Page 67 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“And?” She raised her eyebrows.

“They are wet,” Taurex said.

Terra stared at him.

“Wet? That’s your entire opinion of tomatoes?”

He shrugged.

“They have very little flavor.”

“You have clearly never had a good homegrown tomato like the kind I grow in my garden,” she told him.

“Then perhaps you will prepare one for me someday,” he murmured.

The simple statement sent another little flutter through Terra’s chest because the way he said someday made it sound as though he expected them to have plenty of time together in the future.

She pushed the thought away before she could read too much into their “tomato talk” and concentrated on the other produce for sale.

Taurex moved on to a display of long purple roots next. He picked up three and handed them to the vendor, then reached for a collection of bright red pods hanging from a vine along one side of the stall.

“Those are pretty,” Terra remarked, reaching for one as well.

Taurex immediately caught her hand before she could touch one.

“Do not,” he rumbled and she could hear the warning note in his deep voice. “You don’t want to touch those with your bare skin.”

Terra looked up at him.

“What? Why not?”

The reptilian vendor chuckled.

“Those are skarra pods. They are extremely hot.”

Terra frowned.

“How hot? I like peppers and I’m not afraid of a little heat,” she added.

Taurex’s eyebrows rose.

“Trust me–these have more heat than you’re used to.”

Terra looked at the glossy red pods again. They were each about the size of her thumb, tapering into a tiny golden tip. They did look hot, but she really loved spicy foods.

“Are they like jalapeños?” she asked, frowning.

Taurex shook his head.

“I do not know.”

“Habaneros?”

“I do not know.”

“Carolina Reapers?”

Taurex frowned.