“You know the kind of smile I’m talkin’ about. That flirty, cute, bite-your-bottom lip ‘cause his smile is so stinkin’ perfect—that kind of smile.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”“Good thing. I’d hate to have to hop a plane at this time of night just to kick his ass for messing around with my girl.”I smile and chew on my bottom lip. His forwardness is kind of cute. “I’m not your girl, Noel.”“Not yet, but soon,” he says.”

“You're the only fire that consumes me." And my wonderful monster smiled at that. Smiled at me.”

“Ah, never," Nicholas said, rubbing his hands together. "Such an interesting word.""You know, Your Majesty, the only reason I'm not swearing at you right now is because I was taught to be kind to old men."Nicholas laughed merrily. "Cheeky whelp.""Does that mean you won't slay me for telling you that you're a thoroughly obnoxious, interefering, exasperating..." Runach took a deep breath. "Good breeding prevents me from saying more."Nicholas smiled. "Runach, my dearest boy, you are truly your mother's son.”

“And if we folks have a motto, it’s this: ‘Don’t holler — smile and bide your time.’ We’ve survived a passel of things that way, smiling and biding our time, and we’ve gotten to be experts at surviving.”

“Did last night really happen?" One side of his lips tipped up, and my chest swelled. I'd missed that smile. "Depends on what you think happend." "I took my shirt off for you?" His eyes deepened. "Yes. Lovely moment.”

“Those lips had curved into a knowing half smile that did funny things to her insides. And like a match tossed to gasoline, her body sparked alive and flames licked every inch of her.”