“
Constant work, Piper? No. You misunderstand me.” He tipped her chin up and kissed her mouth. “When the reward is as perfect as you, as perfect as this, the work is a fucking honor.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
You can wrap me as tight as you want around that little finger, but I won’t play games about what this is. Get me, Piper?
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
The captain is a little sensitive about Piper,” Fox explained, still wearing that shit-eating grin. “He doesn’t know what to do with his confusing man feelings.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
thrust. “Came here to be neighborly, Piper? Is there anything neighborly about the way I’m giving you this cock?
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Piper, I don’t just go putting my arms around girls.” She paused in the doorway. Looked back. “What does that mean?” He gave in to just a touch of temptation, tucking a wind-tangled strand of hair behind her ear. Soft. “It means I’ll be around.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Eh.” She waved a hand. “There are thousands of me there.”
Brendan snorted at her joke. And then he realized she was serious.
“Piper, there is nobody like you.”
She smiled like she was humoring him...
He pulled the car onto the side of the road, slammed on the brakes, and threw it into park. “Did you hear me?” He reached over to tilt up her chin. “There is nobody like you.”
“Why are you getting so worked up?”
“Because I . . .thought I was an intuitive man. A smart man. But I keep finding out new ways I’m flying blind when it comes to something so important. You. You are important.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Piper, the man looks at you like...he's full of cracks and you're the glue.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
All Piper could do was stare at the spot he'd just vacated. Goose bumps. He'd given her goose bumps.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Don’t go sniffing around the older one. Piper,” Brendan muttered. “And don’t ask me to explain why, either.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
When she died, I kept the ring on, kept my vows, to keep him healed as much as possible. Then you showed up, Piper. Then you. And it felt wrong having ever given those vows to anyone else.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Una vez más, veía destellos de inseguridad bajo la aparentemente perfecta capa exterior de Piper Bellinger, y despertaban sus instintos protectores. La había ridiculizado al principio. Ahora quería combatir cualquier cosa que la entristeciera
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Your daughter will always have a place in my heart. But Piper owns that heart. She came here and robbed me blind of it.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Wait, I think . . .” Hannah whispered. “I think he’s building you that freaking pergola.” “You mean us?” Piper whispered back. “No. I mean you.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Pensó en Piper pavoneándose a lo largo de su puerto y se preguntó cuántos accidentes de coche había causado
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
A balm spread over his heart, even as his need, his urgency, wrenched higher, hotter. “You can wrap me as tight as you want around that little finger, but I won’t play games about what this is. Get me, Piper?
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Piper estaba sentada sobre la barandilla de madera con vistas al puerto, la cabeza inclinada para permitir que la brisa de la tarde le levantará el cabello de la nuca y la luz del sol pintará su mejilla. Se veía inspirada y descansada
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Él podía entenderlo. Y aunque no tenía ni idea de si podía ofrecerle a esta mujer lo suficiente para hacerla feliz, no iba a dejar que Piper lo clasificara como un ligue casual. Porque lo que ella le hacía sentir no era casual. Ni un poco.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
He’d taken off his wedding ring. After seven years. Piper’s gaze traveled to Brendan’s. He knew she’d seen. And there was some silent communication happening between them, but she didn’t understand the language. Had never spoken it or been around a man who could convey so much without saying a single word. She couldn’t translate what passed between them, or maybe she just wasn’t ready to decipher his meaning. A drop of sweat slid down her spine, and she could suddenly hear her own shallow breaths. No one had ever looked her in the eye this long. It was like he could read her mind, knew everything about her, and liked it all. Wanted some of it for himself. And then she knew, by the determined set of his jaw and his confident energy, that Brendan Taggart did not think of her as a friend.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Respiró hondo y se dio cuenta de que el corazón se le aceleraba en el pecho. Sin detenerse a pensar, dejó caer el extintor y agarró a Piper de las muñecas, girando sus manos para buscar marcas de quemaduras. —¿Estás herida?
—No—, suspiró ella, parpadeando hacia él. —Gracias. Um… gracias por apagarlo.
