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But Harry . . . Even If We Had Met And Married Three Years Ago, You’d Still Say It Wasn’t Enough Time.” “you’re Right. I Can’t Think Of A Single Day Of My Life That Wouldn’t Have Been Improved With You In It.” “darling,” She Whispered, Her Fingertips Coming Up To Stroke His Jaw, “that’s Lovely. Even More Romantic Than Comparing Me To Watch Parts.” Harry Nipped At Her Finger. “are You Mocking Me?” “not At All,” Poppy Said, Smiling. “i Know How You Feel About Gears And Mechanisms.

-Lisa Kleypas

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But Harry . .

Lisa Kleypas

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But Harry . . . Even If We Had Met And Married Three Years Ago, You’d Still Say It Wasn’t Enough Time.” “you’re Right. I Can’t Think Of A Single Day Of My Life That Wouldn’t Have Been Improved With You In It.” “darling,” She Whispered, Her Fingertips Coming Up To Stroke His Jaw, “that’s Lovely. Even More Romantic Than Comparing Me To Watch Parts.” Harry Nipped At Her Finger. “are You Mocking Me?” “not At All,” Poppy Said, Smiling. “i Know How You Feel About Gears And Mechanisms.

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They (mothers-in-law) Never Leave When They Say They Will. When My Mother-in-law Visits, The Mice Throw Themselves At The Cat, Begging To Be Eaten.

I Had To Wait For Someone Special. Someone Who Would Make My Heart Feel As If It's Been Trampled By Elephants, Thrown Into The Amazon, And Eaten By Piranhas.

Did You Fall In Love With Her?" "i Care About Her. A Lot." "you're Not Supposed To Marry Someone If You Don't Fall In Love With Her." "well, Love Is A Choice, Too." Holly Shook Her Head. "i Think It's Something That Happens To You." Mark Smiled Into Her Small, Earnest Face. "maybe It's Both," He Said, And Tucked Her In.

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The Way Glass Can Be Molded Or Blown Or Cut Into Any Kind Of Shape Made Me Think About How We As People - Our Characters Or Souls - Can Be Shaped Or Changed By Outside Influences.

Well . . ." St. Vincent Walked Slowly With Her To The Crowd Of Dancers. "i'm A Wicked Man Who Can, On Occasion, Be Just A Bit Nice. And I've Been Searching For A Nice Girl Who Can, On Occasion, Be Just A Bit Wicked.

- No, No... She Shook Her Head For Emphasis. No. His Lips Twitched. - One 'no' Is Enough, Darling.

No Miles Of Level Desert, No Jagged Mountain Heights, No Sea Of Endless Blue Neither Words Nor Tears, Nor Silent Fears Will Keep Me From Coming Back To You.

But Sometimes Normal Just Isn't Happening. Sometimes Crazy Feels Too Good To Resist.

She Had Always Maintained A Cynical Facade, Using It As A Defence Against Embarrassment, Fear, Loneliness… But At The Moment She Felt Unusually Vulnerable.

He Looked Like A Fallen Angel, Replete With All The Dangerous Male Beauty That Lucifer Could Devise.

Scorpions Are Quite Ruthless, You Know. That Is Why Artemis Bid One Of Them To Kill Her Foe Orion. And As A Reward She Set The Scorpion On Up In The Sky. I'm Not Ruthless. I Merely Do Whatever It Takes To Achive My Goals That's Not Ruthless?

I've Never Known Anyone More Ill Equipped For Happiness. He Wouldn't Know What To Do With It.

It’s A Risk I’m Willing To Take. This Happens Once In A Lifetime. You Meet Someone And Have This Crazy Reaction … You Touch Her Skin And It’s The Best Skin You’ve Ever Felt, And No Perfume On Earth Could Be Better Than Her Smell, And You Know You Could Never Be Bored With Her Because She’s Interesting Even When She’s Doing Nothing. Even Without Knowing Everything About Her, You Get Her. You Know Who She Is, And It Works For You On Every Level.

Knowing Everything

I-i’m Not Making Advances,” She Told Him As She Flattened Herself Against His Chest. “you’re Just An Available S-source Of Heat.” “so You Say,” St. Vincent Replied Lazily, Tucking The Quilt More Tightly Around Them Both. “however, During The Past Quarter Hour You’ve Been Fondling Parts Of My Anatomy That No One’s Ever Dared To Touch Before.” “i V-very Much Doubt That.” She Burrowed Even Further Into The Depths Of His Coat, And Added In A Muffled Voice, “you’ve Probably Been H-handled More Than A Hamper At Fortnum And Mason.

