelievable.” I said, and without looking at him I pulled myself up and stomped to the bathroom.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
We had a secret knowledge that demons couldn't fathom. They saw love as a weakness, but they were wrong. Love would keep us going, love was our strength.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Because all I could think about was you, Anna, and how good you are, and what you'd think of me. You put thoughts into my head a Neph shouldn't have!
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Besides, unrequited love is one of those things that all teen-agers have to go through, right?
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I'm too old for this.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
sometimes our hearts just need time to accept what are heads already know
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
Well,” I said, needing to lighten the mood for him, “next time Kai tries to, um, bust your balls, you can give it right back to him, because he's got a girlfriend now, too.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
But even the worst earthly pain and heartache doesn't last into the heavenly realm. And it all serves a higher purpose.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Granted, I'd waited a long time to hear those words. Would've sold a kidney-maybe two-to have heard them at one point. Now, though...they didn't have the same impact. They were, in fact, an overcooked noodle in the pasta salad of love.
”
”
Kristan Higgins
“
....And then I turned and saw a guy staring at me....
"What are you looking at, idiot?" I asked, giving him the sneer that had served me so well.
"My future wife. The mother of my children.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
HIGGINS. The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another.
”
”
George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion)
“
I texted Kaidan, who was listed in my contacts under “James,” for James Bond. He’d chosen it. He had me listed as “Hot Chick From Gig.”
Video chat in 30.
His immediate response made me shake my head.
Clothing optional?
It was nice to know he could keep a sense of humor in the face of calamity. Or maybe he wasn’t joking...
“Are you two flirting?” Patti asked, her eyes darting to me from the road.
I blushed and deleted his message.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
You shouldn't give him a ride, Grace!" Meme snapped. "He's likely to strangle you and dump your body in the lake."
"Is this true?" I asked Callahan.
"I was thinking about it," he admitted.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Too Good to Be True)
“
I think a third shower might be necessary.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
I jumped and let out an embarrassing squeak when two hands came around my waist.
“Just me, luv,” he said, close to my ear. “Aren't you the picture of domestication? Do you cook as well?
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
God! The sexiest three words in the English language, 'you were right'. What woman doesn't love to hear that?
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
You told some human kid?”
I coughed, buying time. “He's Neph, too.”
Jonathan LaGrey went rigid and his ruddy cheeks paled. I squirmed as his eyes bored into mine.
“Which one's his father?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Richard Rowe. I guess you'd know him as Pharzuph.” Oh, boy. He wasn't pale anymore.
“You came across the country—”
“Shhh!” I warned him as people looked over. He lowered his voice to a shouted whisper.
“—with the son of the Duke of Lust?! Son of a—
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Too much was between us, pulling us together at the same time as it pushed us apart. Our need for each other would always be in constant battle with our need to keep the other safe.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
When an eighty-five pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it's hard to feel sad.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Catch of the Day (Gideon's Cove, #1))
“
I'll see you in hell.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
He opened his eyes to reveal the storm within him.
“My every instinct is telling me to have my way with you.”
He was dead serious and my cheeks heated. Fire shone in his eyes and I broke eye contact, burying my face into his cotton-covered chest.
“But not nearly as difficult as going all this time without you,” he said.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Don't let's ask for the moon! We have the stars!
”
”
Olive Higgins Prouty (Now, Voyager)
“
And here I still think of you as the woman I loved more than I’ve ever loved anyone
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
I'm not really heaven material anyway, chickie babe. Sign me up for your team.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Stop!” I pinned him with a serious look. “No more. Get it out of your head, Kai! We are not running. This is happening whether you like it or not. It's time to get your game face on and get ready to kick some ass.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
Wait,” Kaidan called from behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, but kept walking. Then I felt his hand around my
wrist, spinning me in a half circle and pulling me to his chest. His face was so close. He reached down and cupped my face with one
woolly hand, and wiped the top corner of my lip hard with his thumb. I flinched back.
“What are you doing?”
“I...” He appeared to have no idea himself. “I wanted to see your freckle.”
A vulnerable tenderness flashed across his face, more painful to see than the coldness. It took every ounce of strength I had not to
beg for one last kiss. As fast as his expression had softened, it was back to stone again.
