"Oh," she says again. "I'm sorry, I didn't-- this isn't my world, I didn't realize."

It's inane, she thinks, but if she can only keep him talking-- well, that has to be better than anything else, right?

As he moves forward, she has to fight the urge not to shrink back, and just the very fact of her fear sends a wave of annoyance through her.

Oh stop it, she snaps at herself, silently. He's not Darien!

Even as she argues it, she recognizes the flaw in her logic. Darien hadn't wanted to hurt her... or anyone.

This man already has.