Mason shrugged. “I’m a man of simple tastes.”
We moved off to the side to wait for our orders. It didn’t take long, unfortunately. Before I could say much else, the sour-faced barista handed us our coffees and took my money.
We walked outside together, our conversation light. Observations about the unnaturally long winter. Random comments regarding the traffic.
“It looks pretty bad out there this morning. I heard there’s a nasty accident causing gridlock,” Mason stated as we lingered on the sidewalk.
“Do you have far to go?” I asked him.
“I work in the city,” he responded vaguely.
“Oh. In the city,” I repeated.
Mason cleared his throat and took a sip of his coffee. “Yeah, I just moved here from DC a few weeks ago. I was transferred. Anyway, I should probably get going.”
I wouldn’t act disappointed. Even though I was. “Oh, me too. I’m already late.” I nodded my head toward his coffee cup. “Enjoy your coffee. If you can enjoy something with no flavor,” I said with a laugh.
It had been a long time since I’dchitchatted.I thought I was doing a good job. I couldn’t really tell. Mason hadn’t made some ridiculous excuse to leave yet, so things must be going well.
Mason grinned. “I hope we do this again.”
I widened my eyes fractionally. “What? Dump my stuff on the floor and act like an idiot?”
Mason snorted. “No, the talking. And the coffee. But maybe for longer next time.”
Be cool. He likes indie bands andDoctor Whojokes; he doesn’t want needy and overly enthusiastic.
“Sure. If I see you around,” I replied offhandedly. But my smile was genuine. I meant it too.
“I usually stop in on my way to the office. This time every day,” Mason offered.
I tingled. But I somehow stayed cool. Years and years of not feeling much made it easy to play the game.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I raised an eyebrow.
Mason ran his thumb along the curve of the to-go cup, licking his lips, which were probably dry. He was a little bit nervous. Just like me. It made me feel less awkward.
“I’m trying to tell you that I’d like to see you again, Hannah Whelan. And that maybe I can buyyoucoffee tomorrow morning.” His eyes met mine and we were both smiling.
“That would be nice, Mason.” I said his name softly. Deliberately.
I turned on my heel and walked away, not allowing myself to stay any longer.
I knew when it was time to run.
Chapter 2
Hannah
I was almost thirty minutes late by the time I walked into Holt IT Solutions. Stan, the security guard who spent his days loitering in the lobby, barely looked up when I arrived.
Like I said, I did well fading into the background.
I slipped into the elevator and pushed the button for the fifth floor. I was the only one inside. Everyone was already at their respective desks, going about their respective days.
When the doors finally opened on my floor, I got out and hurried to my desk. I kept my head down, my purse tucked against my side. No one looked up as I passed.
I sat down in my cubicle and nodded my head in greeting to Carl, the middle-aged man in the cubicle beside me. He didn’t acknowledge me. He never did. I didn’t take it personally. It never bothered me that he didn’t see me. I wasn’t someone he would pay much attention to.
