“Fletch is back from Austin, and turns out what sounded great on paper didn't match up to reality. He says its so hot down there, I'd spontaneously combust the second I stepped off the plane. Plus with humidity turning the air as thick as oatmeal, my hair would always be a disaster. So, Austin's out.”

“Willow appeared ready to choke her brother. "I have a mouth, rodent, so quit speaking for me." Austin turned to Joe. "Rodent is a good insult, too, huh?""Sure, according to how you use it. Your sister says it to you with affection, but if you say it to some bully, then it'd sound hateful enough." Austin chewed that over. "Okay." His brow scrunched up with suspicion. "But I don't think Willow meant it nice, either." "No, I didn't" Willow, Joe and Austin”

“If you're stuck you could always double up with me at my place. It's the size of a postage stamp, but the roses are the size of poodles. So it sort of evens out." -Austin”

“I love you,' I told him.It was not the first time, but I didn't want it to be the last. Austin gathered me close and breathed into my hair, his big hands hot and restless on my back. 'I love you, too.”

“I was so anxious about what kind of kiss it would be-because my friends back home described so many types-and it turned out to be the beautiful kind. You didn't shove your tongue down my throat. You didn't grab my butt. We just held our lips together...and kissed.”

“He met Austin's gaze over the top of Faith's head. "I sure hope your baby is a boy." "Reckon we need to even things out a little, don't we?" Rawley gave him a brusque nod. "We men folk are sorely outnumbered." Austin laughed, remembering a time when that was exactly what Dallas had wanted: more women out in West Texas.-Austin and Rawley”