[ Even with trusting someone and letting them in, there's always strings attached. Conditions. Expectations. Alan's seen enough of that with his dabbles with fame. It's part and parcel of the whole process, but that doesn't mean he likes it. Maybe somehow, Jesse's less complicated. Maybe she doesn't come with as many strings. Alice didn't, not really, and he'd even go as far as to say she still doesn't, even with the divorce proceedings and all that that involves. ]

Yeah? You would? [ He can't help but smile and feel curious at the same time. ] I'd like to see them. I don't know what I'll be doing after this. [ I wish that I didn't have this insanity with the kidnapper and manuscript pages and whatever the hell is going on. I wish that we could just sit down for a cup of coffee and talk.

His reaction to her touching his arm and leaning in is immediate. His hand at her waist shifts to touch her back, and he gives an experimental pull, still expecting her to pull back. They're closer together now, and the thought enters his mind that he could kiss her. He wants to, he feels that attraction pulling him in, and he doesn't want to resist it. ]

I don't know what it is, but it doesn't feel bad. [ His face is in front of hers now, and he could close the gap between them if he wanted to, so why is he hesitating?

Is this really what I should be doing? ]