“He does as he pleases and no more. He's the most successful man I know.”

“He matters to me, too.""I know he does.""He didn't." Phillip pulled out his hammer to nail the laps. "Not as much as he did to you. Not enough. It's different now.""I know that, too." For the next few minutes they worked in tandem, without words. "You stood up for him anyway," Cam added when the plank was in place. "Even when he didn't matter enough.""I did it for Dad.""We all did it for Dad. Now we're doing it for Seth.”

“He had realised that most vital of humanities. he had touched lives.And he had raised three boys that no one had wanted into men.”

“Just so we know where we stand, darling.""I'll tell you just where we stand, darling.I don't need your insulting offer.I'm running my life my way.""And that's been such a rousing success so far.""I know what I'm doing.Take that ridiculous smirk off your face.""I can't.It sticks there every time you say you know what you're doing." But he tucked all the papers back in his briefcase, closed it. "I'll say this,I don't think it's an entirely moronic idea-this place.""Well,I'll sleep easy now, knowing I have your approval.""Approval's a little strong.It's more like hopeful resignation." He gave the banister a last wiggle. "But I believe in you,Margo."Temper died into confusion. "Damn you, Josh.I can't keep up with you.""Good." He strolled over, flicked a finger down her cheek. "I think you're going to make something out of this shop that'll surprise everyone. Especially you." He leaned down,and when he kissed her this time it was light and friendly. "Got cab fare?""Excuse me?"Grinning, he pulled keys out of his pocket. "Fortunately, I had a spare set to the Jag. Don't work too late, duchess."She didn't smile until he was well out of sight.”

“Her voice was soft and flowing, and though he recognized it as Deep South, it seemed almost a foreign tongue after the coastal Maine cadence he'd grown used to. He wasn't a man to be pleased with having a magnolia blossom tossed on his doorstep. When she opened her eyes and smiled at him, Grant wished fervently he'd never opened the door.”

“Truce," she decided and held out a hand. When he only stared at her,she gave a quick huff and swallowed another morsel of pride. "Please."Trapped by the single word,he took the offered hand. "All right." When she would have drawn her hand away, he tightened his grip. "Why?""I don't know," Gennie told him with fresh impatience. "Just a wild urge to see if I can get along with an ogre." At the ironic lift of his brow, she sighed. "All right,that was just a quick slip.I take it back.”

“There's nothing worse than having someone moping around feeling sorry for themselves, is there?""A damned nuisance," he agreed lightly as he drew her into the private car. "How much did you take me for in there?"It took her a minute to realize he'd changed the subject. "Oh,I don't know-five,six hundred.""I'll put breakfast on your tab," he said as the doors opened to his and Serena's suite. Her laugh pleased him as much as the hug she gave him."Just like a man," Serena stated as she came into the room. "Waltzing in with a beautiful woman at the crack of dawn while the wife stays home and changes the baby." She held a gurgling Mac over her shoulder.Justin grinned at her. "Nothing worse than a jealous woman.”