“As if he conveyed by actions what he could never say in words. Would never say in words.”

“By saying it aloud, he thought perhaps it might seem silly to him. That perhaps he'd been swept up in the moment with Genevieve and that maybe he wasn't quite to the point of love yet. But he was dead wrong. The words felt right on his lips. Saying them aloud only confirmed what his heart already knew. He was well and truly in love with the lass, and there was naught but contentment within him at the whole idea.”

“God, you have a beautiful laugh, and your smile. Jesus, it knocks the breath out of me.""You can't talk to me like that, nobody says things like that to a woman he just met. It's insane.""I just did. And I plan to keep saying them until you believe every word.”

“When would he learn that women never stayed where you put them?”

“He kissed her temple, nuzzling her skin, and murmured again that she was the most beautiful lass in the world. They weren't just words he offered. Platitudes he didn't mean. He cared not about the scar that marred her face. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful lass he'd ever known and nothing would change that. Not a scar. Not circumstances. She was his, and he didn't give one damn what others thought.”

“He’d never get over her. He knew that without hesitation or doubt. He loved her. As deeply as it was possible to love another person. And God, he wanted her. Every day. In hit life. As much a part of him as he would be of her.”

“I gave my word,” Crispen said stubbornly.“You said a McCabe never breaks his word.”Ewan shook his head wearily. “I’m beginningto regret telling you of things a McCabedoesn’t do. Come, let’s sit in the hall so youcan tell me of these adventures of yours.”