Bennett chuckled, took her hand, and turned to face her. "Funny, I missed you too.”

He then placed one arm around her waist and gently touched her lips with his other hand.

“Still hurting?"

Claudia, feeling a bit sheepish, replied, "No, it was never painful to begin with.”

“Alright then," Bennett responded, his eyes showing a flicker of emotion while his hand lingered on her lips.