Dirt

“So when they said we would be hosting an auditor from corporate this week, I didn’t imagine he would look like that,” Jeanie said motioning toward reception. 

Starbucks cup in hand, Lisa pushed her glasses further up on her nose and sipped her hot chai tea latte with caramel syrup as she swiveled in her chair. Jeanie wasn’t wrong. The man at the counter was easy on the eyes. 6 foot-ish, dark wavy hair that had clearly been brushed but was still a little unruly, soft blue eyes and full lips that now stretched over perfect white teeth in a sincere but shy grin. It was the kind of smile you couldn’t help respond to which is why Lisa was wearing one in return when his eyes met her stare. She quickly swiveled back around in her chair and nearly knocked over her cup setting it down. 

A few minutes later Lisa overheard Mr. Taylor introducing him to Jeanie as Greg Mitchell. This time she kept her eyes on her screen until she heard Mr. Taylor next to her desk.

“Lisa, I would like you to meet Greg Mitchell from corporate,” he said. 

Lisa turned to face Greg and stood offering her hand. Greg took it with a warm, firm handshake. Those big blue eyes were even more gorgeous up close. Along with his hand, Greg also offered her another of those irresistible smiles she couldn’t help but return.

“Pleased to meet you,” Lisa said, absently pushing her glasses a little further up on her nose.

“Lisa handles the majority of our biomedical accounts,” explained Mr. Taylor.

“Great! If you don’t mind I have a list of files I would like to review,” Greg said, fishing a list from his leather messenger bag and offering it to Lisa. 

Lisa scanned the list. “This shouldn’t be a problem. I will pull them right away.”

“Thank you,” said Greg, serving up another breathtaking grin.

Greg had settled in the board room and was concentrating intently on a ledger when Lisa arrived with the files. It was quite the stack and she had to lean in close to the door to wrap on it with one knuckle.

“Greg, I have the files you asked for.”

He was up from his chair and half way across the room before she could take two steps.

“Oh, let me help you with those,” Greg offered.

“I’ve got it,” Lisa replied but Greg was already lifting half the stack from her arms. He managed to grab only the front half of one file, sending papers fluttering to the floor all around Lisa’s feet.

“I am so sorry,” he said, cheeks flushing pink. They both deposited their files on the board room table and knelt to pick up the scattered papers. 

“It’s really no problem. It’s usually me dropping the files on the floor.”

Greg insisted he help sort the papers on the board room table, asking about her work history and what she liked about her job as they reorganized the file.  

“Thank you for pulling these. I will look everything over and then meet with you to discuss any questions, if that’s okay with you.”

“Whatever you need,” Lisa said and smiled, giving her glasses another shove up higher on her nose.

The next morning, Lisa heard Greg at the reception counter as he greeted their receptionist Stacy. He offered her a cup of coffee and Lisa turned to see Greg juggling drink holders with enough Starbucks coffee cups to serve the entire office. He passed by Lisa’s desk as well.

“Here you go! I thought you might need a little caffeine to start your day off right!” Greg said. Lisa thanked him and took the cup. She hated coffee, didn’t even like the smell. She was a tea lover and treated herself to a Carmel chai latte once a week or so. But he was so cheerful about his gift, she didn’t have the heart to tell him. She tried to sip it through the morning but the bitter liquid was just too disgusting. She poured out the remainder in the break room when she was sure no one was watching.

After lunch, Greg came to her desk with questions about some of the files and where she had derived the numbers. She answered them with ease, pulling additional documents for him. While she accessed the files, Greg asked about what she did with her free time away from work. It was an easy conversation and after 10 minutes or so Lisa realized she had just been chatting and not retrieving the information he had requested.

“I am so sorry. I got distracted talking and haven’t answered your questions about the files.” She said.

“Not a problem. I was enjoying the conversation too. I suppose I should stop asking you questions, though, so you can finish up today and get home. Thank you for your help.” He flashed one last grin over his shoulder as he headed back toward the board room. 

The following morning, Greg arrived with lattes. It tasted like dirt mixed with cream but Lisa tried to sip what she could when Greg came by with more questions. 

And so it went for a week and a half. Greg brought coffee every morning and Lisa accepted it, trying to be polite and choking down what she could when he might be watching. On the last day of Greg’s assignment, he stopped by Lisa’s desk. 

“Have you come to say good-bye?” Lisa asked, thinking she would miss those blue eyes, even if they did come with coffee.

“I was hoping you might agree to meet me for coffee after work today.” Greg said, his smile looking even more shy than usual.

Lisa paused for a moment, mouth open, having not expected the invitation. She certainly didn’t want more coffee so blurted, “How about some ice cream instead? I know a cute 50’s style diner around the corner.”

“Then ice cream it is!” Greg beamed. 

“I would like a scoop of cookies and cream in a cup, please,” Lisa ordered.

“Rocky road for me, please,” Greg added.

They settled, cups in hand, at a table near the front window, the early evening sun glinting on the chrome napkin holder between them. 50’s be-bop played through the speakers.

“I really enjoyed working with you this week, Lisa. And I am glad you agreed to meet me after work.” 

“The feeling is mutual. It’s too bad you’ve finished so quickly.”

“Actually, I have a confession to make, well two in fact.”

Lisa’s expression grew more serious and she put her spoon, already full of the next bite, back into her cup. She pushed her glasses a little higher on her nose and looked him in the eye, waiting.

“I could have finished my audit 3 days ago but I have been hanging around trying to work up the nerve to ask you out.” He admitted, head lowered and peering out from beneath his long lashes. Lisa couldn’t help but smile, cheeks warm. 

“That’s one,” she said.

“The other is that I brought coffee every morning because you were drinking from a Starbucks cup the first time I saw you and I wanted an excuse to talk to you each day.” Another sheepish grin as he twisted his spoon round and round in his ice cream.

“Well, I am glad you stuck around and I am glad you asked me out for coffee. But, since we are confessing, I have to tell you a secret of my own.”

It was Greg’s turn to lean in, listening intently.

“I hate coffee.”