Eve watched as Jon disappeared and reporters flipped their cell phones open and started to ask her questions about why he was in her coffee shop and her affiliation if any, to him. What the hell did they think he was doing? Practicing the trapeze for the circus? It was a coffee shop for god’s sake.
“Look, if you’re not going to buy something please leave.” She motioned for Ria to help her herd the crowd out, it was polluting her nice clean atmosphere. She’d read about Jon’s divorce, it was hard not to since it had been splashed across any major tabloid. Seemed both of them were starting over, with her divorce being finalized three months ago freeing up her inheritance money to open the shop.
“She knows him!” one of the reporters announced holding up his phone, which clearly had Google or something glowing on it. “They went to the
same high school.”
Well shit, the coffee orders came flying in even without her divulging any information about how she knew Jon. It wasn’t the way she’d wanted her business to make its mark but for the next three hours, she was run off her feet steaming, frothing and blending coffee out her ears. Significant praise and words of, “this is the best coffee I’ve had in a long time,” were flying around. One reporter even was now going to whip up a write up about the best kept coffee secret in Soho.
Damn.
By the end of the day, she was dead on her feet like she’d been walking on gourds all day. At ten she closed the door and snicked the locks. Finally.
She’d had zero time to process exactly what had happened here, Jon had walked into her life and brought her over a thousand dollars business and free advertising in all the same day. It was unbelievable. She brewed herself up a Chai latte and was content to slide into a booth to recount her cash, just so it wasn’t a dream. Most of her food stock for the week was gone, she’d have to order more in first thing in the morning.
Damn Eve, this is happening, this is finally happening. She sighed happily and then the rap of knuckles against glass turned her attention to the front of the shop.
“I’m closed!” she swivelled around and her heart jammed in her throat.
Jon.
She rose quickly and snapped open the locks, what was he doing here? She thought he’d never come back after what happened this afternoon.
He came in quickly with a gush of cold wind, and closed the door behind him.
“I saw you were still here, I hope you don’t mind—“he met her eyes and smiled. “Eve.”
Oh god, he did remember. His woollen coat, dusted in snow was wrapped fiercely around him, the winter pale of his skin only made her sink into those blue eyes.
What did she say now? And why was she a puddle of Jell-O, again. Jesus Eve.
“That’s me.” Was all she could say, she cringed. That’s me?
“I’m sorry about before, I didn’t mean to invade your gorgeous little shop with the baggage of my life.” He stood, nervously she thought as his hands still stayed firmly in his pockets.
She laughed, “Its ok – evidently I just had the best day since I opened sales wise.”
His eyebrow arched, “is that so? Well hell, now I don’t feel guilty. You should be the one feeling guilty making money off my baggage.”
The heat crept up her neck, “oh I do – I felt-“she stopped when the twitch of a grin teased the corners of his mouth so she folded her arms. “That’s not nice.”
He took a step forward, keeping his eyes fixed on hers. “You know what else is not nice?”
She could smell him now, the scent of spice and rain – so similar to that night they’d worked on his car took her over. “What’s that?” she dared to ask as he took one more step towards her. Her eyes feel to his lips, only inches away from hers.
“We didn’t get to kiss that night.” He stayed put, and the rapid beat of her heart drummed out over the Nora Jones croon she had going in the background.
He licked his bottom lip and she nodded, “that’s a shame isn’t it?”
He tipped her head with his knuckle and leaned in, pressing his lips hard up against hers. It was everything she’d imagined but so much more. Her hands slid up the buttery wool of his coat to his shoulders as he angled the kiss deeper. His tongue teased at her lips before he breached them tasting each corner of her mouth.
She felt herself drift into him, her hands gripped the lapels on his coat a she let herself slide deeper into him. He was still cold from the night, but the warmth between them soon swelled.
His hands cupped her face drawing her up onto her tip toes, wrapping her own arms around his neck. The sweet and dark heat of him poured into her, as hurt healed hurt. It wasn’t until his thumb swept the tear away from her cheek she realized she was had tears.
