Cesare laughed and waved his hand, as though ushering her along. He liked her grin. He couldn't abide dour women. Or men, either, but there was something particularly unpleasant about a woman who never smiled.

"Lock and load indeed. All guns blazing into that good night - though I fear I'm mixing my metaphors. I'm surprised I haven't bored the wits out of you, with all my talk of sin and classic art and a veritable host of other dry subjects." While he was mostly teasing, the fact remained. This petit cher hadn't waved him away or scorned him as many a youth would. Simply the fact that she showed no fear at venturing out alone with what she had to consider an odd man she didn't know...

"What does a bright young thing like you see in me?"