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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.

-Lisa Kleypas

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Dating Is Like Trying

Lisa Kleypas

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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.

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The Guy Who Broke Up With Me... He Was Exactly Like You, In The Beginning. Charming, And Nice. They're All Like You In The Beginning. But I Always End Up Like This. And I Can't Do It Anymore.

But When You Started Dating Someone, You Could Never Be Sure What You Were Getting Into. You Had To Give Someone A Chance To Show You Who He Really Was . . . And Believe Him When He Did.

One Of The Blessings Human Beings Take For Granted Is The Ability To Remember Pain Without Re-feeling It. The Pain Of The Physical Wounds Is Long Gone …and The Other Kind Of Hurt, The Damage Done To Our Spirits, Has Been Healed. We Are Careful With Those Scarred Places In Each Other.

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

No Marriage Stays In The Same Pattern Forever. It Is Both The Best Feature Of Marriage And The Worst, That It Inevitably Changes.

Sometimes People Don't Have To Make You Love Them...you Just Do, And There's No Help For It.

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

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.

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

Nature Had Squandered An Unreasonable Quantity Of Male Beauty On This Undeserving Creature.

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

My Theory About Meeting People,' He Said,'is That It's Better Not To Make A Really Good First Impression. Because It's All Downhill From There. You're Always Having To Live Up To That First Impression, Which Was Just An Illusion.

First Impression

I Closed My Eyes, Thinking, Let Me Love You, Hardy, Just Let Me.

Don't Ever Trust Men With Good Intentions. They'll Always Disappoint You." Leo

Good Intentions

He Stared At Me With Bitter Understanding. We Both Knew There Was No Room In This For Friendship. Nothing Left But Childhood History.

Alone-sex Didn't Count. It's Like The Difference Between Thinking To Yourself Or Having A Good Conversation With Someone--the Pleasure Is In The Exchange.

I Grasp Reality, But Sometimes I Like To Choke It Into Submission.

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.

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.

I've Never Wanted To Be Loved. And God Knows No One's Done It Yet.

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

One Of The Women At The Clinic Had Remarked Dryly That Harrow's Personal Magnetism Not Only Affected Men, Women And Children But Also Extended To Armoires, Assorted Chairs And The Nearby Goldfish In A Bowl.

Christopher Heard A Pair Of Women Gossiping Nearby, Whispering In Disapproving Undertones. "... Ramsey Was Found Flirting In A Corner With A Woman. They Had To Drag Him Away From Her." "who Was It?" "his Own Wife." "oh, Dear.

I Will Admit, I Once Launched Myself At Julie Garwood For A Hug, Hoping Some Of Her Magic Would Rub Off On Me... And I Have Fangirl Crushes On Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Howard, And Kresley Cole, Among Many Others.

It Was A Good Hald Minute Before I Looked Over At Todd. His Eyes Were Slightly Foggy, Like He Was Waking Up- Reluctantly- From A Lascivious Dream. "i Didn't Know They Still Made Them Like That," He Said.... "cool, Tough, Retro-manly. The Kind Who Only Cries If Someone Just Ran Over Their Dog. The Big Chested Guy We Can Indulge Our Pathetic Daddy Complexes With.

Was Parenting Ever Going To Get Easier? Did You Ever Reach A Point Where You Could Stop Worrying?

She Shook Her Head As She Confessed, "i Want It So Much, I'm Afraid To Hope." "never Be Afraid To Hope," Rohan Said Gently. "it's The Only Way To Begin." -rohan To Win

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.

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

It's Me, Love," He Said Softly. "everything's All Right." Daisy Managed To Whisper Through Dry Lips. "if You're A Ghost...i Hope You Haunt Me Forever." Matthew Sat On The Floor And Reached For Her Cold Hands. "would A Ghost Use The Door?" He Asked Gently, Bringing Her Fingers To His Scratched, Battered Face.

If My Love Can Hold You, I'll Keep You With Me.

In This Life And The Next, You're My Only Hope At Happiness.

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?

