Christian is standing in his spacious closet inspecting himself in the mirror. He's not been on a date before and is unsure what you're supposed to wear on a coffee date. Frustrated, he settles on a gray sweater and dark jeans. Before he can change his mind, he decides to leave for The Last Drop Cafe.
"Sir?" Taylor walks towards Christian ready to go.
"Thanks, Taylor. But I'll drive myself tonight. You can take the rest of the night off with Mrs. Jones." Christian quickly strides past Taylor and onto the elevator before he can be asked any questions. He's nervous and doesn't want to go through a line of questioning beforehand.
He arrives at the cafe early, by plan, and finds a table in a quiet corner in the back. Once he is seated and has a good view of the entrance, he orders a macchiato. He's not thirsty but having something there will help to stop his fidgeting hands. After a couple of minutes, he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. Just in case it's something important, he checks to make sure it isn't urgent. He's relieved and irritated at the same time that it's just a text from Elliot. It seems their sister can't keep her giant mouth shut and blabbed to Elliot that he has a date today. Elliot has not left him alone since then. It's annoying. He rolls his eyes and places his phone on the table. He looks up and sees her standing there. Ana. She looks gorgeous casually dressed in skinny jeans with a cardigan sweater and a scarf. She is pretty enough to be a model. But then again, he's glad she's not. He doesn't know her very well but the thought of other men ogling her leaves a sour taste in his mouth.
Ana makes eye contact with Christian and smiles before she makes her way to the table. "Hi. I hope you haven't been waiting too long," Ana shyly tells Christian as she takes her seat. Her cheeks blush a light rose, giving away her shyness.
He gives her his brightest playboy smile. "Would you like some coffee?" he asks her motioning for the nearby waitress to come to their table.
"Oh, um, actually, I don't like coffee." He gives her a sardonic smile, and his eyes are alight with some unknown humor Ana doesn't understand. "But I do like tea." She quickly responds before she gives him a small smile.
"What can I get for you?" a waitress with short auburn hair and a warm smile asks Ana. Ana returns her smile hesitantly as she wonders if the waitress knows she is on a date.
"I'll have English Breakfast tea, if you have it, with the bag out, please." Ana quietly tells the waitress.
"Do you want cream or sugar?" The waitress looks from Christian to Ana and smiles kindly at her once again.
"No thank you." The waitress turns to walk towards the counter. When Ana looks back to Christian, he's looking at her with a smirk and one eyebrow raised. "What?" She asks Christian, unsure of why he's smiling and suddenly feels insecure.
"You don't like coffee yet you agreed to meet me at a coffee shop?" He asks her, trying, and failing, to hide his smile.
Ana feels her cheeks heat and looks down. Suddenly she feels shy, so she quietly responds, "I didn't come here for the coffee." She looks up in time to see him reward her with a seductive smile - the kind of smile that is small and partially crooked but makes it look like he has a secret. The waitress returns quickly with Ana's tea and the pot of hot water. "Thank you." She replies when the waitress sets her tea down.
Christian asks Ana about what it was like growing up in Montesano, her time in college, and about her jobs, both at the bookstore and her freelance work. She's sweet but with a snarky edge to her that, for some reason, he finds very attractive. She's unlike anyone he's ever met before, and he's drawn to her - especially her laugh.
Ana asks Christian about his background and growing up, but his answers are brief and distant. He doesn't tell her anything she can't learn from an article in Business Week magazine. He's careful not to let his guard down, not to allow her to get too close.
They've been sitting and talking for a few hours now, and the cafe begins to close-up. Ana looks at her watch, "I better go. It's late, and I have to work tomorrow."
Christian grabs Ana's hand as they make their way to her jeep. Once they approach it, there is an undeniable pull, as if they are magnetically drawn to each other, and he can't stop himself. Instantly, his mouth is on hers, kissing her passionately. This isn't how he does things. Everything in his life is ordered.
As abruptly as it began, Christian ends the kiss with Ana. Breathless, he puts his forehead against hers. "My God, Ana. What do you do to me?" Christian is perplexed by this woman who makes him lose control. What is it about her that does this to him?
She giggles, and biting her lip looks down. In a whisper, she responds, "I could say the same about you."
He gives her a lopsided smile, "Well, you have work tomorrow morning, so you better get home." He gestures to her jeep in an attempt to help her.
"OK," she replies and turns to open the driver's side door. But before she can get in the car, Christian grabs her arm and pulls her against him and kisses her once more.
He releases her and whispers into her ear, "Drive safely. I will talk to you later."
Ana is left feeling topsy-turvy. She doesn't know what she was expecting from tonight but she has gone through such a range of feelings - nervous, excited, anxious, and very much attracted to him. Of course, he is extremely good looking, but it seems like it's more than looks that are drawing her to him. She has never felt this way about anyone and in a sense, it's a little unnerving.