The sound of boots scuffling behind her wouldn't ordinarily have much of an impact on her, but she recognized the weight of that tread. Already. And immediately closed her fingers around the strip of paper she'd written her wish on without crumpling it.

Although she smiled and leaned into his irresistibly gentle touch, she murmured, "Not in public, Neil," of that particular endearment. The press of her lips against his jaw as a return greeting said it wasn't the affection or the intimacy she objected to, so if he didn't understand, at least he wouldn't worry he'd done something irreparably wrong.