22
" A truck came flying into town, horn honking. Corny, also a professional firefighter, climbed out and yelled, “Hey! Forget anyone?” Greetings ripped the air. “What about that new baby?” “Aw, she’s not so new anymore. We had her two days ago.” “And your wife let you out of town?” “You’re kidding, right? She told me to get my ass down here and help.” He grinned, pulling his own gear out of the truck bed. “She’s got her mother—I’m just in the way now. I have years with those kids.” “Another girl, huh?” Jack said. “Yeah, but I know I have a boy in me. I just know it.” “You better keep that to yourself for a while, pal,” someone advised. There "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
24
" You know, I’ve been hanging around your place, riding with you, throwing the stick for your dogs, and I never asked you about the husbands. Like, how many? And why you think it didn’t work out?” “What makes you think I feel like telling you?” she asked. “Aw, you’ll tell me,” he said. “You’re just that kinda gal. And I told you about my wife.” “Okay,” she said, still slapping sandwiches together. “The synopsis. The first one was fifteen years older than me, my agent. He’s still my agent—he married the talent, not the person I was. He was very ambitious for me, for us both. He still thinks I divorced him because of his age, but I divorced him because all he cared about was my career. I don’t think he could tell you my favorite color…” “Yellow,” Walt said. Her head snapped around and she stared at him. “Yellow,” she said. “That was easy,” he said. “It’s all around and you wear it a lot. Red’s important, too.” “Right,” she said, shocked. She shook herself. “Okay, number two hit, number three cheated, number four had a child he failed to mention, number five—” “All right, wait,” Walt said. “Is this going to go on for a real long time?” She grinned at him. “Didn’t you look it up on the Internet?” “I did not,” he said, almost insulted. “We’re stopping at five. He had a substance-abuse problem. I didn’t know about it beforehand, obviously. I tried to help, but I was in the way—he needed to be on his own. That’s when I decided that, really, I should quit doing that. Marrying. But please understand, it’s not all my fault—Hollywood doesn’t exactly have a reputation for long, sturdy relationships. I did the best I could.” “I have no doubt,” he said. “Do you say that because you have no doubt? Or are you being a sarcastic ass to a poor woman who had to go through five miserable husbands?” He chuckled. Then he slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
26
" Mel walked right into his open arms. “You’re late,” she said, looking up at him. He lowered his lips to softly kiss her forehead. “Sorry. I was held up. Goddamn truck left without me.” He smiled down at her. “Do you have any idea what you look like in jeans? Melinda, you just do it to me in jeans.” “Everyone thought you were dead and you’re talking about my butt again.” He grimaced. “They’re going to wish I was dead. I’ve been walking for twenty-four hours and I’m in a real mood.” He brushed the hair back from her brow. “Were you scared, baby?” “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I knew you were coming.” “You did?” She touched her chest. “Your heart beats in here. If it had stopped, I would have known. It did beat a little fast sometimes. Was it close, Jack?” He chuckled, tightening his arms around her. “It was so close, I have blisters on my ass.” “I spent all night remembering every time you touched me. Every one.” “You don’t have to make do on memories. I’m going to touch you for many more years.” “I knew you’d never leave me.” “Baby, I’d walk out of hell to get back to you.” “I "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
29
" When the last dish was put up, Vanni asked Marianne if she could borrow a bedroom to nurse the baby. “Of course, sweetheart,” the older woman answered. “But no one in this family is uncomfortable with a nursing mom, not even the children. Do whatever you’d rather—take a bedroom or sit with us, it’s entirely up to you. We’re kind of homespun around here.” “What about the men?” Vanni asked. “They’re even less uncomfortable.” North’s wife laughed. “The first time I put Angie to the breast, demurely covered by a blanket, Stan walked right over to me, lifted the blanket and said, ‘Marianne, honey, come and see how good this little critter sucks!’” “Oh, my,” Vanni said. “Think they’ll stay outside a while?” “I think Stan will give you time to get used to us before he pulls his tricks,” Marianne said with a smile. “Not much time, though—take that as fair warning.” So "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
30
