Going outside, we found a pleasant surprise. She walked a little shakily in the cold and clear night, so I wrapped my arms around her. "Fancy meeting up for a drink sometime?" I put the question to her. I wanted to get out of the room as soon as possible to make sure she was fine, rather than return to my hotel.

She confirmed this with a nod. She whispered, "I'm sorry I panicked." This is making me feel like a complete moron.

I gave a little shake of the noggin'. That's why I stressed the importance of safety first. For a while, let's visit a neutral location.

We strolled...