“You’re making me nervous, Landry. Spill it already.” She’d ditched her cropped hoodie earlier, leaving a sleeveless leotard that showed off her toned arms and jogger-style yoga pants. Her hair had been coaxed into a ponytail so high it made him think of Saved by the Bell reruns and geometric neon patterns.
He rested his arms on the table. “You like Cajun food, right?”
“Crawfish, of course. Shrimp.” She tilted her head. “Are you about to feed me gumbo?”
He grinned. “Something like that.” At least he wouldn’t have to do this part alone. Adventuring with Rosalyn made everything better.
As if on cue, a waiter bustled up to their table, allowing a rush of AC to drift after him through the slow-closing swinging door. “Here we are. Frog legs for two!” A steaming dish appeared on the table between them.
Rosalyn went slightly pale, then flushed pink as she leaned forward and inspected the fried delicacy. A cup of orangey-red sauce sat to the side. “Frogwhat?”
“Legs, ma’am.” The server, wearing a backward cap and jeans under his waist apron, nodded. “Bruno’s specialty. Y’all need anything else?”
“A different lunch?” Rosalyn whispered.
Cade bit back his laugh. “We’ll be fine.” Maybe. He unrolled his paper napkin, motioned to the one near Rosalyn’s hand as the waiter rushed off. “Try one?”
Her flush deepened. “Am I being punished?”
Cade leaned forward. “Bruno wants to bring his frogs to Magnolia Days. I told him I didn’t think that would fly with our customers, but he insisted I try some first. On the house. So…” He spread his hands over the plate. “Here we are.”
Rosalyn eyed him, then the splayed frogs, warily. “You go first.”
“Fine.” He drew a breath and cut off a bite, trying not to think too hard about it. Popped it in his mouth, grateful for the crispy batter hiding the rest of the texture. He chewed. Squinted. “Tastes like chicken, honestly.”
She snorted. “It doesnot.”
“You tell me.” He nudged her fork closer to her.
Rosalyn eased back, clutching her tea glass. “I’m vegetarian.”
“You just admitted you liked shrimp and crawfish.”
She took a sip. “Pescatarian, then.”
“Lucky for you, these guys swim. Close enough.” Cade nudged the plate closer and she all but squealed.
“That doesn’t count.” Rosalyn curled her lip.
How was she cute even while disgusted? Cade distracted himself with the Cajun sauce on the side. Mmm, tangy. “Here, try it with this.”
She narrowed her eyes. “If I have to mask the flavor with a stronger flavor, what’s the point of eating it?”
Okay, that was actually valid. Cade leaned back, wiping his fingers on his napkin. “What is your favorite food, then?”
“It doesn’t swim, I can tell you that.” She still looked wary, as if at any moment one of the frogs might don a top hat and start singing. “I like margherita pizza. And cheesecake, on the rare occasions I break my macros to have any.”
Cade took another bite, but this time, the sauce did little to compensate. “Okay, this can’t happen.” He dropped the remaining leg on the plate. “I don’t think anyone will want to buy these at the festival.”
“You tried.” Rosalyn inched the plate a little farther away from her. “And I provided excellent moral support.”
“You’re a big chicken, is what you are.” Cade tossed a straw wrapper at her.
“So pizza, huh? What about your favorite color?”
“Um, pastel pink. Or lavender. You?”
Your eyes.He cleared his throat. “Green.”