I Always Counsel Aspiring Novelists That Passion Is The Most Important Quality For A Writer To Possess - Technique Can Be Taught, But That Relentless Desire To Write Has To Come From Within.

Tell Me Everything, I Would Say. All About The Blues, And The Time Your Heart Was Broken, And What Scares You The Most, And The Thing You've Always Wanted To Do But Haven 't Yet.

You Wouldn't Have Taken Rose To Such A Place, Would You?" "of Course Not, But She Is A Little Girl, And I'm-" "my Life", He Interrupted Quietly. "you're My Entire Life. If Anything Ever Happens To You, Holly, There Is Nothing Left For Me.

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

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So Are You Bisexual?” I Had Asked, And Todd Had Laughed At My Insistence On Label. “i Guess I'm Bipossible,” He Had Said.

Bad Divorce?" Hardy Asked, His Gaze Falling To My Hands. I Realized I Was Clutching My Purse In A Death Grip. “no, The Divorce Was Great,” I Said. “it Was The Marriage That Sucked.

Now The Line Was Drawn. Lucy Had Never Thought That One Of The Fiercest Battles Of Her Life Would Be Fought Over A Breakfast Table, With Quiet Words Carefully Chosen.

I Can't Get It Out," She Said. "just Pull At It." "it Hurts. It's Throbbing." "pull Harder." "i Can't! It's Truly Stuck. I Need Something To Make It Slippery. Do You Have Some Sort Of Lubricant Nearby?" "no." "not Anything?" "much As It May Surprise You, We've Never Needed Lubricant In The Library Before Now.

Well, You Missed Out On Some Important Protocol, Ella. You Can't Stand Between A Texan And His Power Tools. We Like Them. Big Ones That Drain The National Grid. We Also Like Truck-stop Breakfasts, Large Moving Objects, Monday Night Football, And The Missionary Position. We Don't Drink Light Beer, Drive Smart Cars, Or Admit To Knowing The Names Of More Than About Five Or Six Colors. And We Don't Wax Our Chests, Ever.

Why Is Life So Difficult For Some People And Not For Others? Why Do Some People Have To Struggle So Much?

Hell Was Waking Up Alone, The Sheets Wet With Your Tears And Your Seed, Knowing The Woman You Had Dreamed Of Would Never Come Back To You.

Come On, Ella. Sleep Green.' Ignoring Him, I Got Into Bed Wearing A T-shirt And Boxer Shorts Printed With Penguins. I Reached Over To The Nightstand And Flipped Off The Lamp. A Moment Of Silence, And Then I Heard A Lecherous Murmur. 'i Like Your Penguins.

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A Good Conversation Always Involves A Certain Amount Of Complaining. I Like To Bond Over Mutual Hatreds And Petty Grievances.

I Was A New Person In The Same World, Which Was A Lot More Difficult Than Being The Same Person In A New World.

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But Harry . . . Even If We Had Met And Married Three Years Ago, You’d Still Say It Wasn’t Enough Time.” “you’re Right. I Can’t Think Of A Single Day Of My Life That Wouldn’t Have Been Improved With You In It.” “darling,” She Whispered, Her Fingertips Coming Up To Stroke His Jaw, “that’s Lovely. Even More Romantic Than Comparing Me To Watch Parts.” Harry Nipped At Her Finger. “are You Mocking Me?” “not At All,” Poppy Said, Smiling. “i Know How You Feel About Gears And Mechanisms.

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Oh, Daisy, It's Revolting The Way I Want To Fawn All Over Him. I'm Afraid I'm Going To Do Something Dreadfully Silly Today. Burst Into Song Or Something. For God's Sake, Don't Let Me.

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In The Fairy Tale You Mentioned Last Night, I Would Probably Be The Villain. But It's Possible The Villain Would Treat You Far Better Than The Prince Would Have.

Win Told Me That One Isn’t Improved By Being At The Top Of The Mountain, One Is Improved By The Climb.

He Was So Far From The Gallant Knights In Her Romantic Fantasies...he Was Tarnished, Scarred, Imperfect.

... No Matter Where You Go Or What You Do, I'll Love Every Day For The Rest Of My Life.

Having Regrets Is The Only Sign That You’ve Done Anything Interesting With Your Life.

