Author: Robyn Carr
Quotes of Author: Robyn Carr
Listen to me, Sean-I want my daughter to be happy, but Rosie is the beat of my heart. When Franci told me she was having a baby and having her alone, the first thing I felt was resentment-I was barely fifty! I still feel I have a lot of life left to live! And I'd already raised a child alone, so I knew firsthand how hard it would be for her. Franci was going to need a lot from me, and I didn't really have a lot to give. But I held that baby and, within seconds, I felt she was as much mine as my daughter's. If you think for one second I'm going to be patient with you while you try to figure out if you have what it takes to be a good father, you're wrong. Dead wrong." Sean briefly wondered if in an earlier life he had pissed off a bunch of tough old goddesses; he was surrounded by strong, opinionated women. "I completely understand. I have a lot to learn about her. About Rosie." "I don't care what happens between you and Francine-she's all grown up and can shoulder disappointment. But you'd better not let down my granddaughter, Sean." "I know," he said. "You're going to have a lot of backup in that department. My mother's on the job, beating me with the guilt stick every chance she gets, and no one does guilt like an Irish Catholic mother. Are you going to give me a chance?" "Yes," she said, relaxing back in her chair. "Every chance. Don't screw it up." "I'm book-quoteLook, Mel. Look at that sky. You can't find that anywhere else on earth. All those stars, that moon-the clear black sky. That belongs to us." She looked up at the most gorgeous sky imaginable, with more stars than she thought existed. He stepped behind her and with his hands on both of her upper arms, he gently squeezed. "You just can't see this in the city. In any city." "It is beautiful," she said softly. "I admit, this is beautiful country." "It's majestic. One of these days, before you pack it in and run for your life, I'd like to show you some things. The redwoods, the rivers, the coast. It's almost time for whale watching." She leaned back against him and couldn't deny it felt pretty good to be shored up by Jack. "I'm sorry about what happened tonight." He leaned down and inhaled the scent of her hair. "I was really impressed with how well you handled it-but I'm sorry he… I hate that he touched you like that. I thought I had an eye on him." "Too quick for me. Too quick for you," she said. He turned her around and looked into her eyes. He thought he saw an invitation there in her upturned face and he lowered his. She put a hand on his chest. "I have to go in now," she said, a little breathless. He straightened. "We both know I couldn't throw you," she said, smiling weakly. "You'll never have to," he said. But he still held her arms, so reluctant to let go. "Good night, Jack. And thanks for everything. Despite Nick-I had a good time." "Glad to hear it," he said. And he let go. She book-quoteMind if I ask how you learned that?" "It was a long time ago-when I was in my last year of college. There had been some rapes around the campus and a bunch of us went to a self-defense instructor together. To tell you the truth, I was never sure that would work in a real situation. I mean, with an instructor, mats on the floor, everything rehearsed and knowing exactly what to expect-that's one thing. But I wasn't sure I could react the same way if a real rapist jumped out from behind a parked car." "Now you know. He never saw it coming." "Yeah, that worked to my advantage, too." She sipped her coffee. "I didn't see what he did," he said. "I could tell by the stupid grin on his face and the shocked look on yours that something happened." She put her cup on the bar. "Major butt grope," she said. And she noted that Jack's expression went instantly dark; mean, narrowed eyes, deep frown. "Whew, easy buddy, it wasn't your butt. I saw you making a move-what were you about to do?" "Way too much," he said. "I don't like seeing something like that in my bar. I was watching him all night. The second he saw you, it was a target lock-on." "He was a giant nuisance, but I'm pretty sure he'll leave me alone now," she said. book-quote
