His words certainly took Marie by surprise, especially with the way he started out. It was instinct that had her not jumping to those false conclusions and assuming the worst about her soulmate, and so she took it in stride as he finished tumbling over himself with his words.

She was quiet for a moment after he finished, thinking over everything he'd said, before she gave him a soft smile and a light squeeze on his arm. "Not everyone has to be a smooth talker, Steve," she told him gently. "Sometimes the fellas who do all the talking are the ones who never spare a second to hear what anyone else is saying." That smile broadened as she added, "And I would love to meet Bucky. Lead the way, sugar."