She breathed a sigh of relief as she took a seat at an open table near the back of the coffee shop. It had a clear view of the door so she could spot her date when he entered. That would give her a chance to take off the red scarf she'd worn so he could pick her out of the crowd.
Guilt gripped her briefly as she considered how quickly she could remove it but that emotion disappeared as she thought of all the horrible first dates she'd endured over the previous few months. This would be her last foray into the dating pool for a while.
She'd made that decision after the last episode of lonely losers looking for low hanging fruit. The guy had barely been able to hold a conversation together. In fact most of her brief time together had consisted of her trying to dodge questions about what she enjoyed in the bedroom and steering the conversation back to more mundane get to know you questions. If she hadn't already agreed to meet Jared, the man she was waiting for in the coffee shop, she would have closed down her account had disappeared on all the men she'd been in communication with.
The bell above the door rang out sharply, yanking her out of her thoughts, a breath she had been holding escaped softly. The newcomer couldn't possibly be Jared. He was a far cry from the short pudgy nitwits she seemed to attract with ease.
Her body reacted to the sight of his profile, an ache settled in her center. She pressed her thighs together in a feeble attempt to alleviate it. Her heart thumped hard and a flush crept up her chest. Clearly her body felt it had been far too long since she'd been under a man.
If she had to chose a word to describe him it would have been potent. Perhaps it was his height, the man who entered behind him could barely see over his shoulder, but he seemed to command attention.
Not for the first time in her life she wished she'd been a little more diligent at the gym and that's she'd been a smidge more blessed in the genetics department. She shook her head slightly, all she had to offer was a slightly curved frame thanks to her post divorce unintentional diet. Months of berating herself for her ex's betrayal had the unexpected side effect of melting away a few of the pounds she hadn't been able to get rid of while focusing on her husband's every need.
Her eyes swept over him again. Men like that weren't interested in women like her. A little taller than average, a little better looking than average, smart, and funny. No, he was probably meeting some insanely beautiful blonde model type with boobs that seemed to defy gravity.
The bell rang out again and she pulled her gaze away from the handsome customer ordering his drink to the short balding guy that had just entered. She ducked her head quickly and pulled the scarf from around her neck to stuff it into her jacket pocket. Her heart sank as she spotted the newest arrival's blue pocket square. Jared was supposed to have a blue pocket square. She smiled slightly, at least she'd managed to get the scarf off before he spotted her.
The man at the table next to her started packing up his laptop, drawing her attention away from the counter for a moment. She watched him with detached interest. He was young, probably in college, an athlete judging by his delightfully muscled arms and oh so lovely tight glutes that were showcased by well fitted jeans.
She took a sip of her latte to cover her smile as that wonderfully shaped derriere swayed into her space for a moment. He straightened quickly and turned. "Sorry," he murmured with a sheepish grin.
She swallowed a sigh. "No problem."
He was gorgeous with a mop of thick curly brown hair, full kissable lips, and big brown eyes that a college girl could get lost in for days behind his glasses. For a second she desperately wished she could find the courage to be a cougar. A weekend wrapped up in someone like him could be just what she needed to get her past her post divorce funk.
"Have a good night," he said with a smile and then slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"You too," she answered softly. Her gaze followed him as he exited the shop. Her cheeks went hot with a blush when he smiled at her through the window running along the front of the shop. She looked down at the cup in her hands, wondering if he frequented that shop often. It could be worth it to go out of her way a few times a week if it meant being able to see that smile.
Her pondering was interrupted as the tall handsome customer took a seat at the table the college student had vacated. She didn't bother looking over at him, instead she scanned the room to see where the balding guy had gotten to during her brief encounter with the young man.
He had found a seat close to the window, four tables away from hers. She watched as he checked his watch and then looked around. Her butt slid down the seat of her chair. She grabbed her phone off the table and feigned an interest in the dark screen as she peeked at him through lowered lashes.
"How long am I supposed to wait?" she mumbled.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that." She blinked then turned her head to the speaker. The handsome man had leaned over and spoken the words softly. "What did you say?" Between the slight curve of a smile on his lips, one that promised a more dazzling display for the lucky person who'd earned it, and the timber of his voice she was shocked to find herself still in her seat.
Her lips twitched in an attempt at a smile. "I was just asking myself a question."
"Now I'm really curious. What was the question?"
"It's silly." She shook her head.
"Well now I have to know." His smile almost knocked her flat.
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly bone dry. He waited, his eyes gleaming with laughter. "How long should I wait," she answered breathlessly.
Lines around his eyes crinkled into being as his head tilted. "For what?"
She snatched her latte off the table and took a hasty sip. "I think the person I'm supposed to meet is sitting over there and I've decided I don't want to meet him anymore." She set her cup down carefully. "I know it's cowardly but I just want to get out of here before he figures out who I am."
He leaned back in his chair. "Online date?" She nodded. "I get where you're coming from."
Her eyebrows came together. "How could you possibly understand?"
"Well." He looked around the room. "I think I've been stood up yet again." He looked at her. "At least the coffee here is good." His shoulders lifted in a little shrug.
"Stood up?" She gaped at him. "Wait." She leaned closer and her voice dropped. "Are you here on an online date too?"
"Is it really that hard to believe?" The disappointed look that clouded his grey eyes gripped her heart for a moment.
"In a word? Uh yes," she murmured.
"I had high hopes for this one too. We seemed to have such a great connection." He looked down at his coffee mug. "She makes me laugh." He looked at her. "I don't find that often in my world."
"Your world?"she asked softly.
"I'm in investment banking." She blinked. Her date was in finance. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
No, it couldn't be.
Her hopeful brain refused to let go despite of her admonishments. For a split second she imagined what it would be like to have him over her, naked, and wanting her. She gave her head a little shake.
"Why on earth is someone like you involved in online dating? Do you not own a mirror?" she asked with a nervous laugh.