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A Slow Smile Had Curved St. Vincent's Lips. 'wives Are A Different Case Altogether. They Require A Great Deal Of Effort But The Rewards Are Substantial. I Highly Recommend Wives. Especially One's Own.

I'm Not Here Now. This Isn't Happening. You're Just Visiting A Dream Of Mine.

Poor People Have Few Choices In Life, And Most Of The Time You Don't Think Too Much About It. You Get The Best You Can And Do Without When Necessary, And Hope To God You Won't Be Wiped Out By Something You Can't Control. But There Are Moments It Hurts, Where There Is Something You Want In The Very Marrow Of Your Bones And You Know There Is No Way You Can Have It.

It Would Only Lead To Disappointment, Even Heartbreak, And Her Heart Was Too Precious For Me To Let That Happen.

Without A Doubt... The Worst Part Of Being A Single Woman Was Having To Take Care Of Your Own Car.

Many Times In Life I've Regretted The Things I've Said Without Thinking. But I've Never Regretted The Things I Said Nearly As Much As The Words I Left Unspoken.

Rohan, One Of Us Is An Unmarried Man With Superior Mathematical Abilities And No Prospects For The Evening. The Other Is A Confirmed Lecher In An Amorous Mood, With A Willing And Nubile Young Wife Waiting At Home. Who Do You Think Should Do The Damned Account Books?" And, With A Nonchalant Wave, St. Vincent Had Left The Office.

Pity Goes Hand In Hand With Contempt. Don't Ever Forget That, Liberty. You Can't Take Handouts Or Help From Anyone, Because That Gives People The Right To Look Down On You.

Can't You Just Tell Me Now?" "no, I Need Someone To Eat With." A Slight Smile Rose To My Lips. "am I Supposed To Believe That I'm Your Only Option?" "no. But You're My Favorite Option.

Good God. I Don’t Believe St. Vincent And The Word ‘celibacy’ Have Ever Been Mentioned In The Same Sentence Before.

A Couple Of Times In Your Life, It Happens Like That. You Meet A Stranger, And All You Know Is That You Need To Know Everything About Him.

As It Turned Out, Welcome Was Where I Lost Everything, And Gained Everything. Welcome Was The Place Where My Life Was Guided From One Track To Another, Ending Me To Places I'd Never Thought Of Going.

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I'm Not That Complicated, Haven. The Truth Is, I've Wanted You Ever Since I Met You In That Damned Wine Cellar. Because I Got A Bigger Charge Out Of That Five Minutes Than I Have With Any Woman Before Or Since.

The London Season Is Like One Of Those Drury Lane Melodramas In Which Marriage Is Always The Ending. And No One Ever Seems To Give Any Thought As To What Happens After. But Marriage Isn’t The End Of The Story It’s The Beginning. And It Demands The Efforts Of Both Partners To Make A Success Of It.

A Lack Of Desire Is Something I've Never Experienced. I'd Have To Be On My Deathbed Before I Stopped Wanting-- No, Never Mind, I Was On My Deathbed In The Not-too-distant Past, And Even Then I Had The Devil's Own Itch For My Wife." -sebastian, Lord St. Vincent

I Had Never Ironed Anything In My Life. The Proper Pressing Of A Shirt Was A Mystery Of The Universe Akin To Black Holes And Dark Matter.

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I Spent Most Of My Youth Hauling Sides Of Beef And Pork To My Father's Shop. Carrying You Is Far More Enjoyable." "how Sweet," Annabelle Mumbled Sickly, Her Eyes Closed. "every Woman Dreams Of Being Told That She's Preferable To A Dead Cow.

What Are Their Names? Psycho And Killer?" He Shook His Head. "cupcake And Twinkie." My Mouth Dropped Open. "you're Kidding." A Grin Flitted Across His Lips. "afraid Not." If Naming Them After Dessert Snacks Had Been Miss Marva's Attempt To Make Them Seem Cute, It Wasn't Working.

I Want Morning And Noon And Nightfall With You. I Want Your Tears, Your Smiles, Your Kisses...the Smell Of Your Hair, The Taste Of Your Skin, The Touch Of Your Breath On My Face. I Want To See You In The Final Hour Of My Life...to Lie In Your Arms As I Take My Last Breath.

If I Never Have Anything From Him Except This One Moment I Am Going To Take It. Take It Now, Or Drown In Regret Later.