" I don’t know much about movies. Haven’t seen too many. And I don’t know anything about movie stars.” “Retired,” she said. “I’m sanding, varnishing, hauling trash and training my bird dog. I’m going to pick up another one pretty soon now—I picked the bitch and sire a while ago and she whelped, so as soon as they’ll let him go… And I don’t cook much, don’t bake at all, but as it happens I have sugar for my coffee. In case you want to borrow a cup for that cake you’re baking me.” “My thirty-year-old daughter has a man in her life—a good man—and they’re at the house every weekend,” he found himself explaining. “I have reasons to stay out of the house a lot. How much sugar do you keep on hand?” She grinned at him. “Plenty.” “I might need some as early as tomorrow evening,” he said. “That good man my daughter has is here for the weekend.” “Is that so?” Then Muriel turned her mount, facing the other way and said, “Luce!” She gave two short whistles. The Lab bolted back where she’d come from. Muriel looked over her shoulder and said, “Bring a decent bottle of red wine then,” she said. She put her horse into an easy canter and followed her dog. Walt sat there for a long time, till she was out of sight. “Damn,” he said aloud. * "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
32
" I wouldn’t let myself think ahead! I remember when my sister said, ‘I know widows who have remarried, and are happy.’ I almost took her head off. I was appalled. I wasn’t at all hopeful life could go on.” “It sure went on for you,” Vanni said. “Boy howdy. I came here absolutely determined to live out my days lonely and miserable, but that damn Jack—he ambushed me. I think I fell in love with him the minute I met him, but I fought it. As though I might somehow be unfaithful to my husband’s memory by moving on, which was absurd. I had the kind of husband who would have wanted me to have love in my life, and I bet you did, too.” “You "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
33
" Her relationship with Paul went back much further, of course. It wasn’t as though they became friends because of Matt’s death. In fact, that night long ago when she met Matt, it had been Paul across the room who’d first caught her eye. He was so tall, his legs so long and hands so big, it was hard for him not to stand out in a crowd. There was that willful, sandy hair that had to be kept short because it would defy any kind of styling. Not that Paul was the kind of man to fuss with his hair—it was obvious even from a distance that he stuck to basics. It was his masculinity she noticed; he looked like a lumberjack who’d cleaned up to go into town. He had an engaging smile; one tooth in front was just a little crooked and he had a dimple on the left cheek. Heavy brown brows, deep chocolate eyes—details she discovered a bit later, of course. She hadn’t even noticed Matt… But it was Matt who put the rush on her, swept her off her feet, made her laugh, made her blush. While Paul hung back, shy and silent, Matt charmed her to her very bones. And shortly after the charm, he made her desire him madly, love him deeply. He was hardly a consolation prize—he was one of the best men in the world. And a devoted husband, so in love with her. She loved Paul before Matt’s death, grew to love him more deeply afterward. When little Mattie was born, she said to Paul, “I will never love anyone but Matt.” But as the weeks passed she realized that she didn’t have to stop loving Matt any more than Paul should. Matt would be with them both forever. And it was like the natural order of things that Paul should step in now. "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
36
" When he saw her, he leaned the ax up against the stump and went to her. She smiled and walked into his arms. He crossed those arms under her bottom and brought her up to his face. “It was perfect,” she said. “I love the way those babies light you up.” She kissed him deeply and his arms tightened under her. “How are they doing?” “Preacher’s a little wobbly, but Paige and the baby are great.” “He’s been looking forward to it for so long,” Jack said. “He might’ve gotten himself a little too worked up. Maybe he peaked too soon,” she said. “Did you sleep?” she asked, touching his hair. “I don’t sleep when you work,” he said, touching her lips again. “Can I get you anything? Breakfast?” “That would be nice. My children will be awake by the time I get home.” “Was it hard, baby?” he asked. “After the hysterectomy?” She shook her head and smiled. “That wasn’t the hard part. There is nothing sad about bringing a new life to a couple as in love as they are.” She kissed him again. “I admit, I was thinking of one more, down the road a bit. I tend to think like that after ours are settled in bed and quiet….” “We have a lot more than either of us thought we’d get,” he said. “I’m dealing with it pretty well. I’m telling myself not to be greedy. As long as I have you—” He laughed, a rich, deep rumbling sound. “As if you could get rid of me now.” * "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
