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They entered a large foyer, and Steph saw Mehdi sitting at a table on another wide, sweeping veranda When he saw her, his face lit up

“Steph! I hope I didn’t wake you It’s much nicer to take breakfast on the veranda early, before the heat really settles in”

Steph s before yourto worry about there”

“Good,” Mehdi said with a nod, gesturing for her to sit down

There was another vast spread on the table for her to peruse, and Steph looked up at Mehdi with a sparkle in her eye

“Let uess, another series of El Farahn delicacies?”

Mehdi nodded, not looking away fro that was on the table If Steph were the hopeful sort, sheat her that way because he couldn’t take his eyes off her in her perfectly chosen outfit, but she reminded herself that she was a realist and tucked that hope away

“We have a very large aion, beyond the desert Because of this,food options tend to have that spice included Try this one,” he said, holding out a flaky pastry that was clearly cinnamon dusted

Steph took it delicately froers and tried a bite An explosion of flavor erupted on her tongue, and she grinned

“Now that is sensational,” she gushed

“Does it taste different to you?”

Steph savored the flavor a little longer, realizing that it did taste different to the cinnamon she was used to

“It’s not quite the sah it is definitely better”

Mehdi nodded “That is because most of the cinnamon you have in the West is really e call cassia It’s a related plant, but it’s not true cinna”

“So you’re tellingspice my whole life and never knew it?”