Chapter 5 Blind Date - Wrong Date #2
"Really? That's surprising," she said as she brought the coffee to her lips for a sip.
"Is it? Why?"
"Holy crap this is terrible coffee," she sputtered, reaching for a napkin on the table and coughing into it.
He peered into his own cup and nodded. "Yeah, something seemed off about it today, but I know Shellee is out of town for her daughter."
"Ohmygosh it's somehow both burnt and under-roasted, while watery and too acidic," she said popping off the lid and smelling it then sharply pulling her head back at the pungent sour smell as she quickly put the lid back on and pushed it away from her.
She was looking at it like it was offending her and he laughed, the deep rumbling sound moving something inside of her.
He had a really nice laugh. The kind you wanted to curl up with.
"So, tell me about," she paused and shook her head.
"Sorry. I have to get rid of this." The smell of the coffee was too strong and was muddling her senses.
"Just," she stood up, picked up the coffee like it was a rotten fruit holding it away from her body with her head twisted out of nostril reach, and dumped it into the slim trash can next to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
She sat back down. "Sorry, strong sense of smell," she explained with a shrug.
"No apologies needed. You're right. This stuff is offensively weak, acidic, burnt, and under-roasted.
If I didn't love Shellee I'd ask for my money back.
" He smiled at her and she laughed. He leaned forward again, his attention fully caught on her.
"Now, tell me why you think I studied marketing or business. "
She shrugged. "Because you're in marketing? Wasn't exactly detective work on my end."
"But I'm not in marketing."
Her eyebrows pulled together. "You're not? But you helped Jen with her campaign for her business."
"Jen Wilson?"
"Why do you keep clarifying which Jen? Of course Jen Wilson. She's the one who set us up. Quite literally the only context of a Jen you and I share."
"You think we're on a date?" he asked with a look of surprise.
She picked up the red rose and waved around the sweet-smelling flower.
"Usually when someone tells you they have someone they think you'd hit it off with and instructs you to bring a red flower to meet them, it's a date.
" And then something hit her, which would probably hurt her pride when she thought about it later but wouldn't let on now.
"Oh, I'm not your type," she said easily.
"That's fine, but you should know that while I may be a six out of ten on the attractive scale, where I lack in the numerator I fully make up for with my sly wit.
And I make the best damn coffee from here to the panhandle. "
He sat back and crossed his arms over his broad chest, his face calculating, his jaw fighting a smile. "It's not about your looks," he said. "You're very pretty," he said gesturing a large hand toward her. "And I like your audacity. It's refreshing. But I don't date."
It was her turn to tilt her head. "Then why did you agree to go on a date with me? Jen may have undersold your looks but she oversold your smarts."
"Ouch," he said with a look of surprise and then laughed shaking his head.
"Why do you think Jen set us up on a date?
" And then a look of a dawning understanding came into his blue eyes and he reached over to pick up the red rose.
"This. You were meant to meet Graham, weren't you?
I thought it was odd he had a rose," he murmured.
Everything paused and the air stilled around her as she froze. Oh no.
"You're...not Graham? Graham the cute, smart guy in marketing?"
His smile was wide and showed off a dimple in his left cheek. "Nope. I'm Taylor. White. And I actually am a detective at SPD."
She felt the embarrassment rush to her face as she realized the assumptive faux paus she had made. She groaned and closed her eyes then stood up, the sound of the chair scraping against the wood flooring loud and abrasive.
His laughter was a rolling, rumbling thing and it shook his body only adding to the horror.
He held up a large hand. "Wait, wait, you don't have to leave.
This is going so well! What with the absolutely horrific coffee and being on a wrong blind date?
You have to admit, since I'm much more handsome than you bargained for, this is a win for you. "
His cockiness was loud and that familiar smell hit her again, this time harder and more warmly. She made a face at him and picked up her leather tote purse, putting it over her shoulder.
"Wait, where are you going?" he asked. The dimple in his cheek was deep and pronounced at this unfortunate mix-up. His cheekiness was adding to the humiliation and she tamped it down deep inside of her.
"I'm going home to overthink this and put some really expensive counseling to the test," she said then added, "And probably bake something sweet like bourbon brown butter peaches with a creme fraiche to soothe me."
He tipped his head back and barked out a laugh. It was a fantastic sound and she immediately felt anger at that. "Let me at least pay for your horrible coffee."
"First, it's not just horrible; I'm pretty sure it should be made illegal.
Second," she held up a second finger, "I already paid and I don't make it a habit to allow really cocky, hot detectives who I'm not supposed to be on a blind date with pay for me.
" She turned and found the stairs. "I'll see you around Taylor White," she threw over her shoulder as she descended praying that her red-heeled shoes didn't betray her because at this point falling down the stairs in a skirt would take her from medium embarrassment straight to naked in front of your high school embarrassment.
As she passed Bess cleaning the bar she laid a hand on the counter and said, "Honey, that coffee is the worst thing I have ever tasted and I once lived on instant Ukrainian coffee for a month.
" When Bess's face took on a quizzical look she shook her head.
"Story for another time. Call me. Call Shellee and ask her how long she thinks she will be gone and then have her call me and I can come help out until she is back.
And go to the grocery store and buy different coffee," she said pointing to the large bag next to the burr grinder.
Bess got a sheepish look and nodded. "Yeah, I just looked and this stuff expired in 2018."
Eloise laughed, told her to call her as she walked out of The Black Cat Coffee, leaving behind a hot detective she was not supposed to be on a blind date with.
Lord Almighty, if that wasn't the worst introduction to re-entering the dating scene.
She didn't look back, but had she, she would have seen a widely smiling detective leaning over the balcony watching her leave, a thoughtful look on his rugged face.
She laughed softly as she walked back to The Lost Souls house, looking down at the sudden appearance of Sulphur who sleekly walked next to her.
"You think this is a sign? Because I am happy being single for the rest of my life.
" The cat swished her tail and then it hit her: smoked hickory and sweet oranges. That had been the familiar smell.