Dejó caer sus manos, sin estar seguro de querer reconocer la caída libre de alivio que sintió al ver que ella estaba ilesa
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
now, when it was too late, the obvious solution to keeping her, to deserving her, bore down on him like a meteor. She didn’t have to give up everything. He loved her enough to find solutions. That’s what he did. There was no inconvenience or obstacle he wouldn’t face if it meant having her in his life, so he’d fucking face them. He’d adapt, like Piper had. “I made a mistake,” he rasped, razor wire wrapping around his heart and pulling taut. “Jesus, I made a fucking mistake.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Oh God, no. Piper.” He ducked his head to make eye contact, his dark brows pulled together. “First of all, you don’t have to be tough. Not all the time. I don’t know who decided my perfect, kind, sweet, incredible girlfriend needed to fit some goddamn mold, but you don’t. You just be Piper, okay? She’s who I’m in love with. She’s the only woman who was made for me. Cry if you want to cry. Dance if you want to dance. Hell, scream at me, if you need to. No one gets to tell you how to act or feel when I leave. No one. And, baby …” He puffed a laugh. “When I got to the bar, it was packed. Everyone loves it. People just move at a different pace in Westport. They’re not all on a strict schedule like me.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
And I wanted to be different, so I asked for harmonica lessons.” She tilted her head back, found his eyes in the dark. “Word to the wise, don’t ever learn the harmonica while you have braces.” “Hannah. Oh God. No.” His head fell back briefly, a laugh puffing out of him. “What happened?” “Our parents were in the Mediterranean, so we walked to our neighbor’s house and they were in France—” “Ah, yes. Typical neighborhood problems.” She snorted. “So their landscaper offered to drive me and Piper—who had actually peed her pants laughing—in the back of his truck.” She could barely keep her voice even, the need to giggle was so great. “We were driven to the closest hospital in the back of a pickup truck while the harmonica was stuck to my face. Every time I exhaled, the harmonica would play a few notes. People were honking . . .” His whole body was shaking with laughter, and Hannah could tell he’d finally, fully relaxed. The sexual tension didn’t leave completely, but he’d shelved it for now. “What did they say at the hospital?” “They asked if I was taking requests.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2))
“
With his heart in his mouth, he turned to go. Before he reached for Piper and forgot the argument and lost himself in her. But the same problems would exist in the morning, and he needed them solved once and for all. He needed the mystery gone. Needed to know if he'd have a lifetime with her or a lifetime of emptiness.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
He could put every ounce of his effort into keeping Piper,
and she still might leave.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Word to the wise, Piper. The men in Westport … they’re not what you’re used to. They’re unpolished and direct.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Hannah closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around Piper. “Wow. A vaginal orgasm and a psychological breakthrough in the same day. You must be tapped.” “I am. I’m exhausted.” She returned
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
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Looking superior, Hannah handed him the headset. Fox put them on. A moment later, he let out a crack of laughter. Piper turned in the seat. “What song did you play him?” “‘No Scrubs.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
can only imagine what kind of idiots you’ve dated, Piper. But I’m not one of them. I’m a grown-ass man, and I know where we stand. I know you’re going to make me work for you, and I’m not scared of it.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Brendan dragged a hand down his face. Piper Bellinger was from a different, flashier planet.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
I’ve dated some airheads, Piper.” He sighed. “But you put them all to shame.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
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The second Opal opened the door—wearing a seriously cute lavender shortie robe—Piper could tell she was having second thoughts. “Nope.” Piper cut her off with a kiss, right on the mouth. “Everyone gets pre-party jitters, Opal. You hear me? Everyone. But we don’t let that stop us, do we? No. We persevere. And we get drunk until we feel nothing.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Si Piper Bellinger iba a matarlo, moriria feliz.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Y yo no lo se.
¿Que sabes, Piper?
Se que te amo, Brendan. Se que te amo y eso es todo.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Piper, el hombre te mira como... si el estuviera lleno de grietas y tu eres el pegamento.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
There’s just nothing to you, okay? There are thousands of Piper Bellingers in this city. You’re just a way to pass the time.” He shrugged. “And your time has passed.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Stop what, Piper? Thinking about you every second of the day? Missing you so much I climb the fucking walls? Stop being hungry for you? I can't turn any of that off and I don't want to.
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
She’d lost her Piper sparkle. It was girl language, and yet, he so thoroughly understood what Hannah meant,
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))
“
Piper “you’re an ass man, I guess”
Brendan “no, Piper I’m a this ass man
”
”
Tessa Bailey (It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1))