“I promised myself that no matter where I went, what I did, I'd never take anything for granted again.”

“Harry, I promised you something. I said I'd clear it with you before I asked your mom to marry me. I need you to tell me it's okay if I do.”

“I hope that's true, because I figured out why I'd never finished it, what I was waiting for. I was waiting for you, Clare. For them. For us. I want to finish it up for you, for them, for us.”

“I'll want you just as much tomorrow," he murmured, stroking her hair. "And a year from tomorrow. I can promise to wait to ask you again, Shelby, but I can't promise to wait until you're ready to answer.”

“She forced herself to...turn and face him. It was easier with the width of the room between them. "I wanted to be able to take this relationship at face value, to enjoy it for what it was.... And I wanted to be sure I could walk away when it was over, completely unscathed. The problem is I can't. When you walked in this morning, all I could think was how much I'd wanted to see you, how much I'd missed you, how unhappy I'd because we were angry at each other."She stopped, straightened her shoulders. He was grinning at her, rocking back and forth on his heels. In a minute she was sure he'd be whistling. "I'd appreciate it if you'd take that smug look off your face. This isn't -""I love you, Julia.”

“I'd say that tea's probably strong enough to hammer nails by now. Do you still want it?"She looked...interesting in his shirt. Interesting enough that his blood began to churn again. "What are my options?""On my schedule, we have a cup of tea, a little conversation, then you get to seduce me back into bed and make love to me again before I go home.""That's not bad, but I think it bears improving.""Oh,and how's that?""We cut out the tea and conversation."She ran her tongue over her top lip-his taste was still there-as he walked toward her. "That would take us straight to you seducing me? Correct?""That's my plan.""I can be flexible."His grin flashed. "I'd like to test that out."They never got around to the tea.”

“You did study art there?" Gennie persisted.Grant watched the smoke rise and the haze of heat that rippled the air. "Why?""Because it's obvious from that wicked little caricature you drew of me that you have talent, and that you've had training. What are you doing with it?""With what?"Gennie drew her brows together in frustration. "The talent and the training. I'd have heard of you if you were painting.""I'm not," he said simply."Then what are you doing?""What I want. Weren't you going to make a salad?""Damn it, Grant-""All right, don't get testy.I'll make it.”