I Had Never Felt The Allure Of Another Human Being This Strongly, Warmth And Curiosity Mixing To Form An Unspoken Question In The Air.

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You Shouldn’t Rule Out Second Chances. Sometimes They Come With Interesting Bonus Features.

Asking An Eight-year-old Girl If Something Is A Little Over-the-top Is Like Asking A Texan If There Are Too Many Jalapenos In The Salsa. The Answer Is Always No." -liberty Jones

Daisy Had Known The Novel Was Silly Even As She Had Read It, But That Had Not Detracted One Bit From Her Enjoyment.

He Wasn't Mine Anywhere Except In My Heart.

To Cam Surprise, She Was Smiling Up At Him Steadily, Her Eyes Midnight. His Expression Turned Quizzical. "what's So Amusing?" Amelia Toyed With A Button On His Coat. "i Was Just Thinking . . . Tonight Those Two Old Hens Will Probably Go To Their Beds, Cold And Alone." An Impish Grin Curved Her Lips. "whereas I Will Be With A Wicked, Handsome Rom Who Will Keep Me Warm All Night.

I Didn't Think There Was Any Way To Convince Jack That He Wanted More Than I Had To Give, That To People Who'd Been Damaged The Way I Had Been, Fear And The Will To Survive Would Always Be More Powerful Than Attachment. I Could Only Love In A Limited Way

Will To Survive

I Had To Admit The Man Looked Amazing In Jeans. The Ancient Denim Clung Lightly To His Hips And Followed The Long Lines Of Some Remarkable Thigh Muscles. And Although I Made A Point Of Not Checking Out His Rear View, My Peripheral Vision Was Having A Very Good Day.” ~ Haven Travis On Hardy Cates

This Is How We Court Girls In America. We Grab Them And Kiss Them. And If They Don't Like It, We Do It Again, Harder And Longer, Until They Surrender. It Saves Us Hours Of Witty Repartee.

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

Both Of Us Were Quiet With The Recognition That Something Was Ending, And Something Was Beginning.

I'm Not The Marrying Kind -" St. Vincent Snorted. "no Man Is. Marriage Is A Female Invention.

The Feelings Cut Too Deep For Them To Be Put On Display.

Be Careful Dear That You Don’t End Up As The Queen Of A Lonely Kingdom

One Should Make The Best Choice Possible Given The Circumstances, And Then Avoid Second-guessing For The Sake Of One's Own Sanity.

...whether He Stayed Or Left, Whether They Walked The Same Path Or Not. They Could Live On Opposite Sides Of The World, And She Would Still Be His.

Todd? Are You Still There?" "yeah. I'm Just Trying To Think Of A Good Reason To Continue Our Friendship." I Grinned. "jealousy Is So Unattractive Todd." "it Would Help If You Could Tell Me One Thing That's Wrong. One Flaw. Bad Breath? Warts? Some Condition That Requires Anti Fungal Spray?" "would Chest Hair Be A Flaw?" "oh, Yeah." Todd Sounded Relieved." I Can't Stand A Chest Rug. You Can't See The Chest Cut.

Anyone Who Had Ever Read A Novel Knew That Governesses Were Supposed To Be Meek And Downtrodden.

I Want You To Admit Just Once What You Feel For Me. I Want To Know If You'll Miss Me Even A Little. If You'll Remember Me. If You're Sorry For Anything.

It Was A Confirmation Of A Connection That Already Existed. And It Was A Bond That Extended Far Beyond The Borders Of A Shared Living Space. We Would Have Stayed Together Even Without A Marriage Certificate . . . But I Believed In The Permanence It Represented. It Was A Piece Of Paper You Could Build A Life On.

Beatrix, Do You Know What Happens To Girls Who Ask Such Naughty Questions?” “they’re Ravished In Haylofts?” She Inquired Hopefully.

After A Universal Silence, Leo Was The First To Speak. “did Anyone Else Notice—” “yes,” Catherine Said. “what Do You Make Of It?” “i Haven’t Decided Yet.” Leo Frowned And Took A Sip Of Port. “he’s Not Someone I Would Pair Bea With.” “whom Would You Pair Her With?” “hanged If I Know,” Leo Said. “someone With Similar Interests. The Local Veterinarian, Perhaps?” “he’s Eighty-three Years Old And Deaf,” Catherine Said. “they Would Never Argue,” Leo Pointed Out.

