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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

-Lisa Kleypas

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You Can Keep A

Lisa Kleypas

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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

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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

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.

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'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.

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.

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

Great Men Don't Nessarily Make Good Husbands.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Come On, Ella. Sleep Green.' Ignoring Him, I Got Into Bed Wearing A T-shirt And Boxer Shorts Printed With Penguins. I Reached Over To The Nightstand And Flipped Off The Lamp. A Moment Of Silence, And Then I Heard A Lecherous Murmur. 'i Like Your Penguins.

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.

You're So Full Of It, Darlin'.

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

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.

I Lacked Some Essential Skill For Attracting People, For Giving And Receiving Love Easily. It Meant Too Much To Me. I Seemed To Be Driving Away The People I Most Wanted. Finally I Had Realized That Getting Someone To Love You Was Like Trying To Coax A Bird To Perch On Your Finger . . . It Wouldn't Happen Unless You Stopped Trying So Hard.

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

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.

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

Sometimes A Simple Question Could Have A Complicated Answer.

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

As Marcus Considered Various Ways To Open The Subject Of Daisy, Swift Surprised Him With A Blunt Statement. “my Lord, There Is Something I Would Like To Discuss With You.” Marcus Adopted A Pleasantly Encouraging Expression. “very Well.” “it Turns Out That Miss Bowman And I Have Reached An…understanding. After Considering The Logical Advantages On Both Sides, I Have Made A Sensible And Pragmatic Decision That We Should—” “how Long Have You Been In Love With Her?” Marcus Interrupted, Inwardly Amused. Swift Let Out A Tense Sigh. “years,” He Admitted.

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.

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.

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.

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

I Have So Much Love For You, I Could Fill Rooms With It. Buildings. You’re Surrounded By It Wherever You Go, You Walk Through It, Breathe It...it’s In Your Lungs, And Under Your Tongue, And Between Your Fingers And Toes...” His Mouth Moved Passionately Over Hers, Urging Her Lips Apart. It Was A Kiss To Level Mountains And Shake Stars From The Sky. It Was A Kiss To Make Angels Faint And Demons Weep...a Passionate, Demanding, Soul-searing Kiss That Nearly Knocked The Earth Off Its Axis. Or At Least That Was How Poppy Felt About It.

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

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?

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

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.

The Look Of Experience Suited Him, Especially Because Somewhere Deep In Those Eyes, There Still Lurked A Dangerous Invitation To Play. He Had A Quality Of Masculine Confidence That Was A Thousand Times More Potent Than Mere Handsomeness. Perfect Goodlooks Could Leave You Cold, But This Kind Of Sexy Charisma Went Straight To Your Knees. -haven Travis

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.

Getting To A Higher Spiritual Level Is Like Increasing Your Credit Score. You Get A Lot More Points For Sinning And Repenting Than If You Have No Credit History At All.

Separately They Had Different Strengths. Together They Were Complete.

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.

She Smiled At Him, Though Her Hazel-green Eyes Were Wary Beneath The Brim Of A Sodden Hat. Right At That Moment, Staring At Her Across The Hall, Gideon Shaw, Cynic, Hedonist, Drunkard, Libertine, Fell Hopelessly In Love.

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.

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

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

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

I Wish You Were A Mind-reader. I Want You To Know Everything But I Don't Want To Have To Tell You. Because There Are Some Things I Don't Want To Say Out Loud.

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

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

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

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

Procrastination

Putting Things Off

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.

I Have Always Been An Obsessive Reader - I Remember Going Back And Forth To The Local Library With Stacks Of Books Taller Than I Was.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

But When You Started Dating Someone, You Could Never Be Sure What You Were Getting Into. You Had To Give Someone A Chance To Show You Who He Really Was . . . And Believe Him When He Did.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

I Had Learned This Lesson So Many Times Before. It Was The Great Inner Truth That Didn't Require The Support Of Logic. Every Time I Loved, I Lost, And I Was Diminished. I Wondered How Much Of Me Would Be Left After Tomorrow.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Baptists Don’t Spend Their Time Thinking About Reality.

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.

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

Some Questions Change Everything.

Because One Day Of Something Wonderful Is Better Than A Forever Of Nothing Special.

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 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 Still Don’t Get Why I Have To Eat Breakfast If You Don’t,” Josie Muttered. “because You Have To Be A Certain Age To Earn The Right To Ruin Your Own Life.

Ah, Evie,” She Heard Him Say Softly, “i Must Have A Heart, After All…because Right Now It Aches Like The Devil.” “only Your Heart?” She Asked Ingenuously, Making Him Laugh. He Lowered Her To The Bed, His Eyes Sparkling Wickedly. “also A Few Other Things,” He Conceded. “and As My Wife, It’s Your Duty To Ease All My Aches.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

A Well-read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature.

When Christopher Finished, There Was A Moment Of Silence. Leo Looked At Cam Expectantly. “well?” “well What?” “now Is The Time When You Dredge Up One Of Your Blasted Romany Sayings. Something About Roosters Laying Eggs, Or Pigs Dancing In The Orchard. It’s What You Always Do. Let’s Have It.” Cam Gave Him A Sardonic Glance. “i Can’t Think Of One Right Now.” “by God, I’ve Had To Listen To Hundreds Of Them. And Phelan Doesn’t Have To Hear Even One?

