"You are ridiculous," Susan said pointedly as she was shepherded into Dean's studio. "We were speaking French because I speak French, and I figured it would be nice for her to hear her mother tongue after all the dreary Anglaise. Literally all I said in French was 'I call him Handsome,' 'he's a dear,' and 'i'm sure you do,' to her declaration that she finds you very dear. Nothing else."
"Anyway," she said, still a tad grumpy. "Hello, how are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking. I got a dog, what's new with you?" She watched his face fall slightly at her pointed words, and she felt a stab of guilt. "I'm sorry, that was bitchy," she said placatingly. "But please appreciate the fact that I stifled the instinct to judo-throw you against a wall when you dragged me out like that."