“Where would you like to go?” Shane asks, shutting his door, twisting in his seat to look at me. As usual, his blond hair is combed back and he is wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and what looks like khakis. I can’t really tell in the dark car.
“Me? You’re asking me?” I asked surprised, pointing to myself.
“Yes. I had to bribe you into coming on this date in the first place, so where can I wine and dine you? Where will you feel most comfortable?” Shane questions, a smile crossing his face. “Hopefully not a supply closet,” Shane teases, making me laugh.
I give him the address and he drives off. He’ll be pissed when he sees where I am taking us, but the place won’t give off a romantic vibe, or the idea I’m going to call him for a second date.
***
“A coffee shop?” Shane questions, as he looks out the car window.
“Hey, you said anywhere,” I laugh.
“You really want to get rid of me, and quick,” he laughs, taking his gaze from the shop to me. His forehead creased in worry lines.
“Come on, you can get a donut,” I tease, climbing out of the car.
“Oh, can I?” Shane mocks.
“You owe me another date, a real one where I pick,” he demands, his voice serious as he opens the door to the coffee shop.
“No, the deal was a date. We’re on a date. No second dates were in this deal,” I remind him.
“This is not a date. This is out for coffee, which we do in the break room. Therefore, you owe me a date,” Shane explains, smiling big.
Well, this plan backfired.
I sit on the soft tan couch in the back of the coffee shop as Shane grabs us some coffee. He knows how I like it, straight with two sugars. Actually, I’ll drink any kind of coffee, any which way; I love the stuff. I’m addicted and I could use help for the things I would do for a cup of coffee.
“Just how you like it.” Shane sets the coffee down as he sits next to me on the couch, crossing his legs as he leans back.
“So, Jessica, I have been working with you for a couple months and know hardly anything about you. Tell me about yourself.” He turns his head just slightly, pinning me with his brown eyes. I shift uncomfortably.
Maybe the coffee shop wasn’t a good idea. I should have picked somewhere that allowed no talking, like a movie.
“Not much to tell. I work and when I’m not working, I’m with my daughter,” I respond quickly, avoiding eye contact.
“Hmm, I see,” Shane says, taking a sip of his coffee. “Where are you from?” he continues to question.
I sigh and set my coffee down on the wicker table next to me. “Nevada.”
“I see you’re not much for talking,” he says with a chuckle.
“I just—”
“It’s fine, Jessica. I know you’re not one to dive into your personal life. I know you better than you think though,” he says with a smile, lifting his right eyebrow.
“You think so? And what do you know?” I ask, shrugging. He sets his coffee down on the table, taking a deep breath. This ought to be good, ‘cause I don’t even know myself.
“I know you love sports,” he responds, looking at me, his brown eyes glistening with brightness that he thinks he has me figured out. “I know you love the color pink, and you hate company get-togethers,” he continues, his eyes never leaving mine.
“How do you know all that?” I ask.
He leans in close, too close, his lips brushing against my ear. “I have seen you sneak into the lounge to see the score of a football game,” he replies softly. “You are always wearing pink scrubs, and I never see you at company functions.”