Paradise Valley Quotes

“Muriel, you're not a convenience. I'd walk across a mile of cut glass in my bare feet to hold your hand and talk to you for one hour. You're everything to me.--Walt”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Jesus, Hope—are you just richer than God?” Jack asked. “I have a couple bucks and nothing to do but buy and sell things. So, I’m going to sell the church.” She sipped her drink. Puffed on her cigarette. “But, Hope—you said no one wants it,” Jack pointed out. “Well, none of those religions want it. I’m going to sell it on eBay.” It was silent for a second, then Jack, Dan and Preacher burst into laughter. “Oh, go ahead and laugh,” she said. “You’ll see. Someone’s going to want a church. That’s a good church. Little roughed up at the moment, but it can be considered a fixer-upper.” Jack leaned on the bar. “Let me guess—you have some old pictures of that church, right? When it was beautiful, right? And you’re going to float out those pictures and snag some poor rube, like you did Mel.” “Mel hasn’t complained in years,” Hope said, puffing. “Mel?”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“He remembered what Mel had said, that Jack needed his boy back so bad, he was pushing on him. He remembered when Mike Valenzuela picked Virgin River as a place to recover when he’d been critically wounded on the job at LAPD—because his family and friends needed him well again so badly they were suffocating him. And he remembered that he’d never loved a kid as powerfully as he loved this one, except maybe David and Emma, and his love was strong. Sometimes it caused him to act in desperate ways. He could end up doing more harm than good. It”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Eventually Jack said, in his sensitive and mellow voice, “Eat the goddamn fucking sandwich. And I mean it.” A few seconds later, Rick peeled off the wrapping paper and took a bite, then another bite. But Jack had lost his appetite. He was glad Rick was eating something, but this didn’t feel victorious at all. The drive had to come from inside Rick, not from the bully in the seat next to him. Jack”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“How’s the family, Jack?” “Exceptional. Mel’s exceptionally gorgeous and demanding, Emma’s exceptionally beautiful and David is an exceptionally bad terrible two. We may not survive him.” “Oh,”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“But you’re allowed to hold me, right?” “I’m allowed to never let you go,” he said.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“He has so much love in his heart. He just wants his people—the people he loves—to be all right.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Medical Center in San Diego to at least start”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“now”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“weeks, by the end of June it had stretched to almost”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“So, you’ll let me dress you up for the production events?” “I might.” “I’m dead in love with you, too, darling. And so damn glad to be home. Where I hope to stay for a good long time. And, you’re going to wear whatever I say.” “I will,” he said. “It’s my aim to make you happy.” She patted his cheek and smiled. “We’re going to do just fine, you and I.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Are you kidding me?” he said. “Jesus, that makes no sense,” she said, spying a photographer with a powerful camera sneaking up on them from behind a parked car. “Me? Why would anyone want a shot of me?” “Maybe it’s who you’re spending time with that’s the news,” Walt said with a shrug. He pulled her closer against him. “Let’s make sure there isn’t any doubt about that.” And he swept over her mouth with powerful intentions and, just as he had secretly hoped, the clicking went on and on and on. When he let the kiss run its course, he pulled back just a little and laughed. “That ought to do it.” “That was very unlike you,” she said. “You don’t normally like that sort of thing.” “Muriel, honey, I’m dead in love with you and it suits me just fine for the whole world to know it.” She”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Just out of curiosity, do you make love with the fake leg?” “No, baby,” he said. “I make love with lips, fingers, words and essential body parts. It’s been a really long time, but I think once I get in the stream of things, I’ll remember how it’s done.” He gave her forehead a kiss. “You worried about it?” She shook her head. “You’re going to give me plenty of time, right?” He smiled and brushed her hair over her ear. “I’m going to give you anything you need.” *”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“How about a phone call on Wednesday night and you see if you can wrangle a night for dinner. That work for you?” “Hmm. That’s gonna work.” “Come a little closer. Press up against me here, right on this bench. Kiss me like a girlfriend, I want to see if I should go to the trouble of calling Wednesday night.” She scooted closer. He threaded his fingers into her soft hair, cradling the back of her head in his palm. He pulled her mouth against his and let his eyes lower as he moved over her mouth slowly, deliberately, deliciously. Their heads tilted for a better fit; their lips parted and they both moaned softly. They didn’t hurry. When the kiss broke, he smiled very sweetly. “Might not call Wednesday,” he said. “Might have to call Tuesday. And Thursday. Unless I’m crazy, you’re ready for that.” “That’s about all I’m ready for….” “Good,” he said with a grin. “I like the job of talking you into things.” “Just”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Dan Brady, if you’re playing me to get in my pants, I’m going to shoot you dead.” He burst into laughter and pulled her against him. “Okay, Cheryl. If it turns out I’m one of those no-account losers just looking to get laid, you go ahead and kill me. But if you’re smart, you’ll wait till I get that god-awful bathroom remodeled. Jesus, that’s going to be a nightmare.” She snuggled in his embrace. “Don’t make me shoot you dead,” she whispered. “Okay, darlin’,” he whispered.