"Will, this is Scott Summers. Scott's a--" The pause before she supplied "--dear friend from home" was too slight to alert most people to any particular emphasis, but Will wasn't most people. To the contrary, she'd met almost no one as perceptive ever, and she fully expected he would understand she meant to nuance 'friend' and request a certain extension of Will's compassion for her to Scott.

Of course, Scott could introduce himself and of course, he didn't require defending, from Will of all people, but in her way, Sabine was as protective of the people in her life (especially the men) as Dani. It said more about her feelings for Scott than anything else that she'd chosen to make the introduction for him--and Scott certainly knew her well enough to realize it, but she brushed her hand over his forearm affectionately for emphasis.

After, she took a step toward Will and leaned up to brush the most delicate of Continental kisses of greeting across his cheek, and took the opportunity to murmur, "You needn't stay long, caro, if the gathering becomes too much for you. I mean to invite you and Molly for dinner as soon as I've tracked down anything worth making an intimate meal of."