“What do you want from me, Kai?”
“For starters?” His voice lowered to sexy, dangerous depths. “I want to introduce myself to every freckle on your body.”
A powerful shiver ripped through me.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Thankfully I had to stand solitary for only one long moment before Jay came back feeling over-the-moon happy. I let his emotion drench me.
“What were you and Kaidan Rowe talking ’bout?” Jay asked me. “Man, y’all looked like you were gonna rip each other’s clothes off!” I gasped
and smacked his arm, but he didn’t flinch.
“We did not.” My eyes darted over to Kaidan for a fraction of a second, and though he was too far away to have heard, the wink he sent me
brought another flush to my skin.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I can't believe I'm about to drink with my father- this is wrong on so many levels.
”
”
Wendy Higgins
“
God grant me the courage to date the men who aren't idiots, the serenity to accept the fact that many men are idiots, and the wisdom to know the difference
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Until There Was You)
“
You're so bloody cute,” he whispered, his voice all low and yummy.
Blood whooshed through my body. A Kai buzz. Oh, he was totally using the bedroom eyes...all heavy lidded and seductive. I don't even think he was trying. I suddenly felt shy. Even from the other side of the country, this boy was dangerous.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
Would you like me to drive so you can manage your social life?” I asked. It came out much snippier than I’d intended, but he was oblivious to my
tone, still looking at his newest message.
“No, no, I’m fine.”
“We’d better not get in an accident because you’re busy sexting and driving,” I said. He burst out laughing
”
”
Wendy Higgins
“
I knew I hated straight shots of anything except tequila. I was definitely a tequila girl.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I didn't know exactly what the future held, but I knew we were a team. Parting would not break us.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
You should go then.” Don’t go. Don’t bloody leave me. Throw your arms around me. I don’t care if you smear my face with paint, Anna. Tell me you love me. Show me you still want me. Torture me at bit more.Oh, God...she was walking away from me.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
A:I just want to talk,you dont have to try and scare me.
K:There's hardly any room for fear when your so bloody turned on.
”
”
Wendy Higgins
“
Blake got up after some time, claiming he was sweating because of Kaidan, the human furnace.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Life was often so cruel, so ugly. And then, in the midst of all the madness, a precious gift would be placed in your lap. Because life could also be so sweet.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy, #3))
“
Halfway through the meal, while we were all laughing and telling stories, I made the mistake of placing my hand on Kaidan's upper thigh without thinking.
He let out a groan loud enough to silence the room. I slipped my hand back into my own lap, and Kaidan cleared his throat.
“Wow,” he said. “The corn pudding is fantastic.”
I snorted, which started a round of snickers. Patti smiled at Kaidan like he was a precious boy.
"Isn't it good? Anna found the recipe a few years ago. She's a great cook."
"Mm-hm." Kaidan gave a tight-lipped smile. "That she is.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
Human girls always take love for granted. They want things to be wild and carefree all the time. And when it gets too comfortable or requires a little work, they just toss it off. I’d give anything to be loved by a guy like Jay. But I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side, right?
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Tried be cheerful, tried be upbeat, tried not to let my feelings show, not to blame him, not to mind when day after day, week after week, his nonchalance eroded my heart. Sometimes, being an optimist was quite the fucking effort.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (All I Ever Wanted)
“
He froze. “I . . .” Then, as he searched my face with wonder, he slid from his seat and down to one knee. “My sweet, lovely Anna. I love you . . . and I want to marry you. But only if you want to. Do you? I mean, will you? Marry me?”
Be still my heart. His proposal was so adorably awkward that I had to laugh, sliding out of my chair so I could face him on my knees, too. I grabbed his face and kissed him for saying exactly what I needed to hear. We kissed once, twice, three times before he pulled back.
“Does it always take this long for someone to answer? It’s making me bloody nervous.”
I looked into his eyes. “Yes, Kai. I’ll marry you.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
HIGGINS
I find that the moment I let a woman make friends with me, she becomes jealous, exacting, suspicious, and a damned nuisance. I find that the moment I let myself make friends with a woman, I become selfish and tyrannical. Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you're driving at another.
PICKERING
At what, for example?
