Golden Time

“I told Georgie and the others that for a cheeseburger, I'd do just about anything. But having an alien lay claim to me feels…weird. I don't even get a choice? This is like me saying "I want a cheeseburger" and someone slapping a pickle into my hand and saying "Fuck you, you get a pickle.”
― Ruby Dixon, Barbarian Alien

“Thank you for saving him," Evie heard herself say to Westcliff, still staring at her husband.

The earl slid her a sideways glance. "You saved him, Evie on the night you offered to marry him. Which is evidence, I suppose, that moments of lunacy can occasionally lead to positive results. [...]”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter

“Man discourseth greatly, and his discourse is for the greater part empty and false; the discourse of animals is small, but useful and true: slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.”
― Leonardo da Vinci, Thoughts on Art and Life

“Westcliff thinks that St. Vincent is in love with you.”

Evie choked a little and didn’t dare look up from her tea. “Wh-why does he think that?”

“He’s known St. Vincent from childhood, and can read him fairly well. And Westcliff sees an odd sort of logic in why you would finally be the one to win St. Vincent’s heart. He says a girl like you would appeal to…hmm, how did he put it?…I can’t remember the exact words, but it was something like… you would appeal to St. Vincent’s deepest, most secret fantasy.”

Evie felt her cheeks flushing while a skirmish of pain and hope took place in the tired confines of her chest. She tried to respond sardonically. “I should think his fantasy is to consort with as many women as possible.”

A grin crossed Lillian’s lips. “Dear, that is not St. Vincent’s fantasy, it’s his reality. And you’re probably the first sweet, decent girl he’s ever had anything to do with.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter