It had to have been ten, maybe fifteen years; to be honest she’d expected them to run into each other long before now. Here he was, finally.

“Inara,” he greeted, as though he saw her every day.

“Mal,” she answered, equally nonchalant.

“Still whorin’?” he asked, though his lips were curved in a smile that was teasing, not cruel. Her lips twitched.

“Still thieving?” she countered and he grinned widely. He looked so young, she thought. Oh, there were the signs of time and she knew he was older, but the weight he’d always carried on his shoulders seemed to have lessened and he looked the younger for it.

“You stayin’ somewhere near-by? Or are you on the clock? I wouldn’t mind catching up if you have the time,” he said, open and direct; it only added to his attractiveness and she felt her heart give an almost painful thump in her chest.

“I have the time.” For you, always.

“Good, good,” he said nodding. “You look good.” He smiled.

She smiled. “So do you,” she said, feeling giddy.