It depends

As Scarlet begins to speak a little more deeply about herself, Eli grins again. Yes, her eyes were dark and luring - that was a given. Yes, her demeanor was strong - anybody could see that. Could she kick the crap out of anyone that messed with her? Eli had figured that from the get-go. She was pretty confident... though someone with size might give her a run for her money. But Eli could imagine she'd be quite the wildcat if it came down to a fight.

He almost throws her a smart remark about how obvious it was about those things, but he stops, as she continues. Her words about her own heart catch him off guard. He had figured this conversation would stay pretty surface, but she was touching on something deeper. He hadn't been able to tell right off the bat that she had a wounded heart. He couldn't help but wonder what had caused that pain and those invisible walls.

Concentrating on the fireworks, he's not sure how to respond as there's a pause, but he needn't think of an answer just yet, when she begins speaking again. A man protecting his sister? Whom she'd taken the time to observe? Whom she liked when she met?

Eli's pulse quickens slightly. He knew she was talking about him, and he was a little stunned. Turning his head, he just looks at her, surprise written all over his face. He'd thought that today had been more of a meeting on a whim or maybe just something to do or be crazy. But apparently, Scarlet had thought through this long before coming to the shop. She'd already observed him, sized him up and formed an opinion before they'd ever even spoken.

He was pretty confident of himself and he knew he could be top dog when he wanted, whether it was around the shop or at the night races. But having someone else say these things about him... he really didn't know how to take it. He felt some form of flattery but it wasn't something he received often, and coming from Scarlet... it sent a warm feeling through his veins.

His head still turned, he just looks at her, studying her for the longest time while the fireworks boomed above. "Wow... sounds like quite the guy," he responds with raised eyebrows. "I should meet him sometime... maybe he'd have a few pointers for me."

She'd been serious and he'd just cracked a joke. He felt like kicking himself for it, but he just didn't know how to respond to something like that. Backtracking a little, he speaks again before she would have time to feel too badly that he'd kidded around. His voice is a little softer this time. "So what did meeting this guy do to that wall?" he asks quietly. "That wall that's protecting a mending heart."


At first, Alec doesn't move as Ryan comes to sit on his lap, but when she starts to kiss him, his hands automatically slip around her waist, pulling her a little closer. He couldn't help but return her kiss, his fingers gripping her back.

Hearing her theory, he grins while kissing her, giving a low little growl of pleasure as her fingers rake through his hair. "Maybe," he manages between kisses. "I guess it depends..."

His hands roam her back, finding her warm skin to caress. "...on how good..." He tilts his head the other way. "...the little bit is."

Tightening his hold around her, he stands up, letting her wrap her legs around him to stay in his arms. Kicking the chair out of the way, he wanders to the living room, still wrapped up in passionate kisses while picking his way carefully around furniture until he'd reached the couch.

Letting Ryan down first, he lowers himself over her, pausing to catch his breath. "Only one way to find out," he whispers. Keeping his forearms on either side of her to not put too much pressure on her, he leans in again to kiss her cheek, then moves back and down to her neck, lingering there to tease her with kisses before sliding back up to her lips again.