Sometimes When We're Not Paying Attention, Relation-ships Happen. There Is No Rule That Requires Two People In Love To Be Exactly Alike.

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

The Situation Was Extraordinary. How Someone Like Evangeline Jenner Could Have Wrought Such A Change In St. Vincent, The Most Worldly Of Men, Was Difficult To Understand. However, Westcliff Had Learned That The Mysteries Of Attraction Could Not Always Be Explained Through Logic. Sometimes The Fractures In Two Separate Souls Became The Very Hinges That Held Them Together.

Separately They Had Different Strengths. Together They Were Complete.

A Well-read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature.

That Is Kind Of You, My Lord. But I Will Never Dance With You.' Which, Of Course, Made It The Goal Of Leo's Life.

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

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.

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

Women. You'll Interpret Anything As Love. You See A Man Wearing An Idiotic Expression, And You Assume He's Been Struck By Cupid's Arrow When In Reality, He's Digesting A Bad Turnip.

I No Longer Believed In The Idea Of Soul Mates, Or Love At First Sight. But I Was Beginning To Believe That A Very Few Times In Your Life, If You Were Lucky, You Might Meet Someone Who Was Exactly Right For You. Not Because He Was Perfect, Or Because You Were, But Because Your Combined Flaws Were Arranged In A Way That Allowed Two Separate Beings To Hinge Together.

One Of The Servants Had Reported That Daisy Had Been Sneaking Around The House At Night, Deliberately Tripping All The Traps To Keep The Mice From Being Killed. “is This True, Daughter?” Thomas Bowman Had Rumbled, His Gaze Filled With Ire As He Stared At Daisy. “it Could Be,” She Had Allowed. “but There Is Another Explanation.” “and What Is That?” Bowman Had Asked Sourly. Her Tone Turned Congratulatory. “i Think We Are Hosting The Most Intelligent Mice In New York!

She Was Yours, If You'd Truly Wanted Her," Harry Continued, A Pitiless Smile Touching His Lips. "but I Wanted Her More.

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

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.

I'm One Of Those People Who Was Meant To Have A Very Ordinary Life. I Have No Special Talent, No Great Beauty, Nothing That Distinguishes Me From A Hundred, Thousand Other Girls. But I Can't Go Through An Entire Lifetime Without At Least One Night Of Magic.

I Think In A Moment Of Weakness, You Might Surprise Yourself.

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.

I Was Going To Have To Leave You Anyway. Because I Loved You Too Much To Drag You Down With Me." My Hand Crept Up To Caress The Rigid Line Of His Jaw. "why'd You Change Your Mind?" I Whispered. "after I Calmed Down A Little And Had A Chance To Think, I Figured . . . I Love You Enough To Try And Deserve You. I Would Do Anything, Be Anything, For You.

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.

Those Blue Eyes Glinted With Uncivilized Suggestion. A Faint Smile Was Tucked In The Corner Of His Wide Mouth. Definitely Wouldn't Want To Be Alone In A Room With That Guy, I Thought. His Gaze Moved Downward In Lazy Inspection, Returned To My Face, And He Gave Me One Of Those Respectful Nods That Texan Men Had Raised To An Art Form.

The Trick Was Forgetting About What She Had Lost ...and Learning To Go On With What She Had Left.

I Wanted More Of Those Sweltering Kisses. I Felt Terrible About That. But The Warm Sunny Fragrance Of Him...he Smelled Better Than Any Human Being I'd Ever Met. "okay" I Said Unsteadily, "forget What I Said About Not Exchanging Names. Who Are You?" "for You, Honey...i'm Trouble." -haven & Hardy

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

The Rom Believe You Should Take The Road That Calls To You, And Never Turn Back. Because You Never Know What Adventures Await." ... "so We're Going To Take This Road," He Murmured, "and See Where It Leads.

I'm A Big Believer In Putting Things Off, In Fact, I Even Put Off Procrastinating. -ella Varner

Procrastination

Putting Things Off

He's A Fascinating Gentleman. Old-school. I Tried To Talk Him Into Attending One Of My Services, But He Said He Wasn't Finished Sinning Yet, And He'd Let Me Know When He Was.

