Esther

“Do you know what it was like kissing Holly and looking up to see you?"

"What?"

"You said to begin anywhere."

But I hadn't expected that as a beginning, middle or end. I felt my cheeks getting warm. "I guess it was pretty embarrassing for both of us," I said, and walked ahead of him so he wouldn't see my face. "I know, I just kept staring at you."

"What were you thinking?"

"I don't remember."

"Don't you start using that line," he chided.

"Then don't ask me, Nick." Did he suspect how I felt.
He caught me and turned me around to face him. I focused on his shirt.

"Okay," he said quietly, "I'll tell you what I was thinking. I couldn't believe that I, who was never going to get hooked, had fallen in love with a girl who didn't want to date, and she was watching me kiss somebody else."

I glanced up.

"Your turn, brave girl. What were you thinking?"

"That Holly looked beautiful in your arms and that you didn't pull away from her the way you had pulled away from me when I kissed you."

He drew me to him. "I'm not pulling away again," he said holding me close.”
― Elizabeth Chandler, Dark Secrets 1

“Good dog," Nick said. "That's one of the tricks I've taught him, shaking water on girls so they back into my arms."

"Really! How smart of Rocky - and you, of course."

"That's another thing I've been wanting to tell you," he said, turning me to face him. "I'm tired of getting jealous of my dog. I mean, he has nice eyes, but so do I."

I looked from Rocky's golden eyes to Nick's laughing green ones.

"I didn't enjoy the way Rocky got to stick close to you while I played Holly's boyfriend. He's going to have some competition from now on."

"Oh, yeah? Are you good at retrieving sticks?"

"I'm good at stealing kisses," Nick said, then proved it.”
― Elizabeth Chandler, Dark Secrets 1

“How would you feel about sharing your bed?" she asked.
Tristan blinked. "Excuse me?"
"He'd love to!" Gary said.
Tristan shot him a look,
"Good," said Ivy, failing to notice Gary's wink. "Ella can be a pillow hog, but all you have to do is roll over her.”
― Elizabeth Chandler, Kissed by an Angel/The Power of Love/Soulmates

“I had discovered that there was something more painful than falling in love with someone who hasn't fallen for you; hurting that person-hurting him and not being able to do anything about it.”
― Elizabeth Chandler, Dark Secrets 1