It was indeed easy, but Sylv wasn't about to let her rest on those laurels forever. Not when they were in a new place with a chance to start fresh. He still grinned right back though. "Hardly, darling," he said with a bit of a dismissive wave as if the very idea was silly. "But I have been a tad busy lately and have been something of a moving target myself, so I suppose it's no wonder we've been missing each other."

"And of course dessert is included. It would be silly for it not to be, and besides, I hear that they're having strawberry shortcake tonight." And he knew Mal's fondness for strawberries.