HIGGINS
Oh, Lord knows! I suppose the woman wants to live her own life; and the man wants to live his; and each tries to drag the other on to the wrong track. One wants to go north and the other south; and the result is that both have to go east, though they both hate the east wind.
”
”
George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion)
“
That’s your damned female hormones talking, Jez.” Sonellion grabbed his crotch. “Grow some balls again.” She gave him a venomous look. “I have more clarity about the world in this body than I ever had with a set of balls.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy, #3))
“
Dearly beloved," Father Bruce began, "we are gathered here to witness the union of Nick and Harper as they pledge their love an devotion to each other for what we hope is the last time, because I don't know about you people, but I don't think any of us should have to go through this again.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (My One and Only)
“
How's your orange juice, Anna? Does it have a touch of lime?”
The glass paused at my lips as I processed his innuendo, and I took a second to make sure my embarrassment stayed hidden inside. I let the drink swish over my tongue a moment before swallowing and answering.
“Actually it's a little sour,” I said, and he laughed.
“That's a shame.” He picked up a green pear from his plate and bit into it, licking juice that dripped down his thumb. My cheeks warmed as I set down my glass.
“Okay, now you're just being crude,” I said.
He grinned with lazy satisfaction.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
I tried to warn you,
But girls never listen.
Got your innocence insured?
’Cause it’s ’bout to be stolen
Right out from under your nose.
Prepare to curl your toes.
I’ve got a one-track mind.
You’ve got a nice behind.
Chorus:
I had a good thing goin’
All numb in my shell,
Then you took me by surprise
And now I’m scared as hell.
I don’t wanna feel for you,
I don’t wanna feel.
If feeling means hurting,
Then I don’t wanna be real.
You crank up my lust, girl,
You tame down my rage.
You let your inner vixen
Roam out of her cage.
The moment our lips met
I saw it in your eyes,
But you were seeing me,
too, I now realize.
Chorus
What do I want from you?
I want everything.
And I’m not gonna share—
This ain’t a casual fling.
You can be my bad girl,
I’ll even be your good boy.
How’d the tables get turned?
F*** it, I’ll be your love toy.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
Dance class, huh?" he said. "You don't look the type."
"And what does that mean?" I asked.
"You're not built like a dancer," he commented.
"You should probably stop talking now," I advised.
"Got a little bit more meat on your bones than those girls you see on TV."
"You should definitely stop talking now." I glared.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Too Good to Be True)
“
It's a poem, for crying out loud! The beauty of poetry is that it can mean different things to different people at different times. But you know they're expecting one specific, so-called correct answer, and any other thoughtful response will be counted off. It's wrong to dissect poetry like this!
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Here's the thing, Grace," Cal said, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Ever since that first day when you smacked me in the head with your field hockey stick-"
"You just can't let that go, can you?" I muttered.
He grinned fully now. "-and even when you hit me with the rake and dented my truck, and when you were spying on me from your attic and your dog was mauling me, Grace, I always knew you were the one for me.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Too Good to Be True)
“
I laid back the lounge chair and rolled to my stomach, content.
Sounds of splashing faded as I dozed.
And then I heard a beautiful voice. . . .
“Cover your arse, and nobody gets hurt.”
I lifted my head to see Kaidan crouched next to me. He was here! Just as I was about to get up and throw my arms around him, his gaze slid down my body to my butt and stayed there. Hello, stormy eyes.
I felt twice as hot under the sun as I had one minute ago.
I threw the towel over my body, which forced his eyes back to mine.
“Hey,” I whispered.
He touched my face, and I leaned into his palm.
“I feel like it’s been a year since I saw you,” he said softly. “I’ve missed you.”
I reached up and cupped his hand. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“But you’re still in trouble.” His voice was low and gravelly.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.”
“What do you mean, you had one 'once'?”
“Bloody thing was gone by the morning!” His voice was indignant. “Sheets were black with ink. I put myself through all of that for hours, and my body just pushed it back out!”
And once again we were both in a fit of hysterics, sharing the world's best inside joke. We were doubled over, unable to breathe, and I accidentally snorted. Kaidan pointed at me and laughed harder, clutching his stomach.
