Sweet and Sour Love

ning than the scent of fallen leaves, the next a deluge poured down as if the clouds had been holding their breath all day. Cold rain n

t wet pavement, sending up tiny sprays of water that darkened the hem of her trousers. The strap of

nged for the door handle just as another pedestrian approached from t

snapped a cri

eather messenger bag. The man - early thirties, dark hair already curling with damp, a

shing damp strands of hair from

them, then back to her face. "Physics

nothing to do with being wet. "Are you

with exaggerated courtesy, holding the door open j

ody despite the chill in the air. The café's warmth enveloped her as she stepped inside,

an and draping it over her arm. The cashier, a young woman w

o be without

fingers brushed against loose pens, crumpled receipts, and the inevitable co

hing down her neck, his expensive cologne cutting through the café's earthy scents

a strong forearm reached past her to ta

espress

pped around. "I

y of a sedated sloth," he said, those

er phone buzzed violently in her bag. Work. Of course. She fumbled

hlessly, shooting daggers at the m

entation got moved to tomorrow mornin

opped. "But I thou

t changed their mind. C

rearranging her evening. "Of course. I

rista called out, "Larg

d, sending her purse tumbling to the tiled floor with a clatter that turned several heads. Her wallet burst open

fell silent except for the

ing efficiency. "You carry an entire pharmacy in here," h

burning. "And you clearly missed kind

shed as she snatched it back, sending an unwelcome jolt up her arm. When she look

hat had skidded near his shoe. "Before y

he grabbed the last of her belongings and stood, smoothing her damp slac

said through gritted te

mirk still in place. "Try not to assault an

ng it down his pristine white shirt. Instead, she turned on her heel and marched to the farthest co

xiting the café without a backward glance. Through the rain-streaked win

ached into her pocket for the business card, curious despite herself. Th

nior Designer. Cr

Crestwood Marketing where she

f all the cafés in all the city, she'd had to walk into his. An

took a bitter sip of coffee, had