Laini > Laini's Quotes

“I would take care you speak of her with respect for, of course, I will interpret any disrespect for her as disrespect for me.”
― Margaret Moore, The Baron's Quest

“Oh, my God. Did I force myself on him? Wait, under him. Can you force yourself under someone?”
― Alexa Riley, Snow and Mistletoe

“Women are the cradles of life. What sort of man tries to break a cradle.”
― Diana Palmer, A Man of Means

“Get that son of a bitch to jail,” he said
through his teeth, “before I kill him!”
His eyes were testimony enough to the intent of the
statement. He’d forgotten law, duty, honor, everything, in
the grip of the worst fear he’d ever felt. If she died, he
would be lawless. Nothing would matter to him in the
world, ever again, except revenge.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“Get him in leg irons and transport him to the hospital,” Grier told him curtly.
“I need a doctor,” Clark raged. “I’m shot. My hand’s
bleeding!”
Grier stared at him. “If you make a move I don’t like,
you’ll need a mortician,” he said with pure malice, and
abruptly spun the Colt with a professional skill that made
Clark back up a step.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“I’ll stay with her,” Maude interrupted, just before
Grier could say the same thing.
“You can’t. Not in intensive care. You can see her three
times a day, for no more than ten minutes each time,” he
added firmly. “It’s too serious. She has to be kept quiet.
No upsets.”
Judd looked as if he’d die trying not to snap at the surgeon. But he finally just nodded defeatedly.
Coltrain put a rough hand on his shoulder. “Don’t borrow trouble. Take it one hour at a time. You’ll get through this.”
“Think so?” Judd asked heavily.
“I know so. I’ll keep a close watch on her. Try not to
worry.” He nodded to the others and went back down the
hall.
Judd looked at the other three people with him. “I’m
glad you’re all here. But if anybody gets into that room,
even for a minute, it’s going to be me,” he said shortly.
Cash looked inclined to argue, but the expression on
Judd’s face made him back down.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“You took his guns away from him, didn’t you?”
Maude asked Cash when Cash pulled up in front of the
house.
He nodded. “They’re locked up in my office.” His expression was somber. “But there’s still a pistol and a
shotgun in the house somewhere. Crissy told me. You’d
better get all the ammunition and lock it up somewhere.”
“The minute I get inside,” Maude promised.
Tippy glanced from one of them to the other. “You
aren’t serious,” she remarked.
Cash met her eyes. “If she were my wife, that’s what
Maude would be doing for me,” he said flatly. “And yes,
I’m serious. Maybe Judd hasn’t realized it yet, but he
won’t have a life left if Christabel dies. It isn’t logical, but
it’s what some men do when they’re out of their minds
with grief. We don’t need another tragedy.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“I’ve done some stupid things. I don’t like myself very much right now.” She shrugged. “Did you see what she did?” she added heavily. “She stepped right in front of the gun. She saw it coming. She didn’t even hesitate. She must…love him very
much,” she added, almost choking on the words.
“She does,” he agreed, feeling the words and hating them.
She glanced at him curiously. “You’re in love with her,
aren’t you?”
“If I am, it’s nobody’s business except my own,” he told
her flatly.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“Judd sat alone in the chapel. They’d let him in for a
handful of minutes to look down on Christabel’s white,
drawn little face. If he’d been able to get to a bar, he could
have gone through a fifth of whisky afterward. It was shocking to see her like that. She was hooked up to half a dozen monitoring machines with a needle in her arm feeding her
nutrients and apparently a narcotic for pain. There was a
tube coming out of her side to drain her chest. Perhaps it
was the same tube they’d used to reinflate the lung as well.
Not since she was sixteen had she been so badly hurt,
and even then it wasn’t this serious. There hadn’t been the
risk that she could die from her father’s brutal beating.
This was different. She looked fragile and helpless and
so alone. Her big dark eyes were closed. There were dark
circles under them. When she breathed, he heard the slow rasp of fluid in her chest. Her lips were blue. She looked
as if she’d already died.
He’d touched her small hand with his big one and remembered the last thing she’d said to him before Clark showed up. Tippy had told her that he’d been disgusted with her, that he hadn’t wanted her hanging on him, running after him with her heart on her sleeve. His eyes had closed with a shudder. If she didn’t make it, her last memory of him would be one of pain and betrayal.
It wasn’t true. He wasn’t disgusted. He lay awake
nights remembering the passion they’d shared. He missed
her. It was like being without an arm or a leg. He’d told
her he didn’t want anything permanent. Now the choice
might not be his anymore. He might be left alone, as he’d
thought he wanted to be when he told her he was getting the divorce.
Somewhere he remembered an old adage. Be careful
what you want; you might get it. He looked at Christabel’s still body and saw the end of everything he loved.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“She’s going to be fine,” he told Judd, clapping him on the shoulder. “It’s just a matter of time, now. You can stop holding your breath.”

