The Coffee Shop Read Online Free PDF Page A

silver platter. There on the platter were two hamburgers, and two cans of cola.
    Bringing her hand to her mouth, Annie laughed at the sight before her. The waiter then placed the burger onto her plate with one of those flat silver servers. It was still hot, the pop cold, and she wondered how he had managed that.
    “Enjoy your meal,” the waiter said and bowed his head, taking two steps back.
    Looking at the waiter, out of the corner of her eye, she leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Um…is he going to stand there the whole time we are eating?”
    Leaning forward, Derrick lowered his voice as well. “Yes, he is. He comes with the meal. I had it made at one of the best restaurants in town.”
    At this, she sat back. “You’re telling me one of the best restaurants in town makes hamburgers?”
    “If you pay them enough, they’ll make you anything you want.”
    “Good God, how much did this cost? ’Cause I can get them for two bucks at…” She remembered the waiter was standing right there, and she smiled, her face becoming hot. “I am sorry. I never meant to suggest.” She looked up. Derrick was watching her from across the table. “Perhaps I should stop while I’m ahead.”
    “Well, now you’re just stealing my line.”
    “Your line?” But then she remembered their last conversation. “Oh yes…” And then she laughed.
    “But do eat up, while it’s still hot.”
    Annie shrugged, and taking a generous bite, she rolled her eyes. “Mmm, oh my God, these are good!”
    “You say that like you’re surprised.”
    “No, I just didn’t expect anything this good! I didn’t know hamburgers could taste this good!” But then she sat back. “If Angela saw me eating this…” She stopped talking, and taking another generous bite, she made more noises as she ate.
    Derrick laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman enjoy a hamburger as much as you. I didn’t think women could enjoy hamburgers as much as you seem to.”
    “What, eatin’ meat is a man’s thang?” She said it with a strong southern drawl, as if coming straight off a Texas barbeque.
    “Oh, so it’s not only a man’s thang, but it’s a southern man’s thang?”
    “Uh-huh.” She managed between bites.
    Derrick just laughed.
    “Aren’t you going to eat?”
    “No, I’m getting much more pleasure out of watching you than I’d ever get from eating it myself.”
    “Then can I have yours?”
    Derrick slid the plate over to her, watching as she ate all of his as well. “I’ve never actually seen a woman eat in front of me.”
    “What?”
    “You know, they’ll pick at a salad, or order something and have a couple of bites.”
    “Really?”
    “You don’t know they do that?”
    “I thought that was just something people made up in movies. I didn’t think they actually did that. Well, yes, I know there are women with eating issues, and I can easily understand how they get that way what with…” She stopped as she noticed him looking at her. “I’m sorry, I never meant to get off on — ”
    “Hey, no need to apologize,” he interrupted. “I was the one that brought it up. I just meant it’s nice to see a woman that lets herself enjoy food. I just wish they could all be able to.”
    She stared at his empty plate. “I just ate your lunch. I don’t believe I just did that! How awful of me. What is the matter with me? How could I have done that? I am positively terrible.”
    “I tell you what, before you completely beat yourself up, if you feel that bad about it I can always order more. It’s not like they have run out of food at the kitchen.”
    “Okay.” She grinned at him.
    He held up two fingers, and the waiter nodded and pulled out a cell phone.
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    “No. I did say I’d order more.”
    “Yes, but I thought you were going to go the restaurant to get them.”
    “Why? When we have a perfect setting right here.”
    Tilting her head, she thought about what he had just said.