"You're bringing new meaning to the term 'eat and run', I hope you realize," he teased.

"We wouldn't, but I would have been so irritated with myself for it, I'd probably also have lost my appetite." He nodded at her instruction. It made sense. He opened the box and carefully tipped half of the fragrant contents into the pot. The spices spread across the top of the water with little floating bits of peppercorn dotted in. "I expected it to sink," he said, stepping back again.