Natalie Caña > Quotes

“You married your best friend?” At Abuela’s nod, Kamilah’s jaw dropped, and she shook her head in disbelief. “Why would you want to marry your best friend?”
“¿Por qué no?"
“Because a best friend is one thing, and a person you marry is another,” Kamilah explained.
Abuela smiled at her and shook her head. “No ojitos, son la misma persona. You should only marry your best friend. Remember that when you grow up.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“I named this whiskey Coquí, because, like the goddess to her love, my heart has always called for you.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“This is not casual. This is years’ worth of anticipation, expectation, desire.”
It was all of that and more. It was two magnets finally getting close enough to snap together. It was the last two pieces of a thousand-piece puzzle finally clicking into place. It was two hearts beating in time, finally.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Liam experienced something unlike anything he’d ever felt before. It wasn’t a sexual desire. It wasn’t solely sexual desire. It was the need to just be close to her. A need he couldn’t resist. He stepped in close so their hands were sandwiched in between their chests. Then he bent his head until their foreheads touched. He saw her eyes widen and her mouth open in surprise, but he didn’t answer. He closed his eyes and just luxuriated in being with her.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“My dad used to say that love is creation, and when I developed this whiskey, I did it with someone very special in mind.
The first thing you’ll notice is the smell of coconut. That’s because she’s used coconut oil in her hair since we were kids.
You’ll also smell honey because her eyes turn the color of wildflower honey when she’s happy. And cinnamon because she’s exciting but warm.
There are sweet notes of vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch because all those colors can be found in her curls when she’s in the sun.
But there is also a hit of pink peppercorn and black coffee because she’s more than sweetness. She has an edge and depth. The light smokiness throughout is in reference to her mysteriousness.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“As a soldier, Saint knew better than anyone that sometimes we had to do things even when we knew they were wrong. Even when it meant we sold pieces of our souls until we weren’t sure there was even any left.”
― Natalie Caña, A Dish Best Served Hot

“It was more as if Casa del Sol were their college dorm rather than their senior-care facility. It didn’t help that the two tended to view the senior-living center’s strict rules as friendly suggestions. “Your feelings aside,” Maria continued”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“We started out this life being best friends, and we’re going to finish it being partners in every sense of the word. This isn’t my journey. It’s ours.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“This is her life’s calling, her heart and soul. This is her labor of love, and it’s dedicated to you, her family. How can any one of you judge her for it? How can you not support her in trying to ensure it survives?” His speech was met with more silence.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“The crown for loyalty because you are the most steadfast grandson. Your life’s work is an honor to your family and your legacy: dedication from your grandfather, craft from your father, history from your grandmother, and beauty from your mother. The hands for friendship because you’ve been my best friend since before I even knew what friendship meant. You understand me like no one else does, you support me even when it’s inconvenient for you, but you also call me on my shit. Lastly, a heart for love because I don’t know anyone who loves as hard as you do. You love so deeply that it pains you, and yet you still do it.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Everything about this whiskey was his love letter to her. A love letter he’d started years ago.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Kamilah closed her eyes and shook her head. It was a variation on what she’d said right before giving the Devious Duo a monthlong suspension from bingo for starting an illicit gambling ring; before that, there was a security-enforced curfew after the strip-poker fiasco.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“I hear it really helps them choke down that white guilt for stealing and destroying everyone’s culture,” Lucy said.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Liam hated giving tours. These people didn’t give a shit about the level of craftsmanship that went into the process or the building.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“They want a handcrafted experience given to them by someone they consider an expert in that field. You’re the expert. If you can give them that experience, they’ll come, they’ll come back, and they’ll bring their friends.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“In my day, we worked out, plus did all the hard housework. I used to go to the gym, then come home and scrub the floors on my hands and knees” or “I know all you girls want to look like the Kardashians, but there is a difference between curvy and chunky.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Poor Mami: she wanted so badly for her only girl to be a polished princess. Instead, she’d got a high-strung hot mess. “No wonder you’re single,” Mami finished.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“But everything we’ve gone through has only made us stronger. Closer and better. I know that there will be difficult times in our future, but I also know we will be ok because we’ll always have each other to help us through everything.”
― Natalie Caña, Sleeping with the Frenemy

“You need to learn that shutting the fuck up is free, but talking out your neck can cost you”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“I’ve always had your back, but you lied to me for twelve years, Kamilah, and not some tiny bullshit lie. We were supposed to go to Paris together. We had firm plans, and then you said you didn’t get in, and everything fell through. Your lie changed my whole life. It affected my future, and you didn’t see fit to tell me about it. I know you too well to think that you would ever have owned up to it on your own. So yeah. I’m done helping you. I’m done having your back. I’m done with you.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Her issue was that a majority of the original residents were being denied access to those opportunities and the financial possibilities that came with the changes.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Since then, he’s been a cold, dismissive asshat, who doesn’t appreciate any of the things you do to help him and his grandpa.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“I love you. I loved the boy you were, and I love the man you are.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“You expect me to leave my business, my life’s work, in your hands after I die, when you can’t even give a fucking tour to some obnoxious millennials?”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“My parents opened this place to celebrate us and our neighbors and the community. To show their pride and love of our culture. They didn’t open this place to cater to a bunch of yuppies who want everything vegan and locally sourced.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Neither one of your lives is what could be considered fine. You are both lonely workaholics who are focused on the wrong things.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“was referring to the fact that he can’t walk that many stairs anymore, but I guess, as the almost thirty-year-old woman living with her parents, I should take your word on that other stuff.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“It’s my fault your emotional growth was stunted, so I figured it was my responsibility to put you on the right track. It didn’t”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“From the kingpin and his henchman sitting at a table in an empty restaurant, nonchalantly picking at a banquet of food, to an oddly solemn-faced Kamilah, who sat with her forearms resting on the table and her fingers interlocked as if in prayer.”
― Natalie Caña, A Proposal They Can't Refuse

“Once she was reasonably sure that her face wasn’t covered in snot and tears, she looked up at him. “Why?” she rasped out through her sore throat.
Leo shrugged. I knew you needed it.
Sophie’s brow furrowed.
“At the service I could tell that you weren’t letting yourself cry. You were trying to be strong for your mom and abuela. I get that. But you don’t have to be strong now. I’m here and I’ll do it for you.”
“But why?” She didn’t get it. Leo always treated her like he was annoyed by her presence.
“Because I know that if I didn’t do this for you, no one would. They’d let you continue to push it all down and that’s not fair to you. You should be able to feel whatever you want without having to worry about what other people think. Since you don’t care about what I think. I was the perfect person to do it.”
― Natalie Caña, Sleeping with the Frenemy