Day 3

We arrived at the same time today, he held the door open for me, and we walked into a long line of waiting people. It was cloudy and looked as if it were about to rain at any second; people were scrambling for their caffeine fix before then. A group came in behind us, and suddenly we were standing inches apart from each other. I turned my head to look up and up at him as he stood behind me, it was easy to forget how tall someone is when you always see them sitting down. He smiled down at me. I noticed I barely came to his chin, and couldn’t help but wonder how we would be able to kiss with that much distance. The lady in front of me suddenly took a few steps back, shoving me into him. His hands went to my hips, to steady me. I forgave the lady when she apologized, how could I not when I was standing up against someone as tasty as Paul. His hands lingered on my hips for a few seconds longer than he needed to, then he slowly let me go. But we were still pressed into each other as we made our way to the counter.
Being against him, I could feel his lower chest all the way down to his hips as they touched my back. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, enjoying the sensation. By now we could have separated, but he didn’t and I wasn’t about to. You know that saying ‘butterflies in my stomach’, well there were millions of them, flying around in a tornado inside me.

Our table was available somehow, and we grinned at each other as we walked over and sat down. I left my notebook at my desk, and he again was without his briefcase.

“I have to say, I’m sad that they are out of cinnamon rolls,” he said nodding toward the counter.

“Me too, it’s my daily vise,” I grinned, although my stomach was spinning and I wasn’t so sure I could eat the pastry.

“I can see why.”

“Let’s hope these danishes are a good substitute.”

They were, and we both declared that now we had a dilemma on which to choose at our next visit. I was only a few bites in when we heard a thunderclap, and turned to see that it was raining heavily. We watched as people ran on the sidewalk, having been caught without an umbrella.

“Shit,” I said suddenly realizing I didn’t have one either.

“What?” he asked sounding concerned.

“My umbrella is sitting on my desk.”

“If it helps, mine is sitting on my kitchen counter,” he said with a laugh.

“Isn’t the drowned rat look in these days?” I asked seriously.

“It is today anyway,” he said nodding to the people outside.

“I’d call in sick if I could,” I said slumping back in my seat with a laugh.

“Raining should equal a day off, in my book.”

“It should be a law.”

We sat smiling at each other, looking away from time to time, in silence for a bit. I wasn’t sure what to say to him and those damn butterflies were getting more and antsier every time our eyes met.

“Do you have any big plans this weekend?” he asked softly.

Sighing, “Not really, unless you consider grocery shopping big plans.”

“No not really,” he said laughing, “I’m going back home for the weekend.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I’m hoping,” he said almost sadly, and then he cleared his throat, “So, uh, are you dating anyone?”

“No, not for a while now,” I answered with a laugh.

“Me either,” he said softly giving me a smile.

I grinned back like a moron, I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Are you free next weekend?”

“Yes.”

Smiling, “Here, Saturday at 6?”

“Sounds great.”

I was the one who noticed the time today. We both grudgingly stood up and walked to the door. It was still raining in heavy sheets, our cars were parked around the corner and there was no way we wouldn’t be soaked by the time we got to them.

“Here,” he said and I watched him take his suit jacket off, “I knew there was a reason I wore this today.” He held it over my head and we ran for it.

If it wasn’t for him I would have slipped and fallen on my ass as we turned the corner. He dropped one arm from his jacket to catch me, but this time he didn’t let me go. He kept one arm around my waist and the other still held up our makeshift umbrella. It hadn’t really helped; we were both soaked by the time we got to our cars.

“See you Monday!” he shouted above the rain as I scrambled with my keys.

“One-thirty sharp!” I yelled back. He waited until I was safely in my car before he took off to his truck three vehicles down.



It turned out to be one of the longest weekends of my life.

Day 2

It was less crowded today, not sure why, but I found a table, it wasn’t until I sat down that I realized it was the table from yesterday. It made me smile and wonder if I’d see Paul today. Last night I had thoroughly enjoyed my fantasy about him. It was the best bubble bath I’d ever had.

I had my notebook out, was in deep thought over work. I heard the door jingle as someone walked in, but I didn’t register it.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” a deep voice said, and before I looked up I knew who it was.

“No,” I said smiling up at Paul.

“Good,” he sat down, today he didn’t have a newspaper but he did have a cinnamon roll.

I smiled as I looked at his purchase, he shrugged and picked a piece of it off and ate it. This time I watched as he licked the icing from his fingers. I hadn’t paid much attention to his hands yesterday. He had strong hands, with long fingers, and I noticed no wedding band. I looked down at my notebook not knowing what I was about to write.

“What do you do with that little book?” he asked giving me that smile.

“I’m a journalist,” I said vaguely.

“That must be interesting,” he said with a chuckle. This was a relatively small city/town; there were rarely any hard breaking stories around here.

