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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Tessa Bailey
Read between
January 24 - January 25, 2023
I can be in a room full of people that I know and still not feel like I belong.
“Thank you for being so neighborly. You know, you obviously love this place. Maybe you should try being a better representation of it.”
Who sold anything for ten dollars? They’d rejoiced over Hannah’s bargain hunting the way Piper used to celebrate finding a four-thousand-dollar Balmain dress at a sample sale.
“CaptainCutie69,” Fox spat out. “IGotCrabs4U,” Deke supplied. “SlipperyWhenWet.”
For the first time since he could remember, Brendan felt a pull to deviate from his habits.
This could very well just be a friendship, and since she’d never had a genuine friendship with a man, platonic intentions might be unrecognizable to her.
Had she ever dated a real man before? Or had they all been boys?
“Maybe Cap’s just got resting asshole face.”
Had he busted his hump simply because he liked her and not just how she looked? The possibility that he’d shown up to see her, help her, without anything in return, made her comfortable in her own skin—ironically,
Brendan had always thought battling the ocean would forever be his biggest challenge. But that was before he met Piper.
She only knew Brendan needed to stop revealing positive sides of himself. Now they were adding generous to the mix?
“Not today, Satan.”
This girl. He’d be keeping her. There was no way around it.
“My hugs are your recharging station?” “Stop assigning meaning to my words.”
“Are you sure you want to kiss me with my eyes all red and puffy?”
“I especially want to kiss you with your eyes all red and puffy.”
If this woman tacked the word “please” onto any request, he would find a way to fulfill it.
“Mermaid off the port bow!” He snorted in her ear. “Phew. I’ve gotten the Little Mermaid reference out of my system. I was going to explode.”
“You have perseverance, character, and a huge heart. I think you might still be finding your way, but so am I. Me and my stupid routines. I thought I had it all figured out until you made me start breaking them. I want to keep breaking them with you.”
“Shhh, honey.” He breathed hard, his fingers shaking as they stroked the side of her face. “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.” She didn’t look away. “I know.”
“I’m out of my depth on this one, Cap. I don’t have any advice on how to actually keep the fish in the boat. I usually just let them swim off again.”
“I know I love you, Brendan. I know I love you and that’s it.”
“I love you, baby. Goddammit, I love you back. As long as that’s the case, everything will be fine—and it will always be the case.
“I think because I trust you. I completely trust you. That’s a huge part of love, isn’t it?”
No more keeping things to myself. Not even for the length of an elevator ride. I won’t make you fight to get into my head. I don’t want that. I don’t want to be constant work for you, Brendan. Not when you make it so easy to love you.”
“When the reward is as perfect as you, as perfect as this, the work is a fucking honor.”
“You belong in my bed. There’s nothing to discuss.”
“And if you’re not there in the morning?” Piper threw out a belligerent hand. “Then I’m falling back on my safety nets. Is that what you want me to say? You have to have it in black and white?” “That’s who I am.” “I know and I love who you are.”
“Please . . . don’t doubt me, Brendan. Not you. Have faith in me. Okay?”
“I would relive being dumped by Adrian a thousand times to avoid Brendan walking out once. The way he did last night. It hurts.”
“Piper, the man looks at you like . . . he’s full of cracks and you’re the glue.
His words made her feel like she was floating. They were pure Brendan in their honesty and depth and gruffness and humility. And they were for her. How wholly he gave himself, this man. How wholly she wanted to give herself in return.
“Then I’ll talk until my voice gives out,”
“I’ll love you until my heart gives out. I’ll be your man for a thousand years. Longer if I’m allowed.”
