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Looking back at my spot, I feel confident that my table will still be there when I come back from ordering. It isn’t overly busy, and Clay isn’t here as of yet. I twist my wrist towards me and check the time, it has just gone nine a.m. Tripp’s words echo in my head ‘he goes down to Sunny’s every morning between nine and nine thirty to get his coffee and breakfast roll.’
Walking to the counter, I brush my hands down my dress to try and alleviate the clamminess of my palms. A woman who I would say was a little younger than me, with beautiful porcelain skin, deep brown eyes and rosy cheeks smiles at me as I approach.
“Welcome to Sunny’s, what can I get you?” she chimes, and my eyes fall to her name badge.Sunny.
I smile.
“Hey,” I play with the ends of my hair as I scan the large selection on the boards behind her, “I’ll have a white coffee with oat milk and a poppyseed muffin,” my eyes land on hers as she taps the touchscreen filling my order. A young girl behind her starts to prep the coffee beans.
“Take out or in?”
“In please,” I reach for my purse and slip out some dollars and place them down on the counter. I watch as she rings it up then gives me three dollars back. I give her a soft smile and pop the dollar notes into her tip jar.
“Thank you, honey; may your coffee be strong and your day beautiful,” she beams at me and I feel my insides warm at the small act of kindness just shown.
“You too Sunny,” she looks a little confused but then glances down at her name badge and shrugs one of her shoulders up. I throw her a wink before walking to the end of the counter and collecting my coffee and muffin. It smelt and looked delicious. I walk back towards my seat, next to the large windows and I feel some sort of comfort here mixed with a knowing feeling. It’s weird but in the best possible way.
Placing my cup and plate down, I take one last look around the room. Rusty orange panelled walls, a large black and gold clock hanging on the wall. Cream bookshelves fill one side of the cosy coffee shop while the other has tables leading down to the back of the shop. Tilting my head back, I look up at the ivory and cream artificial flowers that cover the entire ceiling and have fairy lights entwined between.
It isn’t much, but there is definitely something pretty about it. Dragging the wooden chair out, I take my seat and open my laptop as the morning sun beats down on me. I read over the words I had written the night Riggs kissed me on the forehead and I feel my heart flutter. Seeing my feelings and deep desires spilled onto the pages makes me giddy. I have never delved into much, but this story seems to be the one that I want to push for more.
Curling my finger round the handle of my coffee cup, I bring it to my lips, taking a mouthful and moan in appreciation before licking the white froth off the top of my lip. Placing it back down, I pick at the paper muffin case and unfold it before I break a bit off and pop it into my mouth.
My fingers hover over my keyboard and just like that, I fall straight back into it. I’m not working long when I hear the doorbell ring, I lift my eyes from my screen and they land on an impeccably dressed man. Black hair slicked back, tall, high cheekbones and sculpted jaw. He looks every bit a businessman. Not like Riggs and his family who screamride me cowboy.
“Morning Clay,” I hear Sunny say and now my interest is piqued even more. I turn in my chair and study him for just a moment longer. I have no idea how I will gain his attention and the longer I am sitting here knowing that I am waiting for him to approach me makes my nerves rise.
Turning my head back round, I pick another piece of my muffin and pop it into my mouth and wash it down with a huge mouthful of coffee. My fingers find their rhythm once more, but as time moves on, my anxiety grows and fills the empty void deep inside of me.
I’m not alone with my words long when I hear a throat clear beside me. My eyes widen and my heart jackhammers in my chest. I slowly turn my face to look up at him and give him a small smile whilst my fingers continue to dance over my keyboard.
“Can I help you?” I say sweetly and I see his eyes sweep over me as if giving me the once over.
A low chuckle vibrates through him, his large hand wrapped around his takeout coffee whilst one of his fingers was hooked round a paper bag which I am assuming had his breakfast roll in. His spare hand slips from his suit pants as he runs his long finger across his bottom lip.
“You have a little something something here…” he reaches up and touches the bow on his top lip and I retract back, my cheeks burning as I dart my tongue out and lick it away then reach for my napkin and wipe my lips until they hurt.
“Oops,” I wince as I feel the crimson blush slip over my skin.
“Out-of-towner?” he asks, his eyes giving me the once over before straightening up and looking out the window, his eyes landing on my McLaren.
“Yeah, just a few towns out. Heard about this place and I am on a deadline so needed some quiet time from people that know me,” I half laugh as I turn my attention from him and to my laptop screen. I spun that web of lies pretty damn quick.
“You staying a while?” he asks as he reaches for his phone.
“A couple of days maybe, I’m staying at the little bed and breakfast on the edge of Maple Street.”
“Ah, Sylvia’s,” he nods, looking over his shoulder down the tree lined street.
“Yeah, that’s it,” I say.
“How about we get dinner some-time while you’re still in town. I know a great little steak restaurant just outside the town in Silver End if you fancy it one night?”
Nerves suffocate me.Shoot.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I swallow them down, “it would be nice to have one familiar face here,” I blush under his intense gaze and I feel perspiration pricking at the back of my neck.
“Monday, eight p.m? I’ll collect you from Sylvia’s?”
