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“Not really.”

Or could hesitant waves or “hellos” count as contact? And continual eyelocks and brushing against each other?

Could a lift count as…

Oh my God! It could count, but I would choose to deny it.

“Not at all.” I firmly said just as the door opened.

Jacob? What in the heavens was he doing here at that moment?

“Mom, I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later.” I panicked, cutting the call.

Chapter Eight

Jacob

Stopping in front of the coffee shop, I exited my car and quickly made for the door. I brushed my shoulder with a strange, suited man who was wearing a thick frown on his face. He got into the car parked in front of mine, but I didn’t pay further attention to him.

The sun at noon illuminated the room with a warm glow, and the scent of freshly ground coffee wafted through the air. The shop was not empty of people. There were a number of them scattered about in the wide space.

I headed directly for the barista’s counter. Clara’s face stood out in her chartreuse blouse and ponytail, but she looked anxious. I wondered what was bothering her.

“Hey!”

“Hey.” She replied softly, wiping the counter with a towel.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, no.” She responded, but her expression betrayed her.

“Are you sure about that?”

She nodded.

“Well, I thought of you and decided to drop by.” I hoped I didn’t sound clingy.

“Thanks.” She said curtly.

It bothered me a great deal to get such an unpleasant tone of response from her. Since the day I apologized, I had dared to imagine how beautifully we would get along, but it was all seeming, indeed, like an illusion now.

Anyway, I was not going to give up so easily. I was going to try everything I could for us.

“How’s your day going? And business?”

I looked around; there were one or two people left in the room. Fair enough.

“Pretty good.”

“And how are you?”

She looked briefly at me, her uneasiness drawn like a tattoo on her face.

“Good.” She didn’t appear to be in a good mood, but I didn’t want to press it any further.

I swallowed as she turned away to change the damp towel.

“Can I help you with anything? I can do anything you want.”