Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

“My condolences for your loss,” he said. “My congratulations for your gain.”

Kleypas is really good at snappy dialogue

“First tell me your name.” “Why? I would never give you leave to use it.”

Case in point

“Must you wear that blasted head covering?” he asked irritably. “It’s like conversing with a lampshade.”

“No, he keeps the schedule of a cat. Long hours of slumber interrupted by brief periods of self-grooming.”

“No subject that could be considered sad, shocking, or inappropriately humorous.” “That leaves me with nothing to say, then.” “Thank God,” she said fervently, and he grinned.

“The girls wouldn’t dare approach you about it, but I told them I would, since it’s been established that I can outrun you when necessary.”

“Dreams have a way of tangling memories and worries together.”

“If you’re going to tell me about the inconvenience of having an uncastrated male in the house,” Kathleen said, “I’m already aware of it.”

Obviously the courtship is going very well.” Pausing, she added with a touch of sheepishness, “For the rest of the family, at least.”

The twins were very endearing

“Whenever someone says that,” Pandora said, “it always means the opposite. Along with ‘It’s only a scratch’ or ‘Worse things happen at sea.’ ” “Or,” Clara added glumly, ‘I’m only going out for a pint.’ ”

It doesn’t matter to me that you’re not a virgin.” “How fortunate,” Kathleen couldn’t resist saying acidly, “since virgins don’t appear to be your forte.”

LOL get him Kathy!

“I’ll always listen. I won’t always agree.”

“There’s only one way for me to prove that I will love you and be faithful to you for the rest of my life. And that’s by loving you and being faithful to you for the rest of my life. Even if you don’t want me. Even if you choose not to be with me. I’m giving you all the time I have left. I vow to you that from this moment on, I will never touch another woman, or give my heart to anyone but you. If I have to wait sixty years, not a minute will have been wasted—because I’ll have spent all of them loving you.”