We Were Each Other's Only Link To The Past . . . That Was The Strength Of Our Bond, And Also Our Weakness.

I Don't Share My Body Heat Indiscriminately.

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.

I Didn't Want To Give You The One Last Part Of Myself That I Couldn't Take Back. And Then You Were Gone... And I Realized It Was Already Yours. It Had Been Since The Beginning. Except That I Hadn't Told You. It Drove Me Mad, The Thought That You Would Never Know.

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

Do You Think I Should Stay Away From Him?" I Asked In A Scratchy Voice. Todd Took A Long Time To Answer. "my Advice Is, If You're Inclined In That Direction, Go With Your Eyes Open. It's Okay To Let Someone Play You, Haven, As Long As You Know What's Going On.

Make Your Choice And Accept The Consequences.

Very Well,” Beatrix Said Reluctantly. “but I Warn You, They May Be Resistant To The Match.” “i’m Resistant To The Match,” Christopher Informed Her. “at Least We’ll Have That In Common.

What Flaw Could You Possibly Find In His Appearance?" "his Posture," Hannah Muttered. "what About It?" "he Slouches." "he's An American. They All Slouch. The Weight Of Their Wallets Drags Them Over.

Some Questions Change Everything.

A Long Time Ago I Learned Not To Explain Things To People. It Misleads Them Into Thinking They're Entitled To Know Everything I Do. -sara

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

You Know What It Is You Smell On Him, Haven? Testosterone. It's Leaking Out Of His Pores.

Over The Years I’ve Collected A Thousand Memories Of You, Every Glimpse, Every Word You’ve Ever Said To Me. All Those Visits To Your Family’s Home, Those Dinners And Holidays—i Could Hardly Wait To Walk Through The Front Door And See You.” The Corners Of His Mouth Quirked With Reminiscent Amusement. “you, In The Middle Of That Brash, Bull-headed Lot…i Love Watching You Deal With Your Family. You’ve Always Been Everything I Thought A Woman Should Be. And I Have Wanted You Every Second Of My Life Since We First Met.

Tell Me About Our Legal Issues. And Use Small Words. I Don't Like To Think At This Hour Of The Morning. It Hurts." ~leo To Merripen

The Boy Heaved A Sigh. "i Would Ask To Go With You," He Said, " But I Have To Finish My Lessons. I So Look Forward To The Day When I Know Everything. Then I Won't Have To Read Any More Books Or Do Any More Counting." Beatrix Smiled. "i Don't Wish To Be Discouraging, Rye, But It's Not Possible To Know Everything." "mama Does." Rye Paused Reflectively. "at Least, Papa Says We Mus T Pretend She Does, Because It Makes Her Happy." "your Father," Beatrix Informed Him With A Laugh, " Is One Of The Wisest Men I've Ever Known.

I Was Ripe Ten Years Ago. Now I’m Merely Preserved, And Before Long I’ll Be Buried Back In The Orchard With The Other Pits.” -amanda To Jack

Fate Is The Malevolent Little Jester Sitting Up In The Heavens And Pondering Over How Ridiculous We Humans Are And He Does His Best To Make Fools Out Of All Of Us. And Sooner Or Later He Succeeds.

Aristotle Taught That Stars Are Made Of A Different Matter Than The Four Earthly Elements— A Quintessence— That Also Happens To Be What The Human Psyche Is Made Of. Which Is Why Man’s Spirit Corresponds To The Stars. Perhaps That’s Not A Very Scientific View, But I Do Like The Idea That There’s A Little Starlight In Each Of Us.

I Need You For A Lot Of Things, Hardy. A Lifetime's Worth Of Things.

Some Folks Are Happier Not Being Saved.

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?

To Put To Rest Any Doubts You Might Have… I’m Jealous Of Every Man Who Comes Within Ten Feet Of You. I’m Jealous Of The Clothes On Your Skin And The Air You Breathe. I’m Jealous Of Every Moment You Spend Out Of My Sight

But No One Can Predict Of A Certainty What Will Happen. And None Of It Will Change How I Intend To Spend The Rest Of My Life. I Will Live It On My Terms. And You... You Can Have All Of Me Or Nothing. I Won't Be An Invalid Any Longer. Not Even If It Means Losing You.

