Undeniably You QUOTES

21 " I’ll let you off your leash, but you have to show some manners. No humping, no pissing on anything man made, and keep the crotch greetings exclusive to your four-legged fury friends. Got it?”

Swarley nods because I’ve made him part human over the past few months and I’m pretty sure I saw him roll his eyes at me too. Guess I’d better start getting used to sassiness and eye rolling … read that on a parenting blog too.

Note to self. Find more positive bloggers that paint the picture of parenthood with rainbows, fairies, and pixie dust.

“Sydney?”

I turn. “Hey, Dane!”

He bends down to let his dogs off their leashes. “Gosh, I didn’t think you’d be back. How was Paris?”

Which part? The view of the ceiling from the couch or the drain from the top of the toilet?

“Great!” Extremely sugarcoated … maybe teetering on an outright lie.

“So how long are you staying?” He rests his hands on his hips.

Dane is adorable. I’m sure grown men don’t like to be called adorable; hell, I didn’t like it when Lautner said it to me, but Dane is just that. Tall, dark, and admittedly handsome with a boyish grin that makes me want to take him home, bake him cookies, and pour him a tall glass of milk.

“I’m not sure. Trevor and Elizabeth just moved to San Diego and I’m staying at their house until it sells or until I find something else.”

He cocks his head to the side. “Yet, they left Swarley?”

Turning my gaze to look for the wild pooch, I shake my head. “Their condo association doesn’t allow large pets. They’ve been looking for a new home for him, but for now I have him.”

“You two have come a long way since the first day you showed up at my office.”

Clasping my hands behind my back, I look down and kick at the dirt. “Yeah, you’re right. As of lately, I’ve considered taking him myself. But until I know where I’m going to end up, offering it would be a little premature if not irresponsible.”

“Grad school with a dog. You’d have to find some place to live that allows pets.”

My faces wrinkles as I peek up at him. “I’m not going to grad school, at least not for a while. Something’s kind of come up.”

“Oh?” Dane’s hands shift from his hips to crossing over his chest as he widens his stance.

I blow out a long breath, scrubbing my hands over my face. My fingers trace my eyebrows as I meet his eyes again. “I’m … pregnant.”

Dane’s eye are going to pop out of his head and the dogs will be chasing them if he opens them any wider. “I’m sorr—or congrat—or—”

I smile because his adorableness doubles when he gets all nervous and starts stuttering.

“It’s congratulations now … ‘I’m sorry’ was last month.”

He nods in slow motion. “So you came back for Lautner?”

“No … well, yes, but that backfired on me. He’s … moved on.”

“Moved on? Are you serious? From … you?”

I shrug, bobbing my head up and down.

“Well … he’s a fuc—a freaking idiot.”

As much pain as this conversation brings me, I still manage to let a giggle escape with an accompanying smile.

“You’re right. He is a fucafreaking idiot.”

Dane grins.

“Especially because he’s with Claire.”

His eyes go wide again. “Dr. Brown?”

I nod. “Dr. Fucafreaking Brown.”

Dane mouths WOW!

“Exactly. "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

23 " Yeah, about last night … it’s been brought to my attention that I may have been a little out of line with somethings I did and said so—”

“Really? Such as …”

I can’t believe he’s going to make me say it. He’s so frustrating. One minute he’s cleaning puke off the drunk girl, showing his kind side, and the next he’s trying to humiliate me. Granted, I do a pretty good job of setting myself up for it.

“Such as drinking too much to begin with, then maybe giving the impression that I was … jealous of Claire, or Dr. Brown.”

“You mean Dr. Skank?”

Shit!

“Yes—I mean—no, not Dr. Skank. I don’t remember calling her that, but if I did then I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” I may have meant it.

“Don’t sweat it, Syd. I think you’re adorable when you get all jealous.”

“I was not jealous!” I yell in a high-pitched voice.

“Uh … your striptease was entitled ‘Where Lautner’s hands will never be again if he doesn’t keep them off Dr. Skank.’”

Kill me now and never let another drop of alcohol pass my lips.

“So how was golf?”

Lautner laughs. “I take it we’re done talking about last night?”

“It’s pointless because it’s your word against mine, unless Swarley goes all Bush Beans Duke on me.”

“God, you’re something else. So what did you call about?”

“Oh … just to …”

“I’m just flipping ya shit. I know why you called.”

He does? I’m not entirely sure I know why I called so how can he know?

“You do?”

“I left you in a hot mess this morning and you need to be serviced.” His voice drips of confidence or most likely arrogance.

“What? No, that’s not … um …”

“Sorry, babe. I didn’t realize just how tightly wound you would be by now. Damn, you can’t even form a coherent thought. Get naked, I’ll see you in ten.”

“Lau—”

He hung up on me! "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

25 " Oh … dear … God! Flowers. Dim lights. Soft music. Lautner. He’s about ten feet away wearing a black suit and a titanium tie. I’ve never seen him dressed up like this. He’s … perfect. Holding up his phone, he shakes his head. “Got your message … finally.” My newly applied makeup is in serious danger. There’s a lump in my throat the size of Saturn and it’s making my eyes water … a lot! "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

27 " Ocean … Ocean Ann.” I "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

29 " Dane, "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

31 " I never imagined not feeling the pain of my mom’s death weighing heavy on my heart, but it doesn’t anymore. There is and always will be an emptiness inside me that will never be filled, but it doesn’t hurt. There’s a layer of scar tissue that has numbed the pain. "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

33 " H: Love me again? Again? You have to love someone once to love them again.
h: What's that supposed to mean?
H: Why would I ever think you ever loved me?
h: Why wouldn't you?
H: Because you never said it. "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You

35 " Because even though it shouldn’t, it drives me fucking crazy to think of Dane’s hands on you! "

― Jewel E. Ann , Undeniably You