Too many words tripped around in Katya’s head as she struggled to string them into readable sentences for her history essay. She sighed as she rubbed her heavy eyes at her usual table tucked back in the corner of the Barnes and Noble café. It was the best place to write since her roommate had rescued a very yappy puppy a few weeks ago. Natasha still hadn’t trained it to be quiet for more than five minutes. Hence the extended homework stays in the cafe.
Katya had promised herself that she wouldn’t leave that table until her essay was written. That was over four hours ago. It was definitely not done…at all. Stupid history class. Why did essays have to be so long and require so many words? She was starting to add extra words just to get that much closer to the required word count without having to research more. Groaning softly and stretching, she glanced around.
She noticed a very well dressed man sitting at the table right next to hers. And he was cute! It wouldn’t have been all that startling if he had merely been sitting at that table but since the rest of the café was empty AND he was sitting at the table right next to hers, she was more than surprised at his proximity.
Not another customer in the entire cafe and he chose to sit that close?
Her surprise came out, NOT as a gasp, but more like a louder-than-normal-breathing sharp inhale. She did manage to keep in a rather embarrassed groan that threatened to follow her non-gasp when he looked up from his book and smiled.
Fully prepared to dive back behind her computer she stopped as she did a double take at the sight of how vibrant a green his eyes were. Katya gave a tentative smile. Time to retreat!
Before she could disappear into her essay, Mr. Too-Cute-to-Be-Sitting-Alone-on-a-Friday-Night set down his book. She had to remind herself not to stare like a dunce. Ducking her head she stared down at her keyboard.
Several minutes of concentrated staring at her screen and not typing passed before she glanced up, no further in her essay than before and found him still looking her way. As soon as she made eye contact, he stood and smoothly slipped into the chair across from her.
“Lawrence.” He held out his hand over the table and her laptop.
Nodding, she pulled her computer halfway closed and shook his hand.
“Sorry to disturb you while you were working but I just had to introduce myself while you were taking a break.” He glanced at her laptop. “Are you taking a break now?”
“Katya. I’m Katya.”
With a chuckle he nodded, “Wonderful to meet you Katya. I am going to assume that hidden in that introduction was affirmation that you are indeed taking a break from your writing? Would you care for a pastry?”
“I…yes, please.” Katya nodded.
Lawrence quickly stood up and weaved through the tables to the counter, purchasing two warm cinnamon rolls and coming back over with a smooth smile only minutes later. There was no time for her to rein in her embarrassment.
“So what brings you here?” Katya questioned with a grin as she bit into the warm gooeyness of the roll he had given her. Yet another reason she came to the café to work on her homework.
“To your table? I’d have to say that the way you were biting your lip while you typed. It drew me right to you.” Lawrence shrugged.
Katya shook her head, laughing, “I meant, what brought you to the café?”
“Oh. Habit really. I stop here most days on my way home from work. Usually I just grab my treat and keep walking, but you caught my eye.”
“Me?”
His attentive gaze warmed as he smiled at her blush. He didn’t say anything more and it had her beyond flustered.
Katya saw the book he had been reading. “And you just happened to have a book to read? How long have you been sitting there?”
“About a half hour. And no, I didn’t have a book to read. I bought one from the first table I came across when I realized how focused you were on whatever you were typing, . I might have taken more time to choose a more appropriate book, however I worried you would leave while I was gone.”
“So you sat down then left to get a book, then came to sit back down and I didn’t notice any of it?”
“You were very focused.” My grin echoed his.
“Well Lawrence, I don’t know whether to be creeped out or flattered.” Leaning back in her chair Katya’s stomach fluttered to the point of mild nausea. She attempted to smile. Hopefully it looked less like a grimace and more flirty.
“Please be flattered. Now that you mention it, it does sound creepy.” Lawrence put his hands up as if begging, then paused and stood up. “I should go. Sorry to be such a creeper.”
With a little laugh Katya once again looked him over, trying to assess if he really was a good guy or a creepy stalker type guy. He didn’t look crazy or psycho. In fact, he looked very smart and put together. His grey dress pants were crisp and clean, evidence of the crease that must have looked sharp at the beginning of the day. The deep blue button down shirt was doing great things for his green tones in his eyes. His dirty blonde hair was carefully kept in check with only a few hairs out of place.
“What book did you pick?” She finally asked.
Lawrence burst out laughing. “Is that the swing vote? If it’s a good book I’m not some psycho serial killer?”
Katya shrugged, keeping a steady gaze on the intriguing man when he held up a small paperback with a couple kissing in a speedboat. He tentatively sat back down.
She stuck her hand out again, reaching back over her computer. “Nice to meet you Lawrence…?”
“Lawrence Atwater, future architect and apparently secret romance reader. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
