"Well, what if I want to? What then?" Okay, maybe she was feeling a little bratty, but she couldn't help it. It seemed like he was the kind of person who'd be fun to prod about silly things every once in a while, in spite of how serious he appeared -- hell, maybe because of it. She didn't get to do it to other people often, only to have it done to her.

"You're inviting me to your house to play with your cats at my leisure, I think that merits some kind of friendly gift or something. Don't you?"