Quotes from Denise Hunter

She'd stared at the darkened ceiling half the night wondering about what Murphy had said. Turning the comment every which way. And every way she turned it, she ended up with the same view: Murphy had feelings for her. She couldn't believe he might love her—though his answer to Dad's question suggested otherwise. And she definitely wasn't about to address the subject with him. Last night had been awkward enough.

As afraid as she was of loving and losing, she was even more afraid of losing the chance to love him. Maybe

Layla had hardly looked at him since they'd left Chapel Springs except to shoot him disdainful looks. He couldn't seem to say anything right. Even when he'd complimented her appearance—and he'd meant every word—she'd twisted his words.

Me again, please don't hang up, Meri. Meridith." He sighed into the phone. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was. I was afraid of losing the kids . . . now I'm afraid I've lost you." There was a pause, and Meridith pressed the phone to her ear, afraid she'd hear the click of him hanging up. "I miss you, Meri. I love y—" Meridith jabbed the Delete button, and Jake's voice was gone. She knew her limits. It

What's going on behind those green eyes?" "So much." "Tell me." It

She met his eyes, and he thought for the millionth time that God had invented that shade of green just for her.

I love you, Jade. I have for a long time, and I'm sure not going to stop now." She

He watched her now, peeling away from her great-aunts. Even with the fake smile, she was the most beautiful woman in the room, with her long dark hair, flawless skin, and wide green eyes. She was long-legged, with curves in all the right places. But that wasn't why she'd dug so deeply under his skin. No, it was her feisty spirit that drew him most. The way her eyes sparked with emotion. The way she stood up for herself and those she cared about. Layla was flat-out amazing.

I have a head injury." His strange words pulled her from her thoughts. That last shot of morphine must've kicked in. "What?" "A moment like this . . . it kind of calls for a romantic kiss, you know? I'm weighted to this bed, and my girl won't lean over and make it happen." She gave a watery laugh. His girl. She liked the sound of that. Liked it a lot. So much that she leaned over and touched her lips to his. He

Jake played the message again, catching the details this time. She was leaving the kids to him? Leaving them here? He swiped the phone off the table, and it hit the wall with a thump. This wasn't what he wanted. Yes, he wanted the kids, but not at Meridith's expense; they needed her. He needed her. Hadn't she listened to his messages? Didn't she know he loved her? If only he could make her believe it. How

A curly wisp of hair had come loose from her updo, kissing the side of her face. Seth longed to brush it behind her ear, to feel the silky smoothness of her skin under the pad of his thumb. He clenched his fist before he followed through and got his hand smacked away.

Would you like to dance?" She arched a delicate brow. "With you?" He reached for his drink. "I'll take that as a no." "Feel free to ask someone else, Murphy." He wasn't leaving her now, even if he wanted to dance with someone else—and he didn't.

You can call me Seth, you know." She shrugged. "You used to." She used to do other things with him too. Like laugh and touch and make small talk. "Jack always called you Murphy. I got used to it.

He'd fight all her dragons, every last one of them, and she didn't even have to ask.

He thought of their kiss—had it really been two days ago? The image of Zac's kiss barreled into his mind. When everyone had filtered into the dining room for cinnamon rolls, Beau had confiscated the mistletoe. If anyone was getting another kiss from Kate, it was going to be him.

I can't reach the stirrups," Abigail said. "Don't need to. Scoot forward and make room." He put his foot in the stirrup. "For what?" Swinging his leg over, he settled behind Abigail. "Oh." She squirmed forward, but only got so far. She finally settled in the cradle of his thighs in a way he found most disturbing.

The sun rode low in the sky, the storm clouds long gone. The ocean was calm today, not a white cap to be found. One would never have believed there'd been a storm less than forty-eight hours ago.

I'm not ready for you to go." His voice was thick and smoky.

Everything okay?" Jake appeared at her side. "Would you stop sneaking up on me?" she said, unwilling to admit that the insanely loud washing machine may have disguised his entrance. He

He cupped her face, his eyes mingling with hers. "Stay," he whispered. "Please." She could deny him nothing when he looked at her that way. When he spoke to her that way. They'd stay for a week. Just one more week. What would it hurt?

She was going to kill him. As soon as this was over. As soon as the crowd left. She would tighten that bolo tie until his face went tomato red. No. She would hold him under the falls until he begged for mercy.

Got an idea," Travis called from the kitchen. "No." If he thought he was taking her out tonight, he had another think coming. "Shoot, woman, hear me out. Fishing. Bass are biting up by Boulder Pass." She hadn't fished in a month of Sundays. "Says who?" "Jacob Whitehorse." Travis appeared in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. "Said he took home enough for a week of suppers. What d'ya say?

He didn't want to share his life with a couple stinky cowboys. He wanted Shay back. He wanted them to be a family, Shay, Olivia, and him. He wanted to share Shay's bed, to wake up and see her face every morning for the rest of his life. He wanted to hear Olivia call for "Dad" again and know she was calling for him.

Maybe he should go after her. Maybe he hadn't tried hard enough. Maybe she was missing him as much as he missed her. Finding her would be a challenge, but that had never stopped him before. Surely she'd left a forwarding address with the post office. But no. That's what her psycho, controlling late husband would have done: hunt her down. She needed to be free to make her own choice. And she had.