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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.

-Lisa Kleypas

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The Boy Heaved A

Lisa Kleypas

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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.

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

God, It Was Good. Comforting And Stimulating At The Same Time. Absolute World-class Pheromones. I Wished I Could Take His Jacket Home With Me. Not Him, Just The Jacket.

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

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

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.

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're So Full Of It, Darlin'.

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

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

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

The Question, Love, Is Whether You Want Me Enough To Take The Risk.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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 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—

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.

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

Seduction Is Merely Encouraging A Man To Do Something He Already Wants To Do.

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.

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

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

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

Knowing Everything

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.

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

I Rarely Dislike People For Things They Can't Change, They Usually Give Me Sufficient Cause To Dislike Them For Other Reasons.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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?

But We Have To Find Ways Of Compromising When We Disagree On Something. You Know What Compromise Is, Right?" "uh-huh. It's When You Don't Get To Have Everything Your Way And I Don't Get To Have Everything My Way, And No One's Happy.

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

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.

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.

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

Procrastination

Putting Things Off

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

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.

Why Was Love So Easy For Some People And So Hard For Others?

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

What Happened To Your Stammer?" "i Suppose I Must Feel Comfortable With You. I Tend To Stammer Less With Certain People." "no One's Ever Told Me That I'm A Comfortable Sort. I'm Sure I Don't Like It. I'll Have To Do Something Diabolical Soon To Correct Your Impression.

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.

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

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.

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

...she Could Only Wait For Someone, Something, To Free Her From The Invisible Chains That Bound Her.

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.

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

... 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’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.

I'd Do Almost Anything For You. I Think I'd Kill For You. But I'm Not Going To Comfort You While You Cry In My Arms Over Another Man. - Gage Travis

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

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

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

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

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

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

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.

Mysteries Of Attraction Could Not Always Be Explained Through Logic. Sometimes The Fractures In Two Separate Souls Became The Very Hinges That Held Them Together.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

I 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.

You Say The Gentleman I Knew Has Been Replaced. How I Wish I Could Offer Better Comfort Than To Say That No Matter How You Have Changed, You Wil Be Welcomed When You Return. Do What You Must. If It Helps You To Endure, Put The Feelings Away For Now, And Lock The Door. Perhaps Someday We'll Air Them Out Together.

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.

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

A Weak But Steady Throb Lay Beneath Kev's Searching Fingertips. Win's Heartbeat...the Pulse That Sustained His Universe.

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

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

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.

There Is Something About You That Makes Me Feel Terribly Wicked. You Make Me Want To Do Shocking Things. Maybe It's Because You're So Proper. Your Necktie Is Never Crooked, And Your Shoes Are Always Shiny. And Your Shirts Are So Starchy. Sometimes When I Look At You, I Want To Tear Off All Your Buttons. Or Set Your Trousers On Fire. I've So Often Wondered-are You Ticklish, My Lord?

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.

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

Significant Things

Significant Moments

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

It Seemed As If Some Subtle Current Of Recognition Had Passed Between Them... Not As If They Had Met Before... But As If They Had Come Close Several Times Until Finally An Impatient Fate Had Forced Their Paths To Intersect.

I Don't Share My Body Heat Indiscriminately.

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)

Make Your Choice And Accept The Consequences.

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.

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

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

From What I Was Able To Hear," Dane Said, "tara Dumped Off A Surprise Baby With Your Mother, Who's Planning To Sell It On Ebay." "social Services," I Said. "she Hasn't Thought Of Ebay Yet.

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

Separately They Had Different Strengths. Together They Were Complete.

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

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.

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

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

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.

It Was Likely That No One Had Been Surprised, However, As It Was Clear That Aline And Mckenna Belonged Together. There Was Something Invisible And Yet Irrefutable That Made Them A Couple. Perhaps It Was The Way Both Of Them Stole Quick Glances At Each Other When One Though The Other Wasn't Looking... Glances Of Wonder And Hunger.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes A Simple Question Could Have A Complicated Answer.

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

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.

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

But 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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

It Might Do Wonders For Your Marriage,” Amelia Continued. “it’s Lovely To Talk To Your Husband After You’ve Been To Bed Together. They Just Lie There Feeling Grateful And Say Yes To Everything.” - Amelia To Poppy

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

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.

And There’s One More Thing To Be Aware Of ” Cam Said With A Wintry Softness That Disguised All Hint Of Feeling. “if You Succeed In Marrying Her We’re Not Losing A Sister. You’re Gaining An Entire Family—who Will Protect Her At Any Cost.

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

I 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.

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.

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

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

I 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.

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

I Think The Busiest People Are Often The Loneliest.

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.

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.

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

Will To Survive

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

You Deserve Someone Better Than Me. Someone Young And Idealistic…someone Who Can Experience Things For The First Time Along With You. I'm Not Always Kind, And I Have More Faults Than I'd Care To Name. All I Can Promise Is That I'll Want You Until My Last Breath.

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

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