Sounds like acknowled that he respected your decision and let you know the door was still open if you change your mind, even if it is not a date.

Really? Sounds like a result to me. Maybe too much assumption on my part but... (that's never stopped me )
He 'asks you out' Youre not really sure and anyway you got stuff going on at work. He drops the 'someday your Prince will come...' cliche (He could have done with leaving that bit out )
BUT then recovers by offering a date with the heat taken out (coffee/chat) Thus showing he's not deeply offended by you turning him down.

On the other hand he may have kidnapped one of your closest friends and want to meet up for coffee so he can give you his ransom demands...

Ohferpetessake, it is coffee in a public place with a potential friend who hopes for more. That is his problem, not yours. Go if you have the time, or not.........

Sounds like he wants to start as friends and get his foot in the door just in case you change your mind.

I think that's an open invitation if you change your mind.

ps. Who says chinwag? lol

Coffee.....riiiiight ..... just coffee....and chatting.... uh huh. LOL
Going out for just coffee hasn't meant just that in 20+ years, if ever.

Sounds like he didn't want to accept your rejection of a date and that by making it sound like he was just offering a no pressure coffee date as just a friend, and that if you spent some time with him you might eventually want to amp it up to something more.

No big deal, He's just saying no hard feeling, If you had any interest, I'm sure you would make time for him.

Seems to me that one human being, who was hoping for something more, has excepted your polite rebuffal for romantic connection, but is still willing to offer friendship. Meeting for a coffee in a public place might be a pleasant experience.

I took a quick look at your profile on here and it showed you were interested in dating. If you are confused about your intentions you are sending out confusing signals. The fact that you are on here discussing it would point that your feelings towards him are confusing as you have not turned him down flat. This mating game has never been clear cut.

go with your gut and make sure its public

Maybe he was trying just to hang out.

It sounds to me that he's taken your rejection at face value — that you just don't have time for romance right now — but that it will happen for you when you're ready. He doesn't feel personally rejected, though perhaps he should intuit that, so he thinks that when you are ready he might still have a chance to date you. And it sounds to me that he's trying to keep that door open a crack by inviting you to have a quick coffee with him, without the time commitment or formality of a real date and without the pressure for it to be romantic.

Maybe he thought you became ready in that brief moment between you turning him down and him throwing out the cliche.

Weird.

Can't let that perfect one get away. Love is in the air.

I think it depends on age and where we are at this point in our life. I used to meet with most people I found interesting and never found it really, At this point , retired and happy, I now need too be knocked over by a woman where I truly would love meet,
the difference is in you, us as an individual. If this guy just intrigued you to a tingle, then meet, if you feel nothing is most likely there, don't do it if you opt not to. He is a nice guy as I read it but it is your decision I for one now only seek like minded women for interest.

sounds like an offer for a conversation

sigh, wish guys would be interested in asking me out. guess im too fat and bald xD

Men are from Mars. Definitely. Lol

Sometimes, the gently persistent are rewarded for their efforts ...

If he shows up with velvet gloves, a razor, and shaving cream? There won't be coffee.

"Busy at work" can be interpreted many ways. Women are from Venus

and you said no right?