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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.

-Lisa Kleypas

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The London Season Is

Lisa Kleypas

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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.

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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.

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.

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

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

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

The 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.

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.

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

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

My Parents Never Said It. They Thought You Shouldn't Wear Out The Words

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

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

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’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 Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

Some Questions Change Everything.

My Prize, My Pleasure And Pain, My Endless Desire. I've Never Know Anyone Like You.

Bad Divorce?" Hardy Asked, His Gaze Falling To My Hands. I Realized I Was Clutching My Purse In A Death Grip. “no, The Divorce Was Great,” I Said. “it Was The Marriage That Sucked.

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.

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.

Sometimes The Closest-held Secrets In The World Can Be Pried Out By The Right Question At The Right Time.

I Had Learned That There Were Substitutes For A Mother Who Couldn't Be A Mother. You Could Find Love With Other People. You Could Find It In Places You Weren't Even Looking. But The Original Wound Would Never Heal. I Would Carry It With Me Forever, And So Would Tara. That Was The Trick . . . Accepting It, Going On With Your Life, Knowing It Was Part Of You.

A Lifetime With Such A Woman Was Not Nearly Enough.

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

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.

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

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.

You Know," I Told Him On Our Wedding Night, "i'm Just As Much Me When I'm With You, As I Am Without You." And Because Hardy Understood What I Meant, He Pulled Me Into His Arms, Against His Heart.

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

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.

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.

Some Folks Are Happier Not Being Saved.

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

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

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 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.

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.

It Didn't Help Matters That I Was Shy And Wore Glasses. I Was Never One To Stand Out In The Crowd. I Liked To Stay In Corners. And I Was Happiest When I Was Alone Reading. That And The Good Grades I Got In School Had Doomed Any Chance Of Being Popular With My Peers. So It Was A Foregone Conclusion That Boys Like Hardy Were Never Going To Take Notice Of Me.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Tell Me About Our Legal Issues. And Use Small Words. I Don't Like To Think At This Hour Of The Morning. It Hurts." ~leo To Merripen

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.

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.

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

If You Pretend Everything's Fine Long Enough, Everything Eventually Becomes Fine.

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

...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.

Justine," Zoe Said, "i Don't Want To Curse Anyone." "of Course You Don't, You're Much Too Nice. But I Don't Have That Problem.

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

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

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

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

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

I Suppose Now I'm Obliged To Wish You Happiness In Your New Life. Although Happiness In The Absence Of Indoor Plumbing Is A Debatable Concept.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

Thunderstorms And Rainbows Wrapped Together In A Convenient Pocket-sized Parcel.

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

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.

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

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-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.

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.

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

Safe Men Are For Marrying. Dangerous Men Are For Pleasure.

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

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

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

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

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.

Well . . ." St. Vincent Walked Slowly With Her To The Crowd Of Dancers. "i'm A Wicked Man Who Can, On Occasion, Be Just A Bit Nice. And I've Been Searching For A Nice Girl Who Can, On Occasion, Be Just A Bit Wicked.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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

At First I Wasn’t All That Tempted By Him, But Then He Killed The Spider. Which Was A Huge Point In His Favor.” “absolutely. I Love Men Who Kill Bugs.” “and Then When I Was Freaking Out And Couldn’t Breathe, He Was So…gentle.” Zoe Sighed And Colored, Remembering. “he Was Holding Me, And Talking To Me In That Voice…you Know, Sort Of Low And Rough Around The Edges…” “all The Nolans Sound Like That,” Justine Said Reflectively. “like They’ve Got A Mild Case Of Bronchitis. Totally Hot.

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.

You Are Not A Perfect Woman.you Have An Evil Temper, You’re As Blind As A Mole, You’re A Deplorable Poet, And Frankly, Your French Accent Could Use Some Work.” Supporting Himself On His Elbows, Leo Took Her Face In His Hands. “but When I Put Those Things Together With The Rest Of You, It Makes You Into The Most Perfectly Imperfect Woman I’ve Ever Known.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Good Intentions

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

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.

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.

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

Calling The Shots

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

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.

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

Dysfunctional Family

Bride And Groom

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

In This Life And The Next, You're My Only Hope At Happiness.

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!

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.

Some People There's No Getting Over.

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

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.

Sometimes When We're Not Paying Attention, Relation-ships Happen. There Is No Rule That Requires Two People In Love To Be Exactly Alike.

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.

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

It Would Only Lead To Disappointment, Even Heartbreak, And Her Heart Was Too Precious For Me To Let That Happen.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

But Sometimes Normal Just Isn't Happening. Sometimes Crazy Feels Too Good To Resist.

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.

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?

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

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

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

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.

She Had Discovered That The Best Remedy For Heartache Was Trying To Make Herself Useful To Others.

If Loneliness Was A Choice, What Was The Other Option? To Settle For Second-best And Try To Be Happy With That? And Was That Fair To The Person You Settled For?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

There Is No Peace In Poverty

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

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.

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.

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.

Scorpions Are Quite Ruthless, You Know. That Is Why Artemis Bid One Of Them To Kill Her Foe Orion. And As A Reward She Set The Scorpion On Up In The Sky. I'm Not Ruthless. I Merely Do Whatever It Takes To Achive My Goals That's Not Ruthless?

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

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.

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.

When I Fell In Love With You... It Was Nothing Like I'd Ever Known Before. It Was Nearly Instant. I Think I Started Falling For You, The Moment You Shook My Hand... It Was So Powerful. I Knew It Was Wrong, But It Was Addicting." - Jack Travis

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

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.

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

I Think The Busiest People Are Often The Loneliest.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Neither Of Us Seemed Able To Be Close To Anyone. Not Even Each Other. Closeness Meant The One You Loved The Most Would Cause You The Most Damage. How Did You Unlearn That? It Was Woven Deep Between Every Fiber And Vessel. You Couldn't Cut It Out.

It's Drugs, Isn't It"? Tara Was So Innocent. She Got Pulled Into That Glamorous Lifestyle With All Her Rich Friends...all That Cocaine Dust Floating Around, She Probably Inhaled Some By Accident, And Then -' 'there's No Such Thing As Secondhand Cocaine Snorting, Mom.

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

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

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

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

I Love You Dammit.""she Brushed Her Lips Teasingly Against His."how Much?" He Made A Slight Sound, As If The Soft Kiss Had Affected Him Intensely."without Limit.beyond Forever.

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

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've Always Started Every Day By Going To The Window For A Glimpse Of The Sky. But Now I Won't Have To." "why Not?" She Asked Softly. "because I'll See The Blue Of Your Eyes Instead." "how Romantic You Are," She Murmured With A Grin, Kissing Him Gently. "but Don't Worry. I Won't Tell Anyone.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

As We Talked, I Had The Sense Of Uncovering Something Precious And Long-buried, Fully Formed. Our Conversation Was A Process Of Removing Layers, Some Of Them Easily Dusted Away. Other Layers, Requiring Chisels Or Axes, Were Left Alone For Now. We Revealed As Much As We Dared About What Had Happened During The Years That Separated Us. But It Wasn't What I Had Expected, Being With Hardy Again. There Was Something In Me That Remained Stubbornly Locked Away, As If I Were Afraid To Let Out The Emotion I Had Harbored For So Long.

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.

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