Chapter 4: After Coffee

"You're not average like the rest of the student body, and that is no offense to them. I thoroughly enjoy instructing students of all ages, but it doesn't happen often where I have variety," he said. "It's nice to teach a more mature woman who knows what she wants. It does become disheartening when people are simply trying to pass the course with no interest in the material."

"I'm interested. In fact, I'd love to go onto graduate courses. That's my goal, but it has taken longer than I'd hoped."

"Admirable. What about personal goals?" With a slight turn of his head, his sharp jawline was better defined in the low, overhead light.

Chloé couldn't deny how alluring his smile was at that very moment. Her eyes traveled over his face wondering if he was feeling the same way. He had to know what she was thinking. How could he not?

As he leaned in closer he made her feel that his attention was only for her and he cared that intention was coming across. His interest in her life increased her longing for him. Suddenly, the awareness of his attention on her made her mouth go dry as she imagined saying the perfect wrong thing. It was important not to disappoint him but even more so, she wanted him to like her. What if she turned him off?

Despite the hope to sound like the mature woman he deemed her to be, her cowardice won out and all she could say was, "I have goals." He chuckled.

"I can tell."

She tried to sense if there was a hidden meaning behind his words. Was that half-smile and lift of his nearly midnight-black tinted eyebrows indicative of judgment? She watched as he brought his cup to his lips, admiring the effort he put into styling his chestnut-brown hair.

"Is there something more specific you were asking about?" Chloé asked, raising her cup again.

"I meant personal life. Do you want marriage, kids? Or maybe you already have them–"

"Oh, no. Not yet anyway."

"Well, I won't lie. I'd like that. It just hasn't been in the cards."

Chloé's mouth dropped open as excitement filled her. She wished to tell him that she wanted the same thing and ... in that instant maybe even with him, as unrealistic as that was. While he waited for her answer he gradually leaned back. Chloé could barely control her repeated ogling.

"I-I have similar feelings about what I want," Chloé admitted with a stutter. He raised one eyebrow, sat forward, and took another drink. When he set the cup down, she could see that he was mulling something over. His pause seemed longer than she would have expected as he leaned his arms on the table.

"Of course, that could be years and years down the road." Chloé exaggeratedly gestured with her hands waving them to the right. Fear and embarrassment overwhelmed her as she imagined that she had indeed screwed up her answer. Had she said it with too much gusto?

"What if you were ten years older? Would you wait?" he asked. He sat back again, his eyes pinned on her with interest. Renewed with hope she continued.

"That would make me thirty-six, so no. I wouldn't want to wait."

"That's how old I am," he said, with a tinge of pink on his cheeks. "And it's exactly how I feel. I'm worried I'm missing my window."

They each took another sip of their drinks and sat there in silence.

So, he was alone after all. His admission and discussion about her personal wants was more than hinting. There was something between them that she could feel.

She imagined their fiery interactions and how thrilling living a life with him would be. Feeling shy, she glanced down for a moment trying to compose herself.

When she lifted her head up and their eyes met, she felt them click again. A rush of fear, excitement, and desire surged just underneath her skin. The way he looked into her eyes made her feel like he could see through to her most private secrets and she wanted to show him. She wanted him to know her in every sense of the word.

Chloé tried quelling the shakiness of her hands as she pulled her blonde and pink hair strands out of the cup. At least she could use the caffeine as an excuse if he cared to ask what had her so nervous. There was a shimmer in his hazel-green eyes as he searched her face.

The edge of his irises appeared emerald compared to the golden amber and lighter green of the rest. She couldn't stop staring at them, if for no other reason than they were completely unique to her. It wasn't something she often saw in this area, regionally, but then again, there weren't many men who caught her attention, period.

After her last boyfriend from four years ago, she was tired of immaturity. She was looking for someone … like the man in front of her.

Suddenly, his cell phone rang. It was a song in a language she didn't recognize. He held up his finger and pulled the phone out of his pocket. When he leaned his elbows on the table, Chloé watched the rest of his body language.

Who could it be? Another admirer? He probably had them lined up. Her heart sank as that reality hit her. She wasn't much for competition.

He was speaking in what must be Turkish and then he hopped off the chair. Slowly, he walked toward one of the windows and peered outside. Chloé watched him glance down at the tan-tiled floor and then turn around. When he hung up, he walked back to her, appearing apologetic.

"That was my sister. My highly demanding, younger sister. She has always been this way and, like the good older brother I am, I help her," he said, with a sigh. Then their eyes met again. "I mean this when I say it. I truly regret that I have to leave."

Chloé appreciated how refreshing his honesty was. It didn't hurt that he was being completely charming and stating that he wanted to stay, either. While she considered that this could be an act of kindness for her benefit, she quickly put that false idea to rest. There wasn't any lying in him.

As she stood up beside him, she trembled as she took in all that she could of him. The way his black polo shirt stretched across his small but built biceps, his musky smell, how his hair seemed perfectly messy as it fell over his forehead. When he walked, she liked how his dark jeans were fitted like they were designer pants, not the skinny ones that she found so unflattering.

His sneakers were clean, the white was gleaming at the toes, but the bottoms were caked with dirt from a recent autumn rain.

He placed his hand delicately on her back and gently guided her ahead of him. His touch felt invigorating and she felt her entire body flush with warmth.

They stepped out into the gorgeous September day. When she turned around to face him, she was met with his intense stare.

"Does your sister live close to here?" she asked, swallowing hard, her heart skipping. He nodded, breaking him out of his gaze.

"Yes, she lives with me, but I hope that will change soon. I'd love to live on my own." He glanced at her, then delicately took her right hand in both of his. He held onto it as he spoke. "I've had an excellent time here. So glad to have had a tiny window into Chloé Masters' mind. Perhaps I can see more soon."

"Oh, you can count on it," Chloé said. While she had been trying to hold back all day, having him touch her was the final thread that was keeping her impulse control under wraps. He smiled widely, unable to tone himself down either.

"Talk to you soon." He gave her a wave and walked down the street. Chloé wanted to follow him in the worst way but for now, she had plenty to think about and process. As she stood in front of her car, she could see her stretched reflection in the window.

She wore the same smile he had when they parted.

Chloé slid into the driver's seat, sat there for a few minutes in complete awe of what happened, then turned the key over. When she left, she drove out toward her running route that took her around a section of the ocean.

As she drove by the well to do houses, she could swear she saw him inside of one. If he lived in that kind of place, why would he want to move? His sister must be a handful if he was willing to leave a place so beautiful. The fleeting thought that this was his wife and child crossed her mind causing her to panic, but that idea was immediately disregarded by her.

Somehow, she knew she could trust him already.

As she continued driving, she heard her generic message chime. Could it be from him? Her grin widened as she glanced at herself in the mirror. She was happy.

When she got to her place she promptly parked in her assigned spot. After shutting off the car, she held the phone in one hand, while simultaneously exiting the vehicle. She tried to lock the car door, and then walk, but apparently, she couldn't find the grace.

First, she bumped her hip too forcefully with the car door and then dropped her keys. As she bent over her heel skidded causing her to lose her balance. Once sitting on her butt, Chloé could not stop laughing about how funny that must have looked, not to mention her own clumsiness. Nearly in hysterics, she didn't notice Joel standing in front of her.