Engaging the Competition Quotes

“Charlie?” He holstered his gun and waited until she looked at him. “Do you really think you could love a man who can outshoot you?” Her smile immediately flipped down. “Not sure how well August shoots, but that doesn’t—” “No, not August. Me.”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“Even if he ran after her, what could he say in five minutes that would fix anything? And how exactly did he want to fix things? His shoulders slumped. What had he just done to her for a kiss that wasn’t even that great? And yet he wanted another one. What did that mean exactly? Did it mean he wanted another kiss badly enough to fight August for her? Could he be sure he was any better for her than a Whitaker?”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“You used to have feelings for me?” He shook his head. She tossed her chalk onto the board’s shelf and turned away. “Excuse me, I’ve got to—” He swiped at her and barely caught her arm. “I didn’t have feelings for you.” He pulled her toward him despite her resistance. “Of course you wouldn’t.” Her poor lips were pressed so hard together they were shaking. “I still do, woman.” She stilled. “I still do.” Admitting”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“Whatever made you hate me so much?” He stilled. “I don’t hate you. Why would you say such a thing?” “Ever since I shot your rifle at that picnic, you only look at me out of the corner of your eye, as if sizing me up. You talk to me only when you have to. So if you want me to be like every other woman on the planet, maybe you should treat me like every other woman on the planet. At church, I’ve seen you shake hands with, smile at, and greet other women willingly. So why not me?” “But that’s not because I hate you,” he said slowly. Sure”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“If a man couldn’t affect the emotions you do possess—and you do have them—there’d be as much delight in such a union as there is in your relationship with the feed store owner.” “What”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“I can go to school later if I want to. But don’t marry someone you don’t love, darling. You’re too good for that.” Daddy”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“But you can’t let Charlie marry someone without letting her know.” “Know what?” “That you’re in love with her.” Lydia hugged her Bible to her chest, sporting a faraway look, as if she were imagining him saving the heroine at the end of a novel by declaring his undying love. “Love isn’t always enough, Miss King.” “I know that. My parents say they married for love, but . . .” She looked toward the pulpit. “Reverend McCabe’s right when he preaches on that. It’s the type of love that matters—sacrificial love. Boaz and Ruth, Christ for his bride, Darcy and Elizabeth—that’s the kind of love that lasts.” He”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“Hearing a door slam and human voices down the hall, she slipped inside the classroom. Harrison lowered the book, still squinting. “Hello, Charlie.” “How’d you know it was me this time?” She’d thoroughly washed the balm off her hands and put on some of Momma’s flowery lotion before leaving the house. His smile slanted in a way that made her heart buck. “The way you walk.” Oh,”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“Miss Andrews, you’re late.” “How’d you know it was me?” Her voice was unusually breathless. “Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I can’t smell you.” “What!” He could just imagine what she looked like now. He glanced over his shoulder, and indeed, her hands had found her hips. “You smell like horse and whatever salve you use on your animals.” “I can’t believe you just said that loud enough for the students to hear.” He chuckled. “They know what you smell like too, whether or not I say it aloud.” He turned and put a hand on her shoulder and lowered his voice. “Smelling like you do isn’t a bad thing, not if we like you.” “And do you like me?” His cheek twitched. “Of course.” “When did that happen?” He cleared his throat. “I . . . I’ve always liked you.” Her”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“What happened?” She shook her hand and looked at her palm. “I gave myself a splinter.” She looked closer. “I think.” “Let me see.” “No, I’m fine. I can get a needle when I get home.” He waved his hand in front of him impatiently. “Stubborn woman, let me have your hand.” “It’s not like you can see anything.” With a wild swipe, he captured her wrist. “That’s where you’re wrong. My myopia gives me about two inches of clear vision if I hold something in just the right place.” He tugged her up to stand and pulled her hand closer to his nose. “And it just so happens that clear swath is somewhat magnified. I assume you’re the kind of woman to carry a pocketknife?” She pulled out her knife and handed it to him. For some reason he grinned. She held her breath, realizing how very close she was to him. He flipped open her knife, and his face screwed up in concentration. “You’re also not the kind of woman who’d shriek or tug away from me like my mother does, right?” “Of course not.” She’d rather die than embarrass herself that way. But anticipating pain wasn’t what was sending her heart to throbbing—rather it was being close enough to see the individual hairs darkening his jawline. Her heart had never flipped like this for a man before. She’d evidently not outgrown her schoolgirl infatuation with the handsomest boy in class, but now that they were older, the feelings were quite different. Harrison gently squeezed the flesh of her hand. She squirmed—not because he scraped the knife against her skin but rather because his breath tickled her wrist. “Done.” He ran his thumb across the scratch on her palm and smiled. “Splinter removal—a talent in which you can never outdo me.” “I thought you told me gloating wasn’t a good thing.” Why rub such a silly skill in her face anyway? “I was kidding.” Sure he was. “Being talented at splinter removal isn’t worth being blind as a newborn pup and unable to shoot worth a nickel.” His smile disappeared until his jaw clenched. Then he dropped her hand and stalked away. “Sorry.” Harrison ran into a desk and muttered under his breath. “Seems we are a lot alike, as you said.” Though maybe gloating wasn’t really her downfall, rather speaking without thinking. She hadn’t meant to shove his weakness in his face. If she couldn’t stop competing and ridiculing his weaknesses, they’d part as enemies instead of becoming the kind of friends Lydia and Beatrice were. Then again, remaining enemies might be a good thing. One did not pine for one’s enemy.”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition

“You’ve always had a soft spot for Charlie.” Startled, Harrison shook his head at the reverend, who’d appeared at his side. More of a sore spot than a soft spot. That woman could bring out the worst in him. She was not something he wanted to discuss.”
― Melissa Jagears, Engaging the Competition