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If You Won’t Marry Me For The Sake Of Your Own Honor, Then Do It For The Sake Of Everyone Who Would Have To Tolerate Me Otherwise. Marry Me Because I Need Someone Who Will Help Me To Laugh At Myself. Because Someone Has To Teach Me How To Whistle. Marry Me, Lillian… Because I Have The Most Irresistible Fascination For Your Ears.

-Lisa Kleypas

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If You Won’t Marry

Lisa Kleypas

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If You Won’t Marry Me For The Sake Of Your Own Honor, Then Do It For The Sake Of Everyone Who Would Have To Tolerate Me Otherwise. Marry Me Because I Need Someone Who Will Help Me To Laugh At Myself. Because Someone Has To Teach Me How To Whistle. Marry Me, Lillian… Because I Have The Most Irresistible Fascination For Your Ears.

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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

I'll Tell You What I'm Fighting For. Not For England, Nor Her Allies, Nor Any Patriotic Cause. It's All Come Down To The Hope Of Being With You.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 Wondered How Much Of Me Would Be Left After Tomorrow.

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

Falling In Love

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

You're So Full Of It, Darlin'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I Didn't Know How To Stop Wanting Him. It Wasn't That I Had Any Hope—i Knew I'd Never See Him Again. But That Didn't Stop Me From Comparing Every Other Man To Hardy And Finding Them All Lacking. I Had Exhausted Myself Loving Him.

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

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.

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

Procrastination

Putting Things Off

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

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.

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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—

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

If I Were An Opera Singer, I"d Have Sung You An Aria. If I Were An Artist, I Would Have Painted Your Portrait. But Cooking Is What I'm Best At.

Dear Miss Independent, I've Decided That Of All The Women I've Ever Known, You Are The Only One I Will Ever Love More Than Hunting, Fishing, Football, And Power Tools. You May Not Know This, But The Other Time I Asked You To Marry Me, The Night I Put The Crib Together, I Meant It. Even Though I Knew You Weren't Ready. God, I Hope You're Ready Now. Marry Me, Ella. Because No Matter Where You Go Or What You Do, I'll Love You Every Day For The Rest Of My Life. —jack

Because You Need Me," He Said, Drawing In His Breath As She Squirmed Against Him. "just As I Need You." He Crushed His Mouth To Hers. "i've Needed You For Years." Another Kiss, This One Deep And Drugging, His Tongue Searching Her Intimately

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

A Well-read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature.

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.

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.

Sometimes A Woman Needs A Man For Company, No Matter How Useless He Is.

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.

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

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

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?

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

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 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I’ve Lost Someone, Too. And There Were No Rules For How To Deal With The Death Of Someone You Loved. You Had To Accept That The Loss Would Always Stay With You, Like A Reminder Note Pinned To The Inside Of Your Jacket. But There Were Still Opportunities For Happiness. Even Joy.

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

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

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.

I Reflected That For All The People You Lost Touch With Or Couldn't Hold On To, Life Occasionally Made Up For It By Giving You The Right Person At The Right Time.

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.

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.

The Truth Is, You Can Never Really Know A Man Until You've Loaned Him Money. And You Can Never Know A Woman Until You've Slept In Her Bed.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

And Then Another Letter Had Come From Christopher, So Devastating That Amelia Wondered How Mere Scratches Of Ink On Paper Could Rip Someone's Soul To Shreds. She Had Wondered How She Could Feel So Much Pain And Still Survive.

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.

For God's Sake, Marks, Do You Think Anyone Really Wants A Glance At Those Dried-up Matchsticks You Call Legs?

...even Though You Said Yes To The Wrong Man, I Hope That Won't Cause You To Say No To The Right One.

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

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

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.

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.

Some Folks Are Happier Not Being Saved.

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.

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.

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.

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

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

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.

I Realized That My Kisses With Dane Had Become A Form Of Punctuation, The Quotations Or The Hasty Dash At The End Of A Conversation

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

If You Won’t Marry Me For The Sake Of Your Own Honor, Then Do It For The Sake Of Everyone Who Would Have To Tolerate Me Otherwise. Marry Me Because I Need Someone Who Will Help Me To Laugh At Myself. Because Someone Has To Teach Me How To Whistle. Marry Me, Lillian… Because I Have The Most Irresistible Fascination For Your Ears.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Matthew Wanted Hours, Days, Weeks Alone With Her... He Wanted All Her Thoughts And Smiles And Secrets. The Freedom To Lay His Soul Bare Before Her.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Love Will Break Your Heart,[...] But Love Can Also Mend It. Not Many Things In Life Are Both The Cause And The Cure.

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.

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 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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

And You're Not The Kind Of Girl I Want." Surely He Couldn't Mean The Fact That I Was Mexican. From What I Knew Of Hardy, There Wasn't A Bit Of Prejudice In Him. He Never Used Racist Words, Never Looked Down On Someone For Things They Couldn't Help. "what Kind Do You Want?" I Asked With Difficulty. "someone I Can Leave Without Looking Back.

Some Questions Change Everything.

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

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

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

I Have Never Said This To Anyone Before.” Leo’s Voice Was Like Ragged Velvet. “but The Idea Of You With Child Is The Most Insanely Arousing Thing I’ve Ever Imagined. Your Belly All Swollen, Your Breasts Heavy, The Funny Little Way You Would Walk … I Would Worship You. I Would Take Care Of Your Every Need. And Everyone Would Know That I’d Made You That Way, That You Belonged To Me.

Captain Phelan,” Cam Asked, Choosing His Words With Care. “have You Come To Ask For Our Consent To Marry Beatrix?” Christopher Shook His Head. “if I Decide To Marry Beatrix, I’ll Do It With Or Without Your Consent.” Leo Looked At Cam. “good God,” He Said In Disgust. “this One’s Worse Than Harry.

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!

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

Good Intentions

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

...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.

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

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

Falling In Love

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

I Carry Thoughts Of You Like My Own Personal Constellation. How Far Away You Are, My Dearest Friend, But No Farther Than Those Fixed Stars In My Soul.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

If Only I Could Visit You As A Foreigner Goes Into A New Country, Learn The Language Of You, Wander Past All Borders Into Every Private And Secret Place, I Would Stay Forever. I Would Become A Citizen Of You.

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

I Realized I Wasn't Going To Find A Man Until I Was Willing To Expose Myself To Possible Harm, To Assume The Risks Of Rejection And Betrayal And Heartbreak That Came Along With Caring About Someone. Someday, I Promised Myself, I Would Be Ready For That Kind Of Risk.

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

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

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