All this time, she’d waited for someone to kiss her the way he did. The way she knew he would of all those years ago but instead they’d both gone down different paths and ended up miserable. Whether this was fate or in the cards, all she knew now was he was meant to be here and they were meant to be kissing.
He didn’t stop, he swallowed her moan and walked her back until she felt the wall press against her back. God, she’d missed this. Someone to connect to, someone to be with. His hands raked up into her curls tilting her face letting the kiss go from sweet to hot in seconds.
Her hands raked into his hair pulling him closer, she felt her nipples tighten as he pressed against her. Finally he pulled away, leaving an inch between their lips. He ran his thumb across her bottom lip and smiled.
“How was that?”
She chuckled, and couldn’t help but to lean in to dust her lips across his once more.
“Worth the wait.”
She wanted to say so much more, ask so many more questions but he wrapped her hands in his and brought them to his lips. With a smile on his face, and the same twinkle in his eye he asked.
“So, can I give you a ride home?”
The End.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Chapter Two
When Eve got back to the counter, she ducked out back to catch her breath. Leaning back against the wall she closed her eyes and blew out a breath.
He’s just a guy.
They say that things in your past that didn’t eventuate were not meant to be, but the night at Sayreville War Memorial back in the early 1980’s was one she’d wished hadn’t just past her on by. John Bongiovi was a pretty popular kid at school and she had a small but significant enough crush on him. Who couldn’t resist blue eyes, freckles and dimples?
Eve had been studying late and was walking through the parking lot and had noticed him bent over his car cursing like a sailor. Being that her father was a mechanic, she knew a thing or two about cars and had offered to help him out. The rain and sleet had whipped around them while they huddled over his beat up old ride. By the time she’d revved his baby into life after a click and a pump of the gas, they were both clammy and soaked. He’d offered her a ride home for her troubles and when he dropped her off, Eve had nearly had her first real kiss—until her father had come out to see who was dropping his daughter off home. She’d cursed her father for that moment.
They never got another chance and Eve had moved only a few weeks later when her father was transferred out of town unexpectedly. She had been crushed but moved on, always paying interest in his career. She had all the albums and she knew every song. So when Jon Bon Jovi walked back into her life after so many years, her head was spinning like a kaleidoscope.
She knew his worth and she knew how devastatingly handsome he’d become, she just never expected to see him again in the flesh. After all this time had past, she was amazed her heart still did flip flops when he stared at her, like it did back in his beat up old car that night.
Get a grip Eve, it’s not like you didn’t go out, fall in love and get married. She shrugged at herself, Pity he was an asshole, the kind your father used to warn you about.
She jumped when again a hand on her shoulder snapped her rudely out of her little dream. “Oh god, Ria!” She held her hand to her chest and sighed.
Jesus, why did he still have this effect on her after so much time?
“Mr Bon Jovi is at the counter asking for you...” she emphasised as she strolled back to the kitchen popping her iPod buds into her ears.
He was? What did he want now? Oh god, the coffee wasn’t off was it? She panicked and flattened her palms down against her apron. Bright and breezy, bright and breezy Eve.
She turned and smiled as she walked out, and nearly swallowed her tongue. He was leaning against her counter smiling, the same blue eyes that could take the heart of her, twinkling away.
What happened to casual and breezy? And you so need to speak.
“Hey, is everything ok? The coffee?”
He waved his hand away, “the coffee is fine, and in fact it’s more than fine... great blend... You’ll have to tell me what that is, but right now, I need to know something – do I know you from somewhere?”
Her heart leapt in her throat. Oh boy, he remembered her?
“Ah – I believe we went to the same high school, Sayreville War Memorial.”
She didn’t want to make a big deal of it, so she smiled but the crease in his brow didn’t relax.
He didn’t remember her? And just like that, the ten pound brick in her throat sank to her stomach.
~
He’d sat there sipping on the most delicious cup of coffee he’d had in months unable to concentrate on his lyrics that sat on a word document in bold Calibri in front of him. He’d known her from somewhere, and it was bugging the hell out of him that he couldn’t remember so he knew he would just have to ask.
