Forever Lovers by Suellen Smith

attention from
his baby girls as well by slipping her arms around his neck and
snuggling her body into his as she whispered with a smile, “It’s
OK, Sweetheart. They're twenty-one now and legally are no longer
your responsibilities. They have good heads on their shoulders, let
them fly.”
    Troy smiled back, “You're right, that's why I
love you so much.” He wasn't so sure he was ready for his twins to
fly even if they were, but isn't that always the way with fathers
and daughters? Leaning down amidst the blowing horns and raining
confetti, he gave Swan a New Year's Eve kiss that promised their
own private party much later.

CHAPTER 9
    Quinn had Lily pressed up against the nearest
pillar with her fingers laced in his as he held them above her head
by the time the band started playing A uld Lang Syne . “I've
missed you,” he whispered before he pressed his starving body and
lips against hers, giving her no choice, but to follow his lead as
they brought in the New Year, oblivious to the noisy of the
surrounding party.
    Lily kissed Quinn back, but not with quite
the enthusiasm she had at sixteen. A surprised Quinn drew back
searching her face for a moment, “You're pissed?”
    Quinn was clueless – of course he was, but
good for him, he figured something had made her angry. Guys always
think they can pick right up from where they left off like three
years hadn't passed in the meantime, like they'd written and called
every day during that time – wrong! They think the woman is
supposed to fall in their arms like a starving idiot just because
they're horny and they think surely she must be, also. Even if it
were true, a woman never caves – just a tip from The Book of
Romance 101.
    “You haven't written or called since before I
graduated from high school. Now, you think I'm supposed to be
grateful and swoon like I'm starved for your body?” Lily exclaimed
incredulously with snapping big round blue eyes that questioned
with fire and spirit!
    “Are you?” Quinn raised his eyebrows trying
to add some humor to the situation – not funny.
    By this time, Lily was fuming and the last
comment had her lashing out with her lethal little foot in the
black ankle strap that he had been admiring earlier. She missed her
mark only because her silky gown restricted her. He put on a poker
face and restrain himself from laughing when she missed and he
heard the gown rip a little.
    “You Baboon!”
    Quinn stepped back and folded his arms over
his chest with eyebrows raised again, “Baboon? I'm a baboon?”
    “Oh, just go away! I've managed just fine
without you in my life for the past three years!” Lily clipped as
she turned her back and began to stomp off holding her gown a
little higher so she could take bigger and faster strides away from
him. It was a nice look from his point of view.
However, “The stomp off” galvanized Quinn into action. There was no
way in hell that Lily was getting away for this New Year’s Evening
even if he had to throw her over his shoulder like Tarzan. He was
taking no chances of letting her out of his sight.
    Quinn grabbed Lily's hand and held tightly as
he dragged her in the direction of the veranda, determined to get a
few things settled. Lily, trying to bring things to a screeching
halt and under her control grabbed the nearest chair, which slowed
things down – not. So then, she grabbed the nearest fern, which
promptly fell over, dirt and all. When they got to the second fern,
Quinn decided it was time for more drastic action on his part and
acted on his first thought by throwing her over his shoulder. He
proceeded through the double doors of the veranda out to the
private beach of the stately hotel with her pounding on his back.
She did not go quietly. “You beast!” she screamed, but no one heard
her over the roar of the rivalry and celebration.
    In spite of winter and snow in a large
portion of the United States, the evening in Huntington Beach was
what one might describe as balmy and