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girl. Alex smiled, and it was enough to make her fumble.
    She cursed on the inside, wondering what it was with this stranger that made her unable to handle even the simplest task. He took the long jacket away from her and held it up, and Jenny beamed, “A polite man. I’ve never met one before.”
    He winked at her, sending a tingle down her spine, and Mark shouted, “Hah, we’d be polite if there were any ladies here…”
    After that addition to the discussion, he chuckled and took the lead outside, talking constantly, just as usual. It must be the secret to his success. He could entertain anyone.
    The day was beautiful, cold but sunshiny, and the little group walked the short distance to the restaurant. The ground was icy and slippery, and even though Jenny was used to it, she stepped carefully. She didn’t want to end up sprawled on her behind. Mark, on the other hand, skated on his shoes like a little boy.
    Alex shook his head and offered her his arm. The gesture made Jenny feel like a teenager. This time she had to be blushing. Walking arm in arm with him was exciting, and at the same time, the most natural thing in the world.
    As much as she tried not to, the tips of her fingers took on a life of their own, feeling the fabric of his coat with stealthy little movements. It was a coarse weave, and she was sure the coat was both thick and heavy. He looked like a spy. Wouldn’t that be exciting?
    He was much taller than she, even though she wore high-heeled boots, and he smelled like coffee and chocolate. She immediately scolded herself for being silly and shallow. This was a customer, not a date, and she needed to get a grip.
    She must have gone a little crazy at some point between getting out of bed and arriving at the office that morning. It wasn’t normal to have all these fantasies about a stranger from a foreign country, who for all she knew might have three wives, seventeen children, and a number of unmentionable diseases.
    Of course, that thought made her realize she was still thinking about him, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a second, exasperated with herself. She didn’t expect anyone to notice, and Alex’s concerned, “Is everything alright?” pushed her even further into her schoolgirl crush. His words also pulled her back enough to reality to nod and smile, and inspired a little lie. “Couldn’t be better. I just remembered something I forgot to do.”
     
    *****
     
    Alex had a good appetite. He was honestly hungry, and appreciated the meal almost as much as the beautiful woman in front of him. Her hair was so blond and curly, falling loose over her shoulders, and he wanted to touch it. Would it be as soft as it looked? Why hadn’t anyone told him beauties like this didn’t only reside in the fabled Hollywood?
    He had known women before, in great numbers, but something about her made him feel warm. It was a new and interesting sensation, and when he felt her watching him, he smiled. She smiled back, showing pearly white teeth.
    Mark eventually finished his pile of food and asked, “You want some coffee?”
    “No, thank you. I’d like to go outside for a while. It’s a nice day for a walk.”
    Jenny smirked, and Mark got a look of utter surprise on his face. Alex grinned when Jenny chirped, “Haha, he hates walking,” and Mark shook his head, muttering, “Walk…”
    Tilting his head a little to the side, Alex said, “Walking is good for you.”
    Jenny nodded, “Yes Mark, it is good for you.”
    “Well, if it’s so good for you, why don’t you take him for a walk?”
    That idea suited Alex just fine, and he kept his eyes fixed on her. Surely, watching her while waiting for an answer must be acceptable.
    “It would be my pleasure. What would you prefer, town or nature?”
    He had no idea what she was talking about, but pretended to think about it. “I do not know. Perhaps town today and nature tomorrow?”
    Jenny beamed and Mark groaned, “Yeah, I’m not going. You two have