There is an honesty in that smile which, if he was not already attracted to her, would be enough on its own to assure it. She is, it strikes him, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen; and all he wants, for this moment, is to see her smile in such thoughtless joy more often, to be the cause of such delight.

He smiles at her, his eyes a little softer than they were, and leans over the desk to brush a kiss against her cheek. "Then I am glad you happened upon me here." As though he isn't well aware, in hindsight, that there was nothing coincidental about it. "I think it saved us both some time."