When she’d come back out to greet him with her broad smile, his mind flashed back to the day he’d been dumped in the band he was in at school. It had been one of the worst days of his life and the icing on the cake was his hunk of junk car wouldn’t start to get him home. Not to mention it was pouring buckets and freaking sleeting. He was already in a foul mood until Eve Richardson had stopped and helped him. They’d mixed in different groups at school but she was cute with her blond hair, blue eyes and freckles. John at that had never got to know her, until that night.
And now she stood, over thirty years later just as beautiful. He often wondered what it would have been like to kiss her that night, even wondered how she would be in bed truth been known. He’d got too caught up in his band stuff to go back and find out and when he did give her a thought. She’d left town.
“No, no I remember you E-“ The tingle of the bell against the door and a flurry of commotion behind him stopped him dead. Reporters nearly tripped over themselves coming for him.
“Jon – is it true that your wife is trying to take half of your estate for her and her new lover?” one asked holding out his microphone as he fought for 1st place in the augural, let’s see who can reach the rock star first race.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
He jammed his hands in his pockets, fished for a twenty and threw it on the counter making a beeline for his things. Collecting them quickly he slipped out the side door slamming it hard behind him as he disappeared down the
side alleyway.
Damn reporters, damn wife, damn stupid fucking divorce that she’d chosen to drag through the public eye. He had to believe it was the idiot she was now with more than her, as Dot was never like that when they were together.
Leaving sunshine curls and coffee behind he cursed, maybe talking with Eve was just never meant to be.
He’s just a guy.
They say that things in your past that didn’t eventuate were not meant to be, but the night at Sayreville War Memorial back in the early 1980’s was one she’d wished hadn’t just past her on by. John Bongiovi was a pretty popular kid at school and she had a small but significant enough crush on him. Who couldn’t resist blue eyes, freckles and dimples?
Eve had been studying late and was walking through the parking lot and had noticed him bent over his car cursing like a sailor. Being that her father was a mechanic, she knew a thing or two about cars and had offered to help him out. The rain and sleet had whipped around them while they huddled over his beat up old ride. By the time she’d revved his baby into life after a click and a pump of the gas, they were both clammy and soaked. He’d offered her a ride home for her troubles and when he dropped her off, Eve had nearly had her first real kiss—until her father had come out to see who was dropping his daughter off home. She’d cursed her father for that moment.
They never got another chance and Eve had moved only a few weeks later when her father was transferred out of town unexpectedly. She had been crushed but moved on, always paying interest in his career. She had all the albums and she knew every song. So when Jon Bon Jovi walked back into her life after so many years, her head was spinning like a kaleidoscope.
She knew his worth and she knew how devastatingly handsome he’d become, she just never expected to see him again in the flesh. After all this time had past, she was amazed her heart still did flip flops when he stared at her, like it did back in his beat up old car that night.
Get a grip Eve, it’s not like you didn’t go out, fall in love and get married. She shrugged at herself, Pity he was an asshole, the kind your father used to warn you about.
She jumped when again a hand on her shoulder snapped her rudely out of her little dream. “Oh god, Ria!” She held her hand to her chest and sighed.
Jesus, why did he still have this effect on her after so much time?
“Mr Bon Jovi is at the counter asking for you...” she emphasised as she strolled back to the kitchen popping her iPod buds into her ears.
He was? What did he want now? Oh god, the coffee wasn’t off was it? She panicked and flattened her palms down against her apron. Bright and breezy, bright and breezy Eve.
She turned and smiled as she walked out, and nearly swallowed her tongue. He was leaning against her counter smiling, the same blue eyes that could take the heart of her, twinkling away.
What happened to casual and breezy? And you so need to speak.
“Hey, is everything ok? The coffee?”
He waved his hand away, “the coffee is fine, and in fact it’s more than fine... great blend... You’ll have to tell me what that is, but right now, I need to know something – do I know you from somewhere?”
Her heart leapt in her throat. Oh boy, he remembered her?
“Ah – I believe we went to the same high school, Sayreville War Memorial.”
