Shadalis

“Oh, Callie-mine," Anne said, her voice taking on a tone she'd used when Callie was a little girl and crying over some injustice, "your white knight, he will come."
One side of Callie's mouth kicked up in a wry smile. Anne had said those words countless times over the last two decades.
"Forgive me, Anne, but I'm not so certain that he will."
Oh, he will," Anne said firmly. "And when you least expect."
I find I'm rather tired of waiting." Callie laughed half-heartedly. "Which is probably why I've turned my attentions to such a dark knight.”
― Sarah MacLean, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

“You cheated!”
He looked at her, wide-eyed with feigned outrage. “I beg your pardon. If you were a man, I would call you out for that accusation.”
“And I assure you, my lord, that I would ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness.”
“Are you quoting the Bible to me?”
“Indeed,” she said primly, the portrait of piousness.
“While gambling.”
“What better location to attempt to reform one such as you?”
― Sarah MacLean, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

“So... you're an assassin?" Dave asked incredulously.

"Why do I feel like you'd have used the same tone if I'd just confessed to being a stripper?" I demanded.

"Sorry," he said quickly. "I'm just surprised, is all.”
― Jennifer Rardin, Biting the Bullet

“How is it that one woman is…enough…for three men?”
“I don’t know.”
“She must be a very talented courtesan.”
“Callie.”
“Well, that was what she was. Wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“How very fascinating!” She smiled brightly. “I’ve never met a courtesan, you know.”
“I could have surmised as such.”
“She looked just as I imagined they did! Well, she was rather prettier.”
Ralston’s eyes darted around the room as though he was looking for the quickest escape route.
“Callie. Wouldn’t you rather gamble than talk about courtesans?”
― Sarah MacLean, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake