AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, well, she was on my mind this morning, and it seemed fitting to use.”
She smiles. Her perfect white teeth light up her face. My breath catches in my throat at the sight. I suddenly want to reach out and gently stroke my knuckles over her cheek to feel the softness there. My eyes roam over her face and land on her plump lips. The bottom is slightly larger than the top, and in that moment, I want to know how they would feel against my own.Calm down, Miles, it’s just a woman in a coffee shop. Is this what my father was talking about?I can still feel her touch on my skin, even though she moved her hand away. I clear my throat to get my mind back to the present. I open my mouth to speak but am interrupted.
“Austen, your coffee is ready,” the barista shouts over the customers. The beautiful woman beside of me begins to chuckle as I grasp the newest cup that has been placed on the counter. I can’t help but smile, hearing her sweet laugh. It’s like a refreshing melody.
“I suppose this one is mine then. I have to say that I have never had this happen before.” I raise my cup to hers, “Cheers. To hoping we got our correct orders.” We tap the cups, and she laughs. I can’t help it, but I want to keepmaking her laugh. I try to think of something else to say, but my thoughts elude me. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to me. I am a successful businessman, and I pride myself on my ability to have a quick tongue, especially in stressful business meetings.
She continues to look up at me, and then says, “It was good to meet you, Austen. Next time I will have to use a different name so there is no confusion.” She chuckles as she smiles and turns to walk toward the exit.
I don’t want to correct her of my real name because I am enjoying this too much, but I call out to her, “Maybe I will run into you again, Jane.” She turns enough for me to see that beautiful smile and then walks out the door. I want to call out and ask her for her real name and phone number, and to see if we can meet again sometime, but I just watch in awe as the beauty steps out into the traffic of people rushing about. As I stand there in the middle of the crowded shop, a huge smile forms on my face. That was the most authentic interaction I have had in a long time, and I crave to have it again. I take my coffee, nodding to the barista as I stuff some bills in the tip jar and head toward the exit.
Thomas is on the sidewalk waiting. I look around the busy street, but I don’t see her anywhere. When he sees me, he opens the door of the Bentley. As I get in, all I can think about is a gorgeous black-haired goddess with intense brown eyes.What am I even doing?I don’t think I have ever wanted to see a woman again so badly. I don’t even know anything about her. Well, that’s not true. She is obviously a literature enthusiast. I am suddenly appreciating my mother’s insistence that I take literature courses in college. That may come in handy when I see her again. Yes, I will be seeing her again. I just know it.
Thomas pulls up to the front of Knight Publishing Company. “Thank you, Thomas. I won’t be needing you for lunch today. I will have my assistant pick something up.”
“Very good, sir. I will see you this afternoon.”
I walk into my office which is on the twentieth floor. I have the best view of the city from up here. I like to sit and watch the hustle and bustle from the people below. I set my cup of coffee on my desk and smile as I stare at it. I take a seat, and the only thing I can think about is the interaction I just had at the coffee shop. Her smile keeps replaying in my mind.I wonder who her favorite author is? Does she read contemporary literature? Has she read something that we have published?I’ve got to get her out of my head, or I won’t be able to get any work done today, and I can’t be here all night since my brother made plans for us. With one last thought of her magnetic eyes, I open my laptop and get to work, taking a sip of the overly sweet coffee that definitely isn't mine.
Chapter 3
Elizabeth
I make it to my favorite little coffee shop, Raven's Brew, just in time to get a cup and head to work, only I didn't consider that it’s Black Friday! I'm screwed. I open the door and instantly see the lengthy line of customers waiting to order and the ones waiting for their orders. I heave a heavy sigh and get in line. I don't want to be late for work, but I also can't survive the day without coffee. And coffee will always win out in my opinion. So, in the line, I wait. I've never seen so many people here. That's why this is where I come. It’s normally quiet and peaceful, and they have the best coffee in the city, if you ask me. Hopefully, they have a full staff today because I need to get on my way as soon as possible. I stand in the corner after I order, willing the baristas to work quickly and trying not to get in the way of all the people bustling about.
?I really need to get to the bookstore before Edith comes in. I’ve been working at Much Ado About Books for two years now, and I still enjoy it, for the most part. It’s a secondhand bookstore, and I love to see the inventory that comes in. You never know what book will come through the door. It’s thrilling. I once found a rare first additionSense and Sensibility,and Edith was kind enough to sell it to me at a reasonable price; otherwise, there is no way that I would ever own such an incredible book. It’s one of my most prized possessions. I keep in on my nightstand in a glass case.
Over the crowd, I barely hear the barista yell, “Austen,your coffee is ready.” I rush up to the counter to grab my coffee just as someone else places his hand on the cup as well. A charge runs through my body at the touch. I almost jerk my hand back at the feeling. I look up at the man, and it’s like looking at a Greek god. An aggravated god, by the looks of it. Still, I have never seen a more beautiful human than the one in front of me. Is there some sort of GQ photoshoot going on around here that I’m unaware of? Because he is definitely cover page material. He is every page material, to be honest, and I would buy that shit in a heartbeat. I feel like I’m drooling.Am I drooling?Geez, get a grip Lizzie. This is just some man. We just talked about this; men are unwelcome news. Especially ones that look like this.Definitely ones that look like this! Still, I can't help but want to touch his masculine jaw and trace it with my fingers.Lizzie, snap out of it!
He is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.How cliche, Lizzie.But it's the truth.I have to look up to see him because he’s so much taller than I am, well over the six-foot range. His eyes are blue like the most stunning sapphires I have ever seen. Albeit, at the moment, they look like a tumultuous sea, ready to wreak havoc on any ship that dares to sail its waters. His dark hair is wavy and longer on top, and it looks like he’s been running his hands through it, as if he has already worked a full day. His sharp cheek bones and sculpted jaw could rival Michelangelo's David. His attire says businessman, but his body is built like a professional athlete with broad shoulders and what seems like a very toned body. His gray suit looks like it was made just for him, which I'm sure it was. I bet this man intimidates everyone around him. But right now, without coffee pumping through my brain to make me more amicable or even sane, for that matter, I'm taking his expression as a threat to my coffee. And that's just not something someone wants to do to me. Just ask Sarah.
I can’t take my eyes off him. It’s like a magnet drawing me in. I realize that we are still just staring at each other, andmy hand is still holding onto the coffee cup. I quickly drop my hand and clench it at my side.Am I even going to be able to speak?No words are coming out of my mouth because I feel the anger begin to boil over. I don't have time for this. I should already be at work.Say something, Lizzie. Anything. Literally, anything at all.
Finally, he speaks up and asks, “Is your name Austen?” With a questionable look, like I am a coffee thief.
I'm the one that should be getting upset; he grabbed my drink. “No, well, yes in this case. I oftentimes use different authors’ names when I place a coffee order,” I say matter-of-factly, like it’s the most normal thing in the world. I know I'm quirky, get over it.
Why am I nervous? Other than the fact that this is the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life, and he is looking at me with such intensity that I can’t seem to look away. But didn’t I just tell Sarah I wasn’t looking for a man. It’s ironic that after that confession, I happen to run into a perfect one. At least on the outside.He could be your Mr. Darcy! Stop it, Lizzie, you must get to work. Plus, he is totally out of my league. I mean, this guy probably dates super models.
Interrupting my thoughts, he says, “That’s a very curious idea. So, today I assume you are Jane Austen?” I can feel the blush creeping up my face. When was the last time I blushed like this? I can’t deny that I am pleased that he knows who Jane Austen is. Although everyone knows who she is, right? Maybe Sarah was right; I really need to get out more. My heart begins to beat rapidly in my chest. My body should not be reacting like this. Yes, he’s handsome, but so are a lot of men.This is not a hero in your book, Lizzie. He actually looks like he could play the villain. Snap out of it.“Yes, well, she was on my mind this morning, and it seemed fitting to use,” I manage to say. He studies me for a moment, and I almost see a twinkle in his eyes as he looks me up and down. I should probablybe either offended or embarrassed, but I feel good today and confident, and even more so since the stunning man in front of me checked me out, however briefly. Just then, the barista calls out another coffee for, “Austen.”
This arrogant but stunning stranger turns to grab it and quips, “I suppose this one is mine then.” He holds the first cup out for me to grab and our fingers meet for a second time. A small smile spreads over his face and I see his perfect teeth. I think my ovaries just exploded. Damn, this guy looks like a prototype of the perfect man.Someone come clone this man for the sake of all womankind.I have never had this instant attraction to someone in my life. I feel like I have this electric current running through my veins that is way more potent than any coffee could ever be. It’s very disconcerting.
He suddenly raises his cup to mine, bumping the rims together. “Cheers. To hoping we got our correct orders.”
I chuckle because I really do hope that I got my right order, but also this is such a bizarre situation. The irritation that he showed earlier seems to have dissipated. He appears to be gazing at me just as intently as I have been at him. It feels like there is electricity crackling around us. Surely, it’s just because of the coffee confusion, but he almost looks interested in me. It’s like we are the only people in this shop. He is staring at me like I am the only one he sees. Obviously, I am daydreaming, hallucinating, gone too long without coffee? That’s what it is. It’s intoxicating, though. Jacob certainly never looked at me like that.Ugh, stop thinking of that scumbag. I break eye contact and glance at my watch, then look back to him, “It was good to meet you, Austen. Next time I will use a different name.”
I turn and head toward the exit when I hear him say, “Maybe I will run into you again, Jane.”
Okay, swoon. I glance back and give him a big smile,then hurry out of the shop. I need to get out of here before I start to drool for real and make a fool of myself. Besides, he looks like a lady’s man for sure. That’s a heartbreak waiting to happen. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him again, although the chances of that are slim. I mean this is New York City with a population of eight million people. I must focus on my novel. Nothing good can come from dating. I know this all too well. But, wow, I can’t get his eyes out of my head. They were the bluest of blues. I facepalm myself to get my focus back on reality.
As I walk the two blocks to the bookstore, I watch all the people out and about, hurrying from store to store. This is a special time of year in New York. Feeling as though my coffee has cooled off a bit, I take a large gulp and almost choke. A few people give me worried expressions as they pass by me. I swallow the coffee and curse the coffee gods for mixing up my drink order. It. Is. Black. Coffee. That’s it! No sugar or cream or delicious caramel. Literally, the bare minimum coffee beverage one could ask for. Damn, he's even more intense than I thought. I rushed out of my apartment for this, waited in a ridiculous line, and had the most bizarre encounter with Loki, the God of Mischief. What a disaster. I sigh as I chuck the coffee in the closest trash bin. I will definitely be dragging now without my caffeine fix.
I make it to work with two minutes to spare and still the bitter taste occupies my mouth. Bleh. Relief washes over me when I realize that I got here before Edith. She always says that I am late if I arrive after she does, even if I am technically on time. It’s frustrating, but I enjoy it here; so, I make it a point to leave my apartment with plenty of time to spare. As I enter the shop, I let out a deep breath that I didn’t realize I was holding. I hang my jacket on the hooks by the door and put my purse under the register. This is a small shop that’s sandwiched between two larger clothing boutiques. There is a cute little spot in the back of the shop where you can sit andread in a little nook. I love sitting there when I get the chance. The atmosphere here is so comforting, like being wrapped in your favorite blanket.
?I love the smell of old books. The first thing I do when I get a book is smell the inside. It’s such an intimate experience. These books have been all over; they could have changed people’s lives, and they somehow made their way to this little secondhand bookstore. I also love to look on the inside of the covers to see if someone has written a personal note as a gift to the receiver of the book. I love books, which is obvious. I think I became obsessed in high school when I had an English teacher that had so much love and joy for them. You could see her fascination pouring out of her with every line she read. She became the reason that I studied literature in college. I would sit in my dorm room and drink in the words of the most celebrated British authors. Those have always been my favorite. Their stories took root in my brain and have been there since. It’s calming to sit down with a classic and let the world around you fall away as you emerge as a character on the pages. This escapism I know all too well.
I start going through the new inventory and put the books in the computer. This keeps me busy for most of my shift, probably because I kept stopping and thinking about the Austen guy from the coffee shop. He didn’t look like an Austen. I’m not even sure what name would fit him. Something strong and manly. I grin when I think of his beautiful smile, with his dimples shining through. Breaking my daydream, Edith calls, “You need to shelve those new books before you leave.” I groan and with that I am back to work.
