No sooner had the pair hit the sun-drenched outdoors, than<i>The Melendez Inquisition</i>got under way.  Stella this.  And, Stella that.  For most of her questions, Anton was unable to answer them as she flew right into the next one.  When Magdalene finally came up for air, he looked at her and asked, “Why are you so bent outta shape about Stella?”<br/><br/>Her return expression was one of incredulity, as if it was plain as day.  “You’re kidding, right?” she asked.  Anton simply shrugged, like that was a real answer.  “The woman likes you, Anton.”  Magdalene wondered (though now it was too late) if she should’ve brought this to his attention, assuming he really didn’t have a clue about what she just said.  “What?  You’re crazy, Mags,” he refuted.  “She’s a neighbor, a good cook with an awesome cat, and she’s great on the piano.”  He knew she knew her name, yet Anton noticed how she referred to her as<i>the woman</i>, instead of<i>Stella.</i>They were all just introduced less than 15 minutes ago, fer cryin’ out loud.<br/><br/>Magdalene was having none of it.  “I’m afraid not, Anton.  She likes you.  Trust me on this.  I’m a woman, too, after all.”  Now smiling, he stated, “Oh right, right, that women’s, uh, inhibition, right?”  She laughed, and then corrected him, “Intuition.”  Anton brushed that aside with “Yeah, same thing.”  She squeezed his hand, and then kissed his left cheek.  “It’s really not,” she stated, grinning.  Again, a lazy shrug.<br/><br/>“I’ve had a great day with you, Anton, and I don’t want it to end,” she informed him.  He met her eyes but remained silent.  “You walked here, right?  So why don’t you come home with me?  I have everything I need for my famous tacos: chorizo, pulled pork, grilled cod and all kinds of veggies and sauces.”<br/><br/>Ever the teasing sort, Anton raised a brow, asking, “So what makes them famous?”  With her right hip, she nudged him.  “Why are you being such a butthead?” she asked, laughing.  Before he could answer, she added, “You try them, and then you tell me.  I, uh, understand you like spicy.”  Another hand squeeze and he laughed in reply.  “All right, Mags, I’m game.”  She beamed, squeezing his hand yet again.