As eager as I am to get down to brass tacks— [ He leans forward, elbows rested on his knees and hands clasped loosely together. She's caught his interest and he has no reason to conceal that. His gaze lands squarely on her own, assessing in that way one might scrutinize the fine print of a contract. Fitting, given why they're here. ] —I'm very interested in the "why."

Why you suddenly changed your mind, for instance.

[ He clearly caught her interest just as much as she's now caught his. But how? Why? ]