Free Coffee in Common by Dee Mann Page B

interrupted by his father.
    "I told you, she's special, dad. I know it. I don't know how I know it but I felt it the first time I saw her."
    "Geez, dad, no, not that way."
    "Yes, she's pretty, but it's not that. I don't know what it is but I have to find out."
    "Okay, I will, I promise. But I have to go. She'll be coming out soon. Say hi to mom. Bye"
    Mike closed the phone and continued to stare out the window.
    Cathy rose, walked up behind him, touched him on the shoulder and said, "Hi."
    Startled, he spun around to face her. She could see on his face he was concerned she may have overheard his conversation.
    "I saw you talking on the phone as I came over. Were you talking about me?"
    "I, ah…"
    "I'm kidding. Why would you be talking about me. It's none of my business. But, as I recall, you owe me an explanation."
    They stood, inches apart, each intent on the expressions of the other. Her eyes took in every curve, every facet of his face, the way his nose seemed to be slightly off-center, the way his chin dimpled when he smiled.
    "Do you think there are people who are fated to meet?"
    "I'm not sure," she replied. "Maybe."
    "I know this sounds crazy, but when I walked into that office and you turned toward at me, something happened inside me, like a switch being thrown or, hell, I don't know, but something. It was like my whole life had conspired to lead me to that moment, when I'd meet you for the first time.
    "Suddenly, the job wasn't important anymore. The only thing that felt important was that you not go away. What I did, it was all I could think of at the moment to keep you from leaving. Or maybe ‘think of' is the wrong phrase. I don't know."
    He grinned and she blushed.
    "But it worked. You're still here"
    "Yes, I guess I am. And I really want to thank you. I needed a job so badly and you…you…"
    She smiled at him, and when he smiled back, the warm feeling engulfed her again.
    "I don't know how I can ever repay you for…"
    "Have coffee with me."
    "Coffee?"
    "Have coffee with me and give me the chance to convince you to have dinner. After that…"
    He let the sentence dangle, but his eyebrows arched to accentuate what he'd left unspoken. Her eyes searched his and what she saw both frightened and excited her. She smiled.
    Yes. After that…
     
    *  *  *
     
    Cathy drained the last of her coffee.
    "And the rest, as they say, is history. We've been together for almost ten years now, and not a day goes by that I don't love him more than I did the day before. And to think I might have simply walked out that day."
    Jillian could see the shiver course through her.
    "Jilli, I know Mike and I were meant to be. I don't know if Paul is your Mike, but the signs are certainly there."
    She reached over and touched her hand.
    "It's okay to be cautious and it's okay to be a little scared. I certainly was. For the whole first year I kept expecting it all to fall apart. But I was being silly, really, because I knew, the night of our first date, when I looked into his eyes after we kissed goodnight that we really were meant to be together. And I think he knew it, too."
    She rose to leave. "If he's the one, you'll know soon enough."
    "And if he's not?"
    Cathy shrugged. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. As I said before, I have a good feeling about you two."
     
    5:45 PM
     
    Paul, Rob, and Priya stepped off the elevator, still arguing about the fonts for their next project. Ultimately, Tom would decide, but he preferred to let the other team members narrow down the choices. Not only did it make his job easier, it forestalled any chance of them starting to feel as if they were not really contributing.
    Halfway across the lobby, Rob was making his case when he saw Paul's mouth fall open and felt him grab at his arm but miss. He turned his head and froze so suddenly the other two were two paces past him before they, too, could stop.
    Lisa was standing by the front doors. Next to her, looking very uncomfortable, was the guy they