Page 70 of Tangled Up In You

He laughed as he steadied her. "We have to stop meeting like this."

"I don't think we can. I was trying to make a quick pass," she added, as the group in question moved past them.

"Why are you in a hurry?"

"I'm hungry, and that giant hot dog is calling my name."

He looked at the sign and then back at her, shaking his head. "You can do better than a hot dog on a stick."

"Dipped in mustard? I don't think so. I remember them as being yummy."

"How old were you then?"

"Sixteen."

"That explains why you liked the hot dog. You should check out the Falafel Hut. It's great."

"Is that what you're getting?"

"I was thinking about it."

"Well, how about I get two hot dogs, you get two falafel wraps, and we grab one of those picnic tables and see who made the better choice? Unless you're afraid of a hot dog?"

"I think I can handle it."

They split up by the two booths. She was happy to see no line at her booth and put in her order with the long-haired guy at the window. As she waited for her hot dogs, she couldn't help sneaking another look at Adam.

He wore jeans and a short-sleeve navy-blue polo shirt that showed off his broad chest and long legs. Even with the ever-present boot on his foot, he looked fit and athletic. As the cashier set down her hot dogs, she dragged her gaze away from Adam and reminded herself once more that she really needed to get over her attraction to the man. But that didn't seem like it would happen any time soon.

After getting small plastic containers of spicy mustard, she made her way to a table. Adam joined her a couple minutes later.

"What should we eat first?" he asked as he sat down across from her.

"I think we should start with the hot dogs. They should be eaten hot." She handed him a hot dog on a stick. As he took it, she added, "You need to dip it in the spicy mustard. That's the best part."

"Got it, but you go first."

She swirled her hot dog around in the mustard and took a big bite. At first, she thought it was pretty good, but as she chewed, there was an odd aftertaste, and she had to force herself not to show the distaste on her face.

Adam started laughing before she'd even swallowed. "You can spit it out."

She grimaced as she swallowed, the pepper in the sauce making her eyes water. "Oh, my God, that is literally the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth." She grabbed the soda she'd also purchased and took a long swig.

"Told you," Adam said with a smug gleam in his eyes.

Her gaze narrowed. "What did you know that I didn't?"

"Well…the hot dogs used to be made by Benjamin Halter, but he turned it over to his son Ricky last year, and let's just say that Ricky doesn't make the same mustard sauce."

"That's why there was no line."

"Everyone learned their lesson last year."

"How does the town let him sell something so disgusting?"

"It's the sauce, not the hot dog."

"You're right. It's the mustard sauce. What's in it besides pepper?"

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