The Dating Plan Quotes

“My point is...if you want something, go after it. Don't let fear hold you back. Take your chance. Live a life of no regrets. And don't blame yourself if it goes wrong. People have their own journey and it has nothing to do with you.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Liam: Everyone has a weakness
Daisy: What's yours?
Liam: You.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Hi...ah..." What did she call him? Honey? Babe? Darling? "...Humraaz." The Urdu term of endearment came out before she could stop it.
Liam's gaze shifted to her, and his face softened. Before he could ask her what it meant and ruin the performance, she rose up on her toes, pressed her hands against his chest, and kissed him.
Without hesitation, Liam wrapped one arm around her waist, pressed his mouth against hers, and bent her over backward in a full-on movie kiss.
Her breath hitched and her lips softened. His lips were firm and cool and tasted of coffee and something sweet. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and for a moment she thought her heart had stopped. But it didn't matter. Upside down, in front of her work colleagues, she was the woman she always wanted to be.
Then she was up and back on her feet, lips tingling, an ache of desire between her thighs.
"What does it mean?" he murmured gently.
"The one with whom we share our secrets."
"Then I am your humraaz," he said. "And you are mine.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“We don't need a plan. We'll tell them the truth. We met when we needed to meet. We found each other when we needed to be found. We fell in love because it was meant to be. And you became mine at a bus stop in the rain.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“She slid her free hand over his shoulder, soft breasts crushing against his chest. All his blood rushed down to his groin, taking with it the last vestiges of his rational thought. He locked his arms around her, pulling her so close he could feel each gentle breath as an exquisite stroke on his cock. Raw desire coursed through his veins as his hands skimmed over the sweet softness of her curves.
"Someone is watching us through the window," she murmured, her breath warm on his cheek.
"All the more reason to put on a good show." With one hand on her nape, he tipped back her head and covered her mouth with his own.
A moan escaped her lips, filling his head with thoughts of tangled sheets, banging headboards, sweat-slicked skin, and the realization of a fantasy that had consumed him night after sleepless night since she'd turned sixteen and he'd realized she wasn't a little girl anymore.
He parted her lips with the gentle slide of his tongue, touching, tasting, savoring, pausing between heady sips to let her essence dance over his taste buds. With every breath he inhaled the fresh scent of wildflowers in a rain-soaked meadow, the grassy lawn where they'd played catch in the summer sun. He'd known she was smart and fun and beautiful. But this kiss. These feelings. The throbbing heat of desire. It was all completely new.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“LIAM: Why aren't you asleep?
DAISY: I get up every morning at 5:45 a.m. to work out.
LIAM: I don't get up at 5:45 a.m. to sleep as long as possible.
DAISY: That's why we would never work in real life. We're different.
LIAM: I could turn you to the dark side. Come and sleep with me.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“I will never stop loving you. That's why I have to go.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“...and her smile would make my heart sing, and I wasn't listening to the song.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“I felt sick at the thought that I'd hurt you, and I was ashamed I'd been in jail. You were smart, beautiful, and ambitious and you had your whole life ahead of you---an incredible future with an amazing career and a partner who could give you the world. And I was everything my dad had said I was. No direction. No motivation. No prospects. That night I got a taste of my future, and I didn't want you in it. I didn't want to drag you down. I thought it was better if I left with you hating me than if I came to say goodbye."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she relived the emotions of that night, knowing now that he was nothing like her mother, that he'd left because he'd thought he wasn't good enough and not because she wasn't good enough for him.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“It’s not about the ride. It’s about who is in the pillion seat.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“From the first day we met, I knew I needed you in my life. You took the chaos and made it calm. You lifted my heart with your smile and awed me with your brilliant mind. I kept every secret valentine, every scribbled note, your stuffed rabbit, and the answer to every math question I gave you. I hoped one day to be the kind of man you could love, a man who would hold and cherish you, a man worthy of you, and who would protect you with the sword you are going to allow him to have at our wedding.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“He'd kissed dozens of women and none of them had ever affected him this way. None had ever tasted of sunshine. None had made him question what was real.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Let's drink to broken families and damaged souls.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Daisy.. wait."
She spun to face him. "I don't owe you anything."
"What if I beg?”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“if you want something, go after it. Don’t let fear hold you back. Take your chance. Live a life of no regrets. And don’t blame yourself if it goes wrong. People have their own journey and it has nothing to do with you.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Sweating and bleeding, his shirt torn, thick hair now a tangled mop, he crawled up the steep incline until he reached the window.
