You Smiled Read Free Page A

extremely unwelcome and unnatural state of nerves. Her look of polite surprise surely appeared as fake as it felt.
    “Oh, hello.”
    “Hello.” He gestured at her drink. “Is it break time?”
    She considered her beverage. “Not so much break time as ‘get to the business and paperwork part of the day’ time. How about you? Still vacation time?”
    He smiled. “Could I convince you to sit down and join me for a few minutes?”
    They were talking like old friends. It felt strange and oddly comfortable.
    “I don’t even know your name.”
    “Alex,” he replied. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her face, and she found herself drawn in by his gentle intensity.
    “Well, Alex, I’d love to join you, but I have work to do.”
    “You’d love to?”
    The very handsome, grown man seemed to light up at her choice of words. She should probably rephrase them, although there was a part of her that acknowledged that they were true.
    “I’m trying to be polite. I don’t know anything about you, and while I admit that I’m intrigued - just a little - I really do have to get to work.”
    “Fair enough. We should go out - get to know each other a bit - then you’ll feel more comfortable taking a coffee break with me.” All that with a perfect smile on top.
    She couldn’t help but smile back. What was his deal? She tried to keep from looking into his eyes; she couldn’t keep track of her argument while he was regarding her so earnestly.
    She finally broke their gaze. “I don’t think so.”
    “You gave Recycle Man a chance.”
    She smiled. “Yeah, but he didn’t ask me out until at least a week after I met him.”
    Alex laughed. “You’re right. It’s too soon. Have coffee with me today, and dinner with me tomorrow.” One side of his mouth lifted a little higher than the other as he smiled.
    She sighed.
    “I don’t know whether I should call the police or tell her to run away with you.”
    Grace jumped at the voice behind her.
    Daphne.
    “I’d be happy to help you with that decision,” Alex replied with a grin.
    Daphne laughed and continued to the office. Grace took a step back and picked up her tea. She’d practically draped herself on the counter while talking to him. So not professional.
    “People go on blind dates all the time,” he persisted.
    “Not me.”
    “Yeah, me neither.”
    This time she laughed. “Okay. Fine. If I have coffee with you, can we call it a truce?”
    “Sure,” he replied, looking very pleased with himself. “Tomorrow’s another day.”
    She shook her head and led him over to a table in the middle of the store; nothing in back or secluded, but front and center. We’ll see what Mr. Sweatshirt - Alex - has to say today.
    “Oh, you don’t have a drink. What can I get for you?” Apparently, she was giving him free drinks.
    Alex slipped his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. “I thought I’d try the Costa Rican blend.”
    “Black, right?” She waved the money away, and called over to the counter. “Kelly, would you please bring us a Costa Rican - black?”
    “Sure thing,” Kelly replied.
    Grace pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing at the chair opposite her. Alex pulled it out and settled in.
    “So, what kind of coffee do you drink?”
    She smiled. “I drink tea. Don’t particularly like coffee.”
    He cocked his head in disbelief. “Really? Why go into the coffee business?”
    She inhaled deeply. “I love the smell. Always have. Couldn’t wait ’til I was old enough to drink it. Then I finally tried it when I was about seventeen,” she grimaced, “and hated it. I try a cup from time to time, but ...” she shrugged. “Doesn’t keep me from wanting to be around it, though.”
    Kelly came by with the coffee and Alex offered her cash, which she also waved away. She gave Grace a little smile and hustled back behind the counter.
    “Thanks!” Alex called after her. He lifted the mug and smelled the brew. “So how do you know if a drink