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

-Lisa Kleypas

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The Feeling Of Relinquishing

Lisa Kleypas

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

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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.

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.

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.

I'm Not That Complicated, Haven. The Truth Is, I've Wanted You Ever Since I Met You In That Damned Wine Cellar. Because I Got A Bigger Charge Out Of That Five Minutes Than I Have With Any Woman Before Or Since.

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

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

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

Perhaps Only Those Who Had Loved And Lost Could Appreciate This Magic.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

... 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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

The London Season Is Like One Of Those Drury Lane Melodramas In Which Marriage Is Always The Ending. And No One Ever Seems To Give Any Thought As To What Happens After. But Marriage Isn’t The End Of The Story It’s The Beginning. And It Demands The Efforts Of Both Partners To Make A Success Of It.

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

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

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.

...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.

He Never Knew What Hit Him, And That Would Have Comforted Me, Except . . . Just For One Second, He Would Have Had To Know, Wouldn't He? There Must Have Been A Blur, A Sense Of The World Exploding, A Flashpoint Of Receiving More Damage Than A Human Body Could Endure.

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

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

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'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

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

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.

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 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

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.

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

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

...whether He Stayed Or Left, Whether They Walked The Same Path Or Not. They Could Live On Opposite Sides Of The World, And She Would Still Be His.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Separately They Had Different Strengths. Together They Were Complete.

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.

A Couple Of Times In Your Life, It Happens Like That. You Meet A Stranger, And All You Know Is That You Need To Know Everything About Him.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Some People There's No Getting Over.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

I Wondered How Much Of Me Would Be Left After Tomorrow.

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 Morning And Noon And Nightfall With You. I Want Your Tears, Your Smiles, Your Kisses...the Smell Of Your Hair, The Taste Of Your Skin, The Touch Of Your Breath On My Face. I Want To See You In The Final Hour Of My Life...to Lie In Your Arms As I Take My Last Breath.

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.

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

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.

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.

Hell Was Waking Up Alone, The Sheets Wet With Your Tears And Your Seed, Knowing The Woman You Had Dreamed Of Would Never Come Back To You.

Todd? Are You Still There?" "yeah. I'm Just Trying To Think Of A Good Reason To Continue Our Friendship." I Grinned. "jealousy Is So Unattractive Todd." "it Would Help If You Could Tell Me One Thing That's Wrong. One Flaw. Bad Breath? Warts? Some Condition That Requires Anti Fungal Spray?" "would Chest Hair Be A Flaw?" "oh, Yeah." Todd Sounded Relieved." I Can't Stand A Chest Rug. You Can't See The Chest Cut.

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

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

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.

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

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.

There Isn’t Going To Be A ‘next Lover,’” Grant Said Automatically, Outraged By The Idea. “i’m The Only Man She’s Going To Have.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Procrastination

Putting Things Off

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

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.

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 Don't Think Harry Cares About Being Forgiven," Poppy Said Glumly. "of Course He Does. Men Love To Be Forgiven. It Makes Us Feel Better About Our Inability To Learn From Our Mistakes.

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

Where Do You Wanna Belong?" I Half Whispered. His Expression Changed With Quicksilver Speed, Amusement Dancing In His Eyes. "anywhere They Don't Want Me." -hardy Cateses & Liberty Jones

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

I Spent Most Of My Youth Hauling Sides Of Beef And Pork To My Father's Shop. Carrying You Is Far More Enjoyable." "how Sweet," Annabelle Mumbled Sickly, Her Eyes Closed. "every Woman Dreams Of Being Told That She's Preferable To A Dead Cow.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

There's Only One Thing A Bully Respected: Bigger Bully.

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

Women Beg Me For It, And Not The Other Way Around." "then You Should Go To One Of Them." "oh, I Will. When We Return To London, I'm Going To Embark On A Spree Of Orgiastic Debauchery That Won't End Until Someone Is Arrested For It. But In The Meanwhile...do You Truly Expect That The Two Of Us Are Going To Share A Bed Tonight-and Tomorrow Night-as Chastely As A Pair Of Nuns On Holiday?

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.

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

No Matter How Strong Our Resolve, We Eventually Find Ourselves Enslaved By The Compulsive Preference For One Particular Woman. You’ve Been Caught, My Friend. You May As Well Reconcile Yourself To It.” Nick Did Not Bother Trying To Deny It. “i Was Going To Be So Much Smarter Than You,” He Muttered. Sir Ross Grinned. “i Prefer To Think That Intelligence Has Nothing To Do With It. For If A Man’s Intellect Is Measured By His Ability To Remain Untouched By Love, I Would Be The Greatest Idiot Alive.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Great Men Don't Nessarily Make Good Husbands.

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

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

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.

How Old Are You? Twelve?" "fourteen & Three Quarters." His Eyes Sparkled. "you're Kind Of Little For Fourteen And Three Quarters." "am Not," I Replied Indignantly. "i'm A Sophomore This Year. How Old Are You?" "seventeen And Two Fifths." Hardy Cateses & Liberty Jones.

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.

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

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.

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.

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)

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

She Felt Him Tremble With The Force Of His Need. He Spoke Just Beneath Her Ear, His Voice Thick With Tormented Pleasure. "you Have To Leave, Sara ... Because I Want To Hold You Like This Until Your Skin Melts Into Mine. I Want You In My Bed, The Smell Of You On My Sheets, Your Hair Spread Across My Pillow. I Want To Take Your Innocence. God! I Want To Ruin You For Anyone Else.

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

...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.

A Well-read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 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 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.

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

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.

Some Are Nice And Some Aren't. Some Are Smart, And Others Are About As Bright As A Wet Match In A Dark Cave. In Other Words, Pretty Normal.

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

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.

A Lack Of Desire Is Something I've Never Experienced. I'd Have To Be On My Deathbed Before I Stopped Wanting-- No, Never Mind, I Was On My Deathbed In The Not-too-distant Past, And Even Then I Had The Devil's Own Itch For My Wife." -sebastian, Lord St. Vincent

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Dating Is Like Trying To Make A Meal Out Of Leftovers. Some Leftovers Actually Get Better When They've Had A Little Time To Mature. But Others Should Be Thrown Out Right Away, No Matter How You Try To Warm Them Up, They're Never As Good As When They Were New.

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.

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