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eeks pink, and I look down “I forgot you sense s”

Reaching across the table, he extends his hand I place ers close “So tell ot you interested in pottery?”

Focusing on our connection, I let o “I was bored The winter was terrible It never stopped snowing I thought I’d go crazy if I had to sit in that mansion one more day”

“Still, pottery? Why not the silversmith?”

“I walked into town, and this little pottery studio had just opened Mercedes, the owner, was in the back throwing a bowl I asked if she’d let me watch her work, and she said yes The rest is history”

“She taught you?”

The waiter returns with two sliold wine Koa winks at lass to mine “To first dates”

Hopefully not the last, I think as I sip the crisp beverage

The waiter takes our orders — I can’t resist ordering the wild nettle pancakes, but Koa gets the roasted duck confit When we’re again alone, the handsorins

“Pancakes?”

“I’ve never had wild nettles”

“Don’t get stung”

“Besides, I was hoping you ht share your duck”

That getswine, I take another sip “Thank you for this”

Our hands are joined again in the center of the table “I had to get us out of that apartment It was either this or shift and run all over the countryside”