Anneke And Liam Quotes

“Because you are probably the single strongest, most capable person I've ever met, and you just had a total meltdown. I was there when you came to work the day after your stepdad's funeral. I was there when that idiot accidentally shot you through the hand with a nail gun, stapling you to a stud wall, and you calmly whipped the hammer out of your belt, got the nail out, and without batting an eyelash or dropping a tear told him to get the rest of the wall together while you went for a tetanus shot. You're a seriously tough cookie, Miss Anneke, so if you're this upset, upset enough to let my distasteful hateful personage come anywhere near you, leet alone comfort you? Things must be bad.”
― Stacey Ballis, Recipe for Disaster

“There is a gate across the entrance, which Liam moves aside for me, and there is a scrabbling noise as a red blur comes zooming across the room. Liam reaches down and picks up the dervish, who licks him frantically. "Hello, girl. Nice to see you too. This is Anneke, she's a friend of mine. Anneke, this is Kerry. Like the country." I can finally see that she is an Irish setter, maybe four or five months old, and I reach out to pet her, and Liam drops her unceremoniously in my arms. She is soft and warm, and immediately snuggles cozily against me.
"Cute pup."
"Yeah, I have to say, she has stolen my heart."
"That's just because she's Irish."
"That might be it. Always did have a thing for redheads." This makes me blush, and I focus on cuddling the puppy to cover my discomfit.”
― Stacey Ballis, Recipe for Disaster

“I have to hand it to you, little Annamuk, this is not what I would have expected."
"Why is that?"
"It's so, um, romantic."
"And you don't think I'm romantic?"
"I think you're refreshingly unsentimental. It's what makes you a great builder."
"I don't think I follow."
He pauses for a moment. "I think that your eye always goes to what will make a home function smoothly, what will make the people who live there comfortable. That is different than the romantic aspect. Romantic people get focused on things like brand names and labels that evoke a certain feel for them, or focused on elements that may or may not work well for their space. Old-world crown molding in a modern loft space, commercial kitchen appliances for a family that doesn't cook, the kinds of touches that actually make a space feel awkward or just off. Your places are always fully kitted out, with amazing attention to detail, and always designed with the actual usage and client in mind."
"So why is this different?"
"I don't know. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, and still super-functional, but the chandelier? The painted floor? Very girly."
"And I'm not a girl?"
Liam looks me dead in my eyes. "No, my darling. You are not now and never have been a girl. You are a woman. Every inch.”
― Stacey Ballis, Recipe for Disaster