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“The combinations of the grains used to make them. This roll has that purple grain and a creamy … buttery … grain.”
“So that’s why it tastes so much like butter.”
After they finished eating, Deimos ordered wine for the two of them. “Just bring a half-bottle, please.” He quickly paid for their meals. “Put our wine on my tab.”
Hope looked around. “Why is everyone going to the back?”
“Dancing. Shall we join them?”
“Sure, why not?”
Deimos put her hand in the crook of his arm and carried the bottle and his glass of wine as he led Hope to the back patio.
The evening was warm. One of the suns had set, but the other was still low in the sky, giving the area bright light that was slowly fading.
As Hope brought her glass to her lips, Deimos placed his hand on her arm.
“Go slow on this wine. It’s Sidaii wine, and you’ll get pretty drunk if you drink it too fast.”
“It tastes really good, but I’ll be careful. Thank you.” Hope watched the band playing … most of the members were pretty tall, and their instruments were larger-sizes as well. The shifters, and other humans, all seemed to be having a wonderful time. She smiled as she watched people dancing with each other.
“Hope? Would you like to dance?” Deimos’s head was right next to Hope’s.
“Yeah. I would.” Hope got up.
Deimos took her hand and led her to the dance floor. The music changed often. Sometimes, it was slow, and people danced as couples. Other times, the music was more up-tempo, allowing dancers to choose their own movements.
Hope and Deimos returned to their table occasionally. He had moved her chair next to his so they could discuss the situation with his cows.
“Do you have the feed from Earth?”
“Some. I don’t want to run out because the transport won’t be here for a while.”
“But the cows’ appetites haven’t been good, right?”
“They haven’t. Some days, it takes a lot to get them to eat much of anything.”
“This morning wasn’t too bad.”
“It wasn’t. But look at this picture. One of my ranch helpers sent it earlier.” Deimos held out his phone, which contained a landscape image.
The image was a gut punch for Hope. “Oh, no.” She sighed. “Did he say they ate very much?”
“A little Earth feed, but nothing else.”
They sat back. Hope was worried. She had just sent out the bloodwork, and she didn’t know when to expect the results back.
“Hope, I didn’t mean to upset you. Would you like to dance again?”
Hope really didn’t feel like getting up and dancing. But she saw Deimos making an effort to help her feel better, so she nodded.
Out on the dance floor, couples were holding each other. Deimos pulled Hope into his arms and pillowed the side of her head onto his chest. They moved slowly back and forth with the song, which seemed to have romantic overtones.
Soon, the music changed. Hope frowned as she saw the dancers moving into several long lines. “Deimos … is this line dancing?”
“It is!”
“Miss, would you like to learn one or two of our dances?” A tall woman with intensely bright blue eyes and black, shiny hair spoke to her.
