“She let a teasing tone enter her voice. 'Is there any emergency for which you are not prepared, Mr Swift?''Miss Bowman, if I had enough pockets I could save the world.”

“One of the servants had reported that Daisy had been sneaking around the house at night, deliberately tripping all the traps to keep the mice from being killed.“Is this true, daughter?” Thomas Bowman had rumbled, his gaze filled with ire as he stared at Daisy.“It could be,” she had allowed. “But there is another explanation.”“And what is that?” Bowman had asked sourly.Her tone turned congratulatory. “I think we are hosting the most intelligent mice in New York!”

“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.”

“What did he mean, 'insatiable lust'?"She hastened to explain. "Well, 'insatiable' means unable to satisfy-""I know that," he said in a biting tone. "Why did he say that about you?"Sara rolled her eyes and shrugged. "It was nothing. I merely tried to kiss him once the way you kissed me..." Her voice faded as she realized that her parents were watching the pair of them in dumbfounded silence.Isaac was the fist to speak, a smile twitching the corners of his mouth. "I've seen and heard enough, Mr. Craven. If you and my daughter are already talking about 'insatiable lust,' I think I'd better give you my approval... and hope for a quick wedding.”

“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.”

“You've always been a know-it-all. Well, you're about to find out how much you don't know.""Believe me," I muttered, "I'm the first one to admit that I have no clue about any of this stuff. I had nothing to do with it. This isn't my baby.""Then give it to Social Services." She was getting agitated. "Whatever happens to him will be your fault, not mine. Get rid of him if you can't handle the responsibility.""I can handle it," I said, my voice quiet. "It's okay, Mom. I'll take care of him. You don't have to worry about anything."She subsided like a child who had just been mollified by a lollipop. "You'll have to learn the way I did," she said after a moment, reaching down to adjust her toe ring.A hint of satisfaction edged her tone as she added, "The hard way.”

“Heath had been there to help her, letting her draw from his strength. Did she have enough strength to sustain him in the same way?”