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I Didn't Expect It Was Going To Be Easy. But Hard Work Is A Lot Easier To Tolerate When It's Something You Want To Do Instead Of Something You Have No Choice About.

-Lisa Kleypas

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I Didn't Expect It

Lisa Kleypas

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I Didn't Expect It Was Going To Be Easy. But Hard Work Is A Lot Easier To Tolerate When It's Something You Want To Do Instead Of Something You Have No Choice About.

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When You're Walking Through The Darkness, You Can't Depend On Anything Or Anyone Else To Light Your Way. You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You've Got Inside You. Or You're Going To Get Lost.

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Some Questions Change Everything.

One Could Pick Apart Love, Examine Every Filament Of Attraction, And Still It Would Never Be Fully Explained. It Simply Was.

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I Grew Up Being Very Shy, Very Much A Bookworm, And I Remember Desperately Wondering How To Be Accepted By The Popular Kids.

Because I Realized During The Past Few Days That I Can’t Leave Doubt In Anyone’s Mind About To Whom You Belong. Especially Not Yours.

He Was So Far From The Gallant Knights In Her Romantic Fantasies ... He Was Tarnished, Scarred, Imperfect. Deliberately He Had Destroyed Any Illusions She Might Have Had About Him, Exposing His Mysterious Past For The Ugly Horror That It Was. His Purpose Had Been To Drive Her Away. But Instead She Felt Closer To Him, As If The Truth Had Bonded Them In A New Intimacy.

I Like Pessimists. They’re Always The Ones Who Bring Life Jackets For The Boat.

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?

I Thought About The Future, The Oceans And Continents He Would Cross, Far Away From Everyone Who Knew And Loved Him. Far Outside The Sphere Of His Mothers Prayers. Among The Women Of The Future, There Was One Who Would Know His Secrets And Bear His Children, And Witness The Changes The Years Worked On Him. And It Wouldnt Be Me. -liberty Jones

I Feel Like I've Been Shut In A Closet, And He's On The Other Side, And He Doesn't Have The Key To Unlock The Door.

A Book Had Always Been A Door To Another World... A World Much More Interesting And Fantastical Than Reality. But She Had Finally Discovered That Life Could Be Even More Wonderful Than Fantasy. And That Love Could Fill The Real World With Magic.

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

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.

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.

It's Like Your Whole Life You 've Been Falling Toward The Earth, Until The Moment Someone Catches You. And You Realise That Somehow You 've Caught Her At The Same Time. And Together, Instead Of Falling, You Might Be Able To Fly.

You Could Run To The Farthest Corners Of The Earth. There's No Place You Could Go Where I Wouldn't Love You. Nothing You Could Do To Stop Me.

Babies Were Dangerous . . . They Made You Fall In Love Before You Knew What Was Happening.

Falling In Love

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.

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.

Hardy's Either Done The Wrong Thing For The Wrong Reason . . . " Another Big Swallow. "or The Wrong Thing For The Right Reason.

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.

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.

No One Needs To Have Their Way All The Time, First Of All, But Second Of All, If You Find The Right Partner, As A Couple, You're Going To Create Something Together That Is Going To Be Better Than What You Could Do Or Have Individually.

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.

Shock Is A Merciful Condition. It Allows You To Get Through Disaster With A Necessary Distance Between You And Your Feelings.

And Poppy, Remember That Someday You Will Meet A Frog Who Will Turn Into A Handsome Prince." "good," Beatrix Said. "because All She's Met So Far Are Princes Who Turn Into Frogs." "mr. Bayning Is Not A Frog," Poppy Protested. "you're Right," Beatrix Said. "that Was Very Unfair To Frogs, Who Are Lovely Creatures.

I’ve Told You Before, I Love Like A Madman,” He Said. “immoderate, Jealous, Possessive...i’m Absolutely Intolerable.

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

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

I'm Not Running Away From My Fears," I Told Dane. "i'm Running Away From My Relatives.

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

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

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Hunt Seemed Similarly Indifferent To The Show, His Head Inclined Toward Hers, His Gaze Locked On Her Face. Though His Breathing Remained Soft And Disciplined, It Seemed To Her That Its Rhythm Had Changed Ever So Slightly. Annabelle Moistened Her Dry Lips. “you …you Mustn’t Stare At Me Like That.” Soft As The Murmur Was, He Caught It. “with You Here, Nothing Else Is Worth Looking At.

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I Am Running After You, And Life, In Desperate Pursuit. My Dream Is That Someday You Will Both Turn And Let Me Catch You. That Dream Carries Me Through Every Night... I Have Enclosed A Hundred Kisses In This Letter. You Must Count Them Out Carefully And Not Lose Any.

