“I’m a big believer in first impressions,” he finally said. “Tell me what your first thought was when Jason walked into the courtroom.”Taylor took a sip of her drink and grinned. This one was easy. “I vowed to hate him forever.”Jeremy’s brown eyes twinkled at this. “That’s exactly what I said nineteen years ago, five minutes after he first walked into our dorm room.”

“I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the fact that you knew about this before I did.””Don’t be disappointed,” Jack said. “The fact that I’ve been ridiculously proud of you for days doesn’t change how excited you should be about this. Besides, I pretty much know everything. You should probably just start getting used to it.””And on that note, I’m hanging up,” Cameron said.”Rushing me off so you can call Collin next?” Jack teased.”No” she said emphatically. Damn, he really did know everything.”

“I invited a few people to help celebrate your birthday,” Cameron said sheepishly. She threw up her hands. “Surprise.””We sort of come with the package,” Collin explained. “Think of it as a collective gift from all of us to you: five bona fide annoying and overly intrusive new best friends.””It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Wilkins said.Jack grinned. “I’m touched. Really. And since it appears I’m going to be moving in, let me be the first to say that all of you are always welcome at my and Cameron’s house. Subject to a minimum of forty-eight hours prior notification.”

“She inched closer to him. “I intrigue you?””You know you do,” he replied boldly, his eyes burning into hers. Wow-things were suddenly heating up fast. He wondered if they would have sex right there on her desk.Somebody better move that stapler.With a coy look, Taylor stood up to whisper in Jason’s ear.”then I think you’re going to find this next part really intriging,” she said breathlessly.He gazed down at her-he like the sound of that-and raised one eybrow expectantly as taylor grinned wickedly and-Slammed the office door right in his face.For a moment, Jason could only stand there in the hallway with his nose pressed against the cold wood of her door. After a few seconds, he knocked politely.Taylor whipped open the door, unamused.Jason grinned at her. “I just gotta ask: where did you get the whole ‘all the cute girls run around naked’ thing?”

“I’m not sure I trust myself around you I liked you from the start, J.D. I really wish things had been different, that’s all.”

“My God, Jack – with a look like that, you two should just get a room. And try not to pick the one with a dead body next to it this time.”

“Don’t take this next undercover assignment. Stay with me instead.”Nick’s eyes pierced hers, refusing to let her off that easily. “Tell me why.””Because… I love you.” She exhaled. No take-backs. The words were out there forever.And it felt great.”

“Like a shot from a movie, the morning sun shone brilliantly around him like a god—his dark hair glinted warmly in the light, and his eyes gleamed bluer than the south Pacific Ocean.Taylor’s mind went blank. And suddenly, she couldn’t remember why the hell she ever had been angry with Jason Andrews.But then he spoke.”Sleeping in this morning, Ms. Donovan?” he drawled.Moment over.”

“We’re out of time, Payton. You said it yourself: the only way we’ll make it is for us to go into this together. I know we can do this. But I need you to believe it. You need to believe… in us.”Peyton didn’t say anything for a long moment, and J.D. could literally hear his heart beating. Then she finally answered.”It would have to be called Kendall and Jameson.”It took J.D a moment to catch on. Then he grinned. “No way. Jameson and Kendall. It’s alphabetical.””You told our boss that you banged me on top of your desk.””Kendall and Jameson sounds great”

“If you also thinks it means I wake up every morning wondering what I did to deserve having you back in my life, well, you’d be right about that too.”

“I’ve been in love with you since the very beginning. You asked why there isn’t anyone else in my life, and the reason… is you.”

“First Pallas and now you,” the gray-haired man said, shaking his head at Nick. “It’s like I’m running a goddamn dating service around here.”