A Moment of Peace (closed)

[fukensploogin]

Moments like these were rare: no line of customers, no screen full of drink orders, just a few people sippin their lattes and nibblin their scones, reading their papers and books and cellphones. The coffee shop where Tommy worked as a barista was small; maybe half a dozen little tables. In the morning there was usually a line out the door and a crowded group of commuters waiting for their highly caffeinated beverage of choice.

But now, a moment of peace. Tommy washed his hands and eyed the pastry case, wondering if anything good was left at the rush. His belly rumbled.

He looked up, spying out of the corner of his eye someone coming through the door. He recognized her immediately; he didn't know her name, but she always got tea, a Darjeeling usually, to go.

Tommy: 5'11", 170 lbs, curly brown hair, brown eyes, nice tan, athletic build, 24 years old.

 

[Mata_Hari]

She strolled into the cafe, immediately relaxing as her sparkling brown eyes took in the cheerful ambience. Dressed in a casual, pencil slim skirt and tailored blouse, her heels clicked as Donna approached the counter. The staccato sound attracted the attention of some of the customers. Oblivious to the curious looks, she stopped, waiting to place her order.

It had been a tense day at the office. Working as an editor for a local newspaper was often stressful, and she was relieved to finally be out of the hectic environment. Stopping for tea was her habit. This cozy little place served up the best Darjeeling in town. Trying to ignore the appetizing pastries arrayed before her, Donna placed her order, smiling to no one in particular. Glancing around, she watched the patrons as she waited for her tea.


Smoothing her blonde hair into place, she smiled at the barista on duty. He was an attractive man, and she flushed as she realized she had been staring at him. Demurely lowering her eyes, her cheeks pink, she pretended to be studying her pink tipped nails.


Donna: 5'4", 120 lbs., shoulder length blonde hair, brown eyes, fair, 26 yrs old.

 

[fukensploogin]

Tommy smiled after she ordered her tea and turned to face the tea racks. He grabbed the jar labelled "Darjeeling Extra Fancy" and popped it open. He ran some hot water through a small teapot and then dumped it out. He scooped a spoonful of the dry tea leaves into the little pot and then poured boiling hot water from a spigot into the pot. Once full, he placed the top on it and turned and set it on the counter before her. He smiled again, trying to keep himself from thinking about how attractive this woman was, reminded himself not to check out her breasts. He grabbed a strainer and reached for a cup.

"Did you want a cup for here or to go?" he asked her, locking eyes with her. His heart skipped a beat. A lot of attractive college girls came through the shop every day, but this woman's beauty was on another level altogether.

 

[sugardaisy]

......

 

[Mata_Hari]

Donna watched him beneath lowered lashes, noting his capable hands. Her thoughts began to drift...imagining..."Stop it!" she told herself, feeling like a schoolgirl. He turned away to prepare her order and her gaze lowered, taking in his his strong build and sexy ass. She chided herself for openly gaping at him. She realized with a start he had been speaking to her, and blushed furiously, her eyes locking with his. Soft and dark, she noticed the amusement in them when he realized she hadn't heard him.

"I'm sorry. What did you say?" she asked, embarrassed by her awkward behavior.

 

[fukensploogin]

He smiled, noticing her blushing. "Would you like to enjoy your tea here in a nice porcelain cup, or do you want a paper cup that'll ruin the taste even before you're out the door?" he asked her. He grabbed a white porcelain cup off the top of the espresso machine and set it down next to the teapot.

 

[Mata_Hari]

His smile was charming and contagious. Donna found herself responding to it, her tummy doing somersaults. Watching him retrieve the porcelain cup, she smiled back. Warm eyes met hers and she found herself mesmerized by the softness in his gaze.

"You're right. It does sound good."

She slid into a seat at a nearby table, crossing her long, shapely legs, her skirt riding up a little in the process. Quickly tugging it down, she waited for him to bring the tea to her table. Looking up, she caught him staring at her legs. She just managed to conceal a bashful smile, but couldn't stop her pulse from racing a little faster.

 

[fukensploogin]

Tommy grabbed a little tray and set the teapot and cup on it. He moved surprisingly quickly, well balanced, deftly dodging his moving co-workers and coming around the counter to the floor. She noticed he was wearing black leather cowboy boots and once-tan cargo pants now stained several shades of espresso. He was wearing a tight black tee shirt under a black apron.

He spied her adjusting her skirt, which had risen up her long supple legs. He shook his head to himself, and reminded himself not to flirt too much.

He set the teacup lightly down on the table and then poured the tea into it, holding a strainer in the stream to catch the long green leaves when they fell out the spout.