Haven't You Ever Wished That You Could Steal Back Just A Few Hours Of Your Past?" She Asked Softly. "that's All I Want... Just A Little Taste Of What Might Have Been.

Cam Had Once Told Her That The Rom Believed The Entire World Was Their Home. As Long As You Were With Your Family You Were Home.

Daisy Has A Unique Spirit. A Warm And Romantic Nature. If She Is Forced Into A Loveless Marriage, She Will Be Devastated. She Deserves A Husband Who Will Cherish Her For Everything She Is, And Who Will Protect Her From The Harsher Realities Of The World. A Husband Who Will Allow Her To Dream." -westcliff

His Quiet Certainty Made The Ground Beneath My Feet Feel Solid. Like Someday Everything Might Actually Be Okay.

Does He Behave In Rude Or Improper Ways?" "he's A Bowman. We Don't Know Any Better.

I Swear On St. Francis, The Patron Saint Of All Animals.” Seeing Poppy’s Hesitation, Beatrix Added Enthusiastically, “if A Band Of Pirates Kidnapped Me And Took Me To Their Ship And Threatened To Make Me Walk The Plank Over A Shiver Of Starving Sharks Unless I Told Them Your Secret, I Still Wouldn’t Tell It. If I Were Tied By A Villain And Thrown Before A Herd Of Stampeding Horses All Shod In Iron, And The Only Way To Keep From Being Trampled Was To Tell The Villain Your Secret, I—

Kev Wasn't Certain If He Was Surrendering To Win Or To His Own Passion For Her. Only That There Was No More Holding Back. He Would Take Her. And He Would Give Her Everything He Had, Every Part Of His Soul, Even The Broken Pieces.

There Isn’t Going To Be A ‘next Lover,’” Grant Said Automatically, Outraged By The Idea. “i’m The Only Man She’s Going To Have.

Most Lives Are Not Distinguished By Great Achievements. They Are Measured By An Infinite Number Of Small Ones. Each Time You Do A Kindness For Someone Or Bring A Smile To His Face, It Gives Your Life Meaning. Never Doubt Your Value, Little Friend. The World Would Be A Dismal Place Without You In It. (tweaked Version Of A Passage From Scandal In Spring)

That Drew A Mocking Laugh From Lillian. “really, Someone Should Tell St. Vincent That He’s A Living Cliché. He Has Become The Embodiment Of Everything They Say About Reformed Rakes.

I Understood Finally That The Thing I Should Have Feared Most Was Not Loss, But Never Loving. The Price For Safety Was The Regret I Felt At This Moment. And Yet I Would Have To Live With It For The Rest Of My Life

You're Surrounded By It Wherever You Go, You Walk Through It, Breathe It...it's In Your Lungs And Under Your Tongue And Between Your Fingers And Toes.

Her Chances Of A Decent Marriage Were About To Be Dashed-and All Because Of A Ferret.

Set The World Afire. Just Let Me Hand You The Matches.

Hardy Was Every Loose-limbed Cowboy In Warn Denim, Every Pair Of Blue Eyes, Every Battered Pickup, Every Hot Cloudless Day." -liberty

I Knew I Would Replay The Scene Countless Times In The Years Before Me, Each Time Thinking Of Different Things I Should Have Said And Done. But All I Did Was Walk Away Without Looking Back.

The Firefly Is An Unassuming Insect In The Daytime. If You Didn't Know What It Was, You'd Think It Was Nothing Special. But At Night, The Firefly Glows With Its Own Light Source. The Darkness Brings Out Its Most Beautiful Gift. That's An Extraordinary Talent For An Ordinary-looking Creature, Isn't It?

... He Didn't Know How To Say Good-bye. His Throat Ached From The Strain Of Holding Back His Emotions. “i Don't Want To Leave You,” He Said Humbly, Reaching For Her Cold, Stiff Hands. Emma Lowered Her Head, Her Tears Falling Freely. “i'll Never See You Again, Will I?” He Shook His Head. “not In This Lifetime,” He Said Hoarsely. She Pulled Her Hands Away And Wrapped Her Arms Around His Neck. He Felt Her Wet Lashes Brush His Cheek. “then I'll Wait A Hundred Years,” She Whispered. “or A Thousand, If I Must. Remember That, Nikki. I'll Be Waiting For You To Come To Me.

If You Pretend Everything's Fine Long Enough, Everything Eventually Becomes Fine.

