Agent for a Cause

Her lips curved up as she with a conspiratorial look said, "April eleventh, 2011."

I was a little shocked by her statement. It wasn't a random date. It was the date of the first time I had come here and seen her.

She continued on, her eyes not leaving mine for a moment, "Since then you've been here a total of thirty two times, always the same routine. You come in after the rowdies have settled down, you get a club soda from Jim down the bar, never alcohol and then slowly, as to not attract attention, you make your way here to this spot where you commence to watch me from under the brim of this cute hat. For hours!"

She added the last part with emphasis. Despite what she may be thinking of me I did have manners.

I dropped my gaze as I said, "I apologize if I offended you. I..."

"Whoa! Hold the phone!" She said interrupting me as she held her hand up in a stop gesture.

I glanced back up at her, somewhat surprised.

Her gaze had a characteristic frankness to it as she said, "Did I say that I minded it?"

I blinked again. What exactly did she mean by that?

She glanced away for a moment and then back, her face more serious, "Some men use a girl with their eyes and yes I don't appreciate that, but you? You're different! You just like to sit there and admire me. I've never sensed anything derogatory in the way you look at me, ever. Actually I've come to find it quite flattering. I've never seen you look at another woman that's walked into this place and there's been much prettier women than me at that, but you don't give them so much as a passing glance. Why is that?"

"I don't know."

She studied me curiously for a moment and then stuck her hand out, "The names Anna."

I stared at the proffered hand for a moment.

"I don't shake hands, no offense meant."

She wiggled her slim fingers in the air, "Oh come on! I washed it this morning, I promise!"

She waved her hand back and forth in the air in front of me beckoningly.

"I don't bite I promise. Well, I take that back. I have been known to bite on Mondays and the second Tuesday of every other month, but you're safe because today is Saturday." She finished her eyes alive with humor.

How could you resist someone like her? I grudgingly reached out and shook her hand.

A look of triumph passed across her pretty face and she asked, "Mr?"