Page 46 of The Anatomy of Matchmaking

Especially because hanging flyers at local hot spots in town will necessitate a visit to the coffee shop, Stillwell Coffee Roasters.

“There’s just no way around it,” I murmur, as I grab the house keys.

Outlaw cocks his head to the side.

“Don’t listen to me. I’m justifying my nosy streak.”

Twenty minutes later, Outlaw and I cross the intersection of State and Main, and I catch my first glimpse of the coffee shop. It’s a nice morning, clear and sunny. The air smells of lilacs and freshly mowed grass. A college-age girl zips by on her bike, a yoga mat strapped to her back. Her tires whir and Outlaw barks. And then I catch my first glimpse of Nick.

He’s sitting with his legs crossed, ankle over knee. Wagging his foot in the way he does when he’s nervous.

Or happy.

Same move, different emotions.

What’s he feeling now?

Outlaw sniffs a rain gutter, apparently not as obsessed with the scene over at the coffee shop as I am.

I slow my pace down and hesitate behind an elm encased in a wire cage. There are a few bikes locked to the cage. They provide good cover.

At that thought, my eyes grow wide.

Good cover.

Ah! What am I doing?

On some level Imustfeel guilty, if I’m thinking things like that.

There are plenty of other streets that need to be adorned with flyers. Plus, plenty of other times of the day to do this chore. Here I am on the sidewalk… now directly across from the coffee shop, lurking behind a scrawny elm.

But even though guilt courses through me, I suddenly can’t take my eyes off Nick. Because now Hana’s approaching from the left. She’s in a pale yellow dress and a jean jacket, and her hair, so tightly pulled back when I met with her, is now loose, a glossy frame around her face. She looks—drat—cute.

Nick stands.

They hug.

I suck in a shallow breath. I can’t tear my eyes away. Nick smiles, says something with a gesture to the Stillwell Coffee Roasters sign above the door. She nods and giggles, and they talk for another minute.

Both appear a little stiff, which is to be expected. She starts toward the door and looks back at him. He falls into step behind her, then reaches for one side of the glass double doors before she can. He holds it open for her.

Okay… so he’s good at this.

Not clueless at all.

He underestimates himself all the time. That was his M.O. back in college. Real, genuine humility. And here he is, figuring he’s a dunce at dating when really, he’s behaving perfectly. I’m suddenly stricken by a realization: Nick Landry is the catch of this town.

I know I should force my feet to move.

Outlaw’s totally enamored by whatever scent-story he’s picking up from the rain gutter. But it’d be easy enough to pull him away. One little tug…

Instead, I linger.

When Nick and Hana return to their seats, they’re both holding coffee cups. For a second, Nick’s face turns toward the elm I’m conveniently stationed behind, but he looks away.

The leash around my hand bites into my palm as Outlaw gives a sudden yank.

“Whoa!” I sputter, as I lurch forward.

---