Lessons From A Younger Lover. Zuri Day

eased into the coffee shop parking lot and parked next to a Jeep that seemed more suited for the desert than a sedate town of ten thousand. Still, there was something about the ruggedness and strength that struck her as thoughtful. In a world where everything was about the bling-bling, like Adam’s sporty Porsche or Chantay’s champagne wardrobe on a beer budget, this display of restraint was welcomed.

      The twinkling of the door chimes to Kristy’s Coffee Shop welcomed Gwen into the establishment and provided a strange comfort. Since leaving Joe, or vice versa, and the news about her mother’s deteriorating mental state, her life had been anything but routine. Coming here almost every day gave the place a familiar feel. In the few weeks left until the first day of school, Gwen was determined to find the peace and predictability she once took for granted.

      Gwen stepped into the cool confines and tantalizing smells of the eclectically decorated establishment. Again she noticed the homey, personal touches Kristy had used to make her business feel as if one were sitting in someone’s home. Cozy, overstuffed chairs in deep mustards and burgundies vied for space with two colorfully striped love seats that anchored each wall. Two tall, worn bookcases held the latest newspapers, gossip rags, and a variety of used books. The ledge under a game table housed chess, checkers, Scrabble, and a couple decks of cards. Four round wooden table and chair sets lined the back wall. Local artists added their creative flair to the salmon-colored walls with prices for the artwork discreetly displayed on wooden blocks beneath each piece. The overhead lighting was subdued, with lamps strategically placed throughout to give the readers additional illumination if needed. The low-playing music had a world beat sound that lent an organic quality to the overall vibe.

      “Hey, Gwen.”

      “Hey, Kristy. You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I love the decor here. Is it your design?”

      “Design may be a bit lofty a description. Basically I scoured estate sales and flea markets for whatever I couldn’t steal out of my parents’ basement.”

      “You gotta appreciate a woman who can improvise.”

      “That’s what I say. Your favorite double-Dutch chocolate today?”

      “Actually, I think I’ll wait to decide. I’m meeting someone.”

      “No problem. I’ll just finish up this order. Let me know when you’re ready.”

      As Gwen studied the menu on the wall, a man came up behind her.

      “There’s my butterfly. How long have you been waiting for me?”

      Gwen jumped at the husky sounding voice perilously close behind her. Knowing the man behind the voice, she closed her eyes and swallowed before stepping out of his reach and turning around.

      “Hi, Ransom,” she said in her best professional, nonchalant, you-don’t-affect-me-at-all Mrs. Smith voice.

      Ransom took a step toward Gwen. Gwen took another step away from him.

      “Why do you keep running from me?”

      “I’m not running from you. I just like my personal space, that’s all.”

      Ransom narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly. “Is that so?”

      “Yes, that’s so.”

      “Well, I like it too. Although I am respectful. I wouldn’t want to step on your wedding vows and whatnot, try and take something that doesn’t belong to me. Is that why you’re unavailable, because you’re married?”

      Tell him, Gwen. Just say yes! But she could not. While technically true, she felt that to say this would be lying. But to say she was separated would invite questions about Joe, the last person she wanted to discuss. And while she wouldn’t dare admit it, a part of her wanted very much to be available to the man in front of her. So she danced around his question.

      “I didn’t say I was unavailable. I said I was uninterested. There’s a difference.”

      “So then you’re gay.”

      “Ha! Hardly, though I’m sure you believe a woman who isn’t interested in you must be gay.”

      “No, but I think a woman who is hiding her true feelings must have a reason.”

      Before Gwen could think of a sassy retort, Kristy spoke.

      “Your order’s ready, Ransom.”

      Ransom placed a credit card on the counter without taking his eyes off Gwen. “Add whatever the lady is having,” he said to Kristy.

      “She hasn’t ordered yet.”

      “Add an extra twenty and tab whatever’s left.”

      Kristy’s eyes sparkled as she looked from Ransom’s predatory gaze to Gwen’s deer-in-headlights one. “Wow, Gwen. You’ve got Ransom peeling off the big bucks. You go, girl.”

      “That’s quite all right, Kristy,” Gwen replied. “I’ll be glad to take care of my purchase.”

      Kristy looked from Gwen to Ransom.

      Ransom gave Kristy an authoritative look. She simply nodded and rang up his purchase, plus twenty dollars.

      He turned impatient eyes on Gwen and took another step toward her, gently grabbing her arm before she could retreat again.

      “I see we’re going to have to establish early on who’s the boss around here,” he whispered, his breath dangerously warm on her temple.

      Gwen resisted the urge to shiver and instead steeled herself with resolve. “Kindly take your hand off me.”

      “Don’t make a scene,” Ransom continued in a near whisper. “Just give me your number.”

      “Give you my…what?” Gwen struggled again to break free from Ransom’s grasp. His grip was deceptively light but firm. There was no way she could move without the two customers who’d just come in knowing there was a disagreement happening. Gwen hated acting out in public but realized now might have to be one of those times. Maybe it was because she and Joe rarely had sex in their last three months together, but strange things happened when this man touched her. She lowered her voice to match his. “Please, let me go.”

      “Hey, Gwen!” Joanna walked to the end of the counter where Gwen and Ransom stood. She leaned in provocatively and added, “Hey, Ransom.”

      “What’s up, Joanna?”

      “You, gorgeous…always.”

      Gwen tried to ignore the stab of jealousy that whipped around her heart as soon as Joanna started flirting. Ransom was not her business; maybe if he focused on Joanna he would leave her alone.

      “You sure do get around, Ransom,” Joanna continued. “What do you do? Get a heads-up from city hall whenever somebody new moves in?”

      “What I do is mind my own business,” Ransom replied. “You would do well to do the same.”

      Kristy chuckled behind the counter, which drew a heated glare from Joanna.

      Ransom turned and gave Gwen a hug. “I’ll see you later,” he vowed. And was gone.

      Joanna eyed Ransom until he was out of view and then whipped around to Gwen. “How’d you meet Ransom?”

      Gwen’s female antennae instantly went on high alert and her plans to ask Joanna about Ransom changed in that moment.

      “Here, at Kristy’s.”

      “You guys didn’t seem too casual. In fact it sounds like you’re hooking up later on. If that’s true, I need to warn you. There’s a line a mile long ahead of you trying to tie him down.”

      “Don’t listen to her,” Kristy chimed in. For the moment, they were the only three in the shop. “Everybody tries to act like they know Ransom’s business, but nobody does.”

      “Including you,”