Monday morning came quicker than Harlow could have thought. The snow storm had kept her out of work for a total of two days before it was deemed safe enough for the re-enactment town to open back up. The morning of her coffee date with Colton started out like every other. She fed Lady Luck and quickly got dressed for the day. Her arms were sore from the butter turning, but she remedied it with some overpriced grapes and a bagel. Harlow hadn't realized how expensive some foods could get during the winter. Having grown up in Southern California, she was used to having a wide arrangement of fresh fruit available to her for a reasonable price. She missed it, and the money she didn't have to spend.
With a rumbling hum, Harlow's car started up and she was met with a blast of freezing air. Gasping, she pushed every vent away from her and turned the heat to as far up as it would go; willing it to warm up quicker. Harlow tucked her gloved hands under her armpits, in an attempt to keep her fingers from freezing off. Impatiently, she looked at the engine thermometer, tapping at the plastic cover. The arrow still rested below the large C. That was another thing to add to the small list of minor things she missed-not having to wait five minutes to allow her engine to warm up. She missed getting into the car and just going.
~~~
Turning onto Main Street, Harlow found a parking spot in front of the local florist. Turning her car off, she shoved her keys into her purse and climbed out into the cold. The air nipped at her exposed face, something she was still getting used to, and quickly walked down the semi-busy sidewalk.
With the coffee shop in her sight, she pushed the door open and entered the warm shop. Unlike the other morning, when the shop was near empty, this late morning it was buzzing and alive with other townspeople. She glanced around, and spotted Colton sitting in the same plush chair next to the potbelly stove that she had taken just days earlier. He didn't notice her arrival, his eyes glanced down at his phone. Her belly dropped just slightly; though she wasn't 100% sure why.
Slipping her gloves off, Harlow squeezed her way through the line towards the back corner. On the table in between the two chairs, were two steaming cups of coffee and a few random creamers. Colton, who had since put his phone away once he looked up and saw Harlow coming, smiled.
"Moring, I got you a coffee, I hope you don't mind." He made a motion towards the free chair, which she took once she slipped her jacket off. "I didn't add anything to it, I wasn't sure how you take it." Slipping the lid off of her cup, Harlow began to pour in some creamer. "I like it medium dark, with cream only. No sugar." She finished stirring the creamer in, glancing at him. Pulling the stirrer from the coffee, she looked away as she stuck it into her mouth. Keeping the lid off of the coffee to cool it faster, Harlow took a light sip. It was liquid heaven in a cup. "So, I take it you've been okay- no more crashing into snow piles?" Harlow gave a small chuckle and smiled. "No, no more crashing. I've been fine, just working."
Colton nodded, and took a sip of his own coffee, "I own a few businesses in town and work from home a lot." Harlow gave him a strange face, as she took another small sip of coffee. "I figured since I knew where you worked, I would tell you where I work." Harlow nodded her head and hummed. "Okay, you own businesses. That must be fun, right?" Colton nodded,taking another sip of coffee. "Yeah, they're all local places so I don't ever have any real issues." Harlow nodded her head again, and the air between them grew silent. She was grateful for the coffee in her hands.
"You met Viviana in California, right? What made you want to come here?" Harlow swallowed the coffee in her mouth. "Well, I just got out of a really tough relationship and needed the change." Harlow hoped he wouldn't push for more.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned that on the Ferris Wheel- hey" He leaned forward slightly, and Harlow caught that same intoxicating smell from his truck, "What made you change your mind about going out with me?"
Her heart had sped up and was now ponding in her chest. She wanted to lie, to say that she was only being friendly. She even started to say it, but ultimately she couldn't.
"I don't know. I can tell you I didn't move to this town to find a new boyfriend. I definitely don't want one right now but I just can't explain it." Harlow frowned at her coffee cup, "It's crazy, you'll think I'm crazy but I" Harlow shook her head, placing the coffee cup back down. "You know what, never mind. This wasn't a good idea, I'm really sorry. Thanks again for the coffee." Standing, Harlow almost missed her jacket as she started towards the door. Behind her, Colton said her name. Not loud enough to be a yell but not soft enough to be a normal tone. Slipping on her coat, she didn't bother to button it as she headed out from the shop. She was only a few steps from the door when a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around. She was stunned, and stared up into Colton's grey eyes. She could feel herself being pulled into them. "It's like a pull- right?" Harlow blinked, brought out from her trance. "What?"
"You feel pulled to me. Maybe a drop in your stomach, you feel like you're getting lost in my eyes, and there's something that keeps bringing you back. Maybe, it's the feeling that when we touch," He slid his bare, cold hand down to her own. His hand was warm, and intertwined perfectly together with hers as he went on, "it's as if we were molded to fit one another."
Harlow's jaw moved, but no sound came from her mouth. Her eyebrows crashed down and she blinked at him. "How-so-what? I'm not crazy?" He squeezed her hand, smiling. "Not at all. Will you let me take you to dinner?" Harlow, now aware of how close they were, and how her body seemed to buzz, pulled her hand away. She realized his smell had engulfed her senses.
"No, I may not be able to explain why I'm attracted to you but I meant what I said. I don't want a boyfriend, I did not move here for that. Have a nice day Colton." Turning, she started back towards her car. Her gut, and pounding heart, told her to turn around- to just glance at him. But she couldn't. Because what had once been a small tug in her stomach's bottom was now the raging numbing rush of romantic feelings. If she had turned back to face him, she would have never been able to turn away from him again.