“What was your tattoo?” I managed to push the words out.
“You had to ask. It was a deadly-looking pair of black wings on my shoulder blades.”
Kaidan and I started roaring again, muscles clenching from the exertion.
We had no way of knowing it would be our last reason to laugh for a very long time.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
The seven of us slipped onto the porch and down the deck stairs, finding lawn chairs to sit in under a giant oak tree. Kaidan leaned back in his chair, balancing it on the back two legs.
“How about a game of Truth or Dare?” Marna offered.
I was immediately apprehensive. Just as I was about to suggest something else, Kaidan spoke and my heart faltered.
“I'll go first,” he said. “I dare Kope to kiss Anna.”
Everything inside me flooded with fury and embarrassment. Kaidan leaned far back with his arms crossed, cocky. I stood up without thinking and hooked my foot under his chair, swiftly kicking upward and causing him to topple backward. He looked up at me from the ground with a stunned expression that morphed into a grin.
The twins and Blake were in hysterics. Blake laughed so hard he fell sideways out of his own chair, which made Jay join in the laughter. I couldn't sit there with them anymore. This whole night was a disaster. I turned and walked through the yard, toward the side of the house. I heard Ginger talk between gasps of mirth.
“Maybe she's not so bad after all!
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Jay took out his guitar. He was decent at it, but the piano was his best talent. He couldn’t get a certain riff right, so he handed the instrument to Kaidan, and my heart flipped.
I recalled him saying he played guitar, but I’d never actually seen or heard him play. Kaidan began to pick at each string, testing and tuning with his full attention. I watched the way his hands moved across the wood and strings, gently, reverently, his body seeming to curl around it as if it were a part of him. . . . I felt my hands getting sweaty, because watching Kaidan get lost in music did crazy things to me. My breathing became ragged and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
He looked up at that moment and caught me staring hard. He knew. He knew what it did to me! I could tell because his badge expanded.
He angled himself away from the others and signed to me, I want to be alone with you tonight.
Patti did have a lot of guests staying in the house. I signed back, I’ll work on it.
“Excellent,” he whispered, a hot grin sliding onto his face.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Reckoning (Sweet, #3))
“
At nearly three in the morning sleepiness weighted my body as we lay there together so still. I heard his breathing even out as we both hovered in that place between wake and sleep. And then his hand wandered lazily down my back and over my hip until he was cupping the full curve of my behind, part of me that he’d actively avoided touching all night.
Scratch that sleepy thing.
His firm hands clutched me closer and I breathed a heady gust of air at his throat. I’d been careful all night not to be too vocal about how good his touches felt. I knew each noise would act as fuel, making it even harder for him. He rolled to his back, pulling me on top of him with both hands fully on my backside now.
“Kaidan,” I whispered.
Looking half-asleep, he shushed me with a hot kiss, pulling my hips to crush us together. I whimpered into his mouth.
“God, those little sounds,” he said against my lips. “I want to hear how you sound when I make you—”
“Kai!” I practically leaped off him, and he sat up, eyes blazing, licking his lips. I was breathing hard. He had to be as tired as me after our long day, and it was starting to weaken us big-time. Oh, how I’d love to indulge that weakness.
I scooted farther away.
“Maybe we should try to get some sleep,” I suggested, though I was feeling wide-awake now.
He stared at me with roaring passion. “I think a third shower might be necessary,” he said.
A silly laugh wanted to escape me, but there was no humor in his eyes. Only want.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))
“
You promised to be on your best behavior,” I reminded him, breathless.
“You kissed me,” he growled. His voice had gone very deep.
“Well, but you started it by kissing my neck.”
“True. I hadn't planned that.” His sultry voice, paired with those blazing eyes, told me I needed to get away from him. I hurried to the end of the bed, where I jumped off and began to pace back and forth, yanking out my loose hairband and pulling my hair back into a tight ponytail. I tried hard not to think about the taste of his lips. I'd had my first kiss, and I'd never be the same.
“Why did you stop?” he asked.
“Because you were moving on to other things.”
He scratched his chin and cheek. “Hmm, moved too quickly. Rookie mistake.”
I crossed my arms again, watching him speculate internally like a coach outlining a play that had gone wrong. Incredible. Then he sized me up in his sights again.