Justine," Zoe Said, "i Don't Want To Curse Anyone." "of Course You Don't, You're Much Too Nice. But I Don't Have That Problem.

The Way I Was Brought Up ‘he Needed Killing’ Is An Airtight Alibi.

I'm Coming To Believe That There Are Two Kinds Of People... Those Who Choose To Be Masters Of Their Own Fate And Those Who Wait In Chairs While Other Dance. I Would Rather Be One Of The Former Than The Latter.

...just A Little Touches Her And There. He Puts His Hands On Your Arms Or Back, He Stands Close To You, Getting You Used To Him... It's A Mating Ritual. Like March Of The Penguins.

I Don't Think Harry Cares About Being Forgiven," Poppy Said Glumly. "of Course He Does. Men Love To Be Forgiven. It Makes Us Feel Better About Our Inability To Learn From Our Mistakes.

The Worst Part About Loving Someone, Merripen, Is That There Will Always Be Things You Can't Protect Her From. Things Beyond Your Control. You Finally Realize There Is Something Worse Than Dying . . . And That Is Having Something Happen To Her. You Have To Live With That Fear Always. But You Have To Take The Bad Part, If You Want The Good Part." Kev Looked At Him Bleakly. "what's The Good Part?" A Smile Touched Cam's Lips. "all The Rest Of It Is The Good Part," He Said, And Went.

There Were Times In Life When You Had To Take A Risk That Might End In Failure. Because Otherwise You Would Be Haunted By What You Hadn’t Done... The Paths You Hadn’t Taken, The Things You Hadn’t Experienced.

Here's Your Hat, And By The Way, I'm A Virgin

I Don't Share My Body Heat Indiscriminately.

Women Beg Me For It, And Not The Other Way Around." "then You Should Go To One Of Them." "oh, I Will. When We Return To London, I'm Going To Embark On A Spree Of Orgiastic Debauchery That Won't End Until Someone Is Arrested For It. But In The Meanwhile...do You Truly Expect That The Two Of Us Are Going To Share A Bed Tonight-and Tomorrow Night-as Chastely As A Pair Of Nuns On Holiday?

Neither Of Us Seemed Able To Be Close To Anyone. Not Even Each Other. Closeness Meant The One You Loved The Most Would Cause You The Most Damage. How Did You Unlearn That? It Was Woven Deep Between Every Fiber And Vessel. You Couldn't Cut It Out.

To Be Honest," I Halfwhispered, "i Don't Feel As Safe With Him As I Do With You." "i Know." A Ghost Of A Smile Touched My Lips. "how Do You Know?" "think About What Safety Is, Ella." "trust?" "yes, Partly. But Also An Absence Of Risk." He Unstuck A Strand Of Hair From My Damp Cheek And Tucked It Back. "maybe You Need To Take A Risk. Maybe You Need To Be With Someone Who Rattles You A Little.

You're Always Looking For Some New Way To Tell The Same Story, But It's How They Get To The Happy End That Is The Challenge And The Fun For A Writer.

I Had To Let Go Of Him. But I Knew That As Long As I Lived, I Would Feel The Phantompain Of His Absence.

Evie ” Came His Faint Whisper “i’m Going To Your Mother See…she’s Got ’em To Leave A Back Door Open…so I Can Steal Into ’eaven.

How Old Are You? Twelve?" "fourteen & Three Quarters." His Eyes Sparkled. "you're Kind Of Little For Fourteen And Three Quarters." "am Not," I Replied Indignantly. "i'm A Sophomore This Year. How Old Are You?" "seventeen And Two Fifths." Hardy Cateses & Liberty Jones.

We’ll Continue Our Discussion Later. Right Now I Intend To Escort Miss Peyton To Her Room.” “that Is Not A Wise Idea, In My Opinion,” The Earl Said. “i’m Glad I Didn’t Ask For It, Then,” Simon Returned Pleasantly

Thunderstorms And Rainbows Wrapped Together In A Convenient Pocket-sized Parcel.

Ah, Evie,” She Heard Him Say Softly, “i Must Have A Heart, After All…because Right Now It Aches Like The Devil.” “only Your Heart?” She Asked Ingenuously, Making Him Laugh. He Lowered Her To The Bed, His Eyes Sparkling Wickedly. “also A Few Other Things,” He Conceded. “and As My Wife, It’s Your Duty To Ease All My Aches.

His Kisses Tapped Into Deep Mines Of Memory, And The Years That Had Separated Us Fell Away As If They Were Nothing.

