He sat at the table opposite her in the mall cafeteria. He looked to be about 5' 6, 170 pounds, slightly gray at the temples and balding. He lifted the cup of coffee to his lips and like her looked emptily across the room. She notice him occasionally glance her way. She wondered about his life, his home, his needs......
He stole furtive glances at the tall full figured red yet brunette who looked to be in her early forties, as he sipped his morning coffee. On the road again, installing software for his company, he made this trip once a quarter, and often sat in this mall, as part of his normal morning routine. Call the wife of 25 years, talk to his grand daughter, then to the mall for coffee. He would sit here for another hour, sometime reading the paper, he didn't have to be at the office until noon each day. That always gave the customer a chance to try, experiment, play with the new release of software, and prepare their list of complaints. It didn't matter how much effort went into meeting their demands, there were always more complaints. He had noticed her before, always the same spot, waiting, sometimes reading and once he thought he saw her lost in a blank stare at him.
The mall was particularly quiet this morning, so when she rose to go to the counter to get a bowl of soup, she saw him trail after her. Admiring that full round figure, as he strolled up behind her, she felt him brush her arm as he reached to get a package of sweet and low from the counter. His smile was so affable as he apologized for making contact. Soon they were exchanging small talk, and it seemed only natural, that he join her at her table, he with his coffee, she with her cup of soup. They chatted, they laughed, they exchanged stories. She told him things that she hadn't told even her best girl friend of 20 years. He listened so intently, so attentively, seeming to hang on every word. She found herself just pouring her heart and soul out to this older man.
The morning seemed to be passing so quickly yet so enjoyably. She was enjoying the adult conversation, the banter, his attention to her. He even acted like he heard her. She let her gaze follow his stocky but firm figure to the coffee shop, wondering how much effort he put into keeping what appeared to be a tight ass firm. Returning with a fresh cup of coffee, this time he sat next to her, instead of across the table. Bluntly she joked, "you making a move on me?" "Where did that come from?" she asked herself. What was she doing, flirting with this perfect stranger. This was not like her at all. Married, faithful to her truck driver husband for 20 years, three grown children, sure sometimes the nights were long and lonely. The days a little too routine, but wasn't it that way for everyone. Inside her heart raced, goose bumps rose on her arm. She started to tremble. What was she starting?
He took her gently by the hand, playfully whispering 'of course' squeezing her hand. Sensing the tension he started her laughing as he told her about his eight year old granddaughter the fish. The trembling began to subside as she began to regain control. A part of her wanted to run, a part wanted the racing heart beat, the excitement of the moment to continue. Fight it as she would this man, this moment, was starting to arouse her. She was torn between to worlds.