Have You Ever Wanted Something So Much That You Would Do Anything To Have It - Even Knowing That It Was Bad For You?" "of Course," Adam Replied. "all Truly Enjoyable Things In Life Are Invariably Bad For You - And They Are Even Better When Done To Excess.

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

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.

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.

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

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.

You Told Me You Believed Marriage Was For Other People." "you're The Only Man Who Could Make Me Believe That It's For Me, Too. Although When You Get Down To It, Love Is What's Real. I Still Say Marriage Is Just A Piece Of Paper." Jack Smiled. "let's Find Out," He Said, And He Pulled Me Down To The Bed With Him. Jack & Ella

I Never Take Advice, Good Or Bad. That Would Only Encourage More Of It.

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

I Had Learned This Lesson So Many Times Before. It Was The Great Inner Truth That Didn't Require The Support Of Logic. Every Time I Loved, I Lost, And I Was Diminished. I Wondered How Much Of Me Would Be Left After Tomorrow.

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.

I Know When Something Is Too Important To Be Decided By Logic.

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

It’s All Right,” The Boy Murmured As He Felt Her Trembling. “my Grandmother Always Told Me ‘never Try To Turn Back On A New Road—you Don’t Know What Adventures Await You.

You Can Keep A Bunch Of Crabs In A Shallow Container, And None Of Them Will Escape. Because As Soon As One Of 'em Tries To Climb Out, The Others Pull Him Back In." -hardy

My Parents Never Said It. They Thought You Shouldn't Wear Out The Words

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.

Where Are We Going?” Annabelle Asked, Resisting His Hold On Her Wrist. “to The House. If They’re Not Willing To Be Witnesses, Then It Seems I’ll Have To Debauch You In Front Of Someone Else.

Yes, But You Need To Learn Your Maths." "i Don't Need To, Really. I Already Know How To Count To A Hundred. And I'm Sure I'll Never Need Ore Than A Hundred Of Anything.

A Sixty - Eight, He Wants You To Go Down On Him But He Won't Return The Favor. It Would Be Sixty-nine But He Owes You One.

I Think At This Point, Safety Isn't A Feeling, It's A Process. Starting With Trust.

Roy Received My Comments With A Forced Smile. "hardy, Didn't I Warn You Not To Date A Woman Who Reads?" Hardy Seemed Amused By My Outspokenness. "keeps The Arguing To A Minimum," He Replied. "no Point In Trying When I Know She's Going To Win.

I’ve Never Heard Of A Man Being So Eager To Confess To The Parent Of A Girl He’s Just Ruined

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.

Well, I Find A Strange Comfort In The Fact That He Wouldn't Feel This Degree Of Animosity Now, Had He Not Loved Me So Much Before.

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

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.

You Don’t Annoy Me.” Carefully He Rebuttoned The Placket Of Her Shirt. “i Thought You Did, At First. But Now I Realize It Was More Like The Feeling You Get When Your Foot’s Been Asleep. And When You Start Moving, The Blood Coming Back Into It Is Uncomfortable . . . But Also Good. Do You Understand What I Mean?” “yes. I Make Your Feet Tingle.” A Smile Came To His Lips. “among Other Things.

Hunt Looked Like A Man Who Had Visited Many Woman's Beds And Knew Exactly What To Do In Them.

The Feeling Of Relinquishing Responsibility To Someone Else, Letting Him Take Control, Was A Relief Beyond Words.

I Told Him I Had Always Kept My Inner Martha Stewart Chained In The Basement, But For His Sake I Would Set Her Loose.” ~ Haven Travis

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

Sometimes You Meet A Really Nice Guy, But No Matter How You Try, You Can't Seem To Make Yourself Want Him. But That's Not Nearly As Bad As When You Meet The Wrong Guy, And You Can't Make Yourself Not Want Him. You Feel Hollow Inside, Just Waiting And Wishing And Dreaming. You Feel Like Every Moment Is Leading To Something So Amazing That There's No Name For It, And If You Could Just Get There With Him, It Would Be Such A...relief. It Would Be All You'd Ever Need.

