All Quotes By Tag: Contemporary-romance

“«Cosa vuoi fare da grande?» E, così dicendo, giunse le mani come se la stesse confessando. «La detective per animali scomparsi in circostanze misteriose?»”

“The male gender remembers only the things that entertain them.”

“Late twenties, single, female. Do the math.Flirty flings were fabulous until you hit the big three-O, all downhillfrom there. Biological clocks started ticking like time bombs waiting todetonate, gravity exerted more force on your life than your mom, andsuddenly, the dog-ugliest creep looked like Jake Gyllenhaal.”

“The scent of him was subtle, beautifully fresh, and she couldn’t think clearly. No man had ever brought out these intense feelings in her. Chris Augustine was dangerous and she could get lost in his arms.”

“What are you doing here?”All right, he was standing in front of an easel, holding a paint palette and brush. “Taxidermy?” he responded with just a touch of his own sarcasm.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t love me right away,” he said. “Just give me a chance.”

“I better go,” Carter squeezed me once more and stood, grabbing his wallet from the coffee table. “I need to hit up the lottery if I want to get you out of this mess. Will you let me buy a monkey if we win, though?””Only if you buy me an island off the coast of Fiji.””You crazy-ass woman. A monkey is so much cooler than an island.””How about a monkey IN Fiji?””Now there’s a woman after my own heart,” Carter slapped his hand to his chest, sighing dramatically. “I’ll let you know if we win.” He started for the door.”Uh huh.””You’ll know if we do. I’ll be the one streaking on Pike Street.”

“Hey Kate, you coming to our show Friday night?” He leaned in close and touched my shoulder. “The guys would love to see you there.””Yes. Yes, the guys would indeed.” Carter rolled his eyes and smirked. I held back my grin, well aware that he was laughing inwardly at the same thing I was. When Dean spoke of ‘the guys,’ he mostly meant himself. With a body like a Ken doll and hair like Meredith’s McDreamy, I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what he wanted with me.”

“Well, in the meantime, Carter and I have been discussing the matter of Ryan.” This time it wasn’t the clang of a pan I heard, but instead a messy smack–the contact of Carter’s backhand with Dean’s head, I presumed. “Just hear me out. You have options. I have an Italian uncle. He’ll make sure Ryan is sleeping with the fishes by next week.””Dean!” Unable to repress my amusement, my eyes flew wide and my grin grew.”Either that, or we can go all Sweeney Todd on him and–“”Oh, will you stop?” My laughter was crippling. “There will be no calls to your uncle and no trip to the barber shop–please, leave Sweeney Todd out of it.”

“What do you see when you look at me?”My eyes narrowed and I pressed my lips together, weighing my thoughts. All of his bimbo admirers aside, what did I see? What did my gut tell me about this man? What did it say that allowed me to wind up here with him, under such impulsive circumstances?“You’re a sad man,” I swallowed. “You’re arrogant and set in your ways, but that creates a fortress for you. It’s your safe haven. Behind the moat is someone who has lost something he loved, only I’m not sure what, or who. You’re afraid of something and your loyalty is hidden away in a cell, wounded by betrayal.” I rested my head on the pillow. “That’s what I see.”“On second thought,” he exhaled, letting his head drop next to mine. “You’re psychic.”

“Whew,” he said. “You clean up good. You don’t look like the same girl.”She frowned right before she laughed. “Do women usually thank you for saying things like that?”

“Stumbling closer, I held up the manuscript, the pages flapping frantically in the wind. “I take it this is a murder mystery? You killed the ex-fiancée and thanked her in the dedication? Mighty dignified of you, I must say.”“Nah. It’s a horror novel. But yeah, the bimbo dies in the end. Bob Hall says it’s going to be a bestseller, so I figured I owed her some thanks for the inspiration.” He edged a few feet closer, his smile spread from ear to ear. The glimmer in his eyes flickered toward the ocean, breaking our connection. He hung his head, licked his lips, then returned his eyes to mine, restoring the connection with an intense smolder. “Are you gonna get over here, or what?”Letting out a soft chuckle, the tears began to blind me. “Make me.”

“I winked and locked my arm in Carter’s, and we stood there, watching Dean stroll away.”You know the guy’s never gonna give up,” Carter nudged me, letting out a sigh.”We’d have really pretty babies, huh?””Yup. They’d be rad little Brangelinas, running around tearing the place up.””Yeah, you’re right. My rejection is such a disservice to the world…”

“Is there a problem, Ms. Parker? Something you want to say to me?” Reaching for his tie, he began to loosen it, unraveling it with his fingers, angry eyes still locked on mine.”I’m not sure I like being your pet. Or science project, I don’t know which.””You have a smart mouth.””You make smart observances.””You’re going to make this invitation difficult, aren’t you?””If you’re dishonest with me, yes.””You’ll regret it if you don’t accept.””Is that a threat?””That’s a promise.”

“However, I have to warn you, I kind of like that you find me irresistible.”“Did I say that?” he asked, a slight tint creeping up his stubbled cheeks. “I didn’t say that! I find you completely resistible.”