Laughing back, “Oh yeah, it’s rife with excitement. What about you Mr. Briefcase?”

“I’m an Accounting Manager.”

“Interesting,” I said with a smile.

“Boring,” he said shaking his head.

“How’s the cinnamon roll?” I asked trying to find something, anything to say other than the “God you are hot. Take me now” that was screaming around my head.

“Just as delicious as I thought it would be,” he said giving me that melt my heart smile. I smiled back and took a sip of coffee.

“They have the best,” I said picking up my pen again, and making a doodle in the corner of the page as I tried again to figure out what it was I was planning on saying.

We were quiet for a while then, eating and drinking our ‘lunch’. I felt him looking at me, and I looked up, and saw an intense look on his face. I couldn’t help the sudden intake of breath, at the sight of the heat in his eyes. For a few heartbeats we stayed staring at each other, he dipped his eyes and gave me one of those little boy grins. I stared down at the paper in front of me, like it was my last life line and tried to remember how to breathe.

It had been a long time since anyone had looked at me like that. I had forgotten what it felt like, how it makes your stomach twist into a knot and feel like it’s about to jump out of your throat. How your heart beats so fast and so loud in your ears that you can’t fathom how no one can hear it. How all you want to do was grin up at the person, almost against your will, with pure bliss. But I looked at the paper instead, because I wasn’t 16 anymore, I was 25, and you can’t turn into a giggling school girl at 25.

He cleared his throat nervously and it brought my eyes involuntarily up to his. I smiled and blushed against my will.

“Have you seen the new movie theatre that’s going up?” he said suddenly, and I swear I saw sweat on his forehead even though it was cool as a cucumber inside today.

“Yeah, it’s about time, the old one is barely standing.”

“I’ve heard people complaining about it, saying that it’s a relic for this town. Many people had their first dates or met their future spouse there.”

“People here are very serious about their history,” I said nodding.

“You from around here.”

“Nope. You?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. I picked up my cup in both hands, and he mirrored me.

“I am looking forward to the new theatre. I just hope they don’t tear down the old one.”

“I’m pretty sure, if they did the people would revolt,” he said laughing.

“We’d have one hell of an angry mob.”

“No joke.”

“So where are you from?” I asked.

“Searcy,” he said with a one sided smile, “You?”

“Omaha.”

Laughing, “We’re both far from home then.”

“What made you come here?”

“It was one of those a friend of a friend of a friend referred me to the company I work for.”

“This was the only paper that would take a girl straight out of college with zero experience. It didn’t hurt that I went to college nearby and one of my professors suggested I apply.”

“Do you miss home?” he asked softly.

“Sometimes, but it’s not a long drive for a visit,” I said swirling the coffee in my cup, “Do you miss it?”

“Not really,” he leaned back in his chair, “I like being in an area that is my own so to speak. Back there, as much as I love everyone, I’m one of many, you know?”

“I get that,” I said nodding, “It’s similar for me, sort of. This is the first time I’ve ever been on my own, and I love it. I get to do things my way finally.”

“Exactly! My family doesn’t get it,” he said shaking his head.

“Mine either.”

Silence. We were stuck on what to say, and all we could do was give an occasional look toward each other, grin before looking away.

“Can I see you same time tomorrow,” he asked clearing his throat suddenly.

I didn’t hesitate, “Love to.”

He gave me a warm smile before saying, “Our time is up for today.”

“Not fair,” I said softly.

“Not at all,” he said his voice a little deeper than usual.

We both stood and quietly gathered our things.

“Bye,” I said once we were outside.

“See you tomorrow,” he said giving me a wink before heading off in the direction of his truck. I watched that cute khaki ass walking away for a few heartbeats before I reluctantly turned and made my way to my car.

Today when I got back to the office, I walked around with a spring in my step that left my coworkers giving me strange looks and raised eyebrows. I just grinned like a moron and went about my day.

I had a ‘date’ so to speak with a hottie, how could that not make you giggle like a school girl?

Before I knew it, it was time for me to leave, and I was suddenly sad to go home.

To my apartment, alone.

It had been six months since I’d moved here and over a year since I had dated. Yeah, I don’t go out much. But it had been a relief to be alone finally. No one to think about but me. No one to take care of but me. No one, but me. But tonight I didn’t want it to be just me, and for the first time I didn’t want to be alone and I didn’t know how I felt about that.

Once inside my apartment, I collapsed onto my couch and looked at the TV screen. The light in the living room was on, making the screen a black distorted mirror.

It was so quiet, so dark. So empty.

“Son of a bitch!” I said to the room.

No one responded and that didn’t help my sudden bout of loneliness.

I stood up and went to change.  I needed a distraction and the tub needed to be cleaned.

