The café was warm, a welcome contrast to the crisp autumn air outside. Callie wrapped her hands around her latte, inhaling the scent of cinnamon and espresso as she settled into her usual corner by the window. She had always found comfort in the quiet hum of conversation, the clinking of mugs against saucers, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine.
But today, something—or rather, someone—pulled her focus.
A stranger had just walked in, shaking off the last remnants of the cold as they approached the counter. Tall, effortlessly elegant, and wrapped in a dark wool coat, he looked like he belonged in a high-end fashion editorial rather than a neighborhood café. His chiseled features were framed by tousled dark hair, and his icy gaze swept the room with quiet detachment. Breathtakingly handsome. And completely unapproachable.
Callie was halfway through convincing herself to stop staring when he turned, coffee in hand, and locked eyes with her. His gaze was sharp, assessing, as if he had already decided she was unimportant. Without hesitation, he strode toward her table.
"You're in my seat," he said flatly, standing over her.
Callie frowned. "Excuse me?"
He exhaled impatiently. "I always sit here."
She stared at him, incredulous. "Well, I don't see your name on it."
His lips twitched, not quite a smirk but something close. "I wasn't asking."
Callie's grip tightened around her cup. "And I wasn't planning on moving."
For a moment, he simply stood there, the tension between them crackling like static in the air. Then, with a slow exhale, he slid into the chair opposite her without another word. Callie raised an eyebrow but said nothing, determined not to let him rattle her.
Minutes passed in charged silence before he finally spoke again. "You always this difficult?"
Callie took a deliberate sip of her latte, meeting his gaze evenly. "Only when someone's being insufferable."
A flicker of amusement danced in his otherwise cold eyes, but he masked it quickly. "Interesting."
She wasn't sure if it was a compliment or an insult, but either way, she had a feeling this wouldn't be their last encounter.