The outdoor cafe was filled with people, tourists and locals alike, all searching for a small piece of blessed shade in which to escape the brutal noonday sun. On the spice laden breeze drifted snatches of conversation in a dozen languages, most of them unfamiliar to Kyle but he found the rhythm of the strange words oddly relaxing.
As he took a slip of the strong, sweet brew that passed as coffee in these parts, he glanced over the many patrons and amused himself by trying to guess where they were from. In one corner, sat two Americans carrying on a friendly, if somewhat heated debate with a German while in another corner a Japanese couple snapped pictures of anything that moved. On his left was a table of locals engaged in a rousing game of dominoes while their veiled women chattered amongst themselves.
Kyle watched the unintentional entertainment for a few more minutes then decided to go back to his hotel room for a quick shower and a nap before his next meeting. Just as he was about to get up to leave, she walked in.
Dressed in a cream coloured business suit that in any other part of the world would be considered modest, seemed scandalously short and drew the attention of every male in the cafe. Her short dark hair framed a face that seemed both aloof and exotic but what really caught his attention was her chocolate brown eyes. They were dark pools that a man could willingly lose his soul in if he dared to stare too long. Her gaze swept across the room, lingered briefly on him before continuing on. Making her way through the crowded cafe, she chose a table a few feet in front of him, signalled a waiter and sat down. The waiter, a boy of no more than fourteen, rushed over to take her order while nervously wiping his hands on a dirty apron. The lad couldnβt tear his eyes away from her bare legs and she had to repeat her order twice before he hurried away.
Kyle smiled himself and looked down at his newspaper. He didnβt blame the boy in the least for staring at the womanβs long tanned legs and he idly wondered if she had any tan lines. When he looked up from his paper, he was surprised to see her calmly gazing at him, a small smile playing about her ruby lips. The boy brought her drink, something tall and cold with a straw. He found himself staring at her mouth as she took a sip; the way her tinted lips held the straw firmly but gently, and how her cheeks hollowed as she sucked up the liquid; the smooth curve of her throat as she swallowed.
She put the glass back and tossed the few coins onto the table before standing and smoothing her tight skirt over her hips. Turning to leave, she seemed to change her mind and look back at Kyle. With a crook of her finger she motioned for him to follow her and led the way out of the cafe.