The Coffee Shop (3 page)

“Have I?”

She laughed. “No. You most certainly have not.”

“Oh, and just so you know, I’ve never giggled before either.”

She grinned and nodded her head. “Yes, I’ll give you that. But you’ve never been in a situation where you couldn’t laugh, and you just feel like you were going to lose it, right there in front of everyone?”

He shrugged. “I guess there wasn’t a whole lot of laughing when I was growing up.”

She brought her hand up holding his arm, and their eyes met, but she withdrew it and looked away.

“So, I bet those customers you gave the laxative to came running back, huh?”

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him. “Oh, you are terrible.”

“So they weren’t hopping mad, then?”

She smiled at his question and turned back to walking. “No, after that happened, a couple of times, I was taken off sales. Now I just stock shelves and dust things, and if someone asks where something is, I am allowed to point them in the right direction.”

“So, you’re not even allowed to talk anymore?”

“Huh?”

“Well, you said you’re allowed to point.”

“Oh, well, I’m supposed to smile — ” she demonstrated “ — and then say, it’s over there, or it’s in aisle so-and-so.”

He burst out laughing. “And they pay you for this?”

Once again, she gave him a playful smack. “Yes, they do. I’ll have you know I am an excellent shelf stocker, and nobody dusts better than I do.”

“So I should call Guinness then?”

She was about to smack him again, but then she took a step back. “Okay, smarty pants.”

“Smarty pants? Who says that anymore?”

“I do, I’ll have you know.”

He nodded.

“Oh, and what word would you use?”

He opened his mouth, but then wagged a finger, laughing. “Nice try.”

“Try?”

“You were testing me.”

“Testing you? What, like in school?”

“No, to see if I’d actually say it.”

“I don’t mind. I don’t use those words myself, but I have no problem with others using them. I am not a prude. And to expect everyone to be exactly like me is asking a lot. I mean why should they be?”

He could see that she meant it, and he nodded his head. “Just as long as you are happy with what you are doing, that is all that matters.”

“Exactly. So what if I am not finding the cure for cancer. That should be left to people that actually have a chance of figuring it out. If I got in the way it would only slow them down.” She sighed. “No, I know I am not destined for anything great. And enjoying life as it is, is what really matters. I don’t need any more than that. Do you?” He hesitated, and she brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“Whatever for?”

“I never meant to suggest it wasn’t perfectly fine for someone else.”

Her expression was so contrite that he had to laugh. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t take any offense.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. If you think that’s an insult, you should hear some of the stuff I’ve had flung my direction over the years.” He saw her watching him closely. “Or maybe not.”

She looked to her watch. “Oh, I’ve got to get to work now.” She shrugged. “Oh, but I’ve never asked you what it is you do?”

“Oh a little of this and a little of that.”

“Isn’t that another way of saying entrepreneur? Oh, but in a nice way.”

“Annie, you really have to stop worrying about hurting my feelings. I’m a lot tougher than you think.”

She was staring up at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, what?”

“You just used my name, that’s all. And I was surprised at how much I liked it.”

“Boy, you don’t pull any punches do you?”

“Punches?”

“Maybe that wasn’t the right word. God, I’m back to doing this badly again, aren’t I? What I meant to say is I’m glad I was able to,” he paused. “Okay I am just going to stop there before I totally mess this up.”

She smiled. “I had a nice time.”

“Me too.”

“There, see. You can admit something nice too. You’re perfectly capable of saying it.”

“You know, you’re right.”

She started to step away.

“What time are you working tomorrow?”

She turned back to him, continuing to walk backward as she talked. “The morning shift. From seven to noon.”

“Seven? They open at seven?”

“Of course. These healthy types don’t waste any time lazing around in bed you know. You’d be surprised how many customers we get that early in the morning. Why, some of them would consider the day to be half gone by nine.”

“You sure you don’t work on a farm?”

She laughed.

“So, would it be all right if I came around tomorrow, at oh, noon?”

“Sure, if you like.”

“I like.” He shook his head. “I did not just say that. Forget I said that. Use your mental eraser and just…oh never mind.”

She smiled and turned, walking down the street, glancing back as she walked away.

“Yes,” he muttered to himself. And he had to restrain himself from swiping the air with his fist, for fear she’d look back just then and see him. With his luck, that is exactly what would happen, and then he’d spend the rest of the night moaning over how stupid he felt.

Chapter Three

Angela gaped as Derrick walked in the door. “Oh my God! That’s Derrick Sloane.”

Annie turned to look, but Angela gripped her arm like a vice. “Ow. Hey, let up on the Hercules grip, I might actually plan to use that arm later and blood flow would be a really good idea.”

Angela turned to stare directly at her. “When you said you met some guy named Derrick, you didn’t think it might be relevant to mention it was, oh, I don’t know, Derrick Sloane?”

Annie frowned. “You know Derrick?”

Angela’s face became blank of all expression. “Okay, this ostrich with their head in the sand routine of yours, really has to stop, Annie. You need to actually read a newspaper, or oh, watch a newscast once in a while.”

