"Is it really a good idea for you to lower your defenses around me?" she teased, lacing her captive fingers through his.

This somehow sent more of a jolt through him than the prodding had. "You can't blame me for that."

She traced a small pattern along his knuckles with her thumb, then released his fingers back into the cloth. "Well.. I'm glad about that, actually. You still treat me like a person."

"Well, you are a person, aren't you?" He pointed out. "Everyone sees you as this mythical figure, but I've seen you puking your guts out in Vic's trash can. You've been demystified." He thought to add, "In the best way."

She laughed at that. “Damn. There goes my mysterious allure.”

“Well, at least the mystery, yeah.” He said innocuously.

“Sounds like there’s more to that thought.” she hemmed, crossing her legs and inadvertently letting her skirt slide slightly up.

“No...” He said lightly, keeping his gaze away from her exposed leg though they both knew it was at the forefront of his mind. “Was there more to yours?”

“I have a lot of thoughts. I’m a very philosophical lady. Give me a penny for them and maybe I’ll humor you.”

“Penny for your thoughts, then.” He obliged.