She didn’t want to make a big deal of it, so she smiled but the crease in his brow didn’t relax.
He didn’t remember her? And just like that, the ten pound brick in her throat sank to her stomach.
~
He’d sat there sipping on the most delicious cup of coffee he’d had in months unable to concentrate on his lyrics that sat on a word document in bold Calibri in front of him. He’d known her from somewhere, and it was bugging the hell out of him that he couldn’t remember so he knew he would just have to ask.
When she’d come back out to greet him with her broad smile, his mind flashed back to the day he’d been dumped in the band he was in at school. It had been one of the worst days of his life and the icing on the cake was his hunk of junk car wouldn’t start to get him home. Not to mention it was pouring buckets and freaking sleeting. He was already in a foul mood until Eve Richardson had stopped and helped him. They’d mixed in different groups at school but she was cute with her blond hair, blue eyes and freckles. John at that had never got to know her, until that night.
And now she stood, over thirty years later just as beautiful. He often wondered what it would have been like to kiss her that night, even wondered how she would be in bed truth been known. He’d got too caught up in his band stuff to go back and find out and when he did give her a thought. She’d left town.
“No, no I remember you E-“ The tingle of the bell against the door and a flurry of commotion behind him stopped him dead. Reporters nearly tripped over themselves coming for him.
“Jon – is it true that your wife is trying to take half of your estate for her and her new lover?” one asked holding out his microphone as he fought for 1st place in the augural, let’s see who can reach the rock star first race.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
He jammed his hands in his pockets, fished for a twenty and threw it on the counter making a beeline for his things. Collecting them quickly he slipped out the side door slamming it hard behind him as he disappeared down the
side alleyway.
Damn reporters, damn wife, damn stupid fucking divorce that she’d chosen to drag through the public eye. He had to believe it was the idiot she was now with more than her, as Dot was never like that when they were together.
Leaving sunshine curls and coffee behind he cursed, maybe talking with Eve was just never meant to be.
Chapter One
Eve snapped the filter holder into the machine and jammed the go button with her thumb. It’d been three hours since her last customer, so when two couples had walked into the small coffee shop tucked away on Mercer, there’d been a flurry of activity.
Opening a coffee shop in Soho hadn’t been easy, her friends had called it suicide. In this economy, new small businesses had to be sure what they were going to do, and that there was a market for it. Otherwise rightly so, it was financial suicide.
When her grandmother died leaving a generous sum of money in to her, Eve had realized this would have been the only opportunity she would of ever had to do something like this. For as long as she could remember, she’d loved coffee. She loved the heady smell of freshly brewed coffee, you know the one that when it hit you, it nearly knocked you off your feet.
She banged the steel milk pitcher of frothed milk and like silk, it poured it into the plated cups with ease.
“Done!” she called out the back to Ria, the college student she’d hired to wait and serve in her shop. Because of the low business and the fact she’d only been open two weeks, she’d not needed anyone else but Ria and herself running Sugar.
Ria clamoured up to the counter with a loud snap of gum as she cinched her apron around her tiny waist.
“Ria, gum is not a good look around the customer’s.” She grabbed the cinnamon shaker and dusted the coffees before standing back, smiling proud at her achievement. “Best damn coffee on Mercer if I do say so myself, just pity no one is here to see it.”
Ria wedged herself in between Eve and the counter and balanced all three cups on her arm like a circus act before making her way to her cliental. “They will Eve, just wait and see.”
Eve sighed and folded her arms standing back admiring her place. She’d gone for that modern mixed classic feel with comfortable leather chairs and a few couches dotted around the place. Polished mahogany tables complimented the furniture with two leather booths at the back for intimacy if required.
The wrought iron fire place snapped and crackled in the corner as it flames danced. The color scheme was simple, dark crimson walls with rope lights that hung down on twisted steel brought life and light into to the place. She polished up the brushed steel of her machine, her pride and joy. The Espressomaster had nearly cost as much as the lease of the place, but as far as she could tell it was worth every penny.
