Okay, she was ready. Kay braced herself, hesitated for perhaps a second too long for the same reasons that Johan had just been deliberating, but was about to push off, when--

... His hand caught hold of her arm.

The noise Kay made was a startled one as she turned her head to look at him. Surprise was clearly written all over her face, and then it shifted to genuine curiosity and the slightest hint of concern. Had she forgotten something? But he looked too serious for that. Or had she somehow offended him? What--

"Johan...?"