"Do you cook?"
His question startled her, and her lips curled at the absurdity of the moment. How odd that he would ask such a thing.
"Yes, I do."
"Then may I offer this as a token of thanks?" From inside his worn and patched jacket, he pulled out a small, blue-tinted glass bottle. A heart-shaped stopper plugged the delicate neck of the beautifully decorated container. Thin gold filigree twisted around the bottle and held tiny gems that sparkled in the setting sun's light. Whether or not those gemstones were real, the bottle looked expensive, and she wondered how a homeless man came by such a treasure.
His chuckle pulled her gaze from the delicate design. She couldn't see his eyes because of the hat, but judging by the smile, they surely twinkled.
"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're thinking."
"I..." She frowned, and a blush heated her cheeks. She'd meant to deny it, but the lie hung in her throat. She felt guilty for even considering such an insulting thought. He may be down on his luck now, but everyone had things that meant a great deal to them. This obviously was something special for him. And because of that, she couldn't accept the precious token, not for something as insignificant as chasing off a few brats. "Thank you, but I couldn't accept that."
"It's quite safe. No poison." He took the stopper out and poured a drop on his tongue. "Mmm. See?"
"Thank you, but you keep it. I only wanted to help." She patted his hand and made to rise, but his sudden grip stopped her.
"It is mine to give, and I give it to you. Here." He took her hand and placed the bottle on her palm, wrapping her fingers around it. "It holds an elixir. Not much, but enough. It makes a tasty dessert when used by the helpful hands of a friendly cook. With it, may you find your heart's desire."
"Some sort of love potion, huh?" she asked, amused, and was pleased to see his wide, toothy grin.
"The path to a man's heart is through his stomach, no?" He patted his tummy, and she laughed. "It's a simple sweetener for a sweet person. Although, when mixed with chocolate, it's sure to make you fall in love." His teasing smile held a hint of the rogue he must have been in his youth. "How can anyone resist chocolate?"
