Tucking her hand securely in the crook of his arm, she curls her fingers in the fine linen of his shirt and enjoys the thrum of anticipation that suffuses her at the nebulous promise of what's ahead for them tonight. It's been a long time since she's been able to anticipate any kind of intimacy with a man, even just a harmless flirtation, and it's a surprisingly effective balm to the bruises her soul has suffered lately.

"You were at death's door, the last time we spent any time together. I'm amazed you remember me at all."