Annie just stared.

“You really don’t know, do you?” Angela sighed, lowering her voice. “Derrick Sloane just happens to be one of the richest men in the country, I’ll have you know.”

Annie heard the words, but they didn’t register, and she looked back at Angela, feeling confused. “He is?”

“Oh my God, girl.” Angela grabbed her by the arms and pushed her in Derrick’s direction. “Go talk to him. And for God’s sake don’t mess this up! Oh, and please stop saying stuff like Hercules.” She grimaced as though she was in pain. “Nobody uses those expressions.”

Annie looked at Angela. “I do. And I’m not changing myself for anyone.”

“I admire your conviction, but Annie, you’ve got to learn to live in the real world.” Angela shook her head. “Now go! Go before he changes his mind.” Giving her another shove in his direction, Annie went stumbling toward Derrick, pulling up just in front of him.

“Derrick.”

She wasn’t looking at him, and he tried to see into her face. “I hope I haven’t done something wrong by coming here?”

“No. No you haven’t…” Shrugging, she put her hands on her hips. Turning away from him she pointed around the store. “So, this is it. This is Perfectly Natural.”

She still wasn’t looking at him, and he tried to lean down to catch her gaze. “Annie?”

“Uh-hmm?”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. Why would there be anything wrong?” She walked away from him toward the shelves. “Was there anything I could get for you? Oh, but don’t ask me to explain anything. You may be laundry illiterate, but I’m health food illiterate, honestly, and believe me, that is a whole lot worse. At least you can wear pink boxers and it won’t get you hurt. Well, unless you were changing at some tennis club or something and some guy decided to pick a fight with you because of it. No, I am one of those clerks that doesn’t have a clue. But I can point you in the right direction. At least I know where everything is, that counts for something I guess. But then I already told you that, didn’t I?” She looked up to see him staring down at her. “I don’t believe I just said all that.” She laughed and bit her lip.

Derrick stood before her. “Something’s happened. Something’s different. What is it?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, for one, you won’t even look at me. Have I done, or said something? Was it something I said last time we met? Because if it is, I want to fix it. Just tell me and I’ll do whatever it takes to fix it.”

“She didn’t know who you were until just now when I told her.”

They both turned to look at Angela who had wedged herself into the midst of their conversation.

“Sorry,” Angela whispered, backing away.

Closing her eyes, Annie sighed.

“Annie?”

“Um…I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I knew you had no idea who I was the moment we met.”

“How would you know that?”

“Let’s just say it’s something I picked up over the years. You get so that you can tell the very first time someone looks you in the eye and talks to you, whether they know who you are or not. I didn’t think who I was mattered to you. And it was nice to have an honest conversation for once.”

“Who you are doesn’t matter to me.”

“Well, obviously it does.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, look at you. You can’t even look me in the eye, all of a sudden.”

“That has nothing to do with it. That’s not because of…” Bringing her hand to her face she sighed. “I’m just a little surprised, that’s all. It will take some getting used to.”

“Getting used to? So does that mean you’d still like to spend time with me?”

“I wouldn’t be totally opposed to the idea.”

He laughed, and she shrugged. “But as to why I came here. One, I did want to see where you worked, yes.”

She exhaled slowly, feeling relieved.

“What?” Derrick looked at her, eyebrows raised

“I’m glad you didn’t say you wanted to see me in action because, to be honest, you’d have been seriously disappointed. And I would have been, well, not exactly thrilled at the idea of looking the moron, to be frank.”

He chuckled.

“Wait a minute. You said one, you wanted to see where I worked. Was there a two?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, there was. I was wondering if you’d let me take you to lunch?”

“Lunch?”

“Yes, she will,” Angela was standing behind Derrick.

Annie turned to Angela. “But don’t you need me to — ”

“We can take care of that. You just go. Go and have fun.”

“Why do I get the distinct feeling you’re trying to get rid of me?”

“Whatever gave you that idea? Now go. Have fun.” Grabbing Annie and Derrick by the arm, she paraded them out the door, as if neither had a say in the matter.

Standing next to Derrick on the sidewalk, Annie looked down at her apron still around her waist, and shaking her head, she held up a finger. “Just give me a minute.” Turning, she walked back into the store.

“What are you doing back here?” Angela asked.

“Oh, the fact that I am still wearing the store apron and a little something called my purse?”

“Oh!” Angela laughed in an odd high-pitched titter, and Annie stared at her, taking a step back. “Are you all right?”

“Of course. I’m fine. Now you go and have a nice time with the very wealthy man.”

Untying her apron, Annie pulled it up over her head and tossed it onto the counter. “Would you please stop saying that like it matters?”

“Of course it matters. Why wouldn’t it matter?”

Annie just stared, and shaking her head, she gathered her purse and walked out the door to the sidewalk almost bumping into Derrick.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“I think so.”

“You think so?”

“It’s Angela, she’s acting really, well more weird than her usual weird self, let’s just put it that way.”

