It was as if her words had set him into motion, he started toward her, quickly closing the space - until he abruptly stopped. Malou's body involuntarily had stepped forward slightly, now it leaned, wishing for the return of that motion, that confidence she had seen in his face. The desire to be near her as she wished to be near him. She knew she hadn't imagined that. Even now his hand was reaching toward her's. She longed to place it in his grasp, but he had stopped and she would respect his reason for that. His gaze met her's. It was amazing how much just his gaze could do, immediately her heart began to race again. The words were a balm, candid and kind. They calmed her nerves, reminding her that she had been right to think there had been something.

Malou almost took a step toward him, but then his hand dropped, no longer asking her to come to him. Malou kept herself still, to will herself not to sway forward to him. But his words caught her off guard. Find her? This evening? Or did he mean in general? Did it matter? He regretted not finding her. "You've found me know." Her voice was soft as she tried to reassure him, taking a tentative step forward, with her hand outstretched toward his.