Page 15 of Yours, For Good

"Yes." I offered my hand. I'd lucked out, and it was only natural if it took me a second to recover.

She suppressed a smile and took my hand for a mild, perfunctory grasp.

"I'm Nora. Julia asked me to come rescue you, as she couldn't get out of a meeting."

"She mentioned that. I did drop in by surprise, so she's kind to have asked you."

She nodded, a quick glance up and down my body. I couldn't read what that was about, but would have liked to know. Just to make sure she didn't think I was too old.

The corner of her mouth tilted upwards in a small smile. "We have about an hour, hour and a half to kill. Julia will probably want us to stay in the area, which I'm afraid I don't know very well…"

"It's all good. I've been in the area before. There's a coffee shop a couple of blocks away. Would you like to have something to drink while we wait?"

"Sure. Lead the way."

Out of the building's lobby, bright sunlight and warm air met us with no warning. I shrugged off my jacket and, after rolling my shirt sleeves to my elbows, folded the jacket over my arm.

"Won't it get wrinkled like that?" she asked.

"Probably, but it's fine. I have to catch a flight later to go home. I don't have to try too hard today."

"Where's home?"

"New York."

She nodded again and, for the next minute, we walked in silence.

"So what brings you here?" she asked.

I rubbed my lips together. "I wanted to meet with some people and coming to San Francisco was the best way to do that."

We reached the place I remembered and opened the door for her. She glanced at me as if she hadn't expected the gesture and walked in. I gulped again, for some reason.

After ordering, we sat at a table by the window and got comfortable. Colorful graffiti adorned one of the walls, while the others were all painted a soft gray. Big white-framed pieces contrasted the wall art. Bright sunlight cascaded into the space through the large windows, and the smell of roasted coffee beans filled the air.

She gazed around the coffee shop, sunlight bursting off the waves in her hair. "This seems like a nice place."

"I've only been here once, but I remember enjoying it." My eyes stayed mostly on her. I couldn't believe this was happening.

She sighed. "Well, this could be really awkward. We don't know each other and I was kinda thrown at you."

"Not at all. I was imposing on Julia— I guess I'm imposing on you, now. I hope I didn't interrupt something important?"

Fuck. Why did I sound so stuffy? My best friend Max had been coached just like I was on etiquette but, when he followed the coach's instructions, it came out charming. When I did it, I felt… starchy. I wished it didn't happen so automatically in new situations.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "I was working on something that can wait, and I liked the excuse to take a break."

I stared at her for a second longer. Bewilderment and a newfound sense of… wonder beat under my skin.

We received our drinks; we had both ordered black dark roast. She watched me with a hint of suspicion in her eyes, and a lot of humor in the line of her pretty mouth.

I bit the inside of my cheek and dropped my eyes to my coffee. I had to get my act together and remember why I had flown in. If I didn't, this opportunity would lead nowhere, and my plans would die before they even began.

I took a deep breath. I mentally shook away my hesitation. Time to be me.

I added a packet of sugar to my drink. "What were you doing? If I can ask."

"You can. I was researching part of my target market— for my business plan. I'm in the same program Julia is."