"Excuse me, but, c-can I sit here?"
Dan looks up from his laptop, expecting to see a coworker. If she was, he had yet to meet her. He would have remembered.
In the time it takes him to try to figure out how he knows her, she begins again. "I can try to be flirty by saying that its really busy in here and there are no tables, but I'm not very good at it, and you're probably taken, so in the interest of not sitting alone, can I sit here?"
He knows he should say something, offer her a chair, but her nervousness is so enchanting. The scarf on her neck practically begs him to reach out and pull it tight around her neck, forcing her mouth a breath away from his.
"Nevermind," she shakes her head slightly, sending her long, golden hair over one shoulder. "This was silly, I'm just new in town and I don't know anyone yet and I didn't want to have to sit all alone like a loser, but you're right, we don't know each other..."
He can tell that she's trying to stop. He finds it amusing that his silence flusters her so much.
"It was lovely to have met you. I apologize for interrupting you." With an embarrassed smile, she turns and begins to walk away.
"Stop."
His softly spoken command rattles her and she stops, but doesn't turn.
"You may sit." It's a risk. He's only ever spoken this way to women who have already been vetted, but something about her calls to him. He's intrigued.
Slowly she turns and comes back to the chair he indicates.
Once she is seated, he speaks.
"What is your name?"
"Does it matter?" It isn't spoken rudely, but she certainly isn't nervous anymore.
A small smile crosses his face. It is gone in only a moment, but he is no longer wondering why she chose him of all those in this coffee shop.
"No, I suppose not. What shall I call you then?"
"Who do you want me to be?" Soft, playful. He likes it.
"I suppose that depends on how much you cost."
He's shocked when her playful smile stops. Her eyes cut to his for the first time and he realizes he's misjudged the situation for the first time he can remember.
"I'm not for sale. Or rent. Or trade." She chuckles bitterly. "I just miss my Master. And you look like him. Like you own the place. I thought that we could talk."
"Normally when women like you miss their Masters, they find a new one. Join a site." Her anger makes him defensive and he knows he's being cruel. He can't help it. He wasn't prepared for this in a coffee shop.
"Duly noted," She responds coldly as she grabs her coffee and stands. He doesn't want her to go.
"Sit," She turns and her eyes flash. Before she can open her mouth, he continues. "Please."
Her jaw clenches, but she sits. He wonders how lonely she must be to stay.
"I didn't mean to offend, but you must know how it looked."
"So you ask me to stay so you can insult me?"
"You asked me who I wanted you to be." He replies flatly. Her pretty face flushes.
"Fair," she bites her lip and sighs. "I did say I wasn't very good at flirting, didn't I?" She smiles softly.
