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Yes, But You Need To Learn Your Maths." "i Don't Need To, Really. I Already Know How To Count To A Hundred. And I'm Sure I'll Never Need Ore Than A Hundred Of Anything.

-Lisa Kleypas

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Yes, But You Need

Lisa Kleypas

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Yes, But You Need To Learn Your Maths." "i Don't Need To, Really. I Already Know How To Count To A Hundred. And I'm Sure I'll Never Need Ore Than A Hundred Of Anything.

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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.

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

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

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

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.

He Wasn't Mine Anywhere Except In My Heart.

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.

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

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.

Great Men Don't Nessarily Make Good Husbands.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

We Were Each Other's Only Link To The Past . . . That Was The Strength Of Our Bond, And Also Our Weakness.

...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.

You Think I'd Cheat On You?" I Demanded With All The Innocent Outrage I Could Muster. "with Another Guy, No. With A Cheeseburger . . . In A Heartbeat.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

There Is No Peace In Poverty

These Impossible Women! How They Do Get Around Us!

She Heard The Trace Of Fear In His Voice. The Fear That A Small Boy Must Have Felt When Every Woman He Loved Had Disappeared From His Life, Swept Away By A Merciless Fever. She Didn’t Know How To Reassure Him, Or How To Console His Long-ago Grief.

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.

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

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?

Most Men Don't Seem To Get That Telling A Pissed-off Woman To Calm Down Is Like Throwing Gunpowder On A Fire.” ~ Liberty Jones

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

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

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.

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

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.

To Put To Rest Any Doubts You Might Have… I’m Jealous Of Every Man Who Comes Within Ten Feet Of You. I’m Jealous Of The Clothes On Your Skin And The Air You Breathe. I’m Jealous Of Every Moment You Spend Out Of My Sight

I Understood Finally That The Thing I Should Have Feared Most Was Not Loss, But Never Loving. The Price For Safety Was The Regret I Felt At This Moment. And Yet I Would Have To Live With It For The Rest Of My Life

Some People There's No Getting Over.

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.

Rohan's Fingertips Drifted With Stunning Delicacy Over Her Throat, Behind Her Ear, Pushing Into The Satiny Warmth Of Her Hair. "you Are An Interesting Woman Amelia." Gooseflesh Rose Wherever His Breath Touched. "i Can't F-fathom Why You Would Think So." His Playful Mouth Traced The Wing Of Her Brow. "i Find You Thoroughly, Deeply Interesting. I Want To Open You Like A Book And Read Every Page." A Smile Curved The Corners Of His Lips As He Added Huskily, "footnotes Included.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

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

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

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

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

Both Of Us Were Quiet With The Recognition That Something Was Ending, And Something Was Beginning.

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.

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

Significant Things

Significant Moments

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Evie Picked Up The Smallest Of The Rings And Tried It On The Fourth Finger Of Her Left Hand. It Fit Perfectly. Raising It Closer To Her Face, She Examined The Design. It Was The Simplest Of All The Rings, A Polished Gold Band Engraved With The Words Tha Gad Agam Ort. “what Does This Mean?” She Asked Macphee. “it Says, ‘my Love Is Upon Ye.

And I Wonder How Gage Knew This Is What My Soul Has Craved. He Turns Me To Face Him, His Eyes Searching. It Occurs To Me That No One In My Life Has Ever Concerned Himself So Thoroughly With My Happiness.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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)

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.

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

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.

Sooner Or Later Everyone Was Driven To Love Someone They Could Never Have.

Sooner Or Later

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Pretend You're Mine," He Urged, His Arms Closing Around Her. "just For A Minute. Pretend There's Never Been Anyone But Me, That I'm The One You're Promised To. Do It For Me....i'll Never Ask Again.

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

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

One Of The Women At The Clinic Had Remarked Dryly That Harrow's Personal Magnetism Not Only Affected Men, Women And Children But Also Extended To Armoires, Assorted Chairs And The Nearby Goldfish In A Bowl.

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

Where Are We Going?” Annabelle Asked, Resisting His Hold On Her Wrist. “to The House. If They’re Not Willing To Be Witnesses, Then It Seems I’ll Have To Debauch You In Front Of Someone Else.