"Voila," he said. "Let me know if you'd like another steeping," he smiled that grin at her again, their eyes catching for an impossibly long moment during which neither of them was thinking about the tea...

 

[Mata_Hari]

He headed for her table, tray in hand, and Donna couldn't help but notice the way his tee shirt hugged his broad, sexy chest. Although covered with an apron, it accentuated his powerful, tanned arms. She swallowed hard, her attraction to him growing stronger by the minute.Thoughts of his arms around her danced in her head, a knot of desire tightening in her belly. It had been a long time since she'd been with a man, and his affect on her was unnerving.

She gazed up at him, his soft eyes holding her captive for a long moment. Realizing how ridiculous she must seem, the humor of the situation struck her, and she laughed. Grinning impishly, uncharacteristically bold, she took a chance.

"I adore the tea here, but sharing a cup would be nicer. Would you like to join me?"

She held her breath, trying to hide her nervousness.

 

[fukensploogin]

He blinked, grinned. "Hey, why not? I'll be right back," he said, taking the tray, turning and walking off. He set down the tray behind the counter and pulled off his apron. "I'm gonna take my ten," he told his coworker, Amy. It was so slow, and the girl had seen everything and just giggled quietly, smiling and nodding her approval. Tommy blushed furiously as he grabbed a tall porcelain coffee cup and filled it from the coffee urn.

Tommy shook his head as he walked past her again, back out to the floor. He winked at Amy as he passed her, now approaching the blonde's table. He stopped to pour some half n half in his coffee and then set his cup down on her table and sat down across from her.

"I'm afraid you're one of our regulars whose name I don't know," he said. "It's not fair. I have to wear a nametag, so everyone knows my name, but I'm in the dark when it comes to everyone on the other side of the counter."

 

[Mata_Hari]

Donna watched the curious exchange between Tommy and the young woman while wondering at her own temerity. Soon he approached her table, strolling purposefully, his coffee in hand. Her eyes lowered, studying his light colored pants, noting the way they hugged his slim, muscular thighs. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she tried to banish her naughty thoughts, smiling as he approached. He slid agilely into the rickety seat across from her. his leg lightly brushing against her own under the tiny cafe table. Her wayward thoughts started to betray her again, imagining those strong thighs, rubbing sensuously along hers...

What was wrong with her! Trying to subdue her traitorous thoughts, she realized he was speaking again. What? Her name? She collected herself and smiled into his friendly open gaze.

"I'm Donna. It's nice to actually meet you, Tommy."

She offered him her hand, her palm tingling as his larger one enclosed around it.

 

[fukensploogin]

"Thank you," he said, "Donna," repeating her name, desperately wanting to make sure he wouldn't forget it. As he gazed into her eyes again, he realized it was already burned into his psyche. "For asking me to join you."

He raised his coffee to his lips and took a long sip, set the mug down. He was really nervous. His heart was definitely racing, his mind too, his blood totally stirred by this amazing specimen of femininity across the little table from him. His heart had skipped a beat when their legs brushed, and he desperately wanted to touch her again, but he knew that would be only too obvious. He tried to think of something to say.

"So what's your life like when you're not getting your tea here?" he asked her.

 

[Mata_Hari]

Donna smoothed her hands on her skirt, tugging it down again. It seemed to have a mind of it's own. She tried to focus on conversation.
The virile man sitting across from her was wreaking havoc with her errant senses, and the scent of his aftershave didn't help matters. It was subtle, spicy, and reminded her of passionate sex in dimly lit places. Amazed at her reaction to this very sexy man, she fought the urge to lick her dry lips. She lowered her eyes for a moment, unknowingly fluttering her lashes, and tried to will herself to breathe normally. Looking up again, she caught the amusement in his eyes and wondered if he had guessed her thoughts.

Smiling, Donna told Tommy about the newspaper where she worked, regaling humorous tales about workplace comedy. He commented and laughed but was quiet otherwise.

Suddenly her tummy rumbled and she realized she was starving. Wryly she acknowledged to herself her hunger was operating on more than one level.

 

[fukensploogin]

Tommy listened to her tell him about her job, and he laughed at all the funny parts. He found himself envious of her. She couldn't have been much older than he was, and she had found herself a seemingly wonderful, fulfilling job in the real world.

Perhaps today was just one of those days he was feeling sorry for himself. Sometimes he felt like a street-level drug-dealer. Legal, of course, but still toiling away for basically peanuts while people higher up were raking in the dough. He'd always kind of wanted to be a writer, but had fallen away from that dream a few years ago. He had met a wonderful girl, and they had a beautiful, happy relationship for four years. It's hard to be a really good writer when you're young and happy with your life, and he knew his style was deteriorating, his sense of justice becoming skewed, and he set down the pencil and paper for a long time.

