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“Or a mixture of mayo and hot sauce.”
She chuckles. “Right. You grew up in New Orleans. It’s making a little more sense now.”
“Exactly. French Creole roots. Not many people know this, but mayonnaise originated in France.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Really?”
“Well…I’m stretching the truth a little. It actually originated in Spain, but the French perfected it. A lot of the great sauces originated in France, though. Bearnaise. Hollandaise.”
“Right.” Mary grabs a fry and lets it hover over the mayo on my plate for a moment before ultimately choosing ketchup. “You said your grandmother owns a restaurant.”
“That she does.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had true Creole cooking,” she says.
I pick up a fry, dip it in the mayo, as an idea surges into my mind. “Would you like to experience it?”
“Are you offering to cook for me?”
I shake my head. “Are you kidding? I can hardly boil an egg.”
“Then you won’t make me haggis?”
I chuckle. “I can’t stand the stuff.”
“And you call yourself a Scotsman?” she teases.
“I call myself American with a Southern mother and Scottish father.”
“Your looks say differently.”
“That’s true.” I run my hand down the sleeve of my Jacobite shirt. “My looks say Scotsman through and through. Maybe I need to stop wearing kilts.”
“God, no,” she says. “You look…spectacular in a kilt.”
Her compliment warms me. Most people in Scotland no longer wear kilts day to day. I found, in the lifestyle, that they draw attention, so I wear them. Plus I’ve got damned good legs, if I do say so myself.
“So”—I clear my throat—“my offer to serve you a Creole meal.”
“I don’t know of any Creole restaurants here in the city, but I’m sure we could find one.”
“I’m sure we could, but it might not be authentic.”
“Then what are you suggesting?” she asks.
I reach across the table, grab her hand. The slight touch makes my groin tighten. I’m about to suggest something ridiculous, considering we just met twenty-four hours ago. Yet the words tumble out of my mouth with ease. “Come to New Orleans with me.”
She drops her mouth open. “What?”
“You showed me part of your world last night. Let me show you part of mine.”
The fry she’s holding falls to her plate.
“I know I just told you how busy I am, and it’s true. But I also said I have people who can take over for me. And right now, taking you to my grandmother’s restaurant is way more important than anything else I could be doing.”
“Ronan, I have a job.”
Right. “You have any vacation time?”
