“I want Alister's killer. I'm letting you work with me because you want to and because if I didn't, you'd just get in my way.""You're 'letting' me work with you because you're too bad tempered to get information out of anybody on your own," she retorted. "I don't know why the lictors thought you might be useful to them. What do you do, stab prisoners with the sharp edge of your tongue until they beg for mercy?”

“Icarus.""Hmm?""I don't have a hidden agenda. Nor do I intend to use you or mislead you with my charm."Despite herself, she smiled, glancing at him. His face was studiously neutral."The day you act charming, I'll know something is wrong.”

“Huh? Oh you have a hidden agenda, do you?" She laughed. His straight-faced humor always surprised her. "You promised me you didn't.""There is nothing hidden about it," he replied. My objective is obvious. I've decided I'd rather have you describe me as 'sweet' than a 'slagging pain in the tailset.'""Really?""Well..." he looked up from the bag. "Maybe not in public.""I might be able to confine myself to saying it in private, if you gave me a reason." Taya met his eyes, and he blushed.”

“There ain't a man in the world cares about a woman's past until he's thinking of her in his future.”

“A clockwork heart can't replace the real thing.”

“I know I'm a bad bargain. But I'm begging you to have me anyway. Because I want a chance to make you as happy as you make me. I want to build a life with you."He fought to steady his voice. "Please come to me, Cat, because there's no surviving you. You don't have to love me back. You don't have to be mine. Just let me be yours.”

“Computers are great because when you're working with them you get immediate results that let you know if your program works. It's feedback you don't get from many other things.”