Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2) QUOTES

1 " The lights went out in the dining room and Owen entered the kitchen, stopping several feet away. She leaned on her hands, her head bent nearly to her chest. She could only see his feet and legs.
“Claire, you’re exhausted. Why didn’t you just go up to bed?”
“The meds kicked in. Too tired to move.”
Unexpected and exciting, he plucked her right off the counter and settled her in his arms and against his broad, hard chest. Too tired to make a fuss and exert her independence, she gave in to something else entirely and snuggled closer, nestling her face in his neck and settling her head on his strong shoulder. His chest rumbled with a laugh. “You’re like a contented cat, snuggling in for the night.”
“Deep down, I’m fine on my own. The meds have made me mushy and weak.”
“Not weak. After the night you’ve had, you just need a hug.” He squeezed her to his chest. She tried to hide the wince of pain, but he felt her stiffen in his arms. “Sorry, overstepped.” They reached the top of the stairs, and he stopped.
“No, you didn’t. I didn’t realize how banged up I got. I feel like I got hit by a car,” she joked. “The meds are helping out considerably. My room’s on the right.”
Owen walked down the hall and entered her room, stopping just inside and looking around. “Wow. It’s like another house in here.”
“I moved in over a year ago, but I spent all my time opening the shop and running it. A couple of months ago, I started on the house. I spend so much time at the shop, the most time I spend here is sleeping, so I redid the master bedroom first. I’ve upgraded the bathroom, but I still need to add the finishing touches.”
“You added the flower pots on the back patio with the lounge and table set.”
“I like to drink my coffee out there in the morning when the weather is nice.”
“You spend a lot of time working, so spending the morning outside is relaxing.”
“Yes. Sounds like the same is true for you, too.”
He nodded. “I spend most evenings outside reading over briefs and preparing for court. I take care of the horses and barn cats. It gets me out of my head.”
“You can put me down now.”
“I knew you’d say that.” She laughed, and he set her on her bed.

-Owen & Claire "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

2 " I’m sorry if I made you think I don’t trust you.”
“You don’t. Not yet. And that’s okay. Just stop assuming I’m only out to hurt you, or take something you’re not willing to give. If you’re not interested, all you have to do is say so. I can’t say I won’t be disappointed, but I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want.”
“I am interested,” she said more boldly than she actually felt. “Please understand, my caution comes from experience. You’ve already proven you’re not like the asshole. I’m glad you came last night. I’m glad you’re still here this morning.”
“See, I’m not so hard to like,” he teased, putting her at ease after the tense moments they’d just shared.

-Claire & Owen "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

3 " quick kiss on the side of the head, stepped beside her, and grabbed the tongs to put the steaks on the grill. They sizzled when they hit the hot metal rack, and he closed the lid to let them cook. “I love it back here,” Claire said, a touch of nervousness in her voice he hoped to erase tonight. He wanted her to be comfortable with him all the time. “While the house and barn are "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

4 " more range of motion today. Working it out while I mix up batter for the baked goods helps.” “Good.” “So, how "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

5 " OWEN WOKE OUT of a restless sleep the second the phone rang. The clock read twelve forty-seven. Good news never came this late at night.

-Owen's thoughts "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

6 " A faithful husband isn’t something you should have to want for; it should just be when you commit to someone and say vows.”
“One would think. He tried, but in the end, it’s just not who he is. It’s taken some time to get to the point where I can look back and know I didn’t push him out the door. He had one foot out the whole time.”
“What finally made you walk away?”
“I’d been thinking of leaving for a few months. I wanted kids, and judging by the age of the girl who showed up at my house demanding I give my husband the divorce he told her he wanted, so did he.”
Owen laughed, but tried to smother it in the end. “Sorry. That’s funny.”
“Didn’t seem like it at the time, but yeah, it’s funny.”
“He’s a dick who doesn’t deserve you. Anyone stupid enough to lose a great woman like you should be shot just for being an idiot.”
“You barely know me, how do you know I’m not some shrew of a wife?”
“Your shop and the way you are with the kids who come in there. You love what you do. You put your whole heart into it. I have no doubt you did the same with your marriage. Any man who’d give that up doesn’t deserve to live.”

