4
" Someone’s going to have to wipe up the floor…” “Hmm.” “Luke Riordan, you’re in a bubble bath.” “Yeah,” he said, breathless. “What would people think? Big, tough, womanizing Black Hawk pilot, in a bubble bath.” “You better not tell or you’ll be punished,” he said, still catching his breath. She giggled again. “That might be interesting. I never know what you’ll come up with next.” Late "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
5
" They had their Christmas-gift exchange right before he left town, and when she opened her gift and saw the boots, she wept. No one had ever given her a gift like that in her life and he enjoyed success when she kissed all over him. He took her into his arms, laughing sentimentally. “I’ve never seen you cry,” he said, holding her close, rocking her back and forth gently. “Oh, you’d have seen way too much of that a year ago….” “But these are happy tears. That’s different. That means I did good.” “You did very good,” she said. “They’re just amazing. Exactly what I would have had made for myself. Like my own skin. I could sleep in them.” “But someone could get hurt,” he reminded her with a laugh. She "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
6
" I didn’t offer so that you’d feel obligated to me in any way. I mean, who knows? Jack Whatshisname might turn out to be just what you’ve always dreamt of.” “You jealous of him already?” she asked. “You’re goddamn right,” he said, leaning back in his chair, drawing those fierce eyebrows together. “He’s going to spend the next six months with you and I’m not.” “Well, he doesn’t stand a chance,” she said softly. He thought, this must be how Peg felt when he was leaving for a long remote tour, as though there was a chance he wouldn’t come back to her. “I’ve been down this road,” he told Muriel. “Separations for work. It’s not easy, but it’s highly survivable. Do you need a ride to the airport?” “That would be nice. It’s just to Garberville.” “Picking up a charter?” he asked. She shook her head. “They’re sending a jet.” His eyebrows shot up. “I haven’t been down that road,” he said, shaking his head. “You want meat loaf? Or do you want to go upstairs, let me peel your clothes off and tell you goodbye properly?” She grinned at him. “Let’s think about meat loaf for breakfast.” “Good idea,” he said, standing. He reached for her hand. “Come on, honey. This is my last chance to pamper you before your Oscar. What time does your flight leave?” “When I get there.” The "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
9
" Shelby put in her time, did the right thing, took good care of her mom, and now it’s her turn. She’s going to go back to school. She says she’s going to be a nurse, but you watch—she’ll end up a doctor or something. She’s quiet, but scary smart. She has money from selling a paid-off house—so she can travel all over the world, pay for a dozen years of college. You know how important that is, we’ve been all over the world and it’s worth seeing.” Aiden laughed. “I hope she sees better parts than we did. You saw a bunch of deserts, I went to sea, medical officer on a ship…” “But it all counts. Life experience—it’s worth it. She’s young—she has time to look around. I’ll tell you what—that girl’s going to have men hunting her down, she’s that good-looking. She never had that before. In high school she was shy, had a couple of short-term boyfriends, but she lost a lot of shyness, got tougher and more aggressive while she was taking care of her mom and had to go up against doctors and therapists and hospitals and insurance companies.” His eyes glistened proudly. “Believe me, she’s ready now. It’s her time.” He’s letting her go, Aiden thought. For her, though it’s going to kill him. "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
10
" Could someone like me get into that? Small town like that?” “They have a midwife and everyone loves her.” Luke laughed. “You’d have some stiff competition.” “What I mean is, could someone younger than thirty-eight want that life? Or do you have to be this crusty, beat-up old grunt?” Luke got the point and his lips went back into that firm, nonnegotiable line. “Do you suppose young women ever choose that life over Ph.D.s or world travel? Think that’s ever happened?” “I think young women like Shelby might think they want that life and two years later realize they threw away their real life and they’re stuck, and everything would go to hell at that point.” “But that’s a guess,” Aiden said. “And this is a remarkable, committed, stubborn, aggressive woman who’s been up against a lot and knows what she wants.” “You tricked me,” Luke said. “You said you were going to be a little curious but now you’re up my ass.” “What are the odds you’re ever going to run into someone like her again, once she leaves Virgin River? If you let her get away?” Luke "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
11
" Well, not exactly. Thing is, I need to talk to someone who’s not a member of my family. About Luke.” “Gosh,” Muriel said. “I’m honored. I would’ve expected you to go to Mel. The two of you are awful close.” “True. But she’s got a lot of family in town right now,” Shelby said. “And I just thought, maybe…I don’t know, Muriel. Maybe you can tell me something I don’t already know. About…you know…men.” “You do realize I’ve been married five times and never could make it work,” Muriel said on her way to the kitchen. “It wasn’t my fault, I swear it, but still…” “I "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
14
" This doesn’t have anything to do with any of our, ah, mutual friends, does it?” “No, Mel. This has nothing to do with Vanessa.” Shelby’s eyes grew very round and Cameron looked at her. “Before Paul got smart and told Vanni how much he loved her, I had a couple of dates with her. That’s all—a couple of dates. She disappointed me when she picked the other guy—but she didn’t break my heart. No worries.” “Shew,” Mel said. “Had me worried there for a second. I mean, the gossip in this town is good, but it shouldn’t be that good!” Cameron "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
15
" You don’t have to run.” She jumped in surprise and whirled around, her face ashen. “How did you get in?” “The key under the flowerpot,” he said. “Same place I always kept mine. Pretty unimaginative. And pretty rare, this door locking in Virgin River. Abby, it’s too late for you to run.” She lifted her chin, but her eyes were moist. She put a protective hand over her tummy. He stepped into the bedroom doorway. “What are you so afraid of, Abby? You think I’d do something to hurt you? You know better than that. If I meant to hurt you, I had a perfect opportunity in Oregon.” “Cameron, look, this is real complicated, and I can’t let it get more complicated. Please.” He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. He leaned against the door frame. “Catch me up a little—tell me why you’d be so damn afraid of me making your life more complicated. And stop packing, for God’s sake. I’m not the enemy.” She "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
19
" I just want you to remember one thing,” he said softly. Then he lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Then he pulled back, smiling into her eyes. He kissed her again, again gently. And then he came down on her lips in a more serious kiss, moving over her mouth carefully, sensually, until her arms slowly and reluctantly encircled him, her eyelids dropping closed. He stayed on her lips until she kissed back, letting him open her lips. He tilted his head for a better angle, enjoying her response. Not knowing when he’d get a chance like this again, he stayed with that kiss for a long time, tasting her mouth, being tasted by her. When he released her mouth, he smiled. “Ah,” he whispered. “You do remember.” And he kissed her again. He "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
20
" You would have been impressed, Luke. She never flinched. She knew all the right things to do and remained perfectly calm. Efficient, skilled, confident.” Mel smiled. “She’s going to be an incredible nurse. You should be so proud of her.” “I am,” Luke replied. “And not at all surprised.” He draped an arm around her shoulders. And Shelby thought, Oh God. I have to get this over with. She didn’t need advice from Mel or anyone else. She’d given him every chance, but he never said a word about how he felt about her, not a syllable about wanting a life with her. She had to make herself move on before she couldn’t. Tears gathered in her eyes. “Let me finish up here, Luke. I’m going to follow Mel and Cameron back to the clinic, help clean up the Humvee, restock it. I’ll catch up with you later.” “Are you crying?” he asked softly. “I might be overwhelmed.” He frowned slightly at the glistening in her eyes. “Sure,” he said. He kissed her forehead. “Take your time. "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
