"Oh far from it! You've done a remarkable job here, and I simply thought a little break was well earned." No slight have ever been intended, if anything Eric valued the hard work of all the people working at the base and sought to acknowledge them when possible. However when she brought his lack of attendance during meals a simple shrug of his shoulders was seen. "I do tend to take my meals in the office, or off base, for the most part." That scent of his was a mixture of his sandalwood cologne, and a bit of the pheromones he passively produced...the scent of arousal, and a calming scent too.
When her brother was brought up Hawthorne arched an eyebrow slightly. "I wasn't away of that, but I'm glad to hear that he is well and that you have the chance to see him once agin."