Love Practically (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir, #1)

by Nichole Van

Quiet felt peaceful in his presence. Leah liked him all the more for it.

Would she ever cease to be a numpty where that man was concerned?

She was the veriest fool.

The tiniest flicker of hope died in her chest. Foolish, lass.

Seeing him every day. Having a reason to be near him. Her foolish, girlish heart skipped at the prospect. She was the numpty-est of all numpties.

he had asked a woman to marry him and then told her in the same breath that he would never love her.

Bitterness is often a choice, not a foregone conclusion.

Ignore it, she pleaded with herself. Do not wish for more than he is willing to give. It will only bring heartache.

But she could find contentment. She could. She would.

she allowed herself five minutes. Five minutes of imagining a different sort of reality.

After all, contentment was not measured by experiences lived, but by one’s attitude toward those experiences.

Fox was responsible for Leah’s well-being. He couldn’t make her happy—happiness had to come from within—but he could certainly be doing more to ensure Leah felt valued and appreciated.

“How do we . . . re-happy ourselves?”

reaching for his own happiness required effort, and he wasn’t sure he had the strength for it at the moment.

“May I bring ye a breakfast roll and some tea from the kitchen?” Again, a stern slash of the head. No. Leah took in a steadying breath. May I help ye get the stick out of your arse? she longed to say, but swallowed the caustic words.

Perhaps happiness for them both was less a destination and more a journey to be explored.

“I have grown weary of commanding his attention and affection.

“Happiness and love are akin tae strawberries.” His voice turned hoarse, and he glanced at his dwindling whisky. “Ye have tae glut yourself when the occasion arises—create memories tae see ye through the dark seasons.”

Ye cannae control his behavior. Ye cannae force him to eat the strawberries, as it were. Ye can only taste of them yourself and invite him to join ye.”

“Life is short, sister. Love hard and true . . . while ye still have time.”