Judd thanked him and then went down the hall and leaned against the wall trying to compose himself. He’d been in hell for so long that the relief was devastating. She would live. She was going to live. He brushed away the
quick moisture in his eyes.

Cash came up beside him, a question in his eyes.
“She’s going to make it,” Judd said huskily.
“Thank God,” Cash said with heartfelt relief.
“What about Clark?” he asked suddenly, having only
just remembered the man.
“Patched up and in jail, probably for the rest of his life
after the trial,” Cash assured him. He was watching the
other man closely. “I think you should know what Tippy
told me,” he added, hating to reveal it even now. It meant
an end to all his own hopes.
“Yes?” Judd prompted.
“She saw Clark step out and aim the gun at you. She
didn’t have time to react, and neither did Crissy. She said
Crissy realized you wouldn’t be able to save yourself, and
she deliberately stepped out in front of the gun.”
Judd’s intake of breath was audible.
“Tippy was devastated when she saw it,” he continued.
“She said she felt ten kinds of a fool for the trouble she’d
caused between the two of you, when she knew how much
Crissy cared.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have told
you if Crissy had died. But you should know. I’ll go call
Maude and give her the good news.”
He turned and walked away. Judd stood there like a
statue, absorbing the statement with a feeling of utter humility. Christabel had taken the bullet meant for him.
She’d been willing to give her own life to save him. He’d
never dreamed she cared so much. He was absolutely
without words. Now he had to find a way to rebuild the
bridges he’d burned. It wasn’t going to be easy.”
― Diana Palmer, Lawless

“Ready?”
“Fuck no.”
“Tough.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Melody, I’m going to tell you how this is going down and I want you to pay close attention.  Ready?”
I nodded quickly and waited.  His eyes twinkled and he kissed me again, quickly but firmly.
“You and I are flying to Vegas this weekend and we’re doing this.  No long engagement or stressful wedding.  That won’t work for us.  Do you agree?”
“I do.”
“Remember that line, it’ll come in handy. .”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“You said that you had a theory about why it wouldn’t have mattered whether or not you’d kept your promise the day you met the asshole for a drink.  I’d like to hear it if you don’t mind.”
“You were never going to marry me Anton.  We both know that.  It’s not your style.  Or maybe it is, but you haven’t met the right girl yet.  I don’t know and it doesn’t matter.  I’m not her and never have been.  You proposed because you felt pressured to do so.  If it hadn’t been my mistake with Tony, it would have been something else.  You’d have found a good reason to leave because I’m not perfect and never will be.  You’re a “bottom line” kind of guy, so here it is: I’ve loved you so long I don’t know how to stop.  And every time you break my heart, you break my spirit just a little bit more.  Ten days ago you walked away from me and I gave up.  You wanna know why I didn’t answer my phone?  I had nothing to say.  I quit working, I quit eating and I quit caring.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Why didn’t you let Chase take it off?”
His voice was rough with emotion and I had to swallow the lump of raw emotion before I answered.
“It meant a lot to you that I keep it on, so I did.”
“It meant nothing to me once I walked out that door.”
“Is that so?  If it meant so little, then why did you race to my rescue today?”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Baby, I’ve been so worried about you.  You’re not answering your phone and nobody’s heard from you in days.  What in the hell is going on?”
I kiss his neck and breathed deeply.  He smelled of the forest and Anton.  I closed my eyes hoping to memorize the scent.  He was so warm and inviting, I kissed his jaw, slowly making my way to his perfect lips.
He tilted his head slightly and touched the side of my face.  His voice was soft, his words thick and slow.
“What are you doing baby?”
“Taking advantage of you while I can.  You’ll be leaving me again soon.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it’s always you that leaves.”
 
