First Meeting

Chapter Two

She kept her head down as she entered the mall. She HATED shopping above all else, yet here she was in the largest shopping center in town. If only the store that she needed was a stand alone store. Instead, it sat in the middle of this large, crowd-infested place.

She hurried through the hall, keeping her eyes on the store fronts rather than the people she passed and those that passed her.

She slowed her pace as she came up behind an elderly couple, slowly walking along, holding hands as they went. They spoke to each other in loud tones, ignoring all around them and she felt the impatience rise up in her throat as she tried to find a way to get around them without seeming rude.

She swallowed the impatience down and slowed her pace a bit more, bidding her time as people passed by. Her gaze dropped to their hands and she smiled. They were well worn hands, but the were strongly entwined with each other and she imagined that their marriage was the same way.

Her gaze caught the gap that opened up when they moved towards a store and she quickly slipped by, narrowly missing a group of teenage girls, giggling and gawking at the older couple as they sipped their Starbucks and flipped their hair as they completely ignored her. She did not care.

She hurried along, the store she needed finally in view.

"Mommy! Please Mommy!"

The small child voice cut through the soft roar of the crowd and she swung her head around to see a small girl pointing to a teddy bear in a store window. She slowed slightly, curious to see how the mother would handle to small child's demand.

She watched as the mother knelt before the small child and with a shake of her head obviously informed the child that she would not be getting the toy today. She watched as the small child hung their head, but turned away from the window. It was nice to see a child listen to their parent she thought as she continued on her journey.

She finally arrived at the store she needed. She stared at the sign for a moment, before peering in to see the crowd that milled through the packed store. She took a deep breath to fortify herself. She hated crowds, she hated shopping, she hated this store, but she needed those garments and they only went on sale twice a year.

With a shake of her head at her own folly, she was a grown, middle-aged woman after all, and strolled into the store, trying not to make eye contact with anyone else in the store.

"May I help you find something?" A salesperson approached her.

"No thank you." She gave the woman an impersonal smile and the woman quickly turned to the next customer.

She made her way through the crowded store, her eyes taking in the older ladies, fingering through the highly expensive undergarments and boyfriends that had been dragged into the store by girlfriends to pick out lingerie, no doubt for their mutual enjoyment later on.

She made it to the back of the store where the garments lay, hundreds of them. On sale. She took a moment to circle the table, weaving in and out of other customers before starting the process of selecting what she needed.

She held up one pair after another, shaking her head at some of the bold colors and even more designs. She even held up a pair, wondering how women wore this kind without getting a wedgie.

She finally found what she needed and then proceeded to the check out counter where she had to wait for another ten minutes and then stand there as the salesperson tried to sell her yet another credit card and paw her purchases.

Finally, FINALLY, she had paid for her garments and was heading out the door.

In her haste, the corner of her wrap caught the sale sign and she turned to make sure she did not knock down the sign and adjust her wrap, stepping out into the hall and immediately walking into a large, moving object.

"I am so sorry." A deep male voice spoke from above her as she stumbled, dropping her purchases.

"It is all right. It is my fault." She spoke quietly as she bent down, shoving the garments back into the bag and rising as she adjusted her balance and wrap yet another time.

"No. It is mine. I should have been paying attention and I was not."

"It is all right." Her gaze rose to meet a pair of sky blue eyes set in a handsome face framed with a mass of shaggy blond hair. "I was distracted and stepped in your way." She said with catch in her voice as she took in his features.

His face broke out in a smile as he took in the curvy woman before him. It was hard to tell, but he did not think she was on the heavy set side, but if what he had just felt was any indication, she was well endowed in certain areas.

"Perhaps I could make it up to you by buying you a drink." He spoke with a grin and a head jerk towards the nearby book store that held a coffee shop.

"That is all right." She raised her hands and shook her head, taking a step back. "There is no need to go to such trouble."

He could tell that she was ready to bolt from him and it made him smile even more. He wanted to know who this skittish colt was.

"Nonsense." He took her upheld hand and pulled her after him towards the store as he spoke. "I must insist on this."

"Wait! But…" She noticed people in the crowd stopping and starring as she fought him and she stopped, willingly following him into the store and up to the counter.

"What will you have?" He asked her.

"Really, I do not…"

He held up a hand, stopping her protest once more. "Either you order or I will order for you."

She shut her mouth and he grinned turning to the young girl at the counter.

"Too Caramel Lattes, Grande please."

She nodded and he paid as she stood silently next to him. He may insist on buy her a drink, but she did not have to speak to him.

"Thank you." She muttered once he had handed her her drink.

"You are most welcome."

She turned to go and he took hold of her arm.

"You are not leaving me so soon are you?" He asked her.

"I am." She replied.

"Nonsense." He said with a shake of his head. "Come sit. Speak with me for a few moments."

"But…" She let out a sigh and took a seat in at a nearby table.

"What would you like to speak about?" She asked resigned to her fate.

"How about we start with our names." Her replied, once he had folded his tall frame into the chair. "My friends call my Ty."

He held out his hand to her.

"Emily." She replied, taking to offered hand and felt herself smile as he smiled at her reluctant reply.