"Hey, I'd be a pretty bad evil spirit if I shed parting tears every time I liked a person a bit more than usual leaves my life!" He played along, pretending to be insulted. The truth was that he really wouldn't. He'd be miffed over the lost chance and tool, but he'd regret her department no longer than a cat would regret that of a mouse that had escaped into a hole before it had been able to catch it.

He quickly took another sip of wine to hide his smile at the mental picture.