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

His Lips Pressed Against Her Forehead And She Felt Him Smile Against Her Skin. "believe Me...the Only Place In The World I Want To Be Is Wherever You Are." -grant Morgan

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

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 Wondered How Much Of Me Would Be Left After Tomorrow.

I’ve Told You Before, I Love Like A Madman,” He Said. “immoderate, Jealous, Possessive...i’m Absolutely Intolerable.

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

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 Knew I Would Replay The Scene Countless Times In The Years Before Me, Each Time Thinking Of Different Things I Should Have Said And Done. But All I Did Was Walk Away Without Looking Back.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Can't Get It Out," She Said. "just Pull At It." "it Hurts. It's Throbbing." "pull Harder." "i Can't! It's Truly Stuck. I Need Something To Make It Slippery. Do You Have Some Sort Of Lubricant Nearby?" "no." "not Anything?" "much As It May Surprise You, We've Never Needed Lubricant In The Library Before Now.

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

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

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

The Firefly Is An Unassuming Insect In The Daytime. If You Didn't Know What It Was, You'd Think It Was Nothing Special. But At Night, The Firefly Glows With Its Own Light Source. The Darkness Brings Out Its Most Beautiful Gift. That's An Extraordinary Talent For An Ordinary-looking Creature, Isn't It?

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

In The Fairy Tale You Mentioned Last Night, I Would Probably Be The Villain. But It's Possible The Villain Would Treat You Far Better Than The Prince Would Have.

You're Surrounded By It Wherever You Go, You Walk Through It, Breathe It...it's In Your Lungs And Under Your Tongue And Between Your Fingers And Toes.

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.

A Long Time Ago I Learned Not To Explain Things To People. It Misleads Them Into Thinking They're Entitled To Know Everything I Do. -sara

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Had Never Ironed Anything In My Life. The Proper Pressing Of A Shirt Was A Mystery Of The Universe Akin To Black Holes And Dark Matter.

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.

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

Calling The Shots

I Like Pessimists. They’re Always The Ones Who Bring Life Jackets For The Boat.

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

What Flaw Could You Possibly Find In His Appearance?" "his Posture," Hannah Muttered. "what About It?" "he Slouches." "he's An American. They All Slouch. The Weight Of Their Wallets Drags Them Over.

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

Good Intentions

You Have To Rely On Whatever Sparks You Have Inside.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Some People There's No Getting Over.

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.

Be Happy, Honey. No One Deserves It More. But Don't Forget... I'm Keeping One Little Piece Of Your Heart For Myself. And If You Ever Want It Back.. .you Know Where To Find It.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

That Is Kind Of You, My Lord. But I Will Never Dance With You.' Which, Of Course, Made It The Goal Of Leo's Life.

Merripen, Despite His Fear Of Heights, Had Often Climbed A Ladder To Wash The Second Floor Window For Her. He Had Wanted Her View Of The Outside World To Be Clear. He Had Said The Sky Should Always Be Blue For 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 Feel Hollow Inside, Just Waiting And Wishing And Dreaming. You Feel Like Every Moment Is Leading To Something So Amazing That There's No Name For It, And If You Could Just Get There With Him, It Would Be Such A...relief. It Would Be All You'd Ever Need.

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.

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

There Is No Peace In Poverty

You're Always Looking For Some New Way To Tell The Same Story, But It's How They Get To The Happy End That Is The Challenge And The Fun For A Writer.

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

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.

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

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.

It Was A Kiss To Level Mountains And Shake Stars From The Sky. It Was A Kiss To Make Angels Faint And Demons Weep...a Passionate, Demanding, Soul-searing Kiss That Nearly Knocked The Earth Off Its Axis.

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

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

Beautiful Hannah. If You Were Mine, I'd Lay You On Silk Sheets And Wrap You Up In Ropes Of Pearls, And Feed You Honey From A Silver Spoon. Of Course, You Wouldn't Be Able To Make All Your High-minded Judgments If You Were A Fallen Woman...but You Wouldn't Care. Because I Would Pleasure You, Hannah, Every Night, All Night, Until You Forgot Your Own Name. Until You Were Willing To Do Things That Would Shock You In The Light Of Day. I Would Debauch You From Your Head Down To Your Innocent Little Toes-" "oh, I Despise You.

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

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

When You Are In Love' Hypocrisy Won Over Principle.

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

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?

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

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

I Didn't Mean To Send Love Letters, But That Is What They Became. On Their Way To You, My Words Turned Into Heartbeats On The Page.

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

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

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.

Hunt Seemed Similarly Indifferent To The Show, His Head Inclined Toward Hers, His Gaze Locked On Her Face. Though His Breathing Remained Soft And Disciplined, It Seemed To Her That Its Rhythm Had Changed Ever So Slightly. Annabelle Moistened Her Dry Lips. “you …you Mustn’t Stare At Me Like That.” Soft As The Murmur Was, He Caught It. “with You Here, Nothing Else Is Worth Looking At.

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.

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.

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

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Victoria Justice

Bryant H. McGill

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