"It's been my experience that women who say that never really mean it," he says, pausing at the door to look back at her, the angry but capable young woman that stood there like she might set the house on fire in a tantrum fit. But he didn't tend to answer those, in most of the forms they came in. They were all past childhood now. Time to set aside childish things.

He can't help but wonder back to his former question. Then again, he'd always been a studier of people, in his own way. Feeling that tipping his hat was respect that she didn't deserve and he didn't have it in him to spare right now, he left and shut the door oh so calmly behind him.