He leaned back and stared at me.  I thought I should say something more, but elected instead to hold my tongue for a bit.  Besides, what else was there to say?”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Anton walked to the bed and saw a tuft of blonde hair poking out from under the covers.  He touched her shoulder and she didn’t move.  He shook her and called her name.  She still didn’t move.  He ripped the covers from her body and pulled her into his arms.
“Mel’?  Mel’, wake up baby.  I need to talk to you.”
He began to shake her and that’s when he noticed how thin she was.  He put his cheek against her mouth and felt her rapid and shallow breathing.
He put her back on the bed and felt for a pulse.  It was there, but it was rapid and faint.
“Oh shit Melody!  Wake the fuck up Mel’!  You’re scaring me baby, wake up!”
He took her in his arms and stroked her hair away from her face while he cried tears of frustration and searched for his cell phone.  He needed to call for help, but he couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
He tapped “911” with one hand and held her close with the other.  He pulled her onto his lap to give her the warmth she was lacking, and that’s when he noticed how loose the ankle monitor had become.
His hands started shaking and he tucked her face against his neck.
“Baby please wake up and talk to me.  I love you Mel’.  I love you so much, please wake up and tell me that you can hear me.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Baby is a term of endearment.  It’s what you called me when you loved me.  Every time you say it now, it rips another piece of my heart out and quite frankly, I don’t have very many pieces left.”
“I still love you Melody.”
My head jerked up and I burned his baby blues with my own.
“So you say, but it didn’t stop you from walking out, did it?  Pardon me for saying this, but I thought that you’d learned how to love someone from watching your parents.  I can’t imagine either of them walking out on the other for any reason.  Those two are rock solid Anton.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“I think our problem from the beginning has been communication.”
“Communication?  There’s no communication between us, you tell me what to do and then I do the exact opposite to prove a point.”
He chuffed and rubbed his nose against mine.
“You admit that?”
“Why deny it?  We both know it’s the truth.  You like being bossy and I don’t like being bossed around.  No news flash there stud.  Does your theory have a talking point?  A proposed resolution?”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“I’m a woman.  Sandwich making is a skill we’re born with.  If you tell anyone I said that, you’ll be making your own sandwiches for the next ten years.  Got it?”
“Your secret is safe with me baby.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“Anton, are you tired?”
“Tired?  Fuck no, I’m not tired.  Not yet anyway.  Give me an hour or two and ask me again.”
“You look tired.  You look like you could use a hot shower and a nap.  In our bed. With me.  For the rest of the night.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“I went crazy without you Melody and you weren’t doing so well yourself.  I’ve come to the conclusion that we can’t be apart.  We may fuss and fight, but I’d rather fight with you than live without you.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“You’ve got your hands full with Ayla.  The clock is ticking Pierce.  You’re the only one that can’t hear it yet.”
“I’ve got perfect hearing.”
Pierce looked over at his companion who was watching him and wondering what he’d say next.  He’d stopped just short of insulting her on several occasions this evening and she wondered when he’d cross the line.  He was a Sloan and it was coming, she could feel it.
 “Tell them Ayla.  Tell them how things are between us.  They obviously don’t believe me.”
God only knows what possessed her.
She bowed in deference to Pierce and then smiled serenely at Deacon and Dorothy.
“Gladly Pierce.”
She winked at Dorothy before saying, “I wouldn’t marry a Sloan if every other man on the planet had the last name of Marconi.”
Dorothy erupted in a giggling fit and Deacon fought to stay in control of his own laughter.
Pierce was the only one at the table that found no humor in her remark.  His eyes darkened to a violet shade of blue and he tilted his head slightly towards her.  Ayla knew that look and knew it well.  Her skin grew hot and her hands itched to touch him.  She wouldn’t though.  Not unless he gave her permission.  Even though he’d never caused her one second of pain, he was still Dominant to her Submissive.  He might be her big Teddy Bear, but she still called him Sir.”
― Jo Willow, Designing Woman

“There is a song, Noreen," he said tenderly. "It was nominated for an Academy Award. I can't sing, enamorada, but the words say that when a man loves a woman, really loves her, he can see his unborn children in her eyes." - "To my shame, I saw my sons in your eyes the day I found you in the kitchen at your aunt's house," he whispered, watching her face color. "And I was married. What a living hell it was, to know such a sin and be unable to repent it." (Diana Palmer)”
― Diana Palmer, The Patient Nurse