Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls, #1)

by Catherine Cowles

Happiness was the greatest torture of all because it could all be taken away—and it was so much worse than if you’d never experienced it at all.

“I’m just going to wait here because I’m having secondhand anxiety.”

“Don’t do people. Love dogs.” And with that, he stalked back to the main site and his crew.

“You shouldn’t hide a damned thing, Reckless. Especially not something that proves how strong you are.”

“I know it’s hard to have the reminders around. It’s easier to lock them away. But sometimes you need to just take the first step.”

“It’s not you,” he gritted out. “I don’t do relationships with anyone. Not friendship, not more. Wouldn’t want to saddle a single soul with the fucked-up shit that’s me. But you keep looking at me with those kiss-me eyes, all green and sparking gold, and it’s killing me. Doesn’t matter how much I want to drown in your taste. How much I want to know what it would be like to sink into that sweet heat. I can’t. I won’t.”

“Because I’m holding on to my last shred of humanity, and if you stand here in those goddamn shorts for another ten seconds, it’s going to snap.”

“Can’t handle being away from you,” he croaked. “Especially not when you’re hurting.” He swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to care about anyone. But you shot that all to hell.” My heart hammered against my ribs, butterfly wings dying to break free. A muscle fluttered in Anson’s cheek. “You didn’t sneak past my defenses, you bulldozed them. Reckless to the bone. And maybe you made me brave enough to be reckless, too.”

“None of us is just one thing. We’re not all good or all bad. We’re a blend of shadow and light. And those sparks only shine because of the darkness.”