My life is rather hectic. I work crazy shifts running on ten day weeks and I lose contact with myself sometimes because it is literally sleep, eat and work. And don’t I wish they came in that order! So when I can I like to venture to places alone, for ‘time out’ to evaluate myself and my direction in life. This includes, going to the gym, driving long distances or simply reading a book, and I enjoy all three immensely!

It’s not often that I venture into a public place to do this, nor unfamiliar territory, but one evening I decided I needed something a little more. A new environment to challenge my sense of independence and a cure for my itchy feet tendencies. Yes I get that a lot, particularly if I feel happy and comfortable - and why am I single, need you ask?

So I took a book, Kathy Reich’s most recent - Bones to Ashes, which is brilliant by the way and jumped into my car. I drove for about 40 minutes out of my area until I came to a town I’d only heard of before. Without concern I parked up, grabbed my bag and off I went looking for somewhere to stop.

And then I found it! A perfect little café tucked down a lane out the way of shoppers and what not. I smiled in my approach, the smell of Coffee and spices made my nose tingle; it was intoxicating! The Café had large glass widows at the front with cakes and a pretty array of different coloured Coffee beans lined up in tiny baskets, it was very alluring to anyone passing by. As I looked through I saw something better than that, it was a waitress by the counter looking back at me. I slowed down enough to see her look twice at me before serving the customer on the other side of the till.

I casually stepped inside, the door rattling as I did, causing, who I am sure to be regulars to look up at me as I passed them to find a table near the back where it was quiet. There was an old man who continued to stare. He was sat with a cup in one hand and a small bottle of Gin in the other, his hair falling like curtains over his face. Despite his appearance I smiled politely, only to receive a grunt in return. I shrugged it off and continued.

I sat and put my bag on the chair next to me and using both hands I pulled out the hardback. I looked at it and smiled. I was excited, apart from the likely alcoholic with the staring problem this place was perfect!

“Hi what can I get you?” a sweet voice, both warm and light diverted my eyes up.

It was her,the waitress who‘d caught my eye through the window earlier. She stood up straight with her notepad at the ready and with her hair falling in all directions she flicked a loose strand away from her eyes with her pen.

She wrote on her pad. “Just you?” she asked softly.

“Yes.” I said unashamed, to which she nodded happily.

“Anything else for you?”

Normally, it would just be tea but I liked the way she was standing to attention with her pen and notepad, I liked the way she spoke and tempted me. “What’s your best sweet?”

Her eyes paused on mine as she took a moment to think about it. “Well, the most popular is the Chocolate and Banana Sunday” she said, her nose crinkling with disagreement “but personally, Cherry Tart is my favourite!”

“Well, I do like Cherry…” I considered my options, my eyes directed at the meaningless objects before me.

“Ok! Cherry Tart it is, thanks!” I accepted with a nod and then watched her walk away with a satisfied smirk.

My eyes moved around the room as I went back to my book and to begin reading, but as my eyes touched the first page I had the impression I was still being watched. The feeling made my eyes wonder, only innocently at first until I noticed the drunk sniggering at me. I frowned disapprovingly!

She was rather stunning, and this wasn’t the first time I noted that little wiggle in her bum. I had a feeling that one piece of Cherry Tart wouldn’t be enough!

“One Cherry Tart!” she ignored my obvious gawking and placed a slice of the pie next to my elbow rested on the table.

“Thank you!”

“Enjoy!” she smiled and walked away, my eyes once again following her.

I continued to read, occasionally looking back at her as I chewed on that delicious Tart. It must’ve been at least half an hour before she came over again, but it was well worth the wait…

“Not a bit left, you must have good taste!” she flirted and looked me up and down.

“Yes…” she lent over reaching for the plate, her eyes looking up into mine at a conspicuous angle “...with my very own hands.” Her voice hovered, crashing into my lips and down my spine.

I lent forward, pretending to do so to hand her the cup which I only touched with a fine finger. “Do you …do it all with your hands?” I huskily teased her, neither of us looking away.

At that moment the door rattled, everyone including the waitress and I looked round to see who had entered. It was an old woman with rustled hair and a walking stick.

The waitress turned back to me “that’s his wife.” She informed me as she made eyes at the old drunk man.

“Oh!” I could only smile in an unsurprised manor as I watched the older woman sit opposite the man, joining him in what felt like a staring competition at me.

The waitress sighed “I will be back in a second” she reassured me with more eye contact and then wondered over to their table.

There was no denying it now, I wasn’t going to read whilst I had her to look at! So I closed my book which lay open on the table and watched her take the woman’s order. When that cute little wiggle of a bum turned around she caught me looking at it and smiled warmly. Nothing to hide, I smiled back and continued to watch her, every few minutes making eye contact.

After another 15 minutes had passed she finally came back over with a second cup and a fresh pot of tea. She looked at me and said nothing as she placed the cup on the other side, the pot in the middle and sat opposite me.

“Do you mind if I join you?” she hesitated and waited for my answer.

“No, course not!” I shook my head a tad and turned on my seat to face her.

“Good!” she said cheerfully and began pouring herself a cup of the fresh brew.

For a moment I just watched, the close proximity doing me no favours as her tongue washed over her lips, the steam from her cup touching them before taking her first sip.

“Ah!” she hummed as she swallowed.

“Hmm, nothing quite like a hot cup of tea” I agreed as she took another sip, her eyes peeping over her cup.

“Hot is good…” she said leaning in, her foot touching my foot ever so slightly under the table.

“I like it hot” I said simply leaning infurtherand I seeagain her tongue poke out and wether lush lips. That’s whenher foot began moving up tenderly running the course of my calf! My heart pounded in my chest at the feel of her.

“Do you, like it fast?” she asked as I looked back with uncertainty.

“Fast?” I whispered into her.

“Uh huh, I only have 15 minutes left of my break.” she smiled and suckled the hot liquid into her mouth.

My mouth opened and closed a few times, till at last I replied “Here?”

“Out the back” she indicated with a nod in the direction of the backdoor and then hastily put her cup down. “Come with me” she ordered, her foot falling away from my leg as she moved to stand.