'Cup of Joe' was a cozy little coffee shop tucked into the neighborhood Brennan's apartment building was in. She gone past it a dozen or so times, but hadn't ever really bothered to stop in, because it seemed that she was always on the way to somewhere else. When Andrew Hacker called and asked if she wanted to have coffee a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like a perfect place to meet him - a place where she wouldn't slip up and inadvertently bring up something that Booth had eaten there. And somehow this little place had become her and Andrew's meeting place of sorts. Short little get togethers that could be strung into someone's definition of dating - not that she would necessarily call it that. Meeting for coffee a few times didn't constitute dating.

"You almost need a code book to order a cup of coffee in this place, whatever happened to just ordering a regular cup of coffee, huh?" Andrew had a twinkle in his eye as he regarded the beautiful woman sitting across the table from him. The coffee shop was a little crowded on this early Saturday morning, but not so much that you felt like you had to excuse yourself before lifted your cup for a drink. Besides, it gave him an excuse to scoot a little closer to Temperance.

"They have a menu." Brennan smirked and then shook her head as his intent became clear to her. "You were making a joke, weren't you?"

He chuckled softly. "Yes, they do, a rather extensive one at that, but I still prefer a simple cup of coffee and the company of a beautiful woman." So far all they'd had was coffee, he'd hinted at dinner or a trip to the movies, or even a concert, but he wasn't so sure that they were ever going to get beyond coffee. Of course, he had only hinted - perhaps he needed to actually do some asking.

Small talk was not her forte, but it seemed to be a good way to converse when trying to get to know someone. And since she was trying to get to know Andrew, it seemed appropriate to engage in some stimulating conversation. She took a sip of her coffee and then addressed him. "I've been working on another book." Although she wasn't going to mention that she had hit a wall of almost insurmountable writer's block that she couldn't find a way to get beyond. It seemed that despite having a rather intriguing case as the central focus, she had Kathy and Andy at an impasse personally and she wasn't sure what to do about it.

"Oh, really." He smiled at her, genuinely interested. "Any chance you'll let me in on the plot?" He really didn't know if giving away her plot would break some secret writer's code, but not only was he a big fan of her writing, he was a big fan of her.

She seemed to contemplate it for a moment and then shook her head with a smile playing across her face. "I don't like to show anyone but my editor the manuscript until it's been published." That wasn't the complete truth, she had shown her manuscripts to a few people over the years, but they were the exception.

"I bet Booth gets a preview considering that Andy Lister is patterned after him." He felt a bit of pride at the fact that he just so happened to have the same first name as her leading man even if he wasn't the inspiration.

Her brow furrowed just a bit. "I've never let Booth read a manuscript before its published, and he's not Andy Lister. The characters in my books are purely fiction." A fact that she herself was beginning to doubt more and more. Perhaps that was why her two characters were having difficulty - it sort of mirrored how she felt about where she was at with Booth.

Andrew sensed something that he wasn't so sure he wanted to tread on so he smiled instead. "Well whatever their inspiration, I thoroughly enjoy your books." He took a long sip of his coffee and looked at her appreciatively.

"They are best sellers." In the back of her mind she could almost hear Booth's voice telling her that a simple thank you would have been appropriate and she seemed to inwardly acquiesce to his voice. "Thank you. I'm glad you like them." This felt more like an awkward meeting with a fan of her books than a coffee date with a man who was very attractive and charming.

There was a long silent pause in their conversation as each one of them sipped their coffee. Finally Andrew decided to take a little leap. "So, I noticed that Bon Jovi is coming to town next week and I think I can get tickets if you're interested." A concert was a real date, going to a concert together would mean that she was actually interested in him beyond whatever this semi platonic thing they had going. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy these little coffee klatches, but at some point he wanted an opportunity for a good night kiss rather than a kiss on the cheek in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Oh." She was a little taken by surprise, but she wasn't sure why. He was a man who was clearly interested in her and he wanted more than coffee. "I like Bon Jovi." She had a ridiculous fan crush on Jon Bon Jovi when she was about fourteen, something that she had confessed to Booth once when he'd worn a vintage concert t-shirt one day. She enjoyed music and Andrew was good company, yes, a concert with Andrew would be good. And then after they would have plenty to talk about.

"Well then I'll see if I can get the tickets and I'll give you a call." It felt like their little coffee date was wrapping up, especially since his coffee was nearly done and she seemed a little distracted.

"That sounds good." Brennan smiled at him. A concert might be fun and Angela was always telling her that she needed to get out more and live a little. Surely this would qualify for living.

"Okay then." He smiled back.

She happened to see the time on the clock and suddenly felt a compulsion to head into the lab. She began to gather her jacket and purse. "I really should go. I have remains from bone storage that I'm behind on identifying and I really should do some catching up. Plus I need to work on my book. My editor has been asking me for the next chapter for a week, but Booth and I have had a case." She hadn't meant to bring up Booth in front of Andrew, but he was so much a part of her life, it was hard not to.

"Of course." Andrew's warm smile belied the inward sinking feeling he had that all of this wooing he was attempting to do was going to end up being a big waste of time. But on the other hand, he knew he would regret it if he didn't at least try, just in case his gut was wrong.

"But I'll be looking forward to Bon Jovi." Brennan stood and leaned over and brushed his cheek with a kiss and then breezed out the door of the coffee shop without even a smiling backward glance.