I didn’t want to cry in front of you.”He wiped away the tears with the pad of his thumb. in front of me.

Did you miss me?’“A little bit,” she said with a shrug.“You have tears running down your cheeks,” he said with a grin. “I think you missed me more than a little.

She has to agree to have me. It could take some time, but I’m confident I can trick her into it.

Maybe we’ll admit this thing we have is perfect, not worth messing around with. And stay together forever. If you’re interested, that is.”She glanced away. “I could think about that.”He buried his face in her neck. “Think fast

How do you know?”“Well, I don’t, I’m making this up, but I bet I’m right.

He tends to go for girls who are-Shelby, honey? Put your hands over your ears for just a sec.” Back into the phone he said, “He likes the real slutty ones. Ow!” he yelled when he received a whop to the back of the head.

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.

We’re adults. I might be a little more of an adult if you’re counting years but I bet I have a lower IQ, so that puts us pretty much even.

Until meeting you, I wasn’t looking for anything at all. Since meeting you, I’m kind of looking for a girlfriend.

Wow,” she said. “Do you realise how wonderful you sound?”“Yes, I do,” he said with a firm nod. “And I think I’m underappreciated.

We’ll make out for a while and you’ll feel better.

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.

Your big scary husband is crying.

Marry me. You'll learn to love me, I promise.

Don't leave yet," he said, his voice hoarse. "Let me do something. Let me feed you. Hold you. Rub your shoulders. Change your oil. Anything, please.

But you were concerned about making sure things, you know, didn't get serious.""Yeah, because I'm an idiot.

I like the way you kiss-a couple of test kisses, then a huge kiss.

I am not sleeping with you.""We could probably manage it, though. Without getting too involved.""No," she said."But why? I mean, if we're trusted friends? And it doesn't interfere with our responsibilities?""Did that line ever actually work for you?""I can't remember. But it probably did-it's brilliant.

Maybe we could, um, go sit in the truck?" he said, but even as he said it, it sounded so dumb. And not exactly the way he wanted her to remember a marriage proposal.

Tom, how many children do you think I have to have before I figure out you get them by having sex?""Of course there would be protection," he offered."Tons of it.

Tom. Tom, look at me. Has Nora agreed to marry you?""No, but she will because she has to.

My best advice is this - by the time you meet your Maker, and may it be a long, long time from now, I hope you can close your eyes on a life where you did your damn best and tried your damn hardest. It's not winning that's really winning. It's never giving up.

It turns out the mark of a happy life isn't staying just one step ahead of the grim reaper. It's knowing you're strong.

She’d never been any kind of camper, never had been good at relieving a full bladder on a whim. Never had quite figured out that squat; it seemed like she’d always wet her right foot.

I want to love every piece of you. I want to be inside you. I want our bodies together, to make the two of us into one. I want it all, and I want it hard, soft, anything that will make you happy. I want to hold you, keep you safe, make you scream... I want to make you gasp and tremble and lose control, like I'm losing control. And tip over the edge. And fall." He kissed her again. "And fall," he whispered against her lips. "I want to make you fall in love with me. The way I'm in love with you." (Noah Kincaid)

I want to undress you, touch you, kiss you, taste you. And then I want you to taste yourself on my mouth." He kissed her again, hot and strong and long. One hand crept to her clothed breast, kneading it. "I want you hard and hot and deep and fast. And then I want you slow and sweet. I want you to wrap those beautiful long legs around me. I want you under me and on top of me and sitting and standing. I want to see your eyes when pleasure makes you light up. I want to hold you when you come down and try to find your breath. I want everything with you, Ellie. I care about you more than I've cared about a woman in so long. I hardly recognized the feelings. I'm dying for you." (Noah Kincaid)

Peyton, I’m not married and you’re not a lesbian. Think of the possibilities.

I mean, I don’t want to pass judgment—I just wish my husband didn’t shoot deer.”“Oh, Mel, don’t worry. I’ve been hunting with your husband—the deer are completely safe.

Cooper’s been married in his head for a while now.”“That’s… kinda sweet.

At this moment, I am obscenely happy. Please don’t screw this up or dump me or cheat on me or divorce me.”“All right,” he said.

You dance?”“I think that might be overly optimistic,” he said. “I do something. I’ll try not to hurt you.

Honey, I have a feeling he doesn’t think of you as a friend. Have you seen the way he looks at you?”She glanced at him and as if he could feel her gaze, he turned his eyes on her. Soft and hard all at once. “Yeah,” Mel said. “He promised to stop doing that.

You’re a good date,” he said.“You thought of it as a date?”He nodded. “From the beginning.

I’ll always be your friend,” he said. “Your best friend, if you let me. But I want to be your lover, too.” He groaned and shifted in his chair. “Soon. I want to be that soon.” Then a look came over him. “Oh Gina…I didn’t even court you! God, I should date you first before I beg you to take off your clothes!

A million possible endearments ran through his head. But he said, “Help.

Isn’t he cute? That he thinks he has a sense of humour?

He’d never been shy, but he’d always been a little uncertain around girls. He just couldn’t believe they liked him.

It didn’t take much to turn a man solitary-being the new guy too often, being controversial now and then, a couple of unsuccessful attempts at a lasting relationship with a woman…

Big surprise, I put you to sleep. Don’t feel bad. It happens all the time.

You should get a better boyfriend. One with an IQ higher than a turnip.

Sarah, I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.

I should stay to be sure she doesn't have a concussion. And that she doesn't need sex for it. Or just to be there in case she did . . .

It’s so hard,” Andy said. “When you don’t have anyone.”“Yeah, I know,” Gerri agreed. “Yet it’s harder when you have the wrong one.

You've been treading water," she said. "You're marking the years, not living them.