Seeing no response and the woman's pale skin, Leif shook her gently to keep her focused on him.
"Valentina?" And he tried to look into her eyes as he inquired, "Valentina, are you alright? Say something to me, Valentina." And then more urgently, he added, "Please." And again, more hastily, "I'm sorry, I hadn't seen you there and I just-"
And his lips remained frozen in place, dark eyes meeting to hers as guilt became him-
as did her beauty, and words, for that moment, were just forgotten.