He could try as much as he liked, but she knew him and could hear the motherhen instinct creeping into his voice. She did appreciate the gesture of him trying to keep it in check, though. Steve took care of people, it was just who he was, and with her he was always a little more intense with it.

Shaking her head, she ran a hand over her hair, feeling the bumps and growing nest of tangles that had once been a perfectly nice french braid. "My second client canceled because she's sick with the flu, so I came home and just--" A gesture to the couch before she leaned back against it and closed her eyes. "I saw her two days ago, I must have gotten it from her."