Chapter 33

Right before Val left his office on Thursday, the note appeared in his in-box.
"From: Cora Lopez
To: Val: c/o Compu-Cupid
Thanks for the invitation. I'd love to meet you for coffee after work today. How about Coco's Coffee, at 5:30? I'll be wearing a navy suit with a pink blouse.
Sincerely, Cora"
This was getting ridiculous. Maybe if he actually met her, he'd be able to explain that it was just a mistake. The coffee shop in question was just a few blocks from his office. Anyway, it was only coffee after all. What harm could come from having a quick snack with a pretty girl? Tomorrow he could get back to trying to wipe his file from that stupid dating site.
At 5:15, Cora spotted the email just as she was about to shut down her computer and go home. Oh no, this was so not happening.
"From: Valentine Holiday
To: Cora: c/o Compu-Cupid
Coco's at 5:30 sounds great. I'm wearing jeans with a blue shirt and a tweed jacket. Looking forward to seeing you.
Val"
Now what? She felt as if she were in a cartoon with the little devil sitting on one shoulder and the angel on the other. The devil prodded her with his pitchfork. Coco's was just around the corner. She could make it in plenty of time if she left right now. Hmm - that might work. Since the emails obviously were getting scrambled, she'd tell Val Holiday face-to-face that this was all a mistake. The angel pointed to the mountain of paperwork sitting on her desk. The devil shrugged. It would still be there tomorrow. For once in her life, Cora decided to listen to the dude with the pitchfork.
She paused a moment to pull the band from her drooping ponytail and brush the long, wavy mass. A touch of tinted lip gloss was the best she could do for makeup - what she'd started the day with for court was long gone. It didn't matter, she reminded herself. This wasn't a date. She was simply stopping by to end this nonsense in person.
The instant she walked into the coffee shop, she spotted him. Even though he wasn't standing, his presence seemed to overpower the crowded café. When he looked up, smiled and stood, her heart fluttered and her long-neglected girl parts clenched then softened in reaction. Damn, he is perfect. She moved toward where he sat by the small, gas fireplace in an orange easy chair, his laptop bag reserving the one across from him. He'd tossed a brown heathered tweed jacket over the arm of the chair and stood in an impeccably cut French blue dress shirt and a pair of jeans faded to almost white. Cora's mouth practically watered.
"Cora? Hi, I'm Val." He held out one hand and scooped the canvas messenger bag from the other chair. "Why don't you have a seat while I grab us something to drink? You look exhausted." Then he winced, as if realizing that hadn't exactly been complimentary.
Cora couldn't help but smile. Maybe he was more of a geek than suggested by his profile. The chair looked so comfy and her feet ached like hell. Once again, the little cartoon devil sitting on her shoulder gave her a nudge. Why not? It was just a cup of coffee. "I wasn't really planning to stay, but sure. A cinnamon, skim-milk latte would be great."
"Ummm - okay." His dark brows lowered over those incredible changeable eyes in confusion then he dropped his bag into his own chair and turned. "Be right back."
She watched him walk away and wait in line, impressed by the snug fit of his faded jeans across lean but graceful thighs and a slim, sculpted ass that made her want to drool. She'd bet he was a runner - long and lean but full of endurance. A man like that could probably go all night.
Goodness, what was she thinking? The imaginary angel whacked Cora upside the head with her halo.
Both angel and devil were forgotten when Val returned. He set the tray down on the small table between them, rotating it so Cora's foamy drink was in front of her and a large cup of what looked like plain coffee was poised in front of Val. On one side sat a plate with an enormous raspberry scone while the other side boasted an icing-topped chocolate chip muffin.
He grinned like a wicked ten-year-old and shrugged. "I was hungry and didn't know what you liked, so I got my two favorites. Whichever you pick, I'll enjoy the other."
She was probably absorbing calories just from looking at them, but Val was smiling at her with such a hopeful look on his face. Vowing to subsist on rice cakes and celery all weekend, she picked up the chocolate chip muffin and moved it to her side of the table.
"Oh good. I really like the scones best." Either he was the ultimate gentleman or just a consummate liar. She'd seen the momentary flicker of disappointment when she'd chosen the chocolate.
"Val, before we go any further - "
"Cora, you seem like an amazing woman - "
They started to speak at the same time then both broke off with self-conscious smiles. Val tipped his head. "Ladies first."
After a fortifying sip of her coffee, Cora made a face. "I really just came here to tell you this was a mistake."
Val stopped chewing mid-bite, and his eyes bugged out. He swallowed and chuckled. "Funny, that's exactly why I came too."
"I didn't even sign up for Compu-Cupid." Cora picked at her muffin before breaking off a tiny crumb to nibble on. "I think my roommate Marla must have done it."
"I've been blaming one of my siblings," he said with a wry grin that just about charmed the pants off her. "I didn't sign up either."
She laughed. "Maybe that computer really did know what it was doing. It matched up two people who didn't want to be there. At least this way neither of us is disappointed that the other one isn't interested."