[All signs seem, for the moment, to point to "no." It's dark, he's got a good poker face when he's on the level, she's close enough in his personal space to get a read on him. And in stark contrast to his usual casual air, there's something about the way he's skimming down the data that is sharp and focused. Like a dog with a bone.
He doesn't look back up at her, but there's a subtle shift in his jaw. At length—]
That seems like a pretty big step in our relationship.
[Working relationship, that is. Maybe his client is big on confidentiality, Kate, can he really trust you with the big secret? (There is no client.) It's not that he doesn't want the competition, or that he couldn't use another set of eyes. Outright playing it off as a warrant has its own set of complications, and this is tricky business to start. For all he knows, it's all in his head and he's chasing his tail. Coming up on dead ends. But he deals best with problems by being proactive about them. Telling the truth means admitting to a little more than he'd like. He likes her. He's not sure he likes her enough to spill his guts.]
no subject
He doesn't look back up at her, but there's a subtle shift in his jaw. At length—]
That seems like a pretty big step in our relationship.
[Working relationship, that is. Maybe his client is big on confidentiality, Kate, can he really trust you with the big secret? (There is no client.) It's not that he doesn't want the competition, or that he couldn't use another set of eyes. Outright playing it off as a warrant has its own set of complications, and this is tricky business to start. For all he knows, it's all in his head and he's chasing his tail. Coming up on dead ends. But he deals best with problems by being proactive about them. Telling the truth means admitting to a little more than he'd like. He likes her. He's not sure he likes her enough to spill his guts.]