The Last Sip was hip, trendy, and spread over two levels.
It had high ceilings with cross beams that were the only remaining original feature.
“Let’s see who you’ll be hooking up with today, shall we?” Isabella grinned.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder and peering in the direction of the door.
It was fun to play the game, even if I had no intention of taking part.
The rain hissed and grew in volume as the shop’s latest patron opened the door.
The man that stepped inside was tall and skinny, with a long face and a pinched mouth that wasn’t accustomed to smiling.
He peered around as if looking for someone.
My hopes sank.
I turned to Isabella and shook my head pleadingly.
Isabella shook her head, reflecting my disappointment back at me.
“The universe has spoken…”
She shifted her weight to get to her feet and approach my apparent white knight in shining armor when the guy raised his hand and waved at a couple of nerdy friends at a table on the other side of the bustling shop.
He headed over to them, removed his frenched anorak, and hung it over the back of his chair, the water sloshing onto the wooden floor.
He leaned over and kissed the only female at the table on the cheek.
Isabella eased back onto the chair.
“Lucky escape. The next guy it is then.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I don’t like this game.”
“You will if the right guy walks through those doors.”
The right guy.
There was no ‘right guy.’
I thought over my short-lived relationship with Jason and wondered if it wasn’t my fault.
Maybe it wasn’t my pheromones but something much deeper.
Maybe the guys I went with were what I deserved.
If the universe was determined to present me with losers, who was I to complain?
Maybe I should just hold my nose and accept they were to be my lot in life.
I’d grown up watching my parents arguing and knew I didn’t want to end up like them.
I wanted something better, something I had never seen growing up.
At least, not in my household.
But it was there in Annie, my childhood friend’s, home.
I grew up jealous of the warmth and easy relationship her parents shared.
Annie always rolled her eyes when they hugged and kissed and laughed, sharing personal jokes, the bond strong and almost visible.
I would watch them, wishing I had something like that waiting for me back home.
Maybe that was the problem, I thought.
I always chased that same perfection.
Maybe their relationship wasn’t as good as it looked.
Maybe there were problems just beneath the surface I wasn’t privy to.
Maybe I only ever saw them after their Friday night of lovemaking when everything was rosy and full of possibility.
And maybe I was only desperate.
My chin slumped back onto my arms.
I fingered a pool of froth on the tabletop from where Isabella had spilled her coffee.
I drew an unhappy face.
“Hold the phone,” Isabella said. “Oh boy. It looks like the universe has some meaty plans in store for you today.”
I didn’t even lift my head.
“Who is he? One of the Clampetts?”
“He’s not a Clampett. A crumpet, more like.”
Her eyes were wide and bulging.
They slid along one glass wall as the object of her interest approached the front door.
The electronic bell sounded.
“Have a gander,” Isabella said. “Trust me, in years to come, you’ll recall the first time you laid eyes on him and your future changed for good.”
Despite myself, I was intrigued.
I slowly turned around in the direction of the door.
My mouth dropped open and stared after the guy.
I could understand Isabella’s reaction.
He was tall and broad.
The rain had soaked his clothes, making his shirt cling to his muscular torso.
His wavy hair lay plastered across his forehead and droplets dripped to the floor.
Standing there, drenched head to foot, but looking none the worse for it, stood one of the most gorgeous creatures I had ever laid eyes on.
His eyes surveyed the room, sweeping over it methodically.
Probably looking for someone, I thought.
And boy, do I wish it was me.
Nothing appeared to hold much interest for him.
His eyes finally came to mine…
And stopped.
His eyes glinted golden.
Unable to look away, they pinned me in place.
I felt a distant click as if two parts of a jigsaw puzzle had slipped into place.
He stared at me and I stared right back.
He strode across the large coffee shop and approached an empty table.
His eyes never left mine.
Oh. My. God.
It was probably bad manners to keep staring at someone like this, slack-jawed and drooling.
But I couldn’t pull my eyes from his.
Finally, he sat down and broke the bond between us.
I slowly turned in my seat to look back at Isabella.
She beamed at me.
“He’s the one. I know it.”
“He’s… probably here to meet someone.”
There was no way a creature as splendid as him could be single.
Was there?
“There’s only one way to find out,” Isabella said. “Go to him.”
I shook my head.
“If you don’t go over there, I will. And did you see the way he looked to you? Honestly, I’ve seen wolves with less hunger.”
Cool reality settled into my bones.
“He wouldn’t be interested in me.”
Isabella slapped my hand.
“Don’t let those loser pheromones seep out through your pores. Now’s not the time or the place. You should speak with him.”
“And embarrass myself? I don’t think so.”
It was strange, I thought.
It wasn’t just his appearance that drew me in.
It was… something else.
That click I heard symbolized something deeper, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
A spark, I realized.
That’s what it was.
Our eyes meeting and clicking like that were like bringing two flint rocks together and igniting something deep in my chest.
The deep longing for someone to sweep me off my feet.
My white knight.
Don’t be so stupid, I snapped.
It’s not love.
It’s lust.
I doubted many females wouldn’t feel the same way toward him.
He was a dish after all.
A dish that deserved to be consumed with gusto.
“He’s getting up.”
Isabella announced it as if it were breaking news.
“You should go order another coffee.”
“I haven’t finished this one yet.”
“It doesn’t matter about the damn coffee! Grab a muffin. I’m hungry.”
“You never
