“You don’t want me to end up like you. I have to tell you, that’s always been kind of weird to me. I hope I end up like you. In fact, that’s the one goal that I’m really sure about. I want to be as much like you as possible.”- Tree to Piney, in one of their father-son talks.”

“I’ve got to get you home before I lose all my sanity and give in to the urge to imprison you here as a sex slave for my evil desires.”Jesse sighed heavily. “That does sound tempting, but I’m pretty sure that Aunt Will would miss me.”“She probably would,” Piney agreed. “And how could I explain to my son why I’ve got a woman locked up in my bedroom?”

“Madge did the honors. “Are you…keeping company with Doc Piney?”Jesse answered carefully. “We are not dating, but we are seeing a lot of each other.” Factually true. Revealing nothing.The three women sat silently for a long moment, sharing glances with each other.“You know he has a sad history,” Walter Lou said finally.“Of course she knows,” Madge said immediately.“Everybody knows. The question is are you planning on breaking that man’s heart again?”The suggestion was not at all what Jesse expected.She stuttered out an answer.“I…I don’t…I don’t think Piney knows me well enough to get his heart broken,” she managed finally.“Oh, Lord, girl,” Madge said. “He’s a Baxley. A more lovelorn line of men never graced the earth.”“That’s the truth of that,” Walter Lou agreed. “Those men dote on their women something fierce.”

“He pulled her close and kissed her. Happiness and joy settled around them like a warm cloak. And gentleness spurred passion. His kiss deepened and a soft, low moan eased out of his throat.He wiggled on the bed beneath her, letting her feel the resurgence of his passion inside her."I'm ready to do it again," he said plainly."You can't do it twice," she answered, giggling."Why not?""You just can't," Althea told him. "Men do it one time and then they rest up for a day or two.""I think I'm rested up enough," he told her."Jesse, I know what I'm talking about," she said with confidence. "I was married for over two years. And I know all about it. You can't be ready to do it again."He proved her wrong.”

“I’ll tell you a secret about the men in this world. They like young pretty girls, but when pretty teams up with smart and resourceful, it’s more than an elixir, it’s nearly a dad-blamed aphrodisiac.”

“Miss Althea?""I don't blame you, Jesse," she said at last, taking control of her whirling emotions. "I must have…I must have led you astray somehow. But you must never touch me again."Jesse's disappointment was palpable. "Never?" That seemed impossible. To beallowed to know how wonderful it was to feel and smell and taste her and then tonever be allowed that again. It was so unfair. Jesse wanted to cry. It was too unfair.”

“Piney woke up wearing a big grin on his face. He couldn’t remember when he’d slept so well. He pulled the pillow next to him up over his face. He could smell her hair on it.“Jesse,” he murmured to himself. He liked her. He really liked her. And he loved, loved, loved doing her.Being inside her. She was so hot. She was so tight. She was…Piney stopped himself in midthought and rolled out of bed. His mind was headed where his body could not go.”