Read Online Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth - Free Book Online Page A

crazy question,” he said.
    “Okay,” I agreed.
    “I wanted to ask if you would come have a cup of coffee with me,” he said.
    “I . . .” I started to answer and stalled there. I wanted to say yes, but all my brain came up with were the reasons I couldn’t. I was working, he was too good-looking, and he was obviously from out of town so what was the point? Those were just the top three. You wouldn’t believe how many went through my mind in the space of a split second.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
    “No, it’s not that—”
    And that was when Neil came up beside me.
    “Is there a problem here?” Neil asked.
    “No, no problem,” the man said. “I was just trying to be friendly.”
    The other thing about Neil was that he might give his employees a hard time, but he was fiercely protective of us. He didn’t follow the policy that the customer is always right—he followed the policy that the person who worked for him, and who he knew and trusted, was to be defended at all costs, which was nice when there was a problem but could be embarrassing in a situation like this, where he got aggressive for no reason.
    “I know you’re not going to try to tell me that my employee wasn’t friendly,” Neil said.
    “No, of course not,” the man said.
    Neil said sternly, “We serve coffee here. And lemon loaf. That’s it.”
    “Yes, I know. I’m sorry.” The man looked at me and repeated it again. “I’m very sorry.” Then he turned around to leave for the second time.
    “Your drinks,” Neil said.
    “Right,” the man turned back, picked up his drinks, and walked back toward the door, but when he got to it, he couldn’t actually open it because he had a cup in both hands.
    I did it without thinking. “Wait,” I said. “I’ll help you with that.” I hurried around the counter and crossed to the door to open it for him—and then I slipped out the door after the man and closed it behind me.
    “I would love to have a cup of coffee with you,” I said. “But could you wait for me for just a minute? I need to go tell my boss I’m leaving.”
    The man gave me a strange look, but all he said was, “Sure. I’ll be right here.”
    “Okay. Great. Thanks. I’ll be right back,” I said, and turned around and went back in the store.
    “What was that about?” Neil demanded as I came back inside.
    “Neil,” I said. “I want to ask you a favor.”
    Neil looked at me. Then he looked past me through the plate-glass windows at the man, still standing there on the sidewalk with the two drinks, one in each hand. And then Neil surprised me.
    “Go on,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Thank you,” I said. “Thanks.”
    “Just do me one favor, okay? Don’t go to Joe’s.”
    “Okay, I won’t,” I said as I slipped back out the door.
    The man was still standing on the sidewalk, waiting for me. “My car is just over here,” he said.
    He led the way down the street to where a convertible BMW (with a rental license plate I noticed) was parked, with the top down. He clicked open the locks and turned around. “Will you hold this?” he asked. He handed me one of the drinks, then turned to open the car door for me.
    I got in, and he went around the other side to the driver’s seat.
    “Will you be cold with the top down?” he asked.
    “No, it’s beautiful out,” I said. And it was, despite the clouds. It was one of those Indian summer days when the breeze off the plains still smelled like summer and cut grass and heat.
    He put the cup he was holding in the cup holder between us, and I did the same.
    He held out his hand.
    “I’m Timothy,” he said.
    “Nora,” I said, holding out mine.
    He took my hand for a moment, then let go.
    “So, Nora, tell me where should we go in this town of yours?” he asked.
    “We’re just going a couple of blocks,” I said.
    “All right.”
    He started the car and pulled out slowly into the street. As we passed by the