“I think I might have had something to do with that. People can get really strange about the whole having money thing.”

“Yes, I do believe I understand.” Slipping her purse over her shoulder, she looked down the sidewalk. “So, where’s your car?”

“Right here.”

“Where?”

“Here.” He pointed to the limousine, and Annie stared.

“That, is your car?”

“You’re getting that look again.”

“What look?” she asked, not taking her eyes from the limousine.

“Well, not looking at me, for one thing.”

“Well, just right now I am busy looking at the big ass limo.”

He laughed, and Lawrence jumped out, opening the door.

Annie jumped back. “Whoa, what’s that?”

“That is Lawrence. And he’ll be driving us today.”

“What, he doesn’t drive you every day?”

“Yes, he pretty much drives me every day.” He gestured at the open limousine door. “After you.”

She stared at the open door, feeling a trifle overwhelmed.

“Annie?”

“Hmm?”

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Perhaps because you are not getting in?”

“Oh.” She laughed. “Yes. Okay. Um, yeah.” She climbed in, Derrick climbing in after her, the limousine pulling away from the curb. “Uh, you never said where we were going for lunch.”

“Didn’t I?”

She looked across at him.

“Well, I thought we’d take some food to the park.”

“The park?”

“Yes. You don’t like the park?”

“No. I like the park fine.”

“I don’t come across as the park type?” She didn’t say anything, and he laughed. “Okay, okay, I can see where you might get that impression. But hey, I’m game for anything. And I thought a meal in the park would be nice on a day like today.”

“Uh-huh.”

The limousine pulled into the park, and driving along the road that wound its way through Lawrence, parked by a clearing off to the right. There in the grass by the oak trees was a table with a white linen tablecloth, candelabra, and two full settings of china, complete with sterling silver cutlery and platter covered with a lid.

Annie bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as she climbed from the limousine. She knew he meant it as a joke, and sitting at one of the chairs, she watched as the waiter removed the lid from the sterling silver platter. There on the platter were two hamburgers, and two cans of cola.

Bringing her hand to her mouth, Annie laughed at the sight before her. The waiter then placed the burger onto her plate with one of those flat silver servers. It was still hot, the pop cold, and she wondered how he had managed that.

“Enjoy your meal,” the waiter said and bowed his head, taking two steps back.

Looking at the waiter, out of the corner of her eye, she leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Um…is he going to stand there the whole time we are eating?”

Leaning forward, Derrick lowered his voice as well. “Yes, he is. He comes with the meal. I had it made at one of the best restaurants in town.”

At this, she sat back. “You’re telling me one of the best restaurants in town makes hamburgers?”

“If you pay them enough, they’ll make you anything you want.”

“Good God, how much did this cost? ’Cause I can get them for two bucks at…” She remembered the waiter was standing right there, and she smiled, her face becoming hot. “I am sorry. I never meant to suggest.” She looked up. Derrick was watching her from across the table. “Perhaps I should stop while I’m ahead.”

“Well, now you’re just stealing my line.”

“Your line?” But then she remembered their last conversation. “Oh yes…” And then she laughed.

“But do eat up, while it’s still hot.”

Annie shrugged, and taking a generous bite, she rolled her eyes. “Mmm, oh my God, these
are
good!”

“You say that like you’re surprised.”

“No, I just didn’t expect anything this good! I didn’t know hamburgers could taste this good!” But then she sat back. “If Angela saw me eating this…” She stopped talking, and taking another generous bite, she made more noises as she ate.

Derrick laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman enjoy a hamburger as much as you. I didn’t think women
could
enjoy hamburgers as much as you seem to.”

“What, eatin’ meat is a man’s thang?” She said it with a strong southern drawl, as if coming straight off a Texas barbeque.

“Oh, so it’s not only a man’s thang, but it’s a southern man’s thang?”

“Uh-huh.” She managed between bites.

Derrick just laughed.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No, I’m getting much more pleasure out of watching you than I’d ever get from eating it myself.”

“Then can I have yours?”

Derrick slid the plate over to her, watching as she ate all of his as well. “I’ve never actually seen a woman eat in front of me.”

“What?”

“You know, they’ll pick at a salad, or order something and have a couple of bites.”

“Really?”

“You don’t know they do that?”

“I thought that was just something people made up in movies. I didn’t think they actually did that. Well, yes, I know there are women with eating issues, and I can easily understand how they get that way what with…” She stopped as she noticed him looking at her. “I’m sorry, I never meant to get off on — ”

“Hey, no need to apologize,” he interrupted. “I was the one that brought it up. I just meant it’s nice to see a woman that lets herself enjoy food. I just wish they could all be able to.”

She stared at his empty plate. “I just ate your lunch. I don’t believe I just did that! How awful of me. What is the matter with me? How could I have done that? I am positively terrible.”

“I tell you what, before you completely beat yourself up, if you feel that bad about it I can always order more. It’s not like they have run out of food at the kitchen.”

“Okay.” She grinned at him.

He held up two fingers, and the waiter nodded and pulled out a cell phone.