In His Eyes

Coffee...Tea...Me?

"No, I'm not in today, Mandy... yeah, last minute, I know." She smiled and nodded at thin air. "I'm having coffee. Yes, a day off for coffee!... Who with? You'll NEVER believe it!" She giggled
"Jonathan Pine! Yes... no, I'm not making it up!"

She sat back in the chair, fiddling with her hair. "He came to my door and invited me for coffee. What's so hard to believe? Ok, ok, Mrs Pedantic. Not Jonathan Pine, then. Try Tom Sex-on-legs Hiddleston, ok? Better?"

"Much better I'd say love!"

The voice behind her made her whirl round and self-combust all in the same moment

" I have to go." She hung up and put her phone on the table, covering her eyes with her hands. "You heard that, didn't you?" She muttered into her makeshift hiding place.

"Heard what love?" He smiled and sat down. "Why dont you repeat it, and I'll tell you if I heard it or not?" His eyes were bright with mischief. He'd heard every word, and he was, although not in a vain self-glorious way, enjoying it immensely.

"You DID hear otherwise you wouldn't be laughing. You... you... devil you!" She dropped her hands and scolded him, smiling all the while. "I never took you for a sadist Mr Hiddleston."

"Is that it? Mr Hiddleston? That all I get? What about Tom sex-on...."

"Will you shush with that!" She flushed crimson again, her laughter matching her embarrassment. Tom smiled at her, his eyes crinkling in a way that made her feel like she was made of candyfloss. All spindly and like she would melt at the slightest touch.

His beard was fuller than she'd seen before, but it just added to his allure. His eyes, normally a sea of ocean desire, now stood out against the ginger blonde hair and beard even more. She swallowed nervously as she became aware he was talking.

"So which would you prefer?"

"I'm sorry? I err, I ..." she trailed off, realising she'd been caught out again.

Tom grinned. She really was the sweetest, funniest woman he'd come across in a long time. No filter, no pretence, just her.  Beautifully refreshing, and he had to admit, refreshingly beautiful in a 'take me as I am' kind of way.

"Would you prefer coffee... tea... or me?" He winked, and she gasped a little. "By me, I mean, my choice, of course!" He winked, and she recovered enough to smile graciously. I would love some tea. Earl grey, no milk, thanks. "

"And what about cake?" He leaned forward, adding an air of intimacy she could only have fantasised about.

"Am... am I allowed cake? It's such a guilty pleasure. Rob didn't like me..." she paused. "Sorry, you really don't need to know that." She smiled quietly, and Tom reached over, joking momentarily stopped. His hand, large and warm, covered hers, gentky holding it. She briefly wondered if his arms felt as safe.

"If you would like cake and it makes you happy? Then you have cake darling.  Never feel guilty about pleasure, ok?"

A warm hug of approval washed over her, and for the first time in a long time, she found herself actually caring what someone - a man - thought of her.

"So, in THAT case," she paused and smiled, "I think a large slice of Victoria Sponge is in order, please!"

Tom grinned and stood, "Back in two ticks, love!"

She sat and watched with delicious anticipation as he walked over to the counter. Leaning on it, he ordered their goodies with all his usual charm.   The staff behind the counter seemed to know him beyond just who he was, and she began to wonder just how much running he had to do....?

Five minutes later, he returned and sat down, crossing his impossibly long legs. With a smile, he turned to her.

"Soooo, how's my new neighbour settling in then? Finding the locals friendly enough?" He looked at her curiously. "And what does she do that she can meet random new friends for coffee at the drop of a hat?"

"F-friends?" She focussed on the one word that took her by surprise.

"Yes, of course!" He nodded and shrugged casually. "Any reason we aren't?"

"No, no, not at all ,no." She babbled. Jesus wept, she was making a complete fool of herself again! Get a grip, Beth.

"I just wasn't expecting to be having coffee with..."

"Jonathan Pine?" He interrupted with a laugh.

"Yes, Jonathan Pine." She nodded and smiled, flushing pink again. "Welllll, in answer to your questions, yes, the locals seem VERY friendly," she winked, and it was Tom's turn to flush just a little. She went on, "I work in The City doing things with big numbers to turn them into even bigger numbers." She smiled and looked down. For some strange reason, all her normal self-confidence seemed to have deserted her. 

"Sounds...." Tom paused, "numbery!"

"Numbery?" She burst out laughing, but before she could quiz him on his amazing ability to make up words, their tea and cake arrived.

Tom thanked the waitress and then lifted the teapot. " I took the liberty of getting the same tea so we could have a proper pot with leaf tea. Hope you don't mind?"

She shook her head, "Not a problem, but I'll fight you to the death for my cake!" Her eyes glinted, and he found himself drawn to them.

"Don't worry, I won't put up a fight. In the face of such charming  competition, I would happily surrender." He lifted his cup and looked at her, a glint in his own eye.

He swallowed his tea slowly, then took a large piece of his own - chocolate - cake and savoured it.  It was a normal activity.  Hundreds, if not thousands, of people had done exactly that up and down the country.

Only one, one man, had the ability to make it into something else.  The man currently sitting opposite her, smiling as he destroyed her mind.  In the best possible way.

"So, what would you like to do once we're finished here?" He asked as he put down his cup.  "We have a whole day to kill, I have nothing planned if you don't?"

"Happily, I have nothing on." She answered, and he raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"Really?"

Suddenly she realised what she'd said and she spluttered into her tea. "Oh God, kill me now!"

"Oh please darling, don't say that, we've only just got started!" He smiled  and leaned over. "You ok? You seem a little flustered?" He put a hand on hers and looked into her eyes.  She nodded, and he broke off a piece of her sponge as he continued to  gaze at her. 

Popping it into his mouth, he winked cheekily at her. "Exquisite," he mumbled as he chewed, still looking at her intently, "absolutely exquisite."

She wasn't entirely sure he was talking about the sponge anymore.