The Boyfriend Candidate (Fool Me Once, #2)

by Ashley Winstead

“Look at you, sitting there in that dress. Clearly fishing for attention. Well, you caught me. Let’s get you drunk and see what happens.”

Ew…Red Flag

Books presented the perfect solution: you could follow friends on scores of adventures without having to worry about saying the wrong thing.

“This is Nora Igwe, Logan Arthur’s chief of staff. Am I speaking with Alexis Stone, alias—” She paused, as if double-checking her notes. “Ruby Dangerfield?”

Oop…

Apparently, I needed to date Anita Jones. She found me more irresistible than all my exes combined.

Lol

“Enough,” Logan said, leaning over the table. “Alexis isn’t some prize horse at a show. You don’t need to twirl her around and slap her hindquarters.”

Aww..

Usually, I liked to mull things over in private, preferably while reading a book. My feelings usually dawned on me hours or even days later, like watercolor paint slowly blooming on a canvas.

“I was just thinking that the last time I saw you, you were running in the opposite direction. Interesting how the tables have turned.”

Ha

“That wasn’t a line,” he protested. “I only mean whenever she starts talking, I lose my train of thought. I’m working on it.”

Cute

This is why I read all day. To escape the blasted world.”

curmudgeon

“Don’t you love it when you make ridiculous promises in a job interview and then you’re forced to actually fulfill them?”

You couldn’t count on anyone to stick around, it turned out, not even your family.

No love was free: you had to constantly earn it, or else lose it.

People are constantly telling you who they are if you’re willing to step back and listen.”

“Love is always political. Especially for women. Who you care for and believe in, what you do with your body, who you’re dependent on, the extent of your autonomy. Strange to me that people pretend you can separate the two.”

Just—don’t discount people’s feelings because you’re used to discounting yourself.”

Logan looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “I guess I’d say...” He sounded way too happy. “I’m sorry for not telling you, but I’m not sorry I did it. It was the right thing to do.” He grinned at me.

Cheeky lol

“I would follow you anywhere,” he whispered, his lips brushing my cheek, and then he was striding forward and waving at the crowd.

“You know, when you really smile, you do it with your whole face. I can see your smile in your eyes. It’s the best thing.”

“Fuck leading anyone. I want to follow you on my hands and knees across the desert.”

When I was very nearly asleep and the world was warm and hazy, I felt him kiss my temple softly. Then he whispered, so faint it was barely more than a breath, “Whatever it takes, let me keep her.”