Collision Course

THE MEETING

**Chapter 1**

Lexi rushed out of the coffee shop, her camera bag slung over one shoulder, her purse clutched tightly under her arm, and a large coffee in her hand. Her dark curls bounced with each hurried step, and she cast worried glances at her watch. She was already running late for a crucial meeting with a potential client, and her mind raced with the pitch she needed to deliver.

As she pushed open the door, her focus on the time, she didn’t notice the tall, dark-skinned man entering the shop at the same moment. They collided with a jarring thud. Lexi’s coffee erupted in a cascade, spilling all over her bright yellow blouse, his sleek black jacket, and the floor.

"Oh no, I’m so sorry!" Lexi’s voice was a mix of panic and mortification as she fumbled for napkins.

The stranger’s deep brown eyes sparkled with amusement, and he smiled wryly as he knelt to help. “It’s okay, I should’ve been paying more attention.”

As they worked together to clean up the mess, Lexi noticed the way his warm, rich skin contrasted with his dark, curly hair, and how his smile made his eyes crinkle with genuine warmth. Despite her embarrassment, she felt a flutter in her chest, which she quickly dismissed as just being flustered.

“I’m Julian, by the way,” he said, offering his hand. His voice had a smooth, melodic quality.

“Lexi,” she replied, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, even if it’s under such messy circumstances.”

Julian’s smile widened. “Hey, can I buy you another coffee to make up for the spill?”

Lexi glanced at her watch, her anxiety about the meeting surging again. “I’m really sorry, but I’m running late for a meeting. Maybe another time?”

Julian nodded with understanding. “No worries at all. But before you go, can I get your number? I’d love to grab coffee with you again sometime.”

Lexi hesitated, taken aback by the request, but Julian’s warm smile and the sincerity in his eyes made her feel unexpectedly at ease. She rattled off her number, and Julian entered it into his phone with a smile.

“Thanks, Lexi. I’ll talk to you soon,” he said with a wink.

As Lexi hurried out of the coffee shop, she couldn’t shake the flutter in her chest. Her mind was still racing about her meeting, but she found herself thinking about Julian. She couldn’t believe she’d given her number to a stranger, but something about his presence made her feel that her life might be taking a turn she hadn’t expected.