Jill Shalvis

“She sucked in a breath. "You're..." When she didn't finish the sentence, he turned his head and watched her gaze drop to his mouth, which was only a few inches from hers. "Handy," she finished softly. "And you're..." She smiled. "Stubborn? Annoying?" "Set to go," he said.”

“She slid on the helmet. "Thanks, Prince Charming." "Huh?" "You know, Cinderella," she said. "The prince had her slipper and you had my helmet...”

“She’d offered him her friendship. Her body. And he’d taken both. He wanted to keep them both. And he also wanted more, so much more. He wanted her heart, like she had his.”

“God save her from annoying Alphas.”

“I'm good at a lot of things," he murmured.”

“Just remember, there’s not a lot of softness in his life, or room for weakness—of which you’re definitely one. He has absolutely no idea what to do with you, and as an action guy, that’s confusing to him. So maybe think about taking it easy on him. Even just a little bit.”

“Their gazes locked and held for a long beat, like maybe he was taking her pulse from across the room, absorbing the fact that she was drenched and breathless. The corners of his mouth twitched. She’d amused him again.”

“Cupping a cheek in each hand, he lifted her back up to his desk and pressed his hips hard into hers. Her eyes were worried. "But people keep coming---" "The next person to come is going to be you," he said.”

“She stared at him and nodded. "Yes, you're right." He cocked his head as if he couldn't hear her. "What was that?" "You're right." She gave him a little push and he had to laugh. "I heard you the first time," he admitted. "I just like the way that sentence sounds on your tongue.”

“Everyone knew that bugs traveled in packs. Only the stupid ones got caught. The smart ones lay in wait for her to go to sleep so they could attack.”

“The special please," she said, waving a coupon from the week's paper. "The young rejuvenating facial. I want to look thirty." "Mom," Jonathan said. "It's a facial, not a magic wand." She rolled up the paper and swatted him with it. "Fine, I'll take forty." She gave Lily a hug. "And you! How lovely to see you again!" She turned to Jonathan. "So... you can make me look forty, right?" "How about gorgeous?" Jonathan asked his mom. "Does gorgeous work for you?”

“Her heart just about stopped. “Us?” she asked in shock. “There is no us. There’s a you. And there’s a me. And okay, so sometimes we get crazy and become a very momentary us but it’s not real.” “It could be,” he said. She gaped at him, completely gobsmacked.”

“Fine. It’s your life, but—” “But you’re still going to tell me what to do?” he asked, a small smile on his lips. She went into defense mode at his amused tone. “Well, I’m sure as hell not going to be quiet about it.” “Duly noted,” he said dryly. “And for the record? I never want you to be quiet, Elle.”

“You promise not to fall for me," she said seriously. "No matter how lovable I am?" He wanted to smile at that but didn't want her to think he was making fun. She wanted his word, and he could give it easily enough, confident that as adorably sexy as she was, he could refrain from falling for her, since his heart felt dead in his chest. "I promise.”

“I'm ready," she promised. She kissed his jaw and then rubbed her cheek against it, letting out a low hum of arousal at the feel of his stubble on her skin. He had a scent that every single one of her senses responded to. The texture of his skin, the taste of his tongue, the latent strength in his hands - everything about him did it for her. "I want this," she said. "I want you.”

“I'm done waiting. Done doing things the easy way and letting things happen as they will."Her heart caught. "What does that mean?""It means this is too important to let slip away again. You're too important." He leaned back against the truck with a low grunt of effort, eyes dark, jaw clenched. "I love you too, Tara.”

“You probably had more adventures today than I’ll have in a lifetime. Walking must seem tame to you.”“Elle, you’re more of an adventure than anything that’s ever happened to me.”

“If I looked like him,” Tara said. “I’d want to have sex with myself. All the time.”

“Never do anything that you don’t want to have to explain to 9-1-1 personnel.”

“Hey,” Shayne said through the door. “You going to stay in there all night, because we’re getting tired of trying to eavesdrop from out here. Can’t hear a damn thing.”