Cross-Checked (Boston Rebels, #3)

by Julia Connors

Because Ronan McCabe hasn’t looked at me with this lost puppy dog look in a very long time, and the last time he did, it ruined my marriage and almost ruined his career.

I’m not sure why, but babies love me. It’s a cruel trick of nature, I guess, to give a woman who can’t have kids the ability to calm any baby she comes into contact with.

when a woman is beautiful, strong, and successful, she’s a triple threat. And that weak men don’t like to be threatened, so they’ll find any way to undermine and invalidate you—to make you feel small, like you’re nothing without them. But a strong man will encourage and support you, will want to see you shine and be successful in all aspects of your life, not just where it relates to him.”

“I want to make sure that there’s no miscommunication at all. Because once is an accident, but if I stay here with you again tonight, it’s not an accident, and it’s not a mistake. It’s a choice.”

“When you said you were going to ruin me for all other men, forever? I’m afraid you might not have been exaggerating.” His chest shakes against my shoulders with a low rumble of laughter. The timbre of his voice is a soft caress when he says, “I wasn’t exaggerating. Why? Do you plan to sleep with other men after me?” My gaze locks on his in the mirror, breath catching as I take in the vulnerability in his eyes. “How could this ever work between us?” Without breaking eye contact, he presses another kiss to my temple. “How could it not?”

Twenty years from now, am I going to say to myself, Thank God I gave up on that relationship, but at least I got that award?