Later when I got in bed I grabbed every pillow I had, and brought them with me. I didn’t want to be alone, and it was the best I could do. Once I was there, surrounded by fluffy mounds, I didn’t feel better; it just brought back that smothered feeling. But moving them off the bed, felt worse.

It took me a while to fall asleep, not surprising since it wasn’t sugar plums dancing in my head, but my ex’s face, and everyone’s eyes on us at our wedding.

Day 1

I walked into the coffee shop, the only one in town, to find it as usual crowded. I ordered my French Vanilla cappuccino, getting strange looks from those standing behind me. I smirked at those closest to say excuse me for not being complicated and liking things simple. I asked for one of their insanely tasty cinnamon rolls, my typical lunch.

I turned around with my tasty treats and scanned the shop to see if anyone had vacated a table. Nope. There was one empty seat, and the guy sitting assumedly alone was so engrossed in his newspaper, I doubted he’d mind. His back was to me, all I could see from this angle was he had nice hair. It was thick brown hair, long enough to run your fingers through, long enough to hang in his eyes ever so slightly, long enough to curl around his collar. Either he liked it that way or he was always late on haircuts. Either way I didn’t care, I needed a seat and the one at his table was the only one empty.

“Excuse me?” I asked only to be stopped short at the man who looked up at me. He had a face to stop traffic, a face you would create in your dirtiest, sexiest fantasy. His deep blue eyes looked up at me, instantly friendly and even though I hadn’t looked down yet to see his smile, I knew it was there.

“Yes,” he said in a rich deep voice, and my eyes drifted down and followed each movement of those lips. I mentally shook myself. Good lord, what was wrong with me.

“Is this seat taken?”

“No, it’s all yours,” he said giving me a big warm smile that I couldn’t help but return.

“Do you mind if I sit with you, all the tables are full?” I asked shyly.

“I don’t mind at all,” he said and he pushed the chair away from the table for me.

“Thank you, so much,” I said. I took the seat, arranged my purse and my items on the table before grabbing my notebook. Yes one of those blank paper books that you write in with a utensil called a pen. It’s a lost art, I know.

I had every intention of ignoring this hot tasty man in front of me, but it was hard. I’d take a sip of my coffee, look up to see him watching me. I watched as he took a drink of his, noticing how he held the cup to his kissable lips, even after he’d taken a sip. How his lip would catch a little when he did remove it. I pinched off a piece of cinnamon roll, and I looked up to see him watch me lick the stickiness from my fingers.

We both laughed then, he winked at me and went back to his newspaper. I tried to ignore him, and finish jotting down the tidbits for the latest article I was working on.

“You don’t see that much anymore,” he said making me jump. I looked up to see him motion toward my notebook.

I giggled, “No, its sad isn’t it? In about 10 years no one will remember how to write on anything but a computer or cell.”

“More like 5,” he laughed. I sit back in my chair a little. You know when you’re in a room and you hear a laugh and something about it makes you find the source? He had one of those laughs. A real honest to goodness laugh.

“I’m an optimist,” I said with a shrug.

“I’m Paul,” he said.

“I’m Erin.”

He glanced at his watch and I saw his disappointment at what it said, “Damn, lunch breaks get shorter and shorter.”

“Tell me about it,” I said taking a sip.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Erin,” he said, and held his hand out to me. I took it, expecting a typical shake, but he held my hand in his for a few seconds, “I hope to see you again.”

“Me too,” I said. He dropped my hand, gathered his things, and with a lingering smile he walked out of the shop.

I sat there staring out the window, not wanting to go back to work. Not wanting to do anything but run after the man I just met and get his number. But I didn’t. I finished my lunch, and begrudgingly returned to the office.

The afternoon dragged by in one bored ass moment after another. By the time I got home, I had a headache and just wanted to climb into bed.

I locked the my door and made my way toward the kitchen. Without pausing, I dropped my purse, kicked off my shoes, put the keys on the counter, grabbed the bottle of wine from the fridge and went to draw me a bubble bath. 

As I settled down into the hot sudsy water, I pictured the tall slice of sexy I met today.

“Mmm,” I sighed closing my eyes.

I could see him clearly, his deep blue eyes gazing at me while I licked the cinnamon roll off of my fingers. He had a dimple in his chin, not a cleft, a dimple. As if an angel poked his chin before he was born. It was the sexiest chin I had ever seen. His lips were full, soft, tantalizing. His jaw, nose, cheek bones and forehead were all very strong as if created from clay. I could almost picture the fingers as they smoothed down the valley between his nose and those lips. As they sculpted his forehead and the ridge above his eyes. And that jaw, with its shadow of whiskers that begged to be nibbled. So perfectly smooth, so perfectly crafted.

I smiled as his face floated in my imagination, I’m not the best at remembering faces, but his was a face that stayed with you. As I pictured all the lovely things those lips could do to me, my hand lazily made its way down my chest, and into the water.