We took Derrick's car into town the following night after work; a mower and a microwave weren't going to fit on my bike. The two of us seemed to be working out well. It didn't take long before the new microwave was in the back seat and the mower was in the trunk.

Derrick pulled in at a coffee shop that had some tables outside. "One of my favorite haunts," he grinned. When I ordered a cup of tea, Derrick shook his head. "Real men drink coffee," he teased. The way he ogled the barista gave me an idea of why he liked the place. We sat down and got a bit of background on each other.

"The one thing I can't find around here is stuffed flounder," Derrick complained. "I could always find decent seafood in Maryland."

"I'll have to catch you some mountain trout. Otherwise, it's elk for me," I told him.

"Elk? Don't tell me- mighty hunters, right?"

We both laughed as I nodded.

"You got siblings?" Derrick asked. "I have two younger brothers and a sister. My brothers were happy when I moved out, it meant they each got their own room."

"Nope, I'm an only child. It's just me and my dad now though. My mom passed away about a year ago. Big extended family though, lots of cousins. My one aunt goes through husbands faster than some people go through cars. What made you come two-thirds across the country to end up out here?"

"I did a quick tour with the army right out of high school, working tech. I wasn't sure what to do when I got out, besides not run home. One of the sergeants said he knew someone who had an opening in his company, so here I am. I'm usually up early to run a few miles. I like to keep myself in shape now that I'm in it. There's a group I work out with at night."

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"I run too. Never bothered counting miles." I didn't tell him I usually ran on four legs, but I couldn't help thinking it. It was hard not to laugh out loud. "I wrestled in high school and got a partial scholarship for it at the local college. I've only seriously worked out with my dad. My dad's a high school language teacher."

"Can't be much of a workout with your dad."

I almost choked on my tea. If he only knew how Dad and I fought, both on two legs and four.

He saw my derision at his assumption and took it as a challenge.

"Why don't we swing by the gym, see what you have?"

Derrick's body language became intense, as he leaned forward and stretching his arms across the table.

"As long as our friendship doesn't suffer if I beat you," I said, laughing. "You're so serious-looking right now."

I guessed he had an inferiority complex that was only held at bay by proving what a tough guy he could be. His body language and scent were easy to read. I found it easy to counter his attitude by lounging back and staying totally relaxed. It was something I'd always been able to do and one of the things that made me everyone's friend.

I broke off from his intense stare to check out a pair of long legs walking behind him. Her perfume was enticing. My eyes followed her as she went into the coffee shop.

"This just might become my favorite place to hang out too," I told Derrick as I looked around at the fine assortment of ladies that were around us. I gave him a wink, a slight smile playing at the edges of my lips.

He relaxed, shook his head at me but did his own recon of the area.

"You ain't gonna pick up anyone sipping that wussy tea."

I laughed again, noticing long-legs had come out with her drink. She was on her phone, seated just over my right shoulder. I wanted to get a look at her face. Derrick was relaxed again, so now I could talk about fighting with him without him getting more worked up.

"That lucky shot with the rabbit had me thinking. I wonder if there's anyone around who knows anything about knife fighting. What kind of fighting do you do?"

"Mixed martial arts. One of the guys at the gym might know something about knife fighting. Most of them are ex-military of one kind or another. It, umm, isn't a regular gym. More private. I probably shouldn't even have mentioned it." Derrick's voice faded off.

"It's cool. You can ask them if it's ok for me to come by if you want, but don't feel obligated to. We can always duke it out in the back yard."

I threw a few mock punches at the air in front of me then took another sip of my tea.

He gave me a look like he couldn't figure me out. By the time he finished his coffee I knew he'd made his decision. I grabbed his empty cup, ignoring the garbage can we would pass on our way out. I walked back into the coffee shop to throw them away.

I bumped along long-leg's table on my way back out. I was grabbing her cup even as she was to keep it from falling. Warmth spread through me as our hands touched. I wondered at her ancestry as I took in a face that seemed to have a touch of the orient in it. I was able to look straight into her pretty almond eyes as I apologized.

"Maybe I would be able to buy you a cup sometime to make up for my clumsiness?" I asked as I gave her my most winning smile. It was the one I'd given to the younger girls I had danced with back home; it was the smile that spoke of acceptance, invited friendship without asking for anything more. The more intimate smiles could come later.

She gave me a knowing look, suddenly not believing my fortuitous accident.

"Maybe," she answered with a slight smile.

"Will you be here tomorrow night?"

"Maybe."

She still had a knowing little smile and her eyes narrowed slightly.

I gave her a slight smiling nod before I walked away. Pushing more would trigger annoyance. I could only hope I'd sparked her interest enough that she would show up tomorrow night.

I couldn't wait to get to the car so I could ask Derrick if she was checking me out as I walked away. Teach him to make fun of my tea!