43
" I love you, Bram,” she’d said, just like she’d said a million times before. Only this time, the declaration came from the lips of a woman, unnerving him all the more. “I love you too, Meg,” he whispered, the words rising in the air like the steam drifting skyward, as out of reach as his dreams to always be there for one lost little girl. He exhaled a silent sigh. “More than you’ll ever know. "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
49
" No, Logan, this belongs to you—” His chest expanded with a shaky draw of air before he released it again. “Yes, it does, Cait,” he said, taking the ring from her palm. Piercing her with a solemn gaze, he slipped it on her right index finger before she could retract her hand. “But unfortunately for me, my heart belongs to you, so if I can’t grace your left hand with my love, then I’d like to grace your right with a friendship just as deep.” She "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
50
" Like I said, Meg, I’m an idiot, and one not prone to rapid change. Although it’s taken almost a year for you to blossom into a woman, for me it was in a blink of an eye, and I’m a man who needs time to adjust.” He tucked a finger under her chin. “In my mind’s eye, you left in pigtails and braces.” He swallowed hard, mesmerized by the silky sweep of dark lashes, the lush curve of lips that triggered far too dangerous a response. “Now you’re a woman who obviously turns heads and races a man’s pulse, and that takes some getting used to.” She peeked up with surprise in her eyes while a soft haze of color dusted her cheeks. “Is that what happened then? Tonight when you saw me? I . . .” Her blush deepened. “Raced your . . . pulse?” The heat in her cheeks had nothing on him—blood gorged his face. He shifted away, removing his arm from her waist to drape it over the settee, then cleared his throat. “I guarantee you, Meg, you raced everybody’s pulse in that room tonight from sheer shock over one of the most remarkable transformations any of us have ever seen.” A perfectly adorable grin skimmed her lips. “So I did race your pulse.” His palms began to sweat as he slipped her a smile, wishing he could just lie. “Blue blazes, Bug, I didn’t even know it was you at first, so yes, of course you raced my pulse—you’re a beautiful wo—” He swallowed hard, his prior awkwardness returning in force. “Young lady.” Never "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
51
" It’s silly, I know, but being with Devin makes me nervous, unsettled somehow.” “Because . . . ?” He tilted his head, calm tone coaxing her to confess. Her gaze dropped to her lap where she picked at her nails. “Because . . . I think he may be, well, flirting with me, and I’m not sure I trust him.” “Perfectly understandable, given your history, but he seems like a nice enough fellow from the conservations we’ve had.” He lifted her chin with his finger, voice brimming with affection. “And of course he’s flirting with you, Bug—you’ve grown into a beautiful woman, and he’s a man. That’s a natural progression, I think.” She glanced away. Except with you . . . “Well, you see, he’s been hinting that he’d like to . . .” Her throat parched dry at the very thought of becoming close with any man but Bram. He skimmed a wisp of a curl away from her face. “To what?” Her bodice quivered with a shaky breath. “Well . . . you know . . . to date.” A shadow of a frown flickered before he quickly covered it with his usual serene composure. “Hinting? Or asking outright?” She peeked up. “No, not asking outright or even blatant hinting, I suppose, but subtleties that make me nervous all the same.” Exhaling "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
53
" Have I told you yet just how handsome you look tonight?” He grinned, her stilted attempt at flirtation so out of character that he knew she was flustered. “Are you flirting with me, Mrs. McClare?” he asked with a jut of his brow, laughing out loud when her cheeks fused bright pink. He neatly executed a wide spin, as fluid as if they were one. “And have I ever told you just how adorable you are when you’re nervous?” “I am not nervous,” she said with a thrust of her chin, a flicker of a smile at the edge of her lips. A familiar spark in those mesmerizing green eyes told him he’d struck a nerve. “Ah, now there’s the Caitlyn I know and love.” Palm grazing her shoulder blade, he swept her in a wide arc, her body as graceful and light as the chiffon folds of her dress as they fluttered in the breeze. His smile faded to tender. “This is me, Cait, remember?” he said quietly. “No need to be nervous.” She "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
54
" Uh . . . thank you for the coffee, Meg—you brew a very decent pot.” His nervous compliment seemed to dissolve all the years of ridicule she’d suffered at his hand. Tubby. Four eyes. Wallflower, and more. Hurtful names she now realized were nothing more than the barbs of an insecure little boy. And a bully who would never bully her again. “Why, thank you,” she said with a flash of a perfect smile afforded by three years of braces at great expense to her mother. She felt almost giddy as she gave him a wink. “Not too shabby for somebody long on brains, short on beauty, eh?” And with a toss of her newly hennaed hair, she turned on her heel, the taste of vindication sweet solace, indeed. "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
57
" Bram?” She peered up, totally confused. “What on earth has this got to do with him?” His scowl compressed. “He claims to be your friend, but I’ve never seen a man fawn over a woman more, or vice versa for that matter, and him with another girl, for pity’s sake.” Her jaw literally dropped, a rare flash of anger gilding her tone. “Pardon me? Fawn? Not that it’s any of your business, Devin Caldwell, but Bram Hughes is my very dearest friend.” She huffed out a raspy breath and bowed her head, eyes closed while she counted to ten. Expending a quiet sigh, she lifted her gaze, voice gentle. “Why are you acting like this?” She jumped when he slammed a hand to the table. “Because I’m jealous, blast it!” He "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
58
" Day after day I have to work beside you,” he whispered, “drinking in your smile, breathing in your scent, flirting my fool head off to no avail because you’re not even remotely aware. For once I’ve met a girl whose beauty on the inside is so powerful and deep, the surface beauty is almost secondary, which is something I’ve never experienced before.” He shook his head, gaze roaming her face as if she were some priceless work of art. “You’re irresistible, you know that? And I have never been more jealous of a man than I am of Hughes right now. "
― Julie Lessman , Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco, #3)