When Christopher Finished, There Was A Moment Of Silence. Leo Looked At Cam Expectantly. “well?” “well What?” “now Is The Time When You Dredge Up One Of Your Blasted Romany Sayings. Something About Roosters Laying Eggs, Or Pigs Dancing In The Orchard. It’s What You Always Do. Let’s Have It.” Cam Gave Him A Sardonic Glance. “i Can’t Think Of One Right Now.” “by God, I’ve Had To Listen To Hundreds Of Them. And Phelan Doesn’t Have To Hear Even One?

You Won't Kiss Me For Diamonds," He Said, His Voice Slightly Raspy, "but You Will For Chocolates?" Poppy Nodded.

Heath," She Whispered, "you're All I Want. No One Else ... No One . . .

How Do I Look?" Amanda Asked. Jack Shook His Head Ruefully As He Glanced At Her. No One Could Mistake The Remaining Flush On Her Cheeks, Or The Soft Sparkle Of Her Eyes, Or Her Lusciously Swollen Mouth, For Anything Other Than The Results Of Physical Passion. "like You've Been Ravished," He Said Flatly. She Astonished Him By Smiling. "hurry, Please. I Want To Go Inside My House And Consult A Looking Glass. I've Always Wanted To Know What A Ravished Woman Looks Like.

... I Discovered Life Sometimes Has A Way Of Giving You What You Need, But Not In The Form You Expect.

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

I Never Lie For The Sake Of Kindness,” He Murmured, Smiling. “one Of My Many Flaws.

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

Only You Could Love Such A Vile, Selfish Peacock, Evie.

Do You Know What A Balance Wheel Is?” She Shook Her Head Slightly. “there’s One In Every Clock Or Watch. It Rotates Back And Forth Without Stopping. It’s What Makes The Ticking Sound...what Makes The Hands Move Forward To Mark The Minutes. Without It, The Watch Wouldn’t Work. You’re My Balance Wheel, Poppy.” -harry Rutledge

What Are You Going To Call The Place?" "i Haven't Decided Yet. Carrington Wants To Call It Clippety-do-da Or Hairway To Heaven . . . But I Told Her We Have To Be A Little Bit Classier." "julius Scissors," I Suggested. "hair Today, Gone Tomorrow," Jack Joined In. Liberty Covered Her Ears. "i'll Go Out Of Business In The First Week.

Whereas I Will Be With A Wicked, Handsome Rom Who Will Keep Me Warm All Night.

The Bargain…” She Mumbled. “you Said I Could Kiss You,” Came His Gentle, Wicked Whisper Near Her Ear. “but, My Love…you Didn’t Specify Where.

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 I Hadn't Known What Love Was. And I Wondered How You Could Ever Be Sure, When You Thought You Loved Someone, If You Really Did.

But The Absence Of Tears Wasn't The Same As An Absence Of Feeling.

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.

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

I've Missed You, Sebastian." "have You, Love?" He Unfastened The Buttons Of Her Robe, The Light Eyes Glittering With Heat As Her Skin Was Revealed. "what Part Did You Miss The Most?" "your Mind," She Said, And Smiled At His Expression. "i Was Hoping For A Far More Depraved Answer Than That." "your Mind Is Depraved," She Told Him Solemnly. He Gave A Husky Laugh. "true.

Want To Try It?" Dad Offered, Patting The Arm Of The Chair. "fifteen Different Kinds Of Massage. It Analyzes Your Back Muscles And Makes Recommendations. It Also Grabs And Stretches The Thigh And Calf Muscles." "no, Thanks. I Prefer My Furniture To Keep Its Hands To Itself.

I Love You Dammit.""she Brushed Her Lips Teasingly Against His."how Much?" He Made A Slight Sound, As If The Soft Kiss Had Affected Him Intensely."without Limit.beyond Forever.

