by Kaci Hart
The smell of freshly baked pastries greeted Tyler as he walked into his favorite morning cafe. He noticed Cody waiting for him at a table, and waved to let him know that he had arrived. The two of them had been friends for years before they both happened to join the police force. They’d gotten there by completely different routes. Cody entered the police academy right out of high school while Tyler went to college at the University of Miami so he could become a forensics officer. Cody often joked with him that he was not into all the Science stuff, and that he was glad he didn’t need that to be a policeman. Cody would often say that all he really wanted to do was arrest bad guys and get a sweet police motorcycle. That was enough for him.
Tyler hopped in line and considered his options. It was still early enough for breakfast but late enough that a burger or fries wouldn’t seem plain dumb.
“What am I going to get this morning,” he muttered.
Everything on the cafe’s menu tickled his fancy. He hated waiting behind someone who had to spend five minutes looking at a menu. He did not mind waiting today though. He was never the type to stare too long at a woman but he saw her reflection in the mirrors behind the counter and the woman in front of him was unbelievably attractive. Over her arm laid her business jacket, and he assumed she must be a professional of some sort to even carry a jacket in the July heat of Miami. As he listened to her order, her voice played in his ears like a soothing song.
“Yes, I’d like a large coffee, black, and two sugars, with no cream. I would also like a sesame bagel, lightly toasted with butter and . . . strawberry cream cheese on the side. Thank you.”
The attendant rang up her order. “That will be six dollars and thirty-seven cents ma’am. Cash or credit?”
She reached into her bag for her purse. “Do you take American Express?”
“Yes ma’am,” the young cashier replied.
“Thanks, just one second.” A few moments later, she looked back to the cashier. “I’m really sorry. I seem to have left my purse in my office. I’ll have to cancel my order.”
Tyler watched the woman begin to exit from the line and he stepped forward in a jiffy.
“That won’t be necessary Becky. I’ll take care of her order.”
He watched as the woman stopped moving and looked at him. He saw the confusion on her face and he assumed that she was most likely trying to see if she knew him from somewhere.
For his part, Tyler was just looking at her and he really hoped that his awe was not apparent. As he had a chance to look her directly in her face, he was even more assured of just how pretty she was. She looked as if she was barely wearing any makeup except for a small amount of eyeliner that accentuated her hazel brown eyes. He liked that. Most women tended to wear way too much makeup. She looked perfect. Of course, it could have simply been that smile that she was wearing. He just wanted to talk to her or listen to her talk. Either would be fine at that point in time.
Breaking himself from the wordless spell that she had cast upon him, Tyler stepped forward and began to reach in his back pocket for his wallet. Her smile grew as he saw her scan his features before speaking to him in that same melodic voice.
“Thank you but that won’t be necessary. I’m really not that hungry anyway.”
“Listen, I insist” He proceeded, intrigued by the notion that she would say no to him. “You misunderstand. I’m a cop.”
“So that means you need to buy my breakfast because . . . why again?”
“Oh that’s easy. My job is to serve and protect. Now I can’t say I’m doing my job if you’re in need and I don’t help out. That would be against my oath.”
“I see. So your oath requires you to buy food for me?”
Tyler smiled. She had a nice sense of humor.
“It could be interpreted that way.”
“Excuse me,” the cashier intruded on their conversation. “Am I putting in this order or not?”
Tyler looked at Becky as she manned the cash register. She was tapping her nails on the display case with no intention of hiding her lack of patience. He laughed internally at the idea of the glass case shattering under the continual drumming. He knew she was normally very nice and when he glanced backwards he understood why her demeanor was so unusual for her. Behind him there was a not so short line forming. He also knew from personal experience that it was going to get even longer very soon. He directed his full attention again to the woman in front of him.
“So can I treat you to a hot breakfast?”
As she looked at him, he was starting to get confused a bit himself. All he wanted to do was pay for her food. He hadn’t even asked her for anything in return just yet. Tyler rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger and waited for her answer.
“That is very nice of you but no.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. I mean I’m appreciative of the offer but I’m not the type of woman who would let some random stranger pay for her food.”
His brow furrowed in disappointment and total lack of understanding as to her reason. Tyler let his gaze move away from her long enough to speak to the cashier.
“Go ahead and take the next order, we will just be a moment.” Gently touching her shoulder, he led her beside the line motioning for the next person to pass them.
Her eyes widened and surprise painted her face as she looked at the hand on her shoulder. He had obviously caught her off guard. He always tried to respect a person’s space but his action with her felt natural, as if touching a friend. Realizing that he might be making her uncomfortable he snatched his hand away from her shoulder and mentally chastised himself for touching her without permission. He hoped he hadn’t gone too far. Any other time he would have probably cut his losses and let her go but there was something about the way she looked at him that would not allow him to stop talking.
“So you won’t let me pay for your breakfast, because you don’t know my name? I can remedy that very quickly. How about I start over.” Smiling at her, he spoke. “Hello, my name is Tyler, and you are?”
“Anna,” she acquiesced.
He took a step back to create space between them and extended his hand to her.
“Nice to meet you Anna.”
He could be cute at times and he knew it. There was no way she was going to say no still.
“So, that’s done. How about we go ahead and get that bagel for you. “
He inquired.
“Excuse me?”
She really is going to make this hard I see.
Tyler was really enjoying his time with her this morning. He had never felt such a strong initial connection with a woman like he had with Anna. He was sure that it wasn’t just her looks. He wasn’t that shallow of a guy. This just felt like a moment to him. One of those times in life that he knew something special was about to happen. If it had anything at all to do with the newly met Anna, he was undoubtedly excited at the prospect. His intention was that he would be able to convince her to get to know him a little better over breakfast. He was almost certain that would be happening now.
I’ll have to let Cody fend for himself this morning.
He responded to her.
“Well I’ve resolved your issue. You said you won’t let some random stranger pay for your food. I assume that since you now know me and I know you, then the dilemma of being strangers is no longer applicable. I am not so random anymore, right?”
“No, not so random but I still have to decline. To be honest, we have coffee and a vending machine back at the office. I just wanted something different since it’s going to be a busy day at work.”
He saw concern cross her face when she looked at her watch. She affirmed his worries with her next comment.
“Oh my goodness. I didn’t realize I had been here so long. I don’t want to seem rude, but I’m sorry, I really do have to go. It was very nice meeting you, Tyler.”
“You too.”
Two little words was all a puzzled Tyler could muster as he watched her run
off leaving him to wonder what in the world had just taken place.
He’d never tried so hard to even talk to a woman, let alone beg her to let him pay for her meal. Yet she seemed to care so much about getting back to her wherever she was going that she barely took the time to even notice him. To say that she had caught his attention would be an understatement. He just hoped he would have the chance to see her again one day. Smiling to himself, he turned around and then lost all the energy in his body. There was a line to his right that was at least twice as long as it was before.
Just my luck.
He strode to the end of the line and took a place in it.
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