Shooting a sideways glance at the man as she passed through the door he held, Dani gave a slight shake of her head. “That really isn’t necessary.” The idea that she would require the word of a stranger to smooth over a minor absence -- but it was meant to be charismatic, she knew, a way of making up for her detour, verbally at least. With that in mind, she offered him a stiff, closed-mouth smile. “I work in the lab here, and this is my dinner break.”
Dani didn’t notice the man had paused on the landing until she was already on the step above. That, combined with the slight heel on her shoes, actually put her at eye level with her companion as she drew to a halt and turned back to hear his introduction. Her eyebrows rose at his name. Well, that certainly explained the ‘darlin’ that he kept throwing her way.
“Of course, from the freenet. I’m surprised you haven’t already departed for the LBJ.” It was too late now, of course, thanks to the curfew. “We exchanged messages -- I’m Dani Diaz.”