She felt his request more like a directive than a request. He made it sound like she didn't dare refuse. Of course, she had no intentions of refusing. Kaus intrigued her…something told her this was no ordinary man. Could she trust herself to go with him with the feelings she had churning inside her? The turmoil of her insides made no sense to her. A dinner invitation was an easily controlled situation. She reached for air—"I…I…" Nothing would form in her mind. Tongue tied, immature, and stupid, breathe, she chastised herself. Her head swirling with the lack of air or the stress of Kaus so close—the room—the exhaustion from her already full day.

Seeming to sense her hesitation he added, "You can pick the spot if that'll help your decision to be favorable to my request."

He stood so close his hot breath brushed across her cheek. A slight hint of Sen Sen lingered with it. The smell of him in the tiny enclosure wafted past her nostrils, earthy, spicy suggesting virility and adventure. Angeni swallowed the lump of desire in her throat. "Yes, oh sure—anywhere is fine. I don't have a favorite place. The restaurant here has excellent food," she fired staccato bursts, short impatient sentences that sounded crass and rude or nervous and school-girlish. She felt another blush color her cheeks. The palms of her hands began to sweat. "I mean I'd love to have dinner with you." She said trying to control her voice as it modulated between warm, curious, and frightened embarrassment.

Kaus smiled a devastating smile, "I'll wait in the lounge. My usual table," he said with a wink that sent the butterflies a swirl again in her stomach.