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

... 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.

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.

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The Travises Who Had Survived Were The Most Purely Stubborn People On Earth, The Kind Who Relied On Their Backbones When Their Wishbones Were Broken.

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

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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.

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Sleep, My Love," He Whispered, Smoothing Her Long Hair, Lifting The Damp Locks Away From The Back Of Her Neck. "i'll Be Here To Watch Over You." "you Sleep Too," She Said Groggily, Her Hand Creeping To The Center Of His Chest. "no." Mckenna Smiled And Pressed A Soft Kiss Against Her Temple. His Voice Was Husky With Wonder. "not When Staying Awake Is Better Than Anything I Could Find In A Dream.

Somehow I Knew That No Matter What I Chose To Tell Or To Keep Secret, He Would Understand.

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His Expression Was Infused With Lust And Adoration As He Lowered His Head To Kiss Her Throat, His Tongue Venturing Into The Little Spaces Between The Diamonds And Round Opals. “why Can’t You See Yourself As I See You?” -jack To Amanda

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

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

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She Heard The Trace Of Fear In His Voice. The Fear That A Small Boy Must Have Felt When Every Woman He Loved Had Disappeared From His Life, Swept Away By A Merciless Fever. She Didn’t Know How To Reassure Him, Or How To Console His Long-ago Grief.

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.

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.

I’m Not Short. I’m…vertically Disadvantaged.

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

He Was Unbelievably Hard. Everywhere. He Was In Control, Infinitely Stronger, And He Wanted Me To Know It. -ella

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Opening Up To The Wrong Person Is Like Putting Ammo In Their Hands.

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

Fear You?" She Said Without Thinking. "good God, I Would Never Do That." Easing Her Head Back, Westcliff Looked At Her While A Slow Smile Spread Across His Face. "no, You Wouldn't," He Agreed. "you'd Spit In The Devil's Eye If It Suited You.

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

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.

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.

Make Your Choice And Accept The Consequences.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

The Baby Woke Up Before You Did. I Took Him To The Other Room To Let You Get A Little More Sleep. We've Been Watching A Game." "did He Cry?" "only When He Realized The Astros Were Having Another First-round Play-off Flame Out. But I Told Him There's No Shame In Crying Over The Astros. It's How We Houston Guys Bond.

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.

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

Weddings Are Never About The Bride And Groom, Weddings Are Public Platforms For Dysfunctional Families.

Dysfunctional Family

Bride And Groom

...it Was Better To Answer, No Matter How Ineptly, Thank To Withhold A Reply. Because Sometimes Silence Could Wound Someone Nearly As Badly As A Bullet.

Girlfriend, If You're Waiting For A Fairy Godmother To Show Up With A Dress And A Ride, You're Not Going To Make It To The Party.

Ghost?” St. Vincent Shot Him An Incredulous Glance. “christ. You’re Not Serious, Are You?” "i’m A Gypsy,” Cam Replied Matter-of-factly. “of Course I Believe In Ghosts.” “only Half Gypsy. Which Led Me To Assume That The Rest Of You Was At Least Marginally Sane And Rational.” “the Other Half Is Irish,” Cam Said A Touch Apologetically. “christ,” St. Vincent Said Again, Shaking His Head As He Strode Away.

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

We May Run Into Kevin,” Lucy Said Gloomily. “she’s Hoping To Run Into Kevin,” Zoë Assured Her. Justine Smiled Grimly. “preferably With My Car.

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

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

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?

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

Sometimes I'm Not Nice For A Reason. It's A Way To Find Out What Someone's Made Of.

Some People There's No Getting Over.

No More Dane,” He Eventually Said With Unnerving Finality. I Tried To Be Funny. “i Can't Decide If That Means You Don't Want Me To See Him Again Or If You're Planning To Kill Him.” “it Means If The First Thing Happens, The Second Thing Is Likely To Follow.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

When You Love A Child, You Forgive Her Before She Can Even Ask. Basically You've Already Forgiven Her For Things She Hasn't Even Done Yet.

Separately They Had Different Strengths. Together They Were Complete.

What Are You Thinking?" He Asks. I Know Gage Hates It When I Cry - He Is Completely Undone By The Sight Of Tears - So I Blink Hard Against The Sting. "i'm Thinking How Thankful I Am For Everything," I Say, "even The Bad Stuff. Every Sleepless Night, Every Second Of Being Lonely, Every Time The Car Broke Down, Every Wad Of Gum On My Shoe, Every Late Bill And Losing Lottery Ticket And Bruise And Broken Dish And Piece Of Burnt Toast." His Voice Is Soft. "why, Darlin'?" "because It All Led Me Here To You.

