“Promise me, man. If anything ever happens to me, promise me you'll take care ofAngelina. She's something special, Micah. Heart way too big for her own good. I worrybecause she doesn't see everyone for who they are. She's too busy looking for the good.I've tried to get her to adopt some cynicism, but the truth of the matter is, she wouldn't bethe same girl if she did.”

“Gabe thinks I look sexy,' she announced when Jace stopped in front of them. 'And he totally said you'd fuck me in these shoes.' She stopped and frowned, her thoughts suddenly muddled. 'Or maybe it was Mia who said you'd fuck me. Either way, I wanna be fucked in these shoes.”

“She laid her head against his collarbone, and he kissed her temple. To her shock, she felt a shudder roll through his body about the same time she registered wetness against her skin. Tears. His tears.She started to turn around, but he tightened his grip.“Stay,” he said in a choked voice. “Just let me hold you, baby. Just let me hold you.”

“His gaze narrowed and she could see hishands twitching again like he’d love nothing more than to throttle her. She was beginning to think it was an affliction of his. Did he go around wanting to choke the life out of everyone or was she special in that regard?“I’m afraid ’tis an urge that is entirely original to you,” the laird barked.She clamped her mouth shut and closedher eyes. Mother Serenity had vowed one day Mairin would regret her propensity to blurt out her least little thought. Today just might be that day.”

“If I have to bar the door, I will. I can be avery accommodating man, lass, but you’vesorely tried my will. I’ve given you until tomorrowto trust me with whatever you’rehiding. After that, I can promise you won’tlike my hospitality any longer.”“I don’t like it now,” she said crossly. Shewaved her hand in his direction. “You canleave. I’ll only be going to bed now.”

“She wanted happily ever after more than he could possibly know. She wanted forever. Problem was, she just wasn’t sure she believed in it anymore. It was why she clung to her fiction so much. She immersed herself in books because there she could be anyone and it was easy to believe in love and happily ever after”

“A woman who's survived all you've survived doesn't cry. She holds her head up and dares the world around her to fuck with her.”