And then he had been dumped. How long had it been? Five, six months? He hadn't been on a single date since Mary left him.

His break was rapidly coming to an end. A line of customers was forming, there were people waiting for their drinks, and the new girl at the espresso machine didn't really seem to know what she was doing. He had been so lost in Donna's brown eyes, her blond hair, the faint suggestion of cleavage and nipples behind that tailored blouse...

"Donna... I have to get back to work. Umm... I was wondering if I could take you to dinner tonight," he said, his heart beating fast, the blood filling his ears, his face blushing. He looked up into her eyes...

 

[Mata_Hari]

The lull was over and business was picking up again. The queue of coffee fanatics could always be counted on in the business district, Donna thought wryly. She had been doing most of the talking. She got chatty when she was nervous, but Tommy's occasional comments and laughter expressed enjoyment of her company. His eyes lowered to her breasts more than once, and her train of thought almost wavered. Willing her nipples not to harden, she failed miserably. The taut peaks strained against her pale silk twill blouse practically inviting his glances. Somehow she managed to focus and continue the conversation.

Break time was over, and Tommy watched the girl fumble behind the counter with a hint of anxiety. Gracefully, he extricated himself from the confines of the tiny table and her eyes rested on his agile form.

"Donna... I have to get back to work. Umm... I was wondering if I could take you to dinner tonight," he said.

Her heart skipped a beat. This was her chance, and she knew she would hate herself if she didn't take it. Taking a deep breath, Donna scribbled down her work address and phone number. He could pick her up at the office. The surrounding area featured a nice selection of restaurants, several which were suitable for the casual diner stopping by after work.

She watched him leave, hurrying to tackle the throng of impatient customers. Heading back to work, she stopped to check her appearance in a storefront window. The woman in the reflection was smiling.

 

[fukensploogin]

He looked at the address. It was an office just down the street. There was a phone number. "I'll call you when I get off work," he said, winked at her and rushed back to work.

He realized, as he was steaming milk and pulling shots of espresso, that he was in no way prepared for a date. Sure, these clothes were fine for work, but as soon as he left the coffee shop it was apparent to everyone in his immediate vicinity exactly what his job involved, i.e., coffee. He stank of it. Espresso had been spilled on him on multiple occasions, oily dark-roasted coffee beans could even be found in his pockets and the cuffs of his pants. Unless she was a total caffeine-speed-freak, she probably wouldn't be too much into that kind of thing.

He wound up getting off work a little early. It was about four in the afternoon. He called Donna's office from his cell phone as he walked along the busy city street. Pedestrians rushed by all around him, angry drivers honked their horns as Tommy, on foot, passed them by.

"Can I speak to Donna please?" he asked when the phone was answered by a receptionist. "The editor, of course." He was transferred to her office line. She answered, her full name, and he smiled. He was nervous as hell. This was a real woman, not any kind of girl, that he had asked out. What kind of man was she expecting his slacker ass to be? He shook his head.

"Hi, it's Tommy," he said. "Your friendly local barista."

 

[Mata_Hari]

Donna sat at her oversized African mahogany desk, surrounded by piles of papers. She was plugging away at a pile of work when her secretary buzzed her, informing her of an incoming call.

"Hi, it's Tommy," he said. "Your friendly local barista."

Grinning, she felt her face flush and took a deep breath. They chatted for a few minutes, Tommy explaining the need to go home and clean up. They finalized the plans and rang off.

Thankfully, Donna was prepared for emergencies. The executive office wing boasted 2 large bathrooms with showers. Diving under the stinging spray, she lathered herself with honeysuckle gel and quickly washed her hair. Fortunately she had recently splurged on a wax, so her body was smooth and well maintained.

Thirty minutes later, she stood in front of the large, foggy vanity mirror preening. Minimal makeup, hair freshly washed and softly framing her face. She dabbed perfume lightly on her wrists and between her breasts, pausing to sniff the subtle fragrance. Stepping back, she studied her reflection. Business attire was the best she could do on short notice. She had opted for a slim, gray skirt. The silk blouse was a softer, dove gray and feminine. Leaving an extra button undone, it revealed a hint of cleavage. Rummaging impatiently around in a bag, she found a silver belt for contrast. Slipping into silver stilettos borrowed from her secretary, she checked her reflection again. Jewelry would be overkill, but she rubbed a soft pink gloss on her lips. She was ready.

Hurrying back to her desk, she laughed when Marge ('Large Marge' she called herself kiddingly) winked at her.

"Don't forget I want the shoes back." Marge drawled, her southern accent exaggerated.

Laughing, Donna agreed, continuing to work, waiting for her date.

It was hard to concentrate. Her mind was on Tommy.