late nonstop at her advertising representative

iving in Manhattan, but her finances made that an impossibility for the foreseeable future. Her boss, Raquel

as starting earlier, working through lunch, and eating dinner at her desk. She was exhausted, stressed o

y. Unfortunately, it seemed right from the beginning she had a testy relationship with her boss. Alth

g campaign, the psychology behind it and finding success through something she came up with,making clients more money by finding and

a row. Laura was relieved. She went home, had a frozen dinner while watching TV and cuddling

hoto. She indulged them by smiling and posing all along the red carpet. At the end of the carpet, she spotted him. Angelo. He was staring at her, admiring her beauty in her sweeping, strapless formal g

le cheered. She made eye contact with Ang

see you again," he s

inting up to the play's poster.

e asked, looking up adm

ays been a patron of the arts

ips slightly parted. "Speaking of passion. I

, her posture full of confide

behind. Suddenly, they were alone. "You know what you do to men," he said, stepping ar

eshire cat. "I don't

g her bare shoulder. His hands

t him coyly, bat

iss her. His lips were searching, soft and his kiss full

d to savor the dream, to remember it. She kept her eyes closed, but it was no use. She couldn't fall back asleep. The snooze alarm went off. It was 6:40 am. Her mind started to get busy, th

e up. He always slept at the end of her bed. She liked it. At least there was

on her face. She petted him and he purred loudly. "Breakfast time?" she asked, looking into his big green eyes. He meowed excitedly. She kiss

to the kitchen. He then followed her to the cupboard where his food was kept. He was meowing away, excited

ybe those are the big things and the rest are small things." She liked that thought. But then her thoughts turned to the day ahead. She knew

r look. Her hazel eyes were average-sized and her skin was pale with a few freckles here and there, that she tried her best to conceal with cover-up and powder. She felt the freckles made her look too young and girl-like. She took a look at her figure in the

wore a white blouse with a large, open collar, a silver flower pendant, and fitted black skirt. She struggled to look the part of

ful, but she had put together a modest

e to go to work," she said as

ressing his back into her

. I'll miss you, too." Laura kissed the top of his head and then

ce, Coffee Haven. She was looking forward to having

rible, which is why Kinetic alw

assessed the line. It was moving. She'd wait another five minutes, if it didn't look like

ny people making eye contact. She found that a sad state of modern society. Too much disconnection. She thought about h

made it to the

l?" the barista asked

anks, George,

amiliar, friendly face each morning. It made her journey into work just a little less painful. It was sad, she thought. This was one of the high points of her workday. A b

your money today," George sai

ot?" she aske

been pa

I didn

e," the deep voice s

d and nearly fain

Make mine black, tall, pl

orge said, trying

d, turning bright red. Her dr

re," he said, sm

her 5'6", without heels. With his height, his solid build, and those broad shoulder

rself. Of all the things you could say, it had to be a cheesy pick-up line. "I didn't mean...I mea

ture out a bit. This seemed like a good place." He looked down at her,

from behind the co

my..."

aid for their coffees. He gave George a twe

man," George s

terflies in her stomach. She grabbed her coffee. She

that showed off his golden skin. He seemed even taller standing right next to her. She felt her knees

staff, good service. Good coffee." He

ed herself. She couldn't think straight. "Yes, this place is the best," she sa

would be a shame to let some

, she wondered, or is that my imagination? Say something

pped forward to grab it, coming in

aster in response to the

it down for a few minut

, open at the collar, fit

od muscles under th

aur

e looked at her watch. It was 7:55 am. If she left now, she'd maybe make it on time. She pictured Raquel standing there glaring at her