Ben stood just inside the apartment, watching her move about it with a warm ache settling in his chest, overlapped by the unmistakable hum of her own curious excitement.

All at once, he was prone in a heap, face first into the forgiving cushions of her own upholstered sofa. One corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile, and because there was no one to see it, he did nothing to try and hide it.

Blowing out an unsteady sigh, Ben floundered for a moment. He considered sitting down, but wondered if she might prefer to be alone.