He offered his arm to her with a dramatic gesture. "Shall we?" His grin broadened at the sparkle in her eyes. He couldn't help it, all she had to do was smile and it made his day every time. They had known one another for long enough that the new should have worn off his initial crush on her, but it hadn't. Friends, she had made that clear through actions if not with words. It wasn't anything he could complain about, no harsh treatment, he just felt he understood what she wanted from him. He didn't let himself dream about it, or hope for something that probably wasn't meant to be, just being around her was enough, just to be there for her. 

[quote=UnlikelyDisguise]"Don't feel bad, it is pretty rare to be able to sneak up on me." Her crystal-blue eyes seemed to shine as she spoke.
[/quote]

"So, I should take it as a complement?" he joked as they walked along. "Like I've told you before, Slick," he continued, using his nickname for her, "I don't like it because I always spook the hell out of you. One of these days your going to stab me or hit me or something cause I spooked you."