“Amanda, whether you know it or not, I'm all the security you'll ever need. I would never let anyone harm a single hair on your head.”

“I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever cared about, and I’ve never loved somebody like this. I can’t lose it, and I won’t lose you … This has nothing to do with equal rights or trust. This is life, and you’re mine.”

“C’mon, you know you want to be the star to my burst.”

“His head was mixed up, and fall semester was going to be needlessly rough if he didn’t get a few things in order first. Nicola would have to speak up, Jacob would have to shut up, and he would have to man up.”

He caught her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips. "I've been chasing you since before I knew what chasing a girl meant."
An instant flash of heat tore through her, but she couldn't stop smiling. "Ha."
"I'm going to change clothes, then let's go."
He stationed her on the couch and was in and out of his room, jeans and a t-shirt on within seconds. "Dinner with my secret girlfriend."
Girlfriend?
"Now I'm going to call you out on that." But she followed him.
"What?" He snagged his keys off the counter.
"Girlfriend."
His eyes danced when he chuckled. "Oh, scary word."
"You don't do girlfriends. That I know."
"I never had you."