Justine Reached For A Fresh Tissue And Clamped It To Lucy’s Nose As If She Was A Child. “friends Are The Support Bras Of Life. We Don’t Let Each Other Down. Right?

I'm Scared Of Making The Biggest Mistake Of My Life. I'm Just Trying To Figure Out What The Mistake Is.

Dear Lord,” She Said In A Strangled Whisper. “i Can Bear It For A While...but Please Don't Let It Hurt Forever.

Some Questions Change Everything.

Sometimes Silence Was Easiest, When The Only Word Left Was Good-bye.

Perhaps Only Those Who Had Loved And Lost Could Appreciate This Magic.

I Wish You Were A Mind-reader. I Want You To Know Everything But I Don't Want To Have To Tell You. Because There Are Some Things I Don't Want To Say Out Loud.

I've Always Started Every Day By Going To The Window For A Glimpse Of The Sky. But Now I Won't Have To." "why Not?" She Asked Softly. "because I'll See The Blue Of Your Eyes Instead." "how Romantic You Are," She Murmured With A Grin, Kissing Him Gently. "but Don't Worry. I Won't Tell Anyone.

For Thousands Of Nights I Dreamed Of Making Love To You. No Man On Earth Has Ever Hated Sunrise As I Do.

I’ve Never Had Any Objection To Appearing Depraved Or Villainous. But I Draw The Line At Looking Like A Prize Idiot.

I Love You, He Thought, Looking At Win. I Love Every Part Of You, Every Thought And Word...the Entire Complex, Fascinating Bundle Of All The Things You Are. I Want You With Ten Different Kinds Of Need At Once. I Love All The Seasons Of You, The Way You Are Now, The Thought Of How Much More Beautiful You'll Be In The Decades To Come. I Love You For Being The Answer To Every Question My Heart Could Ask.

I Scowled Defensively. "my Conversations Don't Usually Include The Subject Of Erections." "too Bad," He Said. "all The Best Conversations Do.

But I Think If It's The Right Person, You Wouldn't Have To Work So Hard At Intimacy. I Think—hope—it Would Just Happen Naturally. Otherwise, Opening Up To The Wrong Person..." I Made A Face. "like Putting Ammo In Their Hands.

Our Gazes Met. It Seemed An Entire Conversation Took Place In That One Glance. Each Of Us Saw What We Needed To Know.

It Didn't Help Matters That I Was Shy And Wore Glasses. I Was Never One To Stand Out In The Crowd. I Liked To Stay In Corners. And I Was Happiest When I Was Alone Reading. That And The Good Grades I Got In School Had Doomed Any Chance Of Being Popular With My Peers. So It Was A Foregone Conclusion That Boys Like Hardy Were Never Going To Take Notice Of Me.

I'm Not Good Enough For You. But No One Is. And Most Men, Good Or Bad, Have Limits To What They Would Do, Even For Someone They Love. I Have None. No God, No Moral Code, No Faith In Anything. Except You. You're My Religion. I Would Do Anything You Asked. I Would Fight, Steal, Kill For You." -kev To Win

I Suppose Now I'm Obliged To Wish You Happiness In Your New Life. Although Happiness In The Absence Of Indoor Plumbing Is A Debatable Concept.

It Was A Train Wreck Happening Right In Front Of Me And I Couldn't Do Anything About It, Except That Not Only Was I Watching, I Was Also The Train.

Dating Is Like Trying To Make A Meal Out Of Leftovers. Some Leftovers Actually Get Better When They've Had A Little Time To Mature. But Others Should Be Thrown Out Right Away, No Matter How You Try To Warm Them Up, They're Never As Good As When They Were New.

The Earl Shook His Head, Exhibiting A Degree Of Frosty Offense That Could Only Be Achieved By An Aristocrat Whose Wishes Had Just Been Gainsaid. “i’ve Never Heard Of A Man Being So Eager To Confess To The Parent Of A Girl He’s Just Ruined,” He Said Sourly.

Some Are Nice And Some Aren't. Some Are Smart, And Others Are About As Bright As A Wet Match In A Dark Cave. In Other Words, Pretty Normal.

I Can't Imagine A Sweeter Agony, Having Him So Close.

Because Letting Someone In Close Meant They Could Hurt You. I Knew All About That Kind Of Fear. I Lived With It.

