“Without a doubt... the worst part of being a single woman was having to take care of your own car.”

“A woman could do that to you - reach that place in your soul where the best and worst of you was kept. And once she was there, she owned that place and never left.”

“The worst part about loving someone, Merripen, is that there will al­ways be things you can't protect her from. Things be­yond your control. You finally realize there is something worse than dying... and that is having something hap­pen to her. You have to live with that fear always. But you have to take the bad part, if you want the good part."Kev looked at him bleakly. "What's the good part?"A smile touched Cam's lips. "All the rest of it is the good part," he said, and went.”

“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. ”

“You are your own worst enemy. If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself and others, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.”

“Has she accepted you?""Not yet.She wants to discuss it with you first.""Thank God.Because I'll tell her that it's the worst idea I've ever heard."Leo arched a brow."You doubt I could protect her?""I doubt you could keep from murdering each other!I doubt she could ever be happy in such volatile circumstances.I doubt...no,I won't bother listing all my concerns,it would take too bloody long." Harry's eyes were ice-cold. "The answer is no,Ramsay.I'll do what is necessary to take care of Cat.You can return to Hampshire.""I'm afraid it won't be that easy to get rid of me," Leo said."Perhaps you didn't notice that I haven't asked for your permission.There is no choice.Certain things have happened that can't be undone.Do you understand?"He saw from Harry's expression that only a few fragile constraints stood between him and certain death."You seduced her deliberately," Harry managed to say."Would you be happier if I claimed it was an accident?""The only thing that would make me happy is to weight you with rocks and toss you into the Thames.""I understand.I even sympathize.I can't imagine what it would be like to face a man who's compromised your sister,how difficult it would be to keep from murdering him on the spot.Oh, but wait.." Leo tapped a forefinger thoughtfully on his chin. "I can imagine.Because I went through it two bloody months ago."Harry's eyes narrowed."That wasn't the same.Your sister was still a virgin when I married her."Leo gave him an unrepenting glance. "When I compromise a woman,I do it properly.""That does it," Harry muttered, leaping for his throat.”

“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.”