He knocked.
She lifted the window the tiniest bit. "Yes?"
Puzzled, he frowned. "You asked me to come."
"Oh." She shook her head, feigning confusion. "That was ages ago. I'm about to go to sleep.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“When he returned to the bed, she drew his mouth to her breast, holding him to her as he electrified every inch of her skin with gentle nips and deep sucking pressure. Her body melted into the bed, as he kissed her all the way down, parting her legs with his broad shoulders to bare her to the magic of his tongue. He knew just where to touch, where to lick, and what she needed to send her over the edge, shattering her world into heat and light and wrenching pleasure.
"I want to be inside you." His low, gravelly whisper sent erotic tingles over her skin.
Languid with release, yet desperate for more, she answered him with a kiss. He rifled in his pocket for a condom and deftly rolled it on.
"Are you hot for me?" He pushed a thick finger inside her and the delicious sensation made her arch off the bed.
"Yes." Her words came in a breathless rush. "Now. I want you now."
"Say the magic words."
Her desire raged, fuzzed her brain with lust. "Please?"
"No."
Daisy groaned. "No games."
"Say my name."
This time there were no secrets between them. This time she wanted him for who he was.
"Liam," she murmured. "My Liam."
His heated gaze never left her as he drew up her legs and thrust deep. Molten heat streamed through her veins, threatening to incinerate her. She cupped his neck, pulling him forward. "Don't stop."
"Never." With long, powerful strokes he drove into her, stoking her passion. When her legs began to shake, he took her mouth in a hot, wet kiss, and then he hammered into her, arms corded, hips rocking, sweat beading on his brow. She grabbed his shoulders, caught his rhythm, tension spiraling inside her until she was swept away in a tidal wave of sensation, her insides clenching in a deep, pulsing rush of pleasure. Liam threw his head back, his body going rock hard as he joined her in release.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“He hadn't wanted her before and he didn't want her now---not the way she'd always imagined. No one wanted someone "weirdly smart" who preferred action figures to dolls, and math puzzles to fairy tales. Her mother had come back after a twelve-year absence to tell her so.
A disturbance at the door caught her attention. Rochelle had just brought Liam into the meeting and was eating him up with her eyes as he shook hands with Brad and Tyler.
Why was it so unbelievable that he would want to marry her? Why did she still hear her mother's voice in her head?
Fake or not, he was her fiancé, and in this game of pretend, a man like him loved a girl like her, and it wasn't okay for Rochelle to be slithering over to steal her man.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“No physical contact means no sex."
"Ever?" Liam didn't like ultimatums. "What if you beg for it?"
"I have never begged for sex in my life."
A slow, sensual smile spread across his face. "You've never been with me."
"I'm not sleeping with you, Liam," she said firmly. "And no developing feelings, either. This is solely a business arrangement. I'll include my terms and conditions when I send you the final plan." She took a picture of the whiteboard and then wiped it clean. "I'll go get Tyler."
"Daisy?"
She looked back over her shoulder as she reached for the door. "Yes?"
"What if I beg?"
"I'll throw you a bone.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Life was easier without the messy entanglement of emotions.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Everyday you came to my house. You were a friend to my son. You made my daughter smile. You said your jokes and made me laugh. You sat at our table and ate our food. And always you were fixing things in the house. You helped us. We helped you. That's family. And then you just left. No explanation. No goodbye. Not even a phone call to let us know you weren't dead.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“There was beauty in the simplicity of programming. If something was illogical, it simply wouldn’t work.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“DAISY: It's cold. Maybe you should wait inside.
LIAM: On my way. Make room in the bed.
DAISY: Very presumptuous. You have not been forgiven.
LIAM: Will do whatever you want. Walk on bed of hot coals. Whip self with cat o' nine tails. Eat five containers of Shark Stew. Fly to India to buy you Kurkure Masala Munch. Grovel and kiss your pretty feet.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Tanya was standing a little too close to Liam for comfort, and she had a hand on Daisy's man.
"Have you found a table yet?" Daisy put her arm around Liam's waist, pulling him into her side and forcing Tanya to drop her hand from his shoulder.
"It's not looking good." He put his arm around her shoulder. "I'll have to get you a motorcycle as a wedding present and we can ride out here together when it's not as busy."
Daisy bit back a smile. Liam knew what was going on and he'd just made it clear where his loyalty lay.
Tanya's gaze flicked from Liam to Daisy and back to Liam. "You two are engaged?"
