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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.

-Lisa Kleypas

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I Know I'm A

Lisa Kleypas

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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.

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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.

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.

Recently Mr. Mawdsley’s Donkey Escaped From His Stall, Raced Down The Road, And Somehow Found His Way Into An Enclosed Pasture. Mr. Caird’s Prized Mare Was Innocently Grazing When The Ill-bred Seducer Had His Way With Her. Now It Appears The Mare Has Conceived, And A Feud Is Raging Between Caird, Who Demands Financial Compensation, And Mawdsley, Who Insists That Had The Pasture Fencing Been In Better Repair, The Clandestine Meeting Would Never Have Occurred. Worse Still, It Has Been Suggested That The Mare Is A Shameless Lightskirt And Did Not Try Nearly Hard Enough To Preserve Her Virtue.

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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Hardy Cates," I Said, Coming Into The Room, "you Behave, Or I'll Step On Your Tube." The Nurse Seemed Taken Aback By My Unsympathetic Bedside Manner. But Hardy's Gaze Met Mine In A Moment Of Bright, Hot Voltage, And He Relaxed, Reassured In A Way That Cooing Sympathy Could Never Have Done. "that Only Works If It's A Breathing Tube," He Told Me.

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

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

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

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!

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.

What Are You Listening To?" "i Picked Up A Dvd For Luke While I Was Out. Something With Mozart And Sock Puppets." A Grin Rose To My Lips. "at This Stage I Don't Think Luke Can See More Than Ten Inches Beyond His Face." "that Explains His Lack Of Interest. I Thought Maybe He Preferred Beethoven.

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

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

The Span Of Three Or Four Minutes Is Pretty Insignificant In The Scheme Of Things. People Lose Hundreds Of Minutes Everyday, Squandering Them On Trivial Things. But Sometimes In Those Fragments Of Time, Something Can Happen You'll Remember The Rest Of Your Life.

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.

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 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

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

Bending His Head Over Hers, Leo Murmured, "when I Give You Away At The Altar, Bea, I Want You To Remember Something. I'm Not Really Giving You Away. I'm Merely Allowing Him The Chance To Love You As Much As The Rest Of Us Do.

Remember Something

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

Of All The Things He Wants," Liberty Said, "money's The Easiest To Get.

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.

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

I Thought I Would Spend The Rest Of My Life Searching For Little Reminders Of You.

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 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.

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 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.

One Glance And I Knew Exactly Who And What He Was. The Classic Alpha Male, The Kind Who Had Spurred Evolution Forward About Five Million Years Ago By Nailing Every Female In Sight. They Charmed, Seduced, And Behaved Like Bastards, And Yet Women Were Biologically Incapable Of Resisting Their Magic Dna.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Dysfunctional Family

Bride And Groom

Ah, There’s The Governess Voice. All Stern And Disapproving. It Makes Me Feel Like A Naughty Schoolboy.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

What You Should Really Be Sorry For," He Continued, "is That For The Rest Of My Life, I'll Have To Avoid Wine Cellars To Keep From Thinking About You." "why? Was Kissing Me That Bad?" A Devil-solf Whisper. "no Sweetheart. It Was That Good.

Thinking About You

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.

It Was A Kiss To Level Mountains And Shake Stars From The Sky. It Was A Kiss To Make Angels Faint And Demons Weep...a Passionate, Demanding, Soul-searing Kiss That Nearly Knocked The Earth Off Its Axis.

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’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.

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

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.

His Lips Pressed Against Her Forehead And She Felt Him Smile Against Her Skin. "believe Me...the Only Place In The World I Want To Be Is Wherever You Are." -grant Morgan

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

Falling Hard And Fast. And There Didn't Seem To Be A Thing I Could Do About It.

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.

If I Listened To Your Advice, I'd Be Making Your Mistakes Instead Of My Own.

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

If Your Concern Is That I May Be Overcome With Manly Ardor And Ravish You In A Moment Of Weakness… I May. If You Ask Nicely.

"i Won't Apologize For My Past. A Man Is Supposed To Have Experience." "from All Indications, You've Acquired Enough For Ten Men".

When The Pace Of Our Feet Matched Perfectly, I Felt A Deep Inner Pang Of Satisfaction. I Could Have Gone On Walking Like That Forever, Side By Side With Him. There Had Been Few Times In My Life I Had Ever Inhabited A Moment So Fully, With No Loneliness Lurking At The Edges.

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

There Is No Peace In Poverty

The Next Time You Face A Room Full Of Strangers . . . You Might Tell Yourself That Some Of Them Are Just Friends Waiting To Be Found.

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

It's Fairly Easy To Break Hearts, Miss Duvall. The More Interesting Challenge Is How To Keep Someone's Love, Not To Lose It.

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.

Mckenna Will Always Be A Part Of Me, No Matter Where He Goes. They Say That People Who've Lost A Limb Sometimes Feel As If They Still Have It. How Many Times I've Felt That Mckenna Was Still Here, And The Empty Space Beside Me Was Alive With His Presence." She Closed Her Eyes And Leaned Forward Until Her Forehead And The Tip Of Her Nose Touched The Cool Glass. "i Love Him Beyond Reason," She Whispered. "he's A Stranger To Me Now, And Yet He Is Still So Familiar. I Can't Imagine A Sweeter Agony, Having Him So Close.

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.

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

I've Always Considered Myself A Feminist, Which Is Such A Tough Word For People. Some People Immediately Assume That You're Angry Or You Hate Men, Which Is Obviously Not True.

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

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.

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

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.

It's A Mistake, You Know. You Have No Idea What You'll Be Exposed To...the Obscenities And Lewd Comments, The Lecherous Gazes, The Groping And Pinching...and That's Just My House. Imagine What It Would Be Like Here.

What Does Your Gut Tell You?" "my Gut And I Aren't Currently Speaking To Each Other

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

But It Was Too Late Now. A Lifetime Too Late. A Million Wishes Too Late.

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.

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

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.

Where's Your Instruction Manual?" I Asked Him. "what's The Baby Customer-service Number?

As Marcus Considered Various Ways To Open The Subject Of Daisy, Swift Surprised Him With A Blunt Statement. “my Lord, There Is Something I Would Like To Discuss With You.” Marcus Adopted A Pleasantly Encouraging Expression. “very Well.” “it Turns Out That Miss Bowman And I Have Reached An…understanding. After Considering The Logical Advantages On Both Sides, I Have Made A Sensible And Pragmatic Decision That We Should—” “how Long Have You Been In Love With Her?” Marcus Interrupted, Inwardly Amused. Swift Let Out A Tense Sigh. “years,” He Admitted.

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.

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 Think You'll Have To Marry Me, Miss Fielding." "to Save Your Reputation?" Derek Grinned, Bending To Kiss The Flash Of Pale Throat Revealed By The Robe. "someone Has To Make A Respectable Man Of Me.

Make Your Choice And Accept The Consequences.

You Are Everything That's Ever Been My Favourite Thing," She Wanted To Tell Him. "you're My Love Song, My Birthday Cake, The Sound Of Ocean Waves And French Words And A Baby's Laugh. You're A Snow Angel, Crème Brulée, A Kaleidoscope Filled With Glitter. I Love You And You'll Never Catch Up, Because I've Gotten A Head Start And My Heart Is Racing At Light Speed.

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

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

I Want To Fill Every Part Of You, Breathe The Air From Your Lungs And Leave My Handprints On Your Soul. I Want To Give You More Pleasure Than You Can Bear.

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

A Lang, Lang Time Ago…” Macphee Began, Ignoring St.vincent’s Low Groan, “there Was A Bonnie Maid Called Malvina. She Was The Betrothed Of Oscar, The Braw Warrior Who Won Her Heart. Oscar Bade His Beloved Tae Wait For Him While He Went Tae Seek His Fortune. But One Black Day Malvina Received Word That Her Lover Had Been Killed In Battle. He Would Lie Forever In Eternal Rest In The Faraway Hills…lost In Endless Slumber…” “god, I Envy Him,” St. Vincent Said Feelingly, Rubbing His Own Dark-circled Eyes.

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.

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

We Assured Phelan That We Were More Than Happy To Let Him Have You And Your Menagerie,” Leo Retorted. “after That, He Said He Needed To Think.” “about What?” Beatrix Demanded. “what Is There To Think About? Why Is It Taking Him So Long To Make A Decision?” “he’s A Man, Dear,” Amelia Explained Kindly. “sustained Thinking Is Very Difficult For Them.

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.

I’ve Never Heard That The Sexual Act Requires Any Particular Intelligence. From What I’ve Observed, Many Stupid People Are Easily Able To Produce Children.

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

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.

What Kind Of Wedding Would You Like?" He Asked, And Stole Another Kiss Before She Could Reply. "the Kind That Turns You Into My Husband." She Touched The Firm Line Of His Mouth With Her Fingers. "what Kind Would You Like?" He Smiled Ruefully. "a Fast One.

He Liked Cheap Women, Fast Cars, Late Nights, And Hard Liquor, Especially All Together. In Jack's View, You Are Obliged To Sin On Saturday Night So You'd Have Something To Atone For Sunday Morning. Otherwise, You'd Be Putting The Preacher Out Of Business.

A Man's Vanity Is More Fragile That You Might Think. It's Easy For Us To Mistake Shyness For Coldness, And Silence For Indifference.

Dad," I Said Hesitantly, "i Wish You Could Be There For Me Even When I'm Doing The Wrong Thing. I Wish You Could Love Me Even When I'm Screwing Up.

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.

Lost Everything

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 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

Some Folks Are Happier Not Being Saved.

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.

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

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

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.

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

No. But I Understand Her. Life Makes People What They Are.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

There Is Nothing On Earth More Beautiful To Me Than Your Smile...no Sound Sweeter Than Your Laughter...no Pleasure Greater Than Holding You In My Arms. I Realized Today That I Could Never Live Without You, Stubborn Little Hellion That You Are. In This Life And The Next, You’re My Only Hope Of Happiness. Tell Me, Lillian, Dearest Love...how Can You Have Reached So Far Inside My Heart?

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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.

You Seem To Think You Have A Choice," Cam Said. "but You Have It Backwards. Love Chooses You. The Shadow Moves As The Sun Commands.

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.

I Stand By My Opinions When I Know I'm Right, Captain Phelan. Whereas You Stand By Yours Merely Because You're Stubborn.

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.

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.

...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.

She Smiled At Him, Though Her Hazel-green Eyes Were Wary Beneath The Brim Of A Sodden Hat. Right At That Moment, Staring At Her Across The Hall, Gideon Shaw, Cynic, Hedonist, Drunkard, Libertine, Fell Hopelessly In Love.

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.

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

Fencing Isn't Really Fighting. It's More Like Chess With The Risk Of Puncture Wounds

The Sight Of A Sullen Teenager Is Common No Matter Where You Go. Teenagers Want Things So Powerfully And Can Never Seen To Get Them, And To Add Insult To Injury, People Make Light Of Your Feelings Because You Are A Teenager. They Say Time Will Mend A Broken Heart And They're Often Right. But Not Where My Feelings For Hardy Were Concerned.

There Are Some Experiences In Life They Haven't Invented The Right Words For.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

I Love You, Marks. My Heart Is Completely And Utterly Yours. And Unfortunately For You, The Rest Of Me Comes With It.

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.

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

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?

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)

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

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

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

...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.

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

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.

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

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

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—

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

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.

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.

Leo Knew Next To Nothing About Governesses, Save For The Drab Creatures In Novels, Who Tended To Fall In Love With The Lord Of The Manor, Always With Bad Results.

Falling In Love

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.

I Felt The Kind Of Loneliness That Can Happen In A Roomful Of People When Everyone But You Seems To Be In On The Good Time.

“simon,” She Whispered, Vaguely Surprised That She Had Just Used His First Name, For She Had Never Used It Even In The Privacy Of Her Thoughts. Moistening Her Dry Lips, She Tried Once More, And To Her Astonishment, She Did It Again. “simon…” “yes?” A New Tension Had Entered His Long, Hard Body, And At The Same Time, His Hand Moved Over The Shape Of Her Skull In The Softest Caress Possible. “please… Take Me To My Room.” Hunt Tilted Her Head Back Gently And Regarded Her With A Sudden Faint Smile Playing On His Lips. “sweetheart, I Would Take You To Timbuktu If You Asked.“

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

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

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.

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!

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

I Love You Enough For The Both Of Us. And There Must Be Something About Me Worth Loving. If You Would Just Try.

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.

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.

It’s Impossible,” He Snapped. “why?” “because I’m Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent. I Can’t Be Celibate. Everyone Knows That.

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

To Jack, There Was Nothing More Powerful Than A Promise Made Over A Handshake. He Would Have Died ー Literally Chosen Death ー Before Breaking His Word.

Some People There's No Getting Over.

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

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.

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.

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