Teasing from WIP Candy Hearts
He showered
and dressed casually. He wore black and white for the hotel work so Tom dragged
on his favorite jeans and T-shirt. He added his zip hoodie and a black pea
coat, pushed his feet into his boots and left his apartment. He walked a little
way along the cliff top and then doubled back to get coffee. Today he was going
to ask out the young woman who served him. She’d always been professional with
him and so he rehearsed what he might say.
Hi, what time do you get off work,
maybe we can grab a bite to eat together? It was casual, but showed intent, he thought, and
when she answered, it would tell him things about her. That is unless she just
said, no.
Tom smiled as
he entered the coffee shop. He took a copy of the newspapers on the stand and
went to a table by the window. It was only a few seconds before she stood by
the table. The young woman who always served him waited with her pad for his
order. Tom looked at her, and for the first time he really saw her. He’d been
aware she was pretty, but now her creamy skin and huge hazel eyes gave him a
little shiver of anticipation. He considered her mouth as she asked what she
could get for him. He saw how full her lips were. He’d like to kiss them, rub
his thumb along them, and suck the bottom one. His stomach clenched as her
lovely throaty voice broke into his thoughts.
“Sir, what
can I get you?” It was the second time she’d asked.
Tom glimpsed
amusement in her gaze for a second and then she was back to the professional
she’d always been.
“Just my
usual Italian roast, please.” He looked at the name badge on the collar of her
shirt. It read, Sky. He repeated his
order and added the name.
She stared
at him for a second then nodded. She turned on her heel and went to the
counter.
Tom watched
the way her pretty bottom moved in the black pants she wore. The ruffle of the pink-striped
shirt skimmed the top of her hips. Tom saw it swish a little. How had he not
seen she was so sexy before now? Funny though, that her name was Sky because he
thought he’d seen a longer name on her badge. He didn’t know what it was. That’s bad, he thought. He felt a
strange longing to apologize to her for never knowing her name. It seemed
inconsiderate when she served him every time he came in.
When she
brought him his coffee, he tried to engage her in conversation.
“Looks like
it’s going to be a sunny day…no rain…” He trailed away not knowing how to go
on.
She looked
at him for a few seconds and then smiled.
“It was cold
when I came to work.”
Tom was
encouraged by her smile. “It still is. What time did you start work?”
“Seven.”
He nodded. “So
now it’s ten do you get a coffee break? I’d love to have company.”
She glanced
around at the counter and then nodded. “I can ask for my break.”
Tom smiled.
“Please do.” He watched her walk away and through a door that led to the
kitchens.” Wow. He took a sip of his
coffee and pushed the newspapers to one side.
Sky came
back to his table carrying a cup of coffee. She sat opposite him.
Tom took a
deep breath. “This is great. Thank you, Sky.”
She smiled
and shook her head. “My name isn’t Sky. We get a different name every week.
It’s to stop stalkers. A girl had a rough time a couple of years ago and since
then we just have a name allocated.”
Tom gave her
a sympathetic glance. “That’s horrible. So have you worked here for long?”
“Longer than
you’ve been coming in here, just over a year.”
Tom smiled. She’s aware how long I’ve been a customer.
“So can I know your real name?”
Sky shook
her head. “Not yet.”
“Okay. My
name’s Tom. I guess I have to call you Sky.”
She nodded.
“I know who you are. You work at The Rock Hotel. I’ve seen you there.”
Tom was
surprised. “I’ve not seen you.”
Sky looked into
his eyes for a moment.
Tom felt as
if she considered telling him something, but then she picked up her coffee, and
drank some.
He drank
some of his own coffee before asking, “I’d love to talk with you more, in a
place you don’t work. Would you have dinner with me?” He saw her hesitate, and
then her eyes told him she’d decided.
“Sure.”
Tom hoped
she’d add when, but she didn’t, so he grinned. “How about tonight?”
“Okay. Do
you have a place in mind? I’ll meet you.”
Tom hadn’t
thought that far ahead. “Is there somewhere you’d like to go?”
“The
Seahorse Inn is great. I’ll meet you in their front porch at eight.” She stood,
picked up her coffee cup, and left his table.
©Elodie Parkes Hot Ink Press
#MWT
