“Are you really an archangel?” I whisper.He gives me a cocky grin. “Impressed?”“No,” I lie. “But I have some complaints I’d like to file about your personnel.”“Talk to middle management.”I follow him out the door, giving him mydeath-by-glare expression.”

“Oh, crapola. Don't get your panties in such a twist...and give me back mine. I glare at him.”

“Then how about one kiss?' he said with a sexy grin. 'Something to remember me by?''I’ll give you something to remember me by,' I said. The back of my head.' I pushed past him and escaped through the door to freedom.”

“And I've got THIS," I pulled out the signum and held it up for him to see, "that says I'm kindred. And I've got THIS," I pointed at my head, "that says I'm as smart as you. And I have THIS," I held up my middle finger, "that says go to hell, you immortal bigot."And with that I spun around and stomped out the door, filing the expression on Arthur's face in a mental folder labeled "Kate's Proudest Moments".”

“Hi," he says. I manage to grunt in response, and his smile broadens. "Rude enough for you?"I nod and give him a reluctant grin. Jeez, any ruder and I'd have to spank the pair of us.”

“Tell me about yourself, Miss Russell."I started to give him the obligatory response, first the demurral and then the reluctant flat autobiography, but some slight air of polite inattention in his manner stopped me. Instead, I found myself grinning at him."Why don't you tell me about myself, Mr. Holmes?”