-Owen & Claire "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

7 " He cupped her face. “He’s an asshole. You’re better off without him. Let’s never speak of him again.”
She laughed. “Sorry. I’m tired and that guy demanding to find my husband because he was sleeping with his wife brought it all up for me again.”
“You were hit by a car, you had your past thrown in your face, it’s late, and you’re tired. Why don’t you go change, and I’ll sweep up the glass and take care of boarding up the window. If you give me your insurance information, I’ll call them first thing in the morning and start your claim and have a new sliding door put in as soon as possible.”
“You don’t have to do all that.”
“I want to. This wouldn’t have happened if not for my client. Let me do this. It’s the least I can do.”
“You’ll find the information in my office.” She pointed to the closed door off the living room. “Bottom drawer of the desk in the file marked insurance.” He smiled to lighten things and teased, “An organized woman. Dangerous creatures.”
“Yes, well, stay out of the other stuff. There be dragons with sharp teeth who’ll burn your ass for snooping through my papers.”
He laughed. “Not the trusting sort, are you?”
“I’ve been burned already.”
“I’m not out to hurt you, honey. Just help you.”
“You can’t be that good looking and not have some flaws.” Her cheeks blazed red.
He laughed again. “I’ve got plenty of flaws, but none that will bite you on the ass. Unless you want me to,” he teased. “Because it’s a fine ass, and I wouldn’t mind.”

-Owen & Claire "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)

8 " Hey,” a deep unfamiliar voice said from behind her. Every nerve went on alert. Her heart pounded with fear. Instinct told her to run, but how far could she go with him so close?
She grabbed a knife from the butcher block beside her and spun around, hurting her sore feet but not really feeling the pain. “Stay where you are. Don’t come any closer.”
Somewhere in her muddled mind he looked familiar, but the fear stole her rational thoughts. Her hands shook and she backed up into the counter, looking everywhere for an escape that seemed impossible.
“Hey now, you’re okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Tears filled her eyes. Too much to take in one night, she stammered, “Get out. Leave me alone.”
The stranger took a step toward her, and she took one toward him. “Get out, or I’ll gut you where you stand.”
One side of his mouth cocked up in a slanted grin. His eyes flashed with admiration, confusing her. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m looking for Owen.”
“He doesn’t live here. Why does everyone think he lives here?” she yelled.
A flash of movement came from her left; she swung to face the new danger and inhaled when Owen rushed her, pushing the knife out of his way and pulling her close. She immediately dropped it and grabbed hold of him as he kept his back to the stranger, her back to the counter, and his big body protecting her. “You’re okay, sweetheart. That’s my brother, Brody. He came to help me board up the glass door.”
He hugged her closer when she grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and held him tighter, crying all over the front of his shirt, her face buried in his chest, her bravado from a moment ago drained away, overwhelmed by her fear. Owen was here, holding her, keeping her safe. She needed him and refused to let go, even when he tried to back away.
“Brody, man, you want to give us a minute.”
“Sure. I just wanted to let her know I’m here. She’s got a lot of guts, facing off with me with that knife. I like her.”
“Yeah, I like her, too.” Owen brushed his hand over her head and settled into her, holding her tight and close. Brody left with a chuckle and an “I bet you do.”
All of a sudden she felt foolish, but it didn’t stop her from staying in Owen’s arms. She shifted on her feet, and he slid his big hands down her back to her waist, hoisting her up onto the counter. His warm hands settled on her thighs, spreading them wide so he could stand between them. Close. Intimate. Their eyes met, and he reached up and swiped his thumbs across both her cheeks, taking away the tears.
She got hold of herself enough to say, “Your brother is huge.”
“You just faced off with an ex– Army Ranger. He could take you out with one lethal smile.”
“He wasn’t smiling.”
“He doesn’t much, since he got home. Unless he’s with Rain."

-Brody, Claire, & Owen "

― Jennifer Ryan , Falling for Owen (The McBrides, #2)