“Uh hi,” a hand waved in front of her face knocking her back into reality. She blinked and met a wide white smile that reached deep blue eyes. His hair was short and dirty blond windswept back, that framed his strong jaw line nicely.
He looked so familiar, damn Jon Bon Jovi was standing in her coffee shop? She hadn’t seen him for well, over thirty years. They’d attended the same high school, but Eve was sure he’d have no idea who she was as they never crossed paths, well – once.
“Ah hi, sorry – I was miles away. What can I get you?”
~
Jon smiled and lifted the Macbook up that was under his arm. “Black Coffee and...” he glanced over at the quartet of people that were settling in front of the fire and then over to the back of the room which was empty. “A nice quiet spot, right over there.”
The coffee shop had caught his eye last time he’d been walking down Mercer, it was neatly tucked away off the street behind a little leafy courtyard. The place had been empty for weeks, and since the economy was on the slide he hadn’t expected it to change all that much so he’d been surprised to see it open.
The first thing he’d noticed when he walked in, apart from the warmth and the clean crisp look of her shop polished off with furniture for comfort, was her. Spun gold curls were loosely hooked up in some sort of clip, the kind you couldn’t help but want to twist your fingers around. Her curvy figure hugged flared jeans and a tight black tee with a dark pink splash down the front, matching the color on her walls.
She looked familiar but he couldn’t pick it, and that bugged him. He was good with faces and names, amazing considering the amount he’d taken in through his career. But it was one thing he prided himself on.
After five cigarettes and a wine, he’d stared over the same damn lyrics of a song over and over at home. It was time to move himself into a different surrounding as often that’s all it took. And this place was perfect, a little on the quiet side with less risk of being seen or accosted.
She smiled and flicked a long curl from her face back. “Sure, can I get you anything to eat?” Her pretty pink lips curved into a smile as she dusted down the front of her tee. No name tag, nothing even to spark his memory.
“No, thank you. Just the coffee...I’ll go and get set up.” He glanced down and couldn’t help notice the piles of bills and statements that were scattered around her with red pen etched all over them. Times must be pretty tough for small businesses he thought as he set up camp in the corner booth.
He laid out his iPhone, keys and wallet from his pockets and booted up his Mac to get started. The scent of spring blossom hit him before the punch of fresh coffee as she rested it down carefully in front of him.
“I can turn on the wi-fi if you want to hook into it?” she thumbed back over her shoulder.
“Thanks, but I need to probably have as less distractions as possible. That was my issue at home.”
“Yet you bring your iPhone with you?” she asked obviously amused as she folded her arms.
He picked up his wallet and opened it, “do I pay extra for the smart ass comments?” he mused, not missing the cute dimples in her cheek when she smiled.
“Not this time, maybe though if you order a second maybe I’ll throw in some more free comments.” She winked and walked away from him. He stared a little longer than he should have as her delicious hips swayed and her sun-kissed curls bounced down her back.
She’s just a woman asshole, no need to get all hot and bothered about her. He chuckled shaking his head and lifted the cup to his mouth. The kick surprised him, but the blend was smooth and punchy. Damn, well good coffee and a nice view never hurt anyone.
Opening a coffee shop in Soho hadn’t been easy, her friends had called it suicide. In this economy, new small businesses had to be sure what they were going to do, and that there was a market for it. Otherwise rightly so, it was financial suicide.
When her grandmother died leaving a generous sum of money in to her, Eve had realized this would have been the only opportunity she would of ever had to do something like this. For as long as she could remember, she’d loved coffee. She loved the heady smell of freshly brewed coffee, you know the one that when it hit you, it nearly knocked you off your feet.
She banged the steel milk pitcher of frothed milk and like silk, it poured it into the plated cups with ease.
“Done!” she called out the back to Ria, the college student she’d hired to wait and serve in her shop. Because of the low business and the fact she’d only been open two weeks, she’d not needed anyone else but Ria and herself running Sugar.
Ria clamoured up to the counter with a loud snap of gum as she cinched her apron around her tiny waist.
