Delicate Escape (Sparrow Falls, #2)

by Catherine Cowles

God, she was beautiful. Standing there in the middle of the kitchen, singing the kind of off-key that made your ears bleed. But she was so free while doing it. I should’ve stayed in the doorway longer, really taken in all that was her.

“Not in a creepy way. Like he’d give anything to simply have you look his way.”

“We can’t always see a person’s capacity for evil. But that doesn’t make us culpable. It just means we see the good in those around us.”

“But we can’t let one bad experience sour the rest of our lives. We can’t let the bad win. Make us stop living. If we lock ourselves down, we don’t just keep out the bad. We keep out the good, too.”

“Because everything about you screams that you’ve been fighting alone for too damn long, Thorn. You need someone to help carry the weight for a little while. I might not be able to fix everything, but I can help carry the load.”

“Alone isn’t a place. It’s a state of being. And no one can stay that way forever. Every person on this planet needs others. Needs to share their burdens with someone.”

“We all do what we have to do to make it through. I’m never going to judge you for what you need to feel safe.”

“I like you. Even when you were prickly as all hell, I admired it. There’s something real about you. An honesty you don’t see a lot these days. And there’s kindness. You might try to hide it beneath those thorns you love so much, but I’ve seen it. And, somehow, it’s more potent since you’re not using it for show. You’d rather have no one see you extending a hand to someone else. That’s why.”

“You’re worthy, Shepard Colson. You don’t have to fix anything to be that. You don’t have to dig a million trenches or replace feet of corroded piping. You’re worthy just for who you are.”

Thea was iron forged in flame. Stronger than anyone could’ve known.

Her gaze locked with mine, and she sucked in a breath. “I trust you.” That was the best goddamn gift in the world.

“Don’t think I don’t want you there, Thorn. I want you wherever I can get you. Why do you think I’ve been coming to the bakery every day for months? I don’t even like sweets.”

God, the feel of her mouth. Warm, wet heat. But so fucking soft. Delicate. Just like my Thorn. The strength outside hid the truth beneath: that she was nothing but sweet, soft feeling.

The scent of the ponderosa pines would always bring the feeling of home.

“I know better than anyone, just because you don’t share blood with someone doesn’t mean your tie is any less strong. Sometimes, it’s stronger. Because that tether is a choice.”

“I love you, Thorn. And there’s nothing anyone can ever do to change that. There are no lies that could be told to taint it. I don’t care what that bastard throws at us. I love you.”

“Those sounds,” he growled. “Best thing I’ve ever heard. They’re like a drug. Just need more and more.”