Dropping his wooden box of supplies with a rattle, Larry looked out over the flower beds and then back to the girl. Closed off, he thought, but trying desperately to seem the contrary.

"Well," he answered at length as he knelt beside her and began rummaging through the box. "I get paid to do this. I don't mind the help, but you're going to have to let me buy you lunch or a drink or something in payment." He glanced up at her, utterly guileless, and then held out a second pair of gloves. "Otherwise it wouldn't exactly be fair."