“But I can see you still want me.”
I gave him my meanest stare, but it was hard to look at him. Gosh, he was hot! And a total player. The kiss meant nothing to him.
“Oh,” he said with mock sadness, “there it goes. Mad instead? Well, sort of. You can't seem to muster a really good anger—”
“Stop it!”
“Sorry, was I saying that out loud?”
“I can read people, too, you know. Well, not you, but at least I have the decency to try not to notice, to give them some sort of emotional privacy!”
“Yes, how very decent of you.” He hadn't moved from his languid position on my bed.
I leaned forward, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.
“Pillow fight?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Get off my bed. Please. I'm ready to go to sleep.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
Have you never outright sinned, then?”
“I disobeyed Patti when she told me to stay away from you.”
“Right. I remember that one. So just once, then?”
“There was this other time...” I thought about the two girls in the bathroom and stopped myself, blanching.
“Yes? Go on,” he urged.
He watched the road, but excitement underscored his tone. I rubbed my dampening palms down my shorts.
“The night we met, I sort of...well, I flat-out told a lie. On purpose.”
I thought he was trying not to smile.
“To me?” he asked.
“No. About you.”
Now he unleashed that devastating smile of his, crinkling the corners of his eyes. My face was aflame.
“Continue. Please.”
“There were these girls in the bathroom talking about you, and for some reason, I don't know why, it upset me, and I told them...thatyouhadanSTD.”
I covered my face in shame and he burst into laughter. I thought he might drive off the road.
Well, it was kind of funny in an ironic way, because he couldn't keep a disease anyhow, even if he had gotten one. I found myself beginning to giggle, too, mostly out of relief that he wasn't offended.
“I wondered if you were ever going to tell me!” he said through spurts of hilarity.
Duh! Of course he'd been listening! My giggles increased, and it felt so nice that we kept going until we were cracking up. It was the good kind of laughter: the soul-cleansing, ab-crunching, lose-control-of-yourself kind.
We started catching our breath again a few minutes later, only to break into another round of merriment.
“Do you forgive me, then?” I asked when we finally settled down and I wiped my eyes.
“Yes, yes. I've had worse said about me.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
We got hungry around three in the morning, and ordered a ton of pizza from an all-night pizza place. Afterward, Blake talked a guy into letting him borrow his skateboard, and he once again entertained all of us. If it had wheels, Blake could work it.
“Is he your boyfriend?” a girl behind me asked.
I turned to the group of girls watching Blake. They were all coifed and beautiful in their bikinis, not having gone in the water. My wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail by this point and I was wrapped in a towel. “No, he’s my boyfriend’s best friend. We’re watching his place while he’s . . . out of town.”
A pang of fear jabbed me when I thought about Kai.
“What’s your name?” asked a brunette with glossy lips.
“Anna.” I smiled.
“Hey. I’m Jenny,” she said. “This is Daniela and Tara.”
“Hey,” I said to them.
“So, your boyfriend lives here?” asked the blonde, Daniela. She had a cool accent—something European.
“Yes,” I answered, pointing up to his apartment.
The girls all shared looks, raising their sculpted eyebrows.
“Wait,” said Jenny. “Is he that guy in the band?”
The third girl, named Tara, gasped. “The drummer?” When I nodded, they shared awed looks.
“Oh my gawd, don’t get mad at me for saying this,” said Jenny, “but he’s a total piece of eye candy.” Her friends all laughed.
“Yum drum,” whispered Tara, and Daniela playfully shoved her.
Jenny got serious. “But don’t worry. He, like, never comes out or talks to anyone. Now we know why.” She winked at me. “You are so adorable. Where are you from?”
“Georgia.”
This was met with a round of awwws. “Hey, you’re a Southern girl,” said Tara. “You should like this.”
She held out a bottle of bourbon and I felt a tug toward it. My fingers reached out.
“Maybe just one drink,” I said.
Daniela grinned and turned up the music.
Fifteen minutes and three shots later I’d dropped my towel and was dancing with the girls and telling them how much I loved them, while they drunkenly swore to sabotage the efforts of any girl who tried to talk to my man.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Peril (Sweet, #2))