Men Are Like Dogs," Stacy Was Fond Of Saying. And She Usually Went On To Add That, Like Dogs, They All Took Up Too Much Space On The Bed, And They Always Went For The Crotch.

Most Of The Time When Couples Argue, It’s Not Really About The Thing They’re Fighting About; There’s A Deeper Reason Why They’re Arguing.

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.

Was This Some New Level Of Depravity? Had He Developed A Spinster Fetish?

Sometimes Life Has A Cruel Sense Of Humor, Giving You The Thing You Always Wanted At The Worst Time Possible.

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

You Sweet…beautiful…lunatic,” He Heard Himself Mutter.

There's Nothing Worse Than Breaking A Promise To Someone Who Cares About You.

A Slow Smile Began On Gideon's Face, And His Blue Eyes Sparkled. With A Shake Of His Head, He Put His Hand On His Chest, As If The Sight Of Her Was More Than His Heart Could Bear.

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.

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.

Sooner Or Later Everyone Was Driven To Love Someone They Could Never Have.

Sooner Or Later

Sam Was Waiting For Her,his Gaze Sweeping Over Her. "looks Great." "i Look Like A Geek," Lucy Said. "i Smell Like A Brewery. And I Need A Bra." "my Dream Date.

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

My Lord," Catherine Asked,her Eyes Wide, "do You Think That Has Anything To Do With The Ramsay Curse?" "actually, That Hadn't Occurred To Me Yet," Leo Said, "thank You So Much For Bringing It To My Attention.

Haven, Don't Ask Me To Define The Boundaries Of Normal. You Know How I Was Raised. My Father Once Struck Strands Of His Own Pubic Hair Onto A Painting And Sold It For A Million Dollars.

...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.

Love Me?” Madeline Asked With A Faint Smile. “it Used To Be Love.” He Brushed His Lips Over Her Closed Eyelids. “now There's No Word For It.” “you Once Told Me That You Thought Love Was A Weakness.” “i Was Wrong,” He Whispered, Kissing The Corners Of Her Mouth. “i've Discovered It's My Only Strength.

It Was Finally Becoming Clear To Her That Love Wasn't About Finding Someone Perfect To Marry. Love Was About Seeing Through To The Truth Of A Person, And Accepting All Their Shades Of Light And Dark. Love Was An Ability.

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

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

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.

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

Rather Than Argue, Amanda Smiled At Him. “and Then What Will You Do While Your Son Or Daughter Is In Charge Of Your Store And Your Companies?” “i’ll Spend My Days And Nights Pleasing You,” He Said. “it’s A Challenging Occupation, After All.” He Laughed And Dodged As She Went To Swat His Attractive Backside.

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.

I Didn't Expect It Was Going To Be Easy. But Hard Work Is A Lot Easier To Tolerate When It's Something You Want To Do Instead Of Something You Have No Choice About.

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.

You Can't Love Someone New Without Getting Over The Last One.

I Have Always Been An Obsessive Reader - I Remember Going Back And Forth To The Local Library With Stacks Of Books Taller Than I Was.

So You Actually Need Spectacles,” Leo Finally Said. “of Course I Do,” Marks Said Crossly. “why Would I Wear Spectacles If I Didn’t Need Them?” “i Thought They Might Be Part Of Your Disguise.” “my Disguise?” “yes, Marks, Disguise. A Noun Describing A Means Of Concealing Someone’s Identity. Often Used By Clowns And Spies. And Now Apparently Governesses. Good God, Can Anything Be Ordinary For My Family?

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 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.

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.

She Was Everything He'd Ever Wanted, Beauty And Fire Arching Against His Despoiling Hands.

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.

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.

Love Is Always A Leap Into The Unknown. You Can Try To Control As Many Variables, And Understand A Situation As You Can, But Youre Still Jumping Off A Cliff And Hoping That Someone Catches You.

If You Have To Tell Someone They Call The Shots, They're Not Really Calling The Shots.

Calling The Shots

Of All The Hathaway Sisters,” Cam Said Equably, “beatrix Is The One Most Suited To Choose Her Own Husband. I Trust Her Judgment.” Beatrix Gave Him A Brilliant Smile. “thank You, Cam.” “what Are You Thinking?” Leo Demanded Of His Brother-in-law. “you Can’t Trust Beatrix’s Judgment.” “why Not?” “she’s Too Young,” Leo Said. “i’m Twenty-three,” Beatrix Protested. “in Dog Years I’d Be Dead.

I've Always Thought It Was About Finding The Right Person. But It's About Choosing The Right Person, Isn't It?

