Quotes from Jess Michaels

There was a heated spell being woven in the room, shrinking the world down to just the two of them.

Most certainly not. Why face this with honesty and directness? It is so much more fun to dance around the truth, dodge the reality of the situation, which is that you are in love with this man, you share some kind of unhappy past with him...and that he has feelings for you, as well. Why would you ever wish to deal with that head on?

I have two options in this world. I can allow what is happening around me to control me, to break me, to destroy me and make me a twisted, angry shell of a person, as it has done to so many others. Or I can rise above it. There is ugliness around me, but there is beauty, too. I will find whatever I seek.

Great God, Vivien…Miss Manning. I didn't expect to see you here today." She tilted her head. "Nor I you. When I heard your voice, I thought I was dreaming." He arched a brow. "Do you often dream of me in bookstores?" She laughed even though the question was a loaded one. "You must know you are dreamed of by dozens of women. I could not say I wasn't one of them.

And I see you have not resisted their lure either." He motioned toward her books. "Might I look at your selections?" She hesitated and clutched her books closer out of habit. She had often felt that the books one read were a peek into the soul of the reader. That was why her personal library was kept in a locked room very separate from the places where her visitors went for her wild parties. Sharing these selections with Benedict felt so very intimate.

He laughed, but his face was unreadable as he looked at her titles. "Ah, a collection from Sir Walter Scott. Very nice, I've always liked his poetry. Sense and Sensibility, but surely you have read this one." She nodded after a moment. "Y-Yes. It is one of my favorites. I only rather liked this binding." He held his gaze on her for a moment and then nodded.