"Best decision of my life," Liam said, pressing a kiss to Daisy's sweat-covered temple.
"What happened?" Tanya's smile faded. "I thought you didn't do relationships."
Another squeeze. "I just hadn't met the right person."
Daisy gave Tanya a smug but sympathetic smile.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“We've known each other for years."
"In every sense of the word." Tanya gave him a nudge and they shared another laugh.
In every sense of the word... Daisy felt a cold stab of jealousy at their intimate moment. It didn't make sense. Her relationship with Liam wasn't real. But the more time she spent with him, the more the line blurred and she didn't know where she stood.
"Daisy is a senior software engineer for an exciting new start-up that's focused on menstrual products," Liam said. "She's in line for a promotion to product manager. The company couldn't run without her."
Daisy grimaced. "I think that's a bit of an exaggeration."
"Take the compliment," Tanya said. "Liam doesn't throw many around... At least, he didn't used to."
At least, he didn't used to...
Was the bitch purposely trying to goad her with little reminders about her shared past with Liam? Daisy's teeth gritted together. Well, she got the message. Tanya was a cool, bike-riding, smooth-haired venture capitalist ex who clearly wasn't suffering in any way after her journey. She was probably so tough she didn't need any padding in her seat. Maybe she just sat on a board or the bare steel frame.
Liam ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the dark waves into a sexy tangle. Was he subconsciously grooming himself for Tanya? Or was he just too warm? "What are you riding now?"
"Triumph Street Triple 675. I got rid of the Ninja. Not enough power."
"You like the naked styling?" Liam asked.
Tanya smirked. "Naked is my thing, as you know too well."
Naked is my thing... As you know too well...
Daisy tried to shut off the snarky voice in her head, but something about Tanya set her possessive teeth on edge.
"Do you want to join us inside?" Liam asked. "We're going to have a coffee before we finish the loop."
Say no. Say no. Say no.
"Sounds good." Tanya took a few steps and looked back over her shoulder. "Do you need a hand, Daisy?"
Only to slap you.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Moments later, the curtain rattled open and Daisy strode out, a vision of hotness in head-to-toe body-skimming leather. She'd taken out her ponytail and her hair lay loose and wild around her shoulders.
"I'm badass," she whispered, staring at herself in the mirror. "Look at me."
He was looking. And he was wanting---wanting with a ferocity that took his breath away.
"Hamish! Quit gawking at my girl." He had a decision to make. But right now, all he knew was that he had to follow his heart, and his heart was strutting in front of the mirror, wrapped head-to-toe in black leather.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“And then she was hugging him, and his arms were around her, and she smelled of wildflowers and sunshine, and she was soft against his chest, but he hoped she would stop jumping because "highly aroused" wasn't a good look for him in a public place.
His lips found hers and he kissed her softly and thoroughly. When she trembled in his arms, returning his kiss with passion and abandon, a rush of something sweet and innocent flooded his senses. He'd kissed dozens of women and none had ever affected him this way. None had never tasted of sunshine. None had made him question what was real.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“Thank you for telling me. It doesn't take the pain away, but it makes all the difference now that I understand."
Sensing her emotional distress, Max squeezed in between them, tail wagging, up on his hind legs, pawing at her shirt with his forelegs, trying to lick her tears away.
Liam gave him a rub. "I wish I'd had a Max back then.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“We won! We won!" Daisy jumped up and down and threw her arms around Liam, nearly knocking him over as she pressed her lips to his in a delighted kiss.
Her lips were soft and warm and sweet with chocolate. The shock of them short-circuited his brain and for a moment he couldn't breathe. And then he was pressing her lips apart, hungry for her, desperate for more.
She softened against him, sighed. He braced himself for her to retreat, but instead, she tightened her arms around him and kissed him back, her tongue tangling with his as she explored his mouth.
"Pizza!"
She pulled away, leaving him floundering, his brain struggling to understand why someone was shoving a box in his face when all he wanted was her sweet lips and her soft body and her sigh of surrender.
"Pizza selfie." Daisy held up her phone and took a picture of them with the pizza box angled in the corner. She laughed when she showed him the screen. This time he was the one who looked dazed.”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan

“We wanted to move away from the peach packaging to something more edgy."
"Peach." Josh chuckled. "There's some subliminal advertising right there."
Mia groaned. "Do you think about anything other than sex?"
"I like peaches." Josh smiled. "I also like bananas. Does that make me a bad person?”
― Sara Desai, The Dating Plan