“Okay, try this on for size, Tall, Dark and Handsome. I won't be born for almost seven hundred hundred years. How's that strike you?”

“I nodded, pretending to be a hundred times more courageous than I felt.But that was the thing about courage. Sometimes you had to fake it to feel it.”

“Lia aimed, shifted and waited, watching one man peek out time and time again. She let her arrow fly anticipating his next peek at us and it pierced his eye.“Okay that’s just going to make ’em mad ” I said.“Three hundred and ninety-two ” she said to Luca tossing her braid over her shoulder and taking aim again.“Saints in heaven ” he said to me rolling his eyes “how much deeper in love can I yet fall?”

“God," she said, her tone gently reproving, "brought Mr.Kensington to you, and with him, a world of potential. As I see it, each of our lives is a journey, Miss Cora. A path that takes us over the mountain or down through a dark valley. But He never abandons us. Never. That is how He cares for us - walking with us every step of the way.”

“How dare you - ""How dare I offer you more than you could've ever dreamed?""How dare you waltz in here and presume - ""Presume to prescribe a future with hope and promise?"I shut my mouth abruptly, glaring at him. Then, "Are you quite finished?""Are you?" he asked."I am a free woman, Mr.Kensington. Grown. I can do as I wish.I may be blood kin to you, but I am not your employee." My eyes cut to Mama, but hers remained on the barn."Regardless, you shall do as I say."I let out a sputtering, exasperated laugh. "And if I do not?"He traced the edge of his chipped china saucer. "That would be ill advised.”

“If I live in fear of what might be, how can I truly live my life to the full in the present? And if I do not give myself to the day, to hope, to life, what do I miss?”

“Lia let out a low growl and moved her arrow to the base of his fat throat. "What do you think, Gabi? Would you like to see these nuptials through?""Not this day," I said"How about on the morrow?" Marcello asked, smiling and lifting my hand to his lips. "If I am your groom?""Hold that eHarmony thought," Lia whispered in English. "We gotta get out of here.”