“So instead she settled on, "Did my father put you up to this?"Hale exhaled a quick laugh and shook his head. "He hasn't returned my calls since Barcelona." He leaned closer and whispered, "I think he might still be mad at me.""Yeah, well, that makes two of us.""Hey," Hale snapped. "We all agreed that that monkey seemed perfectly well trained at the time.”

“Are you mad that he's here?" Marie whispered in my ear.I shook my head while I prepared two vodka tonics."Well, you look mad." She laughed at me. "What's wrong?" "I'm allergic to whores," I said under my breath.”

“Hale, this life . . .' she started slowly, still practically speechless. 'This . . . what we do--what my family does--it looks a lot more glamorous when you choose it.''So choose it.' He handed her another envelope. Smaller this time. Thinner.'What's this?' she asked.'That, darling, is my full confession. Dates. Times.' Hale leaned against the antique table. 'I thought the crane rental receipt was a particularly nice touch.' Kat looked at him, speechless. 'It's your ticket back into Colgan. If you want it.''Hale, I . . .'But Hale was still moving, shrinking the distance between them. He seemed impossibly close as he whispered. 'And I didn't choose it, Kat. I chose you.”

“Lean down a minute first,” he says. “Need to tell you something.” I lean over and put my good ear to his lips, which tickle as he whispers. “Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.” I jerk my head back but end up laughing. “Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“W.W. Hale the Forth bought the car for Headmaster Franklin, or didn’t they mention that? Granted it was to make up for the fire that W.W. Hale allegedly started in the eighth grade before they suggested that all current and future W.W. Hales continue their education elsewhere- which worked out just as well since I’m at the Knightsbury Institute now.”“I’ve never heard of it”“My father got a letter just this week telling him I have become a model student”“Congratulations”…“Yeah, well, I’m the only student.”… “Of course the downside of attending a fictional school is that our lacrosse team sucks.”

“Tell me you like me,” he whispered. He was so close I could almost imagine the feel of his lips as they moved, but not quite. I pursed mine together, trying to stop my mischievous smile. “No,” I replied. He shook his head. “That’s not an acceptable answer.” “Well, it’s the one you’re getting.” I laughed and he did too, releasing me and flopping onto his back.”