37
" Nikki, I’m sorry. That was bad, what he did. He should’ve been honest.” “Yeah. And then there was you. In five minutes I knew you were more honest and straightforward than he was, but I doubted the signals. I wanted to fall for you—but I don’t know you.” He reached a hand toward her shining black hair. So soft. “By morning, there wasn’t an inch of me you didn’t know.” “You have a big mole on your butt,” she said. “You should probably get that looked at. And a scar on your shoulder. And I think you had your appendix out.” He smiled at her. So, she had been paying attention. He wasn’t the only one, then. “I was twelve.” “What happened here,” she said, reaching out to his shoulder. “I got shot in Fallujah. Mike Valenzuela kept us all alive till Jack could get us out of there. Six of us were bleeding all over the place, there were snipers everywhere, but we got out. Paul gave up a spleen. It was ugly. It ended the Marines for me—I’m out of the reserves now. Paul too.” He smiled. “See? You know things about me.” “Not enough,” she said softly. Joe "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
38
" I’m not interested in one night. I want it all. If that’s too much for you, tell me right now. If it’s going to scare you off, I want to know.” “All?” “I want to go to bed with you, and wake up with you.” He kissed her. “Then I want to do that again.” He kissed her. “And again. And again.” “Okay,” she said breathlessly. “I’m an idiot, but I’m in love with you.” “How do you know?” “Because I’ve never felt this bad before.” “Isn’t it supposed to feel good?” “It does, when you’re in my arms. When you’re not, it’s just awful.” “Okay,” she said. “I understand.” “You’re going to give it a chance?” “Yes,” she said, nodding. “I realize that sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to. I’ve been down that road and so have you. But I’m not going to string you along. I’ll never lie to you. Do you believe me?” “I do. Do you believe me?” “You’re not going to run out on me again, without any explanation?” “I won’t do that again, no.” “You can do anything else, you know. You can tell me you were mistaken. Tell me you changed your mind and you don’t feel it anymore. Anything but disappearing without a word. If it’s over for you, you have to finish it. Do we have a deal?” “Deal,” she said against his lips. “Where do Vanni and Paul think you are?” he asked her in a hoarse whisper. “With you,” she said. “And are you?” “Yes. Yes, Joe. I’m with you.” He "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
39
" Even though I don’t stand a chance with Vanni, I have to come clean about how I feel. It’s still too soon after Matt. You gotta believe me, I never wanted anything bad to happen to Matt.” Joe gripped Paul’s biceps. “Of course you didn’t. But this business with Vanni? You owe it to yourself to know where you stand before you borrow all this trouble.” “Yeah,” he said, hanging his head. “I’m sure she’ll just try to let me down as easy as she can…” “Then again, you never know,” Joe said with a shrug. “Maybe it’ll go your way for once. In which case, right after she says, ‘I love you, too,’ you’re gonna have to say, ‘I’m going to be a father pretty soon.’ Whew.” Joe gave a short, unhappy laugh. “That’s gonna bite. I think, my friend, your ass is grass. Either way.” Paul leveled his gaze at Joe. Then he said, “We’re gonna need a lot more beer. "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
40
" Vanessa,” he whispered. She moved in her bed. She sniffed. “Cameron?” she asked. “What is it?” he whispered. “Nothing, it’s nothing,” she whispered back. He went to her bed and sat on the edge. He looked down at eyes that, even in the darkness of her room, were filled and overflowing, her nose pink. “God, Vanessa, if I made you cry, I’ll hate myself.” “It’s not your fault. You’re completely innocent. You’ve been wonderful. I think too much sometimes. I have to learn to let some things go.” “Oh, honey,” he said, pulling her close. “It’s all right. These things take time.” “I’m sorry,” she said. “You don’t have to be sorry. I knew—we both knew—you’ve had so much to deal with, to try to put into perspective. It’s okay.” He crawled onto the bed and, on top of the coverlet, slipped an arm under her head to hold her. “You take your time, Vanni. There’s lots of time.” She turned in his arms and cried against his bare chest, and he held her, understanding the pain. He ached for her. The woman had buried the husband of her heart right before delivering his child. Moving on to the next part of her life wasn’t going to be that easy. He didn’t care. He was willing to go through this with her, because this was exactly the kind of woman he wanted in his life. A woman who could show commitment this powerful, emotion this deep, love this enduring. When "
― Robyn Carr , Second Chance Pass (Virgin River, #5)