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.

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.

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.

She Had Never Experienced The Pain Of Unsatisfied Desire Before. It Hurt. It Hurt Like Nothing She'd Ever Felt, And There Seemed To Be No Remedy

I've Never Been Convinced That Everything In A Relationship Needs To Be Talked About. Some Things Can't Be Fixed By A Conversation

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

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.

Cam Held Her Closer. "marry Me, Amelia. You're What I Want. You're My Fate." One Hand Slid To The Back Of Her Head, Gripping The Braids And Ribbons To Keep Her Mouth Upturned. "say Yes." He Nibbled At Her Lips, Licked At Them, Opened Them. He Kissed Her Until She Writhed In His Arms, Her Pulse Racing. "say It, Amelia, And Save Me From Ever Having To Spend A Night With Another Woman. I'll Sleep Indoors. I'll Get A Haircut. God Help Me, I Think I'd Even Carry A Pocket Watch If It Pleased You.

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's Difficult For Most Of Us To Be Completely Honest With Ourselves - We Hate To Admit How Vulnerable Or Needful We Are.

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.

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

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

Please Come To Me, Cat, Because There's No Surviving You. You Don't Have To Love Me Back. You Don't Have To Be Mine. Just Let Me Be Yours.

I'd Sell My Soul To Have You. In My Whole Life, You'll Always Be What I Wanted Most." ~ Hardy Cates

It's Drugs, Isn't It"? Tara Was So Innocent. She Got Pulled Into That Glamorous Lifestyle With All Her Rich Friends...all That Cocaine Dust Floating Around, She Probably Inhaled Some By Accident, And Then -' 'there's No Such Thing As Secondhand Cocaine Snorting, Mom.

You've Always Asked Me To Wait, As If We Had Time In Abundance. But Time Is Too Precious, Perry. We've Wasted Years, When We Could Have Been With Each Other. Don't You Understand How Much Even One Day Of Loving Each Other Is Worth? Some People Are Separated By Distances They Can Never Cross. All They Can Do Is Dream About Each Other For A Lifetime, Never Having What They Want Most. How Foolish, How Wasteful To Have Love Within Your Reach And Not Take It!" She Clamped Her Teeth On Her Trembling Bottom Lip To Steady Herself

Shaw...has A Woman Ever Asked You To Write A Poem For Her?" "good God, No," Gideon Replied With A Snicker. "shaws Don't Write Poetry. They Pay Others To Write It For Them And Then Take The Credit For It.

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

When I Fell In Love With You... It Was Nothing Like I'd Ever Known Before. It Was Nearly Instant. I Think I Started Falling For You, The Moment You Shook My Hand... It Was So Powerful. I Knew It Was Wrong, But It Was Addicting." - Jack Travis

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

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.

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.

She Wanted Him To Stop, But More Than That, She Wanted Him To Go On Forever.

He'll Survive," He Answered Her. "just As He's Survived Everything Else In His Life. But He'll Never Be The Same.

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.

My Peer Would Have To Be Dark-haired And Handsome, A Wonderful Dancer... And He Would Never Ask Permission Before He Kissed Me." -lillian Bowman

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

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.

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

Bitterly I Wondered If Hardy Was Going To Overshadow Every Relationship For The Rest Of My Life, Haunting Me Like A Ghost. I Didn't Know How To Let Him Go. I'd Never Even Had Him.

Believe Me, When My ‘personal Endowments’ Are Being Discussed, I Always Pay Attention.” ~ Cam Rohan

No One Can Tell You What Your Path Is . . . But Someday You'll Discover It. . . And It Won't Be At All What You Expected.

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—

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.

And It Occurred To Me That Friendship Was A Lot More Dependable, Not To Mention Long-lasting, Than Love.

And I Wonder How Gage Knew This Is What My Soul Has Craved. He Turns Me To Face Him, His Eyes Searching. It Occurs To Me That No One In My Life Has Ever Concerned Himself So Thoroughly With My Happiness.

