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He followed her to a nearby food stand near Mallory Square After placing her order, Louisa turned and thrust a piping hot fried pastry, wrapped in a napkin, into his hands

“What’s this?” he said, staring down at it

“It’s a conch fritter,” she said, taking a bite of it “Try it”

He tried not to watch the way her reasy fried pastry She licked a spot of grease from her lips, and he nearly shuddered

Then he realized she aiting expectantly He reached for his wallet

“No My treat,” she said brightly, stopping him “You came all the way from Paris It’s the least I can do to feed you before you leave”

It was the second ti But could he blaht” He cleared his throat “Shall we go sit down?”

She shook her head “I’d rather just walk as we eat”

“It’s crowded” He felt the stares of passing tourists, and other people, locals who greeted Louisa by na slanced at the wide vista of the beach “How about alk by the beach?”

“By the boardwalk? Sure There’s a path Come on”

They walked in silence, the only sound the soft crunching of sand beneath their feet as they crossed the path He felt the hot wind blow against his skin

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye He’dher like this, wearing al over her curvaceous body…

He wanted her

So much he shook with it

She ate with gusto, swiftly finishing her fritter Lifting her eyebrows, she looked at his own fritter He hadn’t even taken a bite yet