When she slowed a bit he grinned and shifted so he could keep an eye on her. That most likely meant that she realized she couldn't quite keep up with him and was working on something else.
"You're getting there."
When the knotted sash came swinging toward him he was surprised and pushed himself back out of her range again. She didn't quite hit him but the knot came close and for a moment tangled in the trailing end of the bow wrapped around his waist. That was a lot closer than he thought she'd get.
DaisyMilk