Staring at each other across the table, the sexual tension was palpable.
After having a general dinner discussion throughout most of the evening, the air quickly became thick and both of them were left speechless.
Looking away from his intense gaze, Dianne raised her hand for the bill. She went to get her purse out before a cough made her look up.
"Don't think that you're paying for this meal."
Dianne was taken aback at his low, sensual voice. She tried not to get too flustered by it but failed miserably.
"I invited you here, I am paying." Joe continued, and practically launched for the bill once it had been put on the table. Dianne opened her mouth to argue but was shut down quickly.
"Don't even think about disagreeing with me."
She nodded, feeling heat rise to her cheeks at his demanding tone. She leaned back and let her gaze pause on the attractive man in front of her. Dianne couldn't believe she was having such thoughts about him when this was their first date. "Is this even a proper date?" She thought. Joe was leaving in 3 weeks time so why would he take her out on a date, knowing this couldn't last?
She felt his fingers trace over her palm, which was face up on the table. She blinked, suddenly aware that Joe was trying to get her attention.
"Dianne?"
"Uhm?" She replied, trying so hard not to get distracted by her thoughts.
"Are you ready to go?"
Nodding in response, she was about to stand up when she saw Joe move around to her seat, and offered his hand. Dianne couldn't help but smile at his gesture.
Interlacing their fingers, she rested her head on his shoulder, slightly feeling the effects of the few glasses of wine she had had.
"Can we go to the beach?" She asked, looking up at him sweetly.
Joe kissed her forehead and nodded. "Sure. Are you sure you're warm enough?" The wind had started to pick up, making goosebumps appear on her arms.
"I'm fine. It's not too cold."
Walking along the pavement with their hands still connected, she felt content. Closeness to someone was something she had craved the past two years, but finding that person to fill the hole in her heart had been more than difficult.
It had only been a little more than a week, but Joe had already patched up that part of her that was left broken. He was so kind, caring, and he understood her. And Dianne wished that he could stay. Because what she felt for him in such a short space of time was craziness, but it felt right.
They made their way onto the sand, and she watched Joe has he looked in awe at the moonlit ocean.
"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?" Dianne spoke quietly.
Joe turned his head to look at her. "It really is."
Tugging his hand, she guided him closer to the water before taking off her shoes.
"You're going to get cold feet." He remarked jokily, but there was an underlying tone of seriousness to his words.
"It's really warm, come on!"
Dianne jumped slightly as she felt his hand slide around her hip, but relaxed quickly and threw her shoes onto the dry sand, before wrapping her arms around him. "I had a great time tonight, thank you for taking me out." She said sincerely, finding herself getting lost in his eyes.
She saw him glance at her lips before looking back into eyes. He leant forward and she could feel his breath on her skin. "The pleasure was all mine."
His lips brushed over hers and she felt her body come alive. She closed her eyes and pulled him even closer, savouring every moment of their slow and gentle kiss.
Joe pulled away first, and whispered against her lips. "I've wanted to do that since I first met you."
//
Dianne sighed as she started wiping down tables after closing, feeling as though her shift had gone on forever.
After leaving the beach last night, Joe had walked her home and they shared another sweet kiss before saying goodbye. She hadn't been able to sleep, feeling as though she might explode from happiness, and so she lay awake all night talking to one of her best friends who lived and worked in France, telling her every single detail about the man who had so suddenly come into her life.
She had had the same conversation with Ivanna when she arrived at work that afternoon. Obviously, she was thrilled and started asking all kinds of detailed questions, which only made Dianne blush.
"Earth to Di?"
Shaking her head, she watched as Ivanna sat on one of the chairs at the table she was currently cleaning.
"Sorry, my head's a bit all over the place."
Ivanna gestured for her to sit down and she obliged, knowing an interrogation was coming.
"So?" Ivanna questioned.
"So what?"
"When did you realise?"
"God Iv, is this some kind of a quiz!!" Dianne exclaimed, as she took a sip of water from her bottle.
"When did you realise that you were in love with him?"
Dianne suddenly spurted out the water from her mouth all over the table. "What?! I'm not in love with him!" She answered way too quickly, with a defensive tone.
"Very funny, Di. Seriously, when did you realise?"
Dianne blinked a few times then stared at her friend. There was no point denying her feelings now. "It's crazy, isn't it?" She started. "I mean, how could I love someone after knowing them for less than two weeks?"
"You can't choose when you fall in love with someone. So what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean? He's lives in London, he's leaving in 3 weeks. There's not a lot I can do." Feeling herself get emotional, she stood up and ran to the storeroom. Grabbing her bag, she hurriedly walked past her friend and mumbled. "See you tomorrow."
