"Yes, you're absolutely the perfect specimen of male-ness," she teased him, her voice holding a note of affection as she laughed. Men.

"It sounds like a good plan, and pretty much along the same lines as mines and probably most others. And thanks for the invitation, but I've got my own world and friends and family to get back to," she replied, looking wistful for a moment.

"Valyn? Terrified of a pretty girl?" Max laughed at the very notion. "Oh, now that's a wonderful mental image I'll have to remember. Maybe I'll have to 'fall for him' just to freak him out while he's here. So he doesn't get out of the habit or anything."