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.

Falling In Love

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

It's The Perfect Solution. We Argue All The Time. We Can't Stand Each Other. It's Like We're Already Married.

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.

It's A Strange Life, Isn't It? ...a Rom With No Tribe. No Matter How Hard You Look, You Can Never Find A Home. Because To Us, Home Is Not A Building Or A Tent Or A Vardo... Home Is A Family.

I've Needed Someone Like You For A Long Time. Now That I Have You, No One Is Going To Take You From Me. Logan To Madeline

Someone You Like

Oh, I Have A Very Pure Soul. It's Only My Private Parts That Have Gotten Me Into Trouble".

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

I'm Not Short," Daisy Muttered. "short Women Are Never Mysterious, Or Elegant, Or Pursued By Handsome Men. And They're Always Treated Like Children. I Refuse To Be Short.

Well, It May Be Humorous To You, But It’s A Very Serious Matter To The Squirrels.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Merripen, Despite His Fear Of Heights, Had Often Climbed A Ladder To Wash The Second Floor Window For Her. He Had Wanted Her View Of The Outside World To Be Clear. He Had Said The Sky Should Always Be Blue For Her.

Only Someone Who Had Experienced Such Bitter Despair Would Be Able To Recognize It In Another.

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

She Was A Beautiful Woman, If Not A Happy One, And Attracting A Man Was Never A Problem. Keeping One, However, Was A Different Matter.

I Lacked Some Essential Skill For Attracting People, For Giving And Receiving Love Easily. It Meant Too Much To Me. I Seemed To Be Driving Away The People I Most Wanted. Finally I Had Realized That Getting Someone To Love You Was Like Trying To Coax A Bird To Perch On Your Finger . . . It Wouldn't Happen Unless You Stopped Trying So Hard.

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

If You Married Me,it Would Be Scandalous And Innapropriate, And Doors Would Be Closed To You." "good God, Woman, I Let Two Of My Sisters Marry Gypsies. Those Doors Have Already Been Closed, Bolted, And Nailed Shut.

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

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 Figured If I Told It To Myself Often Enough, I Would Start Believing It.

He Wasn't Mine Anywhere Except In My Heart.

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy. If You Can Learn To Stop Expecting Impossible Perfection, In Yourself And Others, You May Find The Happiness That Has Always Eluded You.

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

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

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.

Leo Smiled And Stroked Her Hair. 'we'll Both Be Fine, Marks. We've Just Begun Our Journey...and There's So Much We Have Yet To Do.' He Spoke More Softly As He Heard Her Breathing Turn Even And Steady. 'rest Against My Heart. Let Me Watch Over Your Dreams. And Know That Tomorrow Morning, And Every Morning After That, You'll Awaken Next To Someone Who Loves You.' 'dodger?' She Mumbled Against His Chest, And He Grinned. 'no, Your Confounded Ferret Will Have To Stay In His Basket. I Was Referring To Myself.' 'yes, I Know.' Catherine Slid Her Hand Up To His Cheek. 'only You,' She Said. 'always You.

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

The Smarter You Are, The More Reasons You Have To Be Miserable.

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.

The Audience Falls In Love With A Leading Man Because He'll Never Belong To Any Of Them.

Falling In Love

If I'm To Change My Life For You, I've Got To Have Some Hope." "i Don't Want You To Change Your Life For Me. You'll Have To Make The Same Decision Every Day, Over And Over - It Must Be For Yourself Alone.

Changing Your Life

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.

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

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

Darlin'...i Know What You Look Like When You've Been Kissed.

You're So Full Of It, Darlin'.

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

It Was Unfair That People Who Longed For Love The Most, Searched The Hardest For It, Found It So Elusive.

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.

Slowly His Resistance Ebbed. She Felt The Change In His Body, The Relaxing Of Tension, His Shoulders Curving Around Her As If He Could Draw Her Into Himself. Murmuring Her Name, He Brought Her Hand To His Face And Nuzzled Ardently Into Her Palm, His Lips Brushing The Warm Circlet Of Her Gold Wedding Band. “my Love Is Upon You,” He Whispered…and She Knew Then That She Had Won.

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.

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

I Figured I Couldn't Love You As Much As I Do, Without You Feeling Something For Me Too.

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.

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?

I Want You," He Muttered. "get Rid Of Him And Take Me. The Only Risk Is Losing Someone You Don't Have Anyway. He's Not What You Need, Ella. I Am" "unbelievable," I Said In Disgust. "what's Unbelievable?" "your Ego. It's Surrounded By Its Own Cloud Of Antimatter. You're A Black Hole Of...of Hubris!

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