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"I wondered where the name California Rock and Roll came from," she said casually "Now I know"

Suki placed both orders on the counter and Eed four California rolls They sees of rice around a thin sheet of processed seaweed, with strips of avocado and various vegetables tucked in the center On the same plate were two small bowls One held soy sauce and the other was filled with a thin guacamole Apparently Carlos and Suki had found a way to cross their foods culturally Eued While Oliver reached for his chopsticks, she spread a liberal portion of the guacamole across the top of one California roll

Oliver watched her with raised eyebrows

Emma was about to take her first bite when he stopped her

"You ht want to scrape off some of the wasabi"

"The what?"

"Wasabi"

She must have looked confused, because he dipped the end of his chopstick in her guacamole and offered her a taste The rabbed her cup of tea and sed the entire contents Waving her hand in front of her rateful for Oliver’s intervention

"Oh, asped

"You thought that was guacamole?"

She nodded "Thank you Oh, thank you"

His eyes crinkled with a smile as he returned to his sushi

Once Emma had tasted her first real bite, sans wasabi, she was surprised by how delicious the California roll was "Hey, this is good"

"Told you"

She merely smiled

They sat in companionable silence, and Emma had to admit she was thrilled to see him She wanted to explain why she’d reacted the way she had to his gift of a Christile peace

"You came here for an early lunch?" Oliver asked

"No, I was on another of ?"

She hated to ad business It was so much harder than she would’ve expected Oliver listened and nodded Then he told her, "You’re doing it all wrong"

"What do youit fro his heart out, only to be shown the door

"E woman and it should be difficult for people to tell you no"

She scoffed, although she took note of the "attractive" and "charotten nothing but no?" He seemed astonished by that

She wasn’t proud of it, but that was exactly what had happened If she didn’t get a flat rejection, it e’ll think it over" or "later, "

That annoyed her "You turnedher temper to flare just a bit

"I most certainly did not I couldn’t afford you, but I wanted you"

"It was the advertising you wanted, notat the iot you inin the paper"

"Okay, okay, I’ll concede the point" She reached for the teapot and refilled her cup "If you think it’s so easy, you try"

"All right I’ll bet I can prove to you that people can be talked into anything What do you want me to do?"

Another man had entered the restaurant and sat at a table by theEmma pointed at him "Ask that man to pay for your meal and watch how fast he tells you no"

"Okay, you’re on" Oliver slid off the stool and walked toward the gentle alone He looked like aby the fact that he was smartly but conservatively dressed

Oliver didn’t hesitate He strolled over to the other h for Emma to overhear the conversation

"Excuse lanced up froirlfriend and me, and I’ve discovered I leftfor our meal? I’ll repay you, of course"

The othermoment "How hed in Oliver’s face and told hiet lost

In a display of false huot the bill yet, but I’d guess around ten dollars" He shrugged "I just assumed I had my wallet"

"You didn’t think of that before you ordered?" the ave hiht "I know I should’ve but…I didn’t"