You would think that I'm smart enough to realize that the gentle prodding of my parents questions of "What do you think of Seattle?" is the pre-curser to a move...A move from the bright and sunny Napa California; to the more often than not dank and dreary Seattle Washington; all because my dear Papa is getting a promotion in the police force. However, for all of my high points and 'training' from my Papa, I was not smart enough to figure that little nugget out.
So, here I am, quietly plodding around on my own from street to street, in the city of Seattle, getting a feel for Papa's home town on one of its more sunny days. Though as sun goes, this one is feeble at best. Most of the shops that line the streets are normal, clothing shops, books shops, and souvenir shops. Nothing too unexpected, or extraordinary. Nothing that I am looking for. I just want a quiet little 'no-body knows about' coffee shop where I can have an overly caffeinated, well made drink; and a chance to think about this move.
I finally find what I'm looking for on a street off the main road where the less adventurous tourists tend to stay away from because its lacking the glow of the movie theater lights. Inside the well polished windows I can see more local-looking people sitting in plush chairs, and the very surprising thing is that only one person is using a laptop; everyone else is reading or having an actual conversation with another person. Stepping through the propped open door, I move inside the amazing smelling cafe and take a moment to appreciate every little component that makes this place exactly what I want. The perfect "Little Corner of Heaven".
Before I know it I am clutching between my hands the nectar of the Gods. Full of creamy, dreamy, yumminess that can only come from the wonderful combination of coffee and milk...Along with some other fattening stuff I can't bear to think about at this point in time. While walking out of my official new favorite place in this un known city, I lift the straw (a lovely cup the shade of clear sky blue might I add with a pearly white straw, a nice touch to go with the Corner of Heaven theme they have going on) to my lips and move through the propped open door once again, but this time I encounter something in my way. Something making its own way into the cafe, and straight into me. This mass is much bigger than I am, and moving against me, causing me to be forced backward...Well not so much forced, fall. I fell backwards, my free hand lashing out to stabilize myself and latching onto the closest thing to me; the shirt of the person in my way. Bringing the enormous mass down with me. Down on top of me, right?
Wrong. One would assume that I'm going to be the one on the ground. That I am going to be smothered to death by some un known person as my delicious espresso beverage sloshes all over the floor of this place that I can never return to because of this insufferable oaf who I am putting all of the blame on. No espresso drink should of had to suffer! Anyway, I braced myself for the impact of a cold hard ground and the crushing weight of a body on top of me, and probably a sopping wet head of espresso hair. But none of that came; no impact, no crushing, and no espresso hair.
Instead I feel like I'm being spun around, the backsplash of ice coffee in my face, and landing on top of someone. Someone who must have ninja like skills to keep me from landing on the floor, and on top of that must be an extreme ninja gentleman to take the landing on the floor. I keep my eyes closed as the coffee drips off my face and onto the person below me, who is breathing calm and not saying a word. Strange since most people would be talking nonstop the moment they hit the floor. But no, here we lay with everyone's eyes on us as we remain silent, and in my case at least, eyes closed.
Though, after a few moments I do open my eyes, I wish I could close them again. Not because I know the person below me, not because they are ugly, or scary. Because the look on his face, and especially in his eyes is one of such focus, such intensity, and such pure happiness that I can't stand it and I surely don't understand it. I mean why would you look like you just got your biggest, best wish when someone just plowed into you and spilt ice cold coffee all over you?
Those eyes though...So focused and pure, it's like they are trying to swallow every inch of me that they see, which is only my face at this point. I can't see the rest of this man's body, but from what I can feel, it's amazing. All hard and manly...Wait, what am I saying? Moments ago I was blaming this man for the uncaring and blatant murder of my coffee. Now I'm saying he's all hard, manly, positively flowing with musky wilderness wonder...Hey, I'm human right? And it was only coffee.
Only coffee? Who is this person and what are they doing to my brain?! We haven't even spoke yet and I'm pretty sure somewhere in the back of my mind I planned to jump his bones in the restroom...But, that can't happen because we haven't even spoke yet. Right. Speaking, that should happen right about now.
"Um...Are you ok?" I question in a voice I'm not even sure he could hear... I never knew I could be so quiet. Before he has a chance to reply I become once again aware of everyone else in the shop looking at us, wondering why were still on the floor, and by now, if we even plan on moving. As quickly as we ended up on the floor, I'm off of it; standing over the man and offering my hand to haul him to his feet. Those eyes, those intense eyes once again swallow my every feature, my every movement. The longer I think about it I register it as an almost predatory gaze. I wonder if he's a hunter?
With my hand firmly grasped in his, he moves swiftly, and easily to his feet without using me at all. I swear I didn't feel a single tug as he moved. As he stands to his full height I realize something that slipped my mind before. This dude is huge. As in probably had to stoop to get through the door and honestly I'm surprised he didn't have to walk through it sideways, huge. Another thing I realize is, his hand is ridiculously warm, and the coffee has already begun to dry on his shirt, the dark splotches disappearing.
"I was going to ask you the same thing..." The stranger said without releasing my hand, never taking his eyes off mine. "Since I did kinda run into you..." he added with a half smile that showed just a fraction of teeth. Something about it was both sweet and tingly. Good tingly.