I've Got About Ten Things To Say To You Right Now. But At Least Nine Of Them Would Make Me Sound Like A Psycho.” In Spite Of The Seriousness Of The Situation, I Nearly Smiled. “what’s The Tenth Thing?” I Asked His Shirtfront. He Paused, Considering It. “never Mind,” He Grumbled. “that One Would Make Me Sound Like A Psycho, Too.

The Freedom Of Saying Anything To Him, Telling All, Relieved A Burden I Hadn't Even Realized I'd Been Carrying. In My Relentless Push To Keep Moving Forward, There Had Been So Many Emotions I Hadn't Let Myself Inhabit Fully, So Many Things I Hadn't Talked About. Now I Couldn't Quite Catch Up To Myself.

Evie," Lillian Interupted Impatiently, "men Expect To Be Deceived In These Matters. They're Happiest That Way. If One Were Straightforward With Them The Whole Prospect Of Marriage Would Be Too Alarming, And None Of Them Would Ever Do It.

I Loved Him So Much, Loved His Fearlessness, His Strength, Even The Ambition That Would Someday Take Him Away From Me.

I'd Rather Be Insane With You Than Sane Without You. - Jake To Lydia

You Are Not A Perfect Woman.you Have An Evil Temper, You’re As Blind As A Mole, You’re A Deplorable Poet, And Frankly, Your French Accent Could Use Some Work.” Supporting Himself On His Elbows, Leo Took Her Face In His Hands. “but When I Put Those Things Together With The Rest Of You, It Makes You Into The Most Perfectly Imperfect Woman I’ve Ever Known.

Beatrix Puts A Distance Between Herself And The Rest Of The World. She’s Very Engaging, But Also Quite Private In Nature. I See The Same Qualities In Captain Phelan.” “yes,” Amelia Said. “you’re Absolutely Right, Catherine. Put That Way, The Match Does Seem More Appropriate.” “i Still Have Reservations,” Leo Said. “you Always Do,” Amelia Replied. “if You’ll Recall, You Objected To Cam In The Beginning, But Now You’ve Accepted Him.” “that’s Because The More Brothers-in-law I Acquire,” Leo Said, “the Better Cam Looks By Comparison.

Maybe He's Not College-smart, But He's Smart In A Way They Can't Teach.

I Didn't Mean To Send Love Letters, But That Is What They Became. On Their Way To You, My Words Turned Into Heartbeats On The Page.

Because Handsomeness Is Always Accompanied By Vanity.and I Suppose Ugliness Is Accompanied By A Wealth Of Virtues?

I Wondered How Many Times In My Life I Had Done Something Just Because I Wanted To Without Weighing The Consequences.

He Had Found My Worst Weakness: I Was One Of Those People Who Was Desperate To Be Needed, To Matter To Someone.

On Monday They Went Out For A Private Picnic. On Tuesday They Went For A Carriage Drive. On Wednesday They Went To Pick Bluebells. On Thursday They Fished At The Lake, Returning With Damp Clothes And Sun-glazed Complexions, Laughing Together At A Joke They Didn't Share With Anyone Else. On Friday They Danced Together At An Impromptu Musical Evening, Looking So Well Matched One Of The Guests Remarked It Was A Pleasure To Watch Them. On Saturday Matthew Woke Up Wanting To Murder Someone.

I’ve Won His Heart, But It’s Like Owning A House In Which Most Of The Doors Are Permanently Locked. He Wants To Shield Me From All Unpleasantness. And It’s Not Really Marriage—not Like The Marriage You Have With Cam—until He’s Willing To Share The Worst Of Himself As Well As The Best Of Himself.

Before You Marry, You Have To Get Shot By An Arrow And Fall In Love,” The Boy Explained. He Paused Thoughtfully. “but I Don’t Think The Rest Of It Hurts As Much As The Beginning.

Falling In Love

Before I Write The First Page Of A Novel, I Spend A Long Time Creating Detailed Backgrounds For My Characters. I Imagine The Experiences That Have Formed Them, What Makes Them Happy, Angry, Fearful, And What They Yearn For.

Marriage Would Change Hardly Anything Between Us, Except That We Would End Our Arguments In A Much More Satisfying Way. And Of Course I Would Have Extensive Legal Rights Over Your Body, Your Property, And All Your Individual Freedoms, But I Don't See What's So Alarming About That.

... I Think I Know The Secret To A Long And Happy Marriage - Just Choose Someone You Can't Live Without.

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Karen Carpenter

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