[As Raeger explains the history of the beautiful restaurant, Wayne relaxes and walks in further. From the decorated walls, beautiful dining arrangements, and craft of the open kitchen, it was clear that everything in here had a story to tell. What was Raeger’s grandfather like? How much of his cooking ability did he pass down to the man before Wayne now? There was something incredible about Raeger telling the story of his grandfather through this establishment. Wayne inhaled deeply, marveling at what he could only imagine was a fascinating family history.]
Well tell you what, I’m sure you’ve done your granddaddy proud. This place is a beauty. We seem about the same age, and I sure as Goddess couldn’t run a restaurant all by myself, heh. ♪ Good on you! [Wayne abruptly turns around when he notices that Raeger’s voice suddenly seems further away. He’d gotten so lost in thought that he failed to notice the other man wandering to the kitchen. As if instinctively, Wayne loyally approaches Raeger again. He even abandons his messenger back on a dining room chair.]
Favor? Sure. [Smiles, clearing his throat.] I owe ya for savin’ me out there. Ah— not sure how much you should trust my palette, but I’m happy to give that dressin’ a whirl. [With a small chuckle, Wayne stands near another dining seat, but hesitates to sit in it. After it, it felt rude to sit down when the place wasn’t even open for business yet.] So, tell me— how’dja make it and what’s in it? ♪
[The compliment catches him by surprise; he’d been so distracted by his attempts to get the blond to sit down and to bring him something to hydrate himself with, he’d not expected such a sincere and kind response to his explanation of the restaurant’s origin. Raeger beams over the counter between them.] Thank you. I appreciate that.
[Now, this particular dressing he’s asking for help with has been on the menu for the entirety of the summer— he’d started whipping up fresh batches of it every morning for the last several months, and he already knows it’s something of a hit with his customers. But Wayne doesn’t need to know that, of course.]
It’s a cream balsamic, in fact. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spices, a bit of mayo and mustard? [He grins.] A few secret ingredients as well. Blended to a smooth, beautifully creamy consistency. [As he describes the dressing, he’s spending a lot more attention on what’s going into the salad he’s about to drizzle this over— his hands moving with a practiced precise speed that he hopes can create a salad quickly enough that Wayne won’t even notice that he’s about to have a full salad put in front of him. Fresh spinach, sliced carrots, halfed grape tomatoes— and let’s chop a hard boiled egg on there, too, for that extra protein. Maybe he can even get away with some fresh snap peas and a cucumber, and maybe some garbanzo beans as well. He’d fry up some tofu to top it with if he felt he had the time, but he’ll leave it there now in the interest of having it done fast. Perfect, nutritional, very hydrating— and way overkill for just getting the cowboy to taste the dressing.]
[Exactly what he wanted. He drizzles the aforementioned dressing on top, satisfied with the ploy.]
Here we go. [He sets the glass of water and the salad at the place that Wayne is standing in front of, smiling disarmingly.] You’ll have to try the dressing with all the things it’s meant to pair with, of course. Please, feel free to take a seat.
