After a long pause, he finally spoke, "The nerve you mentioned, what nerve are you talking about?"

Winnie looked up at him, feeling a bit confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Van's eyes deepened even further. "Tell me."

Her face was bathed in moonlight, with Van's shadow weaving into it, creating a blurred image. She lowered her voice. "Mr. Marlowe, I shouldn't let your past affect me." She lifted her gaze slightly, avoiding his eyes. Her voice dropped a little. "I ...