Coffee [Kali]

[Cody Branson]

The town was relatively quiet for so early in the morning…quiet except for the sound of a beat-up pickup truck that sounded like it was dying. The paint on the old Ford was dingy white with faded blue striping, rusted and flaking in some areas, but the wheels ran smoothly. It was the motor making noise, needing a new engine or some fine tuning. IT finally sputtered and “died” when the man behind the wheel parked his truck in front of the Kafe.

He got out and walked inside, his boots making clicking noises on the tile floor. The strum of a guitar filled his ears and he grinned, the only thing noticeable under the brim of his hat. He took said hat off and hung it by the door, his shoulders rippling under the denim jacket he wore. Now all could see the Montana sky-blue eyes, the bronzed skin, the shadowed jaw and the quirky grin hidden in his one dimple as he strolled to the counter, desperately needing some coffee.

“One black coffee please,” he asked politely of the lady on the other side of the counter, instantly liking the color of her hair.

[Kali Caraway]

Kali liked fun things. She liked things that made her laugh just by looking at them, so it was only natural that when she saw that apron in an online store she absolutely had to get it. Now she was dressed with it on, as well as some other Harry Potter memorabilia just to go with the outfit. It was still early so the conversations about her clothing for today were pretty minimal.

She had been in since four this morning, to get all the dough prepared. It was a very doughy day, today. She'd just got this new recipe from her mother on how to prepare delicious cinnamon bread and Kali had wanted to experiment with it and see what would go good with it and what would not. She was still in the back when she got her first customer of the day, but once she heard the guitar riff (extra speakers in the back for just such occasions) she wiped her hands on the dish towel that was closest to her, wiped the flour off her nose and walked through the swinging door.

She wished she'd taken a moment to straighten her hair and remove the rest of the flour from her face and or arms and shirt (even if she was wearing an apron, it was messy business), because that man was gorgeous. Kali whistled very quietly and quickly to herself as she got behind the register. "Just a black coffee?" She asked, just to make sure she heard him right. When she received confirmation she went about getting that ready for him. Which just involved grabbing one of the coffee mugs and pouring in the black coffee. "Got some fresh cinnamon bread back there," she teased with her elbows on the counter as she slid his coffee towards him. "Like just out of the oven," she continued with a smile on her face.

"The coffee'll be two dollars even, darlin'."

[Cody Branson]

She turned around and it was like the sun had risen in front of him. Her skin glowed, her hair was like the sun’s rays, and her smile was like a breath of fresh air. Cody smiled back as she slid his coffee towards him, taking a whiff of the cinnamon bread. Instantly his mouth watered. He brought the funny coffee mug to his nose and took a long breath smelling it, and dang it if he didn’t fall in love with the woman right then and there.

“That bread sounds mighty enticin’, ma’am,” he said in his smoky drawl, looking down at her with a smile. He put the coffee down and reached for his wallet, grabbing a ten dollar bill and putting it on the counter. “I think I’ll take a couple of pieces of that, if you don’t mind,” he continued, putting the wallet back into his back pocket. He took the time to look at her, inwardly chuckling when he noticed her Harry Potter accessories and clothes. Cody liked to have fun, and liked funny things, and this morning was too good to be true.

“Is there unicorn in the cinnamon bread that I should be worried about?” he asked with a joking grin, the light in his eyes inviting her to play.

[Kali Caraway]

She tossed her head a little, to get her bangs out of her eyes, a faintly self conscious smile crossed her face when she spotted that look in his eye. Kali was by no means conceited, but she was aware that yes, she was pretty (in her own way) and that she looked good--despite the light powdering of flour and stuff. He definitely was self-aware as well, with that smile of his. He was gorgeous, handsome. Every bit of the 'dream guy.' And when he spoke! Kali had do doubt that that drawl of his melted hearts wherever he went. His boots and the rest of his clothes led her to believe he was quite the farmer, which was even sexier. He worked for a living.

"Some pieces of cinnamon bread. Coming right up." She spun back into the kitchen and arranged some slices she had to cut onto a plate and walked it back out to him. She put it on the counter. "Careful now, might still be hot." She took the ten dollar bill from him and popped open the register and gave him his change. She smirked knowingly at him when he asked her about unicorn. "Don't be worried about the bread, it's the cake and the pizza I'd avoid." She dipped her head sideways to the displays of said food, along with a teasing wink.

"If it makes you feel any better, they didn't suffer."

[Cody Branson]

He watched her walk away before looking around the Kafe. It was a quaint place, a wonderful work environment, but he preferred the outdoors and working with his horses. However, he would come in here every day if only to get a view and a nice chat with the lovely lady behind the counter. He took a sip of the coffee she had given him, sighing in pleasure as the rich flavor rolled over his tongue. He put in two sugars as she came walking back out.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he replied back as she offered him the bread, and he took a hearty bite out of the closest piece. It was a little warm, but he liked his food hot, and the flavor…oh my, he just fell in love with her a little. He liked women who could cook. He swallowed just as she gave him change, and he shook his head. “For that bite alone, you can keep the change,” he told her, finishing the slice in big bites like he was prone to do.

He took a swallow of his coffee before he chuckled at her words. “Well, I do like cake and pizza, though,” he told her, pouting in playful fun as she mentioned those items in warning. “And I’m glad they didn’t suffer. A sufferin’ animal just gets me every time.” Yeah, he was a sensitive guy too.

[Kali Caraway]

Having this sorts of thoughts of how handsome this guy was, and his drawl and no doubt active 'love' life, made it nearly painfully obvious that Kali couldn't remember the last time she'd even been on a date. She didn't even want to start trying to remember when the last time she got laid was , or who it was with [Anthony Carter, her boyfriend just before she graduated college--she broke up with him because he had a hissy fit she wasn't going to move in with him in Maine of all places!].

Ma'am.

Ma'am?!

"'Names Kali, precious," she kept her dislike of the elder sounding word (even if it was used in respect, Kali was twenty-five). She smiled slightly at him, however, because he was just being polite and it was sexy on him. "You got a name?" Kali didn't usually play games, nor did she usually keep her thoughts and or opinions to herself. If this guy continued down the road he was, she'd expect him to ask her on a date (this country-boy routine of his lead her to believe he was the 'old fashioned' sort, though Kali would be fine to ask him on a date. Either way this guy was hot.)

"I'd have to prepare some special for you, then sweetcakes." Kali's use of the pet name was simply for fun. "But have you had unicorn? Mmm. Delicious." She smiled a bit proudly for a minute before she dissolved into a few giggles.

Though she was all seriousness when he mentioned hating to see a suffering animal. Kali grew up around farms, and often visited her grandparents who were professional farmers (their +500 acres were used to make cereals across the country), and knew the chances of an animal getting hurt and or suffering. She assumed this is what he meant by that and she nodded solemnly. "Oh that certainly isn't my forte. Humane, that's my motto."