“Does that startle you?” he asked with a smirk on his tiny lips.

I pushed my lips together to buy me a second.  “Not at all,” I replied a little too weakly.  I cleared my throat, “I thought you were going to say yes for a second.  Now that would have shocked me.” I said that last part a little too boisterous trying to cover up the fact that I felt startled all the way to my toes.

What happens next?  You be the judge!