Everyone Striving To Be Witty And Sought-after, Everyone Talking And No One Listening.

It Was Often In Small Moments That Significant Things Were Revealed.

Significant Things

Significant Moments

One Can't Help But Marvel At The Variety Of Ways That Women Had Devised To Make Us Look Like Flaming Idiots.

I’ll Take Your Bet,” He Said Grimly. “i’m Going To Win It. And In Three Months, I’m Going To Put This Back On Your Finger, And Take You To Bed, And Do Things To You That Are Outlawed In The Civilized World.

I Didn't Know That, You Take Your Coffee Seriously, Dont You?' 'every Morning, I Run To The Coffeemaker Like A Soldier Returning To A Lost Love After The War.

She Was Aware Of The Movement Of His Lips As He Pressed Soundless Words In Her Palm. He Released Her, And The Look He Gave Her Seemed To Reveal The Depths Of His Lustful, Longing, Bitter Soul. "good-bye, Miss Fielding," He Said Hoarsely.

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.

I Don’t Have Any Mottoes. If I Did I Would Forever Be Contradicting Them.

Rohan's Fingertips Drifted With Stunning Delicacy Over Her Throat, Behind Her Ear, Pushing Into The Satiny Warmth Of Her Hair. "you Are An Interesting Woman Amelia." Gooseflesh Rose Wherever His Breath Touched. "i Can't F-fathom Why You Would Think So." His Playful Mouth Traced The Wing Of Her Brow. "i Find You Thoroughly, Deeply Interesting. I Want To Open You Like A Book And Read Every Page." A Smile Curved The Corners Of His Lips As He Added Huskily, "footnotes Included.

I Guess I Thought The Strength Of My Wanting Would Be Enough To Make Him Appear.

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

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.

I Know I'm A Bad Bargain. But I'm Begging You To Have Me Anyway. Because I Want A Chance To Make You As Happy As You Make Me. I Want To Build A Life With You." He Fought To Steady His Voice. "please Come To Me, Cat, Because There's No Surviving You. You Don't Have To Love Me Back. You Don't Have To Be Mine. Just Let Me Be Yours.

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

Then He Raised Her Enough To Whisper In Her Ear, And While His Voice Was Tender, His Words Were Savage. "you're My Woman, And No Man Or God Or Ghost Will Ever Take You From Me.

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.

You’re Far Too Prickly Tempered To Be A Mistress. You’re Far Better Suited As A Wife.

Beautiful Hannah. If You Were Mine, I'd Lay You On Silk Sheets And Wrap You Up In Ropes Of Pearls, And Feed You Honey From A Silver Spoon. Of Course, You Wouldn't Be Able To Make All Your High-minded Judgments If You Were A Fallen Woman...but You Wouldn't Care. Because I Would Pleasure You, Hannah, Every Night, All Night, Until You Forgot Your Own Name. Until You Were Willing To Do Things That Would Shock You In The Light Of Day. I Would Debauch You From Your Head Down To Your Innocent Little Toes-" "oh, I Despise You.

I Have Always Hated Flying. The Idea Of It Is An Affront To Nature. People Are Meant To Stay On The Ground.

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

You Aristocratic Ladies And Your Gold-plated Twats. You Always Think It's Such A Honor For Me To Touch You." He Surveyed Her With Mocking Green Eyes. "you Think You're The First High-kick Wench I've Ever Had? I Used To Have Blue-blooded Bitches Like You Pay Me To Do This. You've Gotten It For Free.

He Was My Confidant, The Person Who Was Always On My Side Even When He Wasn't Taking My Side.

You Think I'd Cheat On You?" I Demanded With All The Innocent Outrage I Could Muster. "with Another Guy, No. With A Cheeseburger . . . In A Heartbeat.

I Want You Any Way I Can Get You. Not Because You’re Beautiful Or Clever Or Kind Or Adorable, Although Devil Knows You’re All Those Things. I Want You Because There’s No One Else Like You, And I Don’t Ever Want To Start A Day Without Seeing You.

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Robert Baden-Powell

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