Some Questions Change Everything.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

I-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There Were Times In Life When You Had To Take A Risk That Might End In Failure. Because Otherwise You Would Be Haunted By What You Hadn’t Done... The Paths You Hadn’t Taken, The Things You Hadn’t Experienced.

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

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.

She Had Never Experienced The Pain Of Unsatisfied Desire Before. It Hurt. It Hurt Like Nothing She'd Ever Felt, And There Seemed To Be No Remedy

...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.

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

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

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

A Lifetime With Such A Woman Was Not Nearly Enough.

He Was So Far From The Gallant Knights In Her Romantic Fantasies ... He Was Tarnished, Scarred, Imperfect. Deliberately He Had Destroyed Any Illusions She Might Have Had About Him, Exposing His Mysterious Past For The Ugly Horror That It Was. His Purpose Had Been To Drive Her Away. But Instead She Felt Closer To Him, As If The Truth Had Bonded Them In A New Intimacy.

I've Never Known Anyone More Ill Equipped For Happiness. He Wouldn't Know What To Do With It.

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

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

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.

Sometimes You Meet A Really Nice Guy, But No Matter How You Try, You Can’t Seem To Make Yourself Want Him. But That’s Not Nearly As Bad As When You Meet The Wrong Guy, And You Can’t Make Yourself Not Want Him.

You 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.

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

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.

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

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

Asking An Eight-year-old Girl If Something Is A Little Over-the-top Is Like Asking A Texan If There Are Too Many Jalapenos In The Salsa. The Answer Is Always No." -liberty Jones

A Well-read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature.

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.

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

Make Your Choice And Accept The Consequences.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

Love Was The Secret Behind Everything...love Was What Made Vineyards Grow And Filled The Spaces Between The Stars, And Fixed The Ground Beneath His Feet. It Didn't Matter If You Acknowledged It Or Not. You Couldn't Stop The Motion Of The Earth Or Hold Back The Ocean Tides, Or Break The Pull Of The Moon. You Couldn't Stop The Rain Or Pull A Shade Over The Sun.

She Shook Her Head As She Confessed, "i Want It So Much, I'm Afraid To Hope." "never Be Afraid To Hope," Rohan Said Gently. "it's The Only Way To Begin." -rohan To Win

I Don't Share My Body Heat Indiscriminately.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Darlin'...i Know What You Look Like When You've Been Kissed.

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.

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 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.

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.

Some Things Are Better When It’s Raining. Like Reading. Or Sleeping. Or This.” “lying In Bed With Me?

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

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.

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.

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.

Annabelle Gave Him A Chiding Smile. “if You’re Implying That I’m Spoiled, I Assure You That I Am Not.” “you Should Be.” His Warm Gaze Slid Over Her Pink-tinted Face And Slender Upper Body, Then Sought Hers Again. There Was A Note In His Voice That Gently Robbed Her Of Breath. “you Could Do With A Bit Of Spoiling.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

I Have Come To Realize You Can Never Be Truly Happy Unless You've Known Some Sorrow.

Well, You Missed Out On Some Important Protocol, Ella. You Can't Stand Between A Texan And His Power Tools. We Like Them. Big Ones That Drain The National Grid. We Also Like Truck-stop Breakfasts, Large Moving Objects, Monday Night Football, And The Missionary Position. We Don't Drink Light Beer, Drive Smart Cars, Or Admit To Knowing The Names Of More Than About Five Or Six Colors. And We Don't Wax Our Chests, Ever.

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.

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.

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.

How Do I Look?" Amanda Asked. Jack Shook His Head Ruefully As He Glanced At Her. No One Could Mistake The Remaining Flush On Her Cheeks, Or The Soft Sparkle Of Her Eyes, Or Her Lusciously Swollen Mouth, For Anything Other Than The Results Of Physical Passion. "like You've Been Ravished," He Said Flatly. She Astonished Him By Smiling. "hurry, Please. I Want To Go Inside My House And Consult A Looking Glass. I've Always Wanted To Know What A Ravished Woman Looks Like.

I 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

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

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

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

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