Given the choice between having this conversation and being stuck back in that elevator with Stark, there was a very good chance Steve would have opted for the elevator. He could already feel his face heating up, unused to discussing this sort of thing with any level of frankness, let alone discussing it with Peggy. He wasn't the only one blushing though; he could see her cheeks darkening, and the way she was playing with her dress seemed to speak volumes. She was just as uncomfortable in this as he was, which meant he didn't get to be a coward and duck out of this conversation, however much he wanted to.
Unfortunately, Steve didn't have a damn clue where to start. He wasn't even completely sure what Peggy was asking, what she wanted to be reassured about, and that was never a good combination. That was the kind of thing that led to nervous rambling, like if Steve could just cover all of his bases, surely he would eventually stumble across the correct response.
"I respect you," Steve finally said, his words quiet, at odds with his blazing face. "And I like you, very much. I want to take you out to dinner, hold your hand - take you dancing, even, 'cept you know I'll be awful at it. I - I want to give this a shot, whatever's between us."
He paused then, uncertain how to get his next point across. Because he didn't want to lie to Peggy, but this particular truth felt dangerous, too. Precarious. Like it could topple everything he was trying to fix.
"I also want you," Steve said. His voice broke over it, and he quickly cleared his throat, nothing but sheer stubbornness keeping his head up, his eyes on her face. "But that's - that's not the whole of it, Peggy, that's not - it isn't what I'd be in this for." He took a deep breath, tried on a shaky smile for her. "I could've found someone before now, if that was all I wanted. There're people out there who would've taken me to bed, no questions asked. But I want it to mean something, want it to be with someone who means something."
It felt wrong, on some level, to be having this conversation halfway across the room from her, but Peggy hadn't given any indication that she wanted him closer, and Steve wasn't about to push her on this, especially since he wasn't sure he was telling her anything she wanted to hear.
"Last night wasn't me, and it's not how I want this to go," Steve said. "But I ain't gonna lie and pretend I don't want you, either." That was a slip, a bit of his District 8 showing, the way it sometimes did when he was nervous. "I just - I don't wanna rush us."
Steve forcibly shut his mouth, sensing that he was about to dig himself a hole he wouldn't be able to get out of. He had no idea if he'd even managed to get his point across without offending, so it was probably time to be quiet and let Peggy have her say.