He'd pegged her wrong from that first view of a bubbly and shallow teenager dancing with her friends, nothing special. And though she'd managed to thwart his every plan and avoid his fangs Spike had put that down to luck. He hadn't really sat up to take notice till she'd evaded the Order of Taraka and put him in a wheelchair, by which time all he could do was sit. She was upgraded in his mind then to a worthy and amusing opponent, and delectable eye candy with it, but even then he didn't see the steel in her until Angelus returned.

Since then she'd become a legend, and the bare fact that she was still alive made her unique
Well if he isn't Spike he certainly does have the precise memories that Spike would have. And I love how he's gradually not waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And btw, congratulations on the nomination.