“I love you,” he murmured. “That means I’m not just here for the pretty parts. I’m here no matter what.”

“You know I’m here no matter what, right?” “Yeah, I know. I appreciate it.” “You mean the world to me.” I buried my face into his shoulder. “You know you mean the world to me, too.” “I’m serious, though.  If we could make some money off of you…”

“Does Curran not involve you in his strategic sessions?” Ghastek asked. “Nope, I’m just here to look pretty.”

“I’m a cold-hearted bastard. I’m insular, I’m jaded, a workaholic, I’m ruthless and I’m self-serving. I don’t do forever, I rarely even do “I’ll call you tomorrow”. And just because I’m here now it does not mean if you ask me to stay I will.”

“Do you do them in that old-fashioned code,like daffodils mean I’m sorry I was late, daisies mean sorry I embarrassed you in front of your friends, these things here fanned out mean just thinking of you?Or did you just have them throw whatever was pretty together?”

“I’m not leaving you. Right here, right now is the happiest I’ve ever been. I love you. That means I don’t leave. Sorry.”