“Ria, gum is not a good look around the customer’s.” She grabbed the cinnamon shaker and dusted the coffees before standing back, smiling proud at her achievement. “Best damn coffee on Mercer if I do say so myself, just pity no one is here to see it.”
Ria wedged herself in between Eve and the counter and balanced all three cups on her arm like a circus act before making her way to her cliental. “They will Eve, just wait and see.”
Eve sighed and folded her arms standing back admiring her place. She’d gone for that modern mixed classic feel with comfortable leather chairs and a few couches dotted around the place. Polished mahogany tables complimented the furniture with two leather booths at the back for intimacy if required.
The wrought iron fire place snapped and crackled in the corner as it flames danced. The color scheme was simple, dark crimson walls with rope lights that hung down on twisted steel brought life and light into to the place. She polished up the brushed steel of her machine, her pride and joy. The Espressomaster had nearly cost as much as the lease of the place, but as far as she could tell it was worth every penny.
“Uh hi,” a hand waved in front of her face knocking her back into reality. She blinked and met a wide white smile that reached deep blue eyes. His hair was short and dirty blond windswept back, that framed his strong jaw line nicely.
He looked so familiar, damn Jon Bon Jovi was standing in her coffee shop? She hadn’t seen him for well, over thirty years. They’d attended the same high school, but Eve was sure he’d have no idea who she was as they never crossed paths, well – once.
“Ah hi, sorry – I was miles away. What can I get you?”
~
Jon smiled and lifted the Macbook up that was under his arm. “Black Coffee and...” he glanced over at the quartet of people that were settling in front of the fire and then over to the back of the room which was empty. “A nice quiet spot, right over there.”
The coffee shop had caught his eye last time he’d been walking down Mercer, it was neatly tucked away off the street behind a little leafy courtyard. The place had been empty for weeks, and since the economy was on the slide he hadn’t expected it to change all that much so he’d been surprised to see it open.
The first thing he’d noticed when he walked in, apart from the warmth and the clean crisp look of her shop polished off with furniture for comfort, was her. Spun gold curls were loosely hooked up in some sort of clip, the kind you couldn’t help but want to twist your fingers around. Her curvy figure hugged flared jeans and a tight black tee with a dark pink splash down the front, matching the color on her walls.
She looked familiar but he couldn’t pick it, and that bugged him. He was good with faces and names, amazing considering the amount he’d taken in through his career. But it was one thing he prided himself on.
After five cigarettes and a wine, he’d stared over the same damn lyrics of a song over and over at home. It was time to move himself into a different surrounding as often that’s all it took. And this place was perfect, a little on the quiet side with less risk of being seen or accosted.
She smiled and flicked a long curl from her face back. “Sure, can I get you anything to eat?” Her pretty pink lips curved into a smile as she dusted down the front of her tee. No name tag, nothing even to spark his memory.
“No, thank you. Just the coffee...I’ll go and get set up.” He glanced down and couldn’t help notice the piles of bills and statements that were scattered around her with red pen etched all over them. Times must be pretty tough for small businesses he thought as he set up camp in the corner booth.
He laid out his iPhone, keys and wallet from his pockets and booted up his Mac to get started. The scent of spring blossom hit him before the punch of fresh coffee as she rested it down carefully in front of him.
“I can turn on the wi-fi if you want to hook into it?” she thumbed back over her shoulder.
“Thanks, but I need to probably have as less distractions as possible. That was my issue at home.”
“Yet you bring your iPhone with you?” she asked obviously amused as she folded her arms.
He picked up his wallet and opened it, “do I pay extra for the smart ass comments?” he mused, not missing the cute dimples in her cheek when she smiled.
“Not this time, maybe though if you order a second maybe I’ll throw in some more free comments.” She winked and walked away from him. He stared a little longer than he should have as her delicious hips swayed and her sun-kissed curls bounced down her back.
She’s just a woman asshole, no need to get all hot and bothered about her. He chuckled shaking his head and lifted the cup to his mouth. The kick surprised him, but the blend was smooth and punchy. Damn, well good coffee and a nice view never hurt anyone.
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