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“We’re pretty screwed-up people, you and me. We have some heavy past issues. What if we get together, then go back to being those screwed-up miserable people and take each other down into the hole?” He thought about this for a moment, looking deeply into her eyes. “Honey, I’ve been there, down in that hole. I’m not going back that way. You can’t make me. And I, for God’s sake, have no interest in ruining you. How about that?” “What are you looking for?” she asked him. “Today? I’m thinking a real kiss, arms around each other, pressed close, wet and sloppy and longer than half a second. And then, I think I’ll call you Wednesday night after work, just to see how your day was.” “I”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Why don’t we fix it up together. I’ll give you some tips so you never need me for painting again.” “You’re trying to tempt me into letting you get closer into my life,” she said with a laugh. “Tempting me with paint.” He grinned at her. “No. I’m looking for an invitation to your bedroom.” “There are five women living in that house. If you’re ever in that bedroom, it’ll be for painting.” “Would you be embarrassed?” he asked her, lifting his eyebrows. “You might be attacked. Only one of the five has had a man in her life in the last millennium. And it wasn’t me.” “Cheryl, I don’t want to scare you, but I think maybe you have a man in your life now. You just haven’t had sex. That I know of,” he added with a shrug. She laughed at him. “What have I done, getting mixed up with you?” “Come on, it’s been nice. Admit it,” he said, leaning toward her and brushing his lips against hers. “Nice. Come on.” “Nice,”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“We need each other, Jack. I don’t think there’s anyone I counted on more than I did Liz. You, maybe, but you’re just not as soft and cuddly.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“You sure this is enough for you, Liz?” Rick asked her. “A guy with one leg?” “Rick, we have a lot of years ahead. There are going to be times I’ll come up short, I just know it. I expect you to love me the same even in those times. Is that too much to expect out of you?” “Nah. You’re more than I can deserve in a million years.” “To answer your question, I never even notice that the leg is gone. Really. The only time I notice is when you complain about the stump hurting. The truth is, I find you stronger. Braver. Smarter. I’d say I love you even more, but that’s just impossible.” After”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Jack?” Preacher asked. Jack looked up. “Aw, did you do it again? Did you wash the bar sink with that disinfectant and then touch your eyes? Christ, you are the slowest learner I know. Come on, come on over here and we’ll rinse ’em. Flush ’em out.” “They’re rinsed,” Jack said quietly. “It’ll be fine.” “You gotta watch that, man! You’re gonna go blind, for God’s sake.” “I got it. I need a rack of glasses,” Jack said, sniffing. “I just put a rack out there not five minutes ago,” Preacher said. Jack ground his teeth. Inside he felt as if he’d just been born. But he said, “Gimme a rack of goddamn glasses, all right?” “Sure,” Preacher said. “If you drink a little of that disinfectant, might kill the bug up your ass.”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Jack grabbed a towel and a glass. Then he was in front of him, glaring down at him, wiping the spots out of the glass to keep from choking him. “Liz all right?” “Yeah. I found her out at the river and we had a talk. Nice and calm. I told her I was sorry for that whole business. For everything.” “I ever see anything like that again, I don’t know if I can keep from beating the shit outta you. I know I taught you better than that.” “I’m sorry, Jack. That was horrible and I know it.” “It was all I could do to keep from dragging you behind the shed.” A smile came to Rick’s lips. Jack was in everything, meddling, and it often got him in trouble. “I’ll bet,” Rick said. “I”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“What’s so strange about him?” Rick asked, thinking about adding another weirdo into the mix. But what the hell, his weirdo had worked out. “Well, he’s funny looking. Tall and skinny with big ears and a long, hooked nose. And he thinks he was abducted by aliens.” Rick pulled back, holding Liz’s upper arms. His face was frozen in shock for a moment, then a huge laugh erupted from him. “You are fucking kidding me!” “Oh, I see how it is—you can use the F word whenever you want…” “Jerry Powell? Liz, that’s who I’ve been seeing!” “Come on,” she said, shaking her head. “Yeah,” he said, grinning. “That’s the nutcase that got me this far. Honest to God, sometimes I hate that psycho—but I have to admit, it’s helped, though I sure couldn’t tell you how.” He laughed again. “Yeah, I’ll see Mr. Spaceman with you. Can we merge our appointments so I don’t have to put up with him three or four times a week?” “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” she said, shaking her head. “Liz, it’s the rules. He doesn’t talk about patients.” He couldn’t stop laughing and it felt both strange and familiar at the same time. He used to be a laughing fool. Lately he’d found it hard to find humor in anything. “What a kick. Come on, Liz, I gotta get the truck back.” “The”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“He felt her arms tighten around him, holding him as she sobbed against his shoulder. He ran his hand down that wonderful silky hair. “Hey, hey,” he said softly. And it all came back to him, how it felt when he held her, comforted her. “Come on, baby, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said. In the back of his mind he wondered why he wasn’t able to do this three months ago. It was so natural, so right. It felt so good to be the man. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to hold me,” she said. “I’ve held you before. Right here, in fact,” he reminded her. She shook her head against his shoulder. “There wasn’t an ounce of love in that,” she said. He pulled away from her a bit, lifting her chin with his thumb and finger. “Nothing like that’s ever going to happen between us again, Liz. I promise.” “What is going to happen between us?” she asked softly. “Are you just trying to make me not mad at you, but then go back to that business that we can’t be together anymore?” He smiled at her and kissed her cheeks one at a time, softly, gently. “We have to be together. If we just bring each other a ton of bad luck, we’ll need someone to hang on to through it.” “God,” she said, laying her head against him again, crying. “I didn’t want you to ever see me cry again,” she sobbed. “I hate being a wimpy girl.” “You’re”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“What had he done to her? And why was he kidding himself? He’d never stop loving her. He”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“I’d give both my legs if you could have yours! You think I wouldn’t have given my arms and my legs just to see you holding a living son in your arms? You think I wouldn’t give my eyes so you wouldn’t have a limp?” “Stop it! Don’t say that!” “It’s true! It’s the truth! And not for me—for you! Hell, I don’t care if you limp. I don’t care if you wheel yourself around—it’s not your stupid goddamn leg I care about. I prayed all the way to Germany! I told God if you were dead when I got there, I wish I could go with you! But when I got there, you weren’t dead! You just told me to go away! Like I was dead. Sometimes I wish I was!” “Shut up! Don’t say that!” “I’d give my life if you could be happy again! I swear to God, I’d give my—” “Stop saying that!”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Hey!” She turned toward him, frowning. He slowly and clumsily descended the porch steps, walking toward her, his limp suddenly much more pronounced. Dan saw Rick leave and followed, standing just outside the bar door on the porch, his arms crossed over his chest. Watching. Listening. “You do that on purpose?” Rick yelled at Liz. “Just to punish me?” She shook her head. “What are you talking about?” He got a little closer. “Acting like I don’t exist like that. You won’t even look at me. Is that how bad I gross you out?” “Shut up, Rick. You’re acting like an ass again.” “I’m an ass? For asking why you won’t even look at me?” “I thought that’s what you wanted! You want everything we were to just go away! Right?” “It’s not exactly like that,” he said. “Bullshit, it is like that! You said we can’t even be friends! So back off—you got just what you wanted!” Jack had heard the shouting, knew who it was and stepped out of the bar. He was about to go after Rick, shut him up before it got worse, but Dan put an arm across his chest. “Let it happen,” Dan said. “I care about Liz. If Rick’s going to be a jackass, she doesn’t deserve—” “Let it happen,” Dan said. “She’s fighting back.” “I don’t know,” Jack said, shaking his head. “It’s their bone, Jack. Don’t chew on it.” And”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Rick was dying as he watched. Of course, he hadn’t bothered going to her graduation, nor had he given her a card or even congratulated her. And he wanted those arms around him, those lips on his cheek. Not that he’d done one thing to deserve it. Jack”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Aw, Jack,” she said softly. “After all you and Mel have done for me, you sure shouldn’t have done this.” He just shrugged and Liz put the card down, stuffed the bill in the pocket of her jeans and reached out for him, circling his neck with her arms so she could give him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Jack. That’s so sweet. I’ll thank Mel myself later.” Rick was dying as he watched. Of course, he hadn’t bothered going to her graduation, nor had he given her a card or even congratulated her. And he wanted those arms around him, those lips on his cheek. Not that he’d done one thing to deserve it. Jack”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“Why didn’t I just marry you when I had the chance?” He leaned down and put a kiss on her lips and on the baby’s head. “I’m not going anywhere, honey.” Abby”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley

“It’s hard,” he said softly, temporarily defeated. “It’s like she doesn’t get that it hurts me, too. It’s hard to stay away from her, hard not to be with her. For a long time, like four years, Liz was my whole life. I mean, everything. I was totally faithful to her while I was away from her. And she was faithful to me. She was a virgin before we…you know? She liked to tell me all the time that even though it worked out to be so hard, with the baby and everything, she was still glad that I was the first and she wanted me to be the only one. For a long time I wanted that, too.” He lifted his head. “I miss her a lot, you know. I miss everything.” “Everything?”
― Robyn Carr, Paradise Valley