"I'm very glad you did," he said, taking her foot into his hands and starting his work right away. She had beautiful feet, just like the rest of her, and he could have sat there massaging them all evening.
But then she asked the question. . . "Well," he began, slowing his work on her foot, but not stopping. "I like you, Minerva."
He did stop massaging then, and slowly ran his fingers up her leg, gently kneading her calf muscle. "I like you. . . a lot. And I love what we have." He took a deep breath. Here he was, Atlas Cornwell, professing his feelings for a girl. He wasn't even sure if he was capable of feeling anything at all, but she. . . she brought things out in him.
"You bring out the best in me," he told her. "And I feel like taking you out on a proper date would be the right thing to do." Setting her leg down then, he scooted over and leaned in close to her. "The day I met you in the Leaky, I was only looking for one thing. A quick fuck to take my mind off of being me. But I liked that you were a tough one to get to. I had to work to get you. And as soon as I did. . . I didn't want anything else. I just want to do things right for once."