"Yea...you kinda did...But I think I have to take some responsibility since I wasn't paying attention." I mumbled, my voice still abnormally small. Now here's what kind of confused me, instead of also feeling awkward because of my awkwardness, he smiled. An endearing, sweet smile like he thought it was cute instead of freakish and strange. Like the way you would smile at a child who can't come up with the word it wants.
"Well since I ruined your drink, let me buy you another one?" He offered dropping my hand and motioning to the puddle on the floor, though he didn't seem to notice or care about his shirt. Which no doubt is ruined.
"Oh no no no... I can't let you do that. I did kinda ruin your shirt. It's all stained and coffee smelling. Thank you for the offer though." I concluded with what I hoped was a sweet smile instead of some creepy half grimace. You know, I would be better at this if my brain would stop making plans to shag him, which it's doing without my permission!
"Well for one, I wouldn't be in here if I didn't like the smell of coffee. Also, this shirt has probably been through worse. Just saying. Seriously though, it's the least I can do." That adorable smile was back, but this time wider, and more teeth. Goodness was there nothing about this man that my brain didn't go hay-wire over?
"Tell you what...You can buy me another drink, if I can buy yours. That way I don't feel totally guilty about practically assaulting you with my first one." I am forced to laugh at my own words, because even to my ears they don't sound the slightest bit smooth, it's like my brain can't make up its own mind. Does it want to get him or not? Because at this point it seems like I'm doing my best to be totally difficult.
With a moment of pause and deep concentration his face breaks out into a broad grin, complete with raised eyebrows and a slightly, adorably, crinkled nose. "Now see, that doesn't work. Because if I allow you to do that than I might as well just be buying my own drink, no. I'm getting you another drink." With that he once again grabs my hand and tows me towards the counter as an employee makes their way to the puddle with a mop and bucket. "So, what was it you were drinking?"
There was a slightly awkward silence as we listened to the light hiss of the espresso machines and the whirl of a blender as the drinks were prepared. I had an elaborate, and in my opinion well thought out, plan of putting my money on the counter then dashing out the door and back to my car before he could argue and end this tormentingly awkward moment, and to keep my brain from coming up with ever more embarrassing ideas about this man who I don't even know and decided that I was going to have no more contact with. Since I didn't know him or this city for that matter.
That plan was dashed the moment the drinks were poured and I moved for my wallet. One broad hand grasped my wrist and pulled my hand from my purse where it clutched my wallet; the other hand grabbed my wallet and placed it back into the purse it came out of. "Not going to happen. Nice try though." He chuckled with a wink before handing over a ten dollar bill and offering another clear sky blue cup for me to grab.
Taking the cup with a gratefully sheepish smile and a tucked head I said a quick "Thanks, sorry again" and moved quickly out the door before I could turn an embarrassing shade of scarlet, if I hadn't already. Without looking behind me I headed back to the parking garage where I left my truck... Almost 6 blocks away. Honestly the longest walk of my life. For whatever reason I didn't think to look behind me until I was about one block away from my car. While taking a pull from the straw I looked over my shoulder to see the man following no to far behind; when he noticed me looking he toasted his cup to me and sped up slightly, calling out a "Hey!"
Pausing and turning to face him, this time feeling uncomfortable and not the least bit interested in jumping him. "Hi?" I said shortly, hoping I didn't sound too rude but at the same time wanting to make it clear that I was leaving.
"You left before I could get your name.." He answered, looking over my stance which I admit, was a bit flighty, though I doubt I would be able to outrun this guy.
"Azalea.." I said before turning on my heel and marching back towards the car. The sky had gotten darker...Was I really in the coffee shop for that long?
"Wait!" He called again behind me causing me to stop and turn, this time my stance wasn't flighty, it was strong. My free hand reached into my purse and found the hard plastic object I was looking for. Flicking a button on the side and feeling the buzz in my palm I looked the man in the eyes, daring him to touch me. "I'm Embry... I was wondering if I could see you again"
"Nice to meet you but I have to go. Thanks for the coffee." I said quickly before turning again, brushing off his question about seeing him again. Two quick steps later I feel a large warm hand close around the top of my left arm, the arm holding my coffee. Quickly turning and pulling the object from my purse I hold down a button on the opposite side from the on switch and press the two metal prongs to the side of his neck; sending volts of electricity coursing from the taser and into his body. I run as he drops to the cement and twitches in a second puddle of coffee.
Clearly I don't take kindly to being followed down a street.
Once I am safely tucked away in my truck I toss the taser on the passenger seat so it can cool off before I rest my head on the steering wheel and let out a puff of breath I hadn't even been aware I was holding in. Placing my coffee in the cup holder to my side I dig through my purse for my keys with shaky hands. Seeing movement out of the corner of my eye I look up to see the man, Embry, making his way through the line of cars, one hand rubbing his neck and the other hold in a cell phone which he appeared to be texting on. Meaning his head was thankfully bent to look at the phone.
Once again I held my breath, waiting until he got in a beat up looking car and drove away. Finally finding my keys I jam them in the ignition and back out of the space I was in and speeding along the row and out of the garage.
Though we technically live in the Seattle area now, Papa has an old friend who lives in Forks, so that's where were spending the next week or so... Meaning I have a long drive ahead of me.
As I hit the highway one question rings in my head. How did 'Embry' get out of the taser effects that fast?