She'd had some intention of explaining herself and Rick's complete lack of action. Or maybe she was just going to brush over it with a thin salve of redirection. Whatever she'd intended, Lotte's words killed the train of thought right on it's tracks. James couldn't believe what she was hearing. The swollen flesh of her lower lip fell away from it's pensive purse in tangible shock. How could Lotte even say..
The surprise melted under a warm kiss of anger, and James stood from her chair quick enough to bring whiplash if Lotte's pretty eyes tried to keep up. "This didn't happen because I'm a dancer!"