He was trying so hard, and it was so sweet it almost hurt Curnen's heart. She wanted to kiss him. She almost did. Something quick and soft and chaste. And yet for all that this was what she wanted to do, she knew she should not. It would feel nice in the moment, but in the long run--which was still so hard to think about--it would only damage things between them. Kash was not Rob Quillen, and she'd do well to remember that. If he came to her at all, she'd have to let him make the first move.

She kissed his cheek instead.