Trust In Love

Following On

"See you tomorrow... seven thirty, ok?  Give me a ring during the day and we can talk turkey... or chinese... or italian, you choose love." he grinned as he scribbled his number on the corner of one of the paper bags they had on the counter.  Bags that usually contained the key to another realm or life or person.  Tonight, however, the bag in question contained the key to Jennie's palpitating heart.

The need to see to the customer had torn them apart just as things were getting. How did it go in those cheesy romances they absolutely DIDNT sell, and she DIDNT read?  Ah yes, interesting.

"Oh Jennie.... I thought you'd never ask..." he smiled at her, and she felt her legs disappear from under her.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Is that so hard to believe?"   Still holding her hand, he smiled and looked down at the wooden floor sheepishly.  "You know, under this brash exterior, I'm really quite a shy guy, you know." He looked up without raising his chin, his bluegreen eyes boring into her under his perfect ginger blonde eyebrows. His lashes, longer than should really legally be allowed, brushing his cheek as he smiled.

"You're not brash Tom, you're per....."

Her comment was cut short by a harsh call from the main shop area.

"Is SOMEONE going to actually serve me, or do I just help myself?!?"  The woman's voice was both irritated and irritating!

Tom sighed, and Jennie pulled away. She tried to walk away to salvage the situation, but Tom hauled her back.  She found herself standing facing him, both hands on his chest, its warmth and strength instantly apparent. She looked up and he smiled.

"This would be where the hero kisses the damsel..." he said softly.

"K...kiss... yes..." she could barely string a sentence together.

Tom bent down, and his breath danced over her cheek. She closed her eyes, her heart jumping out of her chest. What the HELL was happening.
The whisper of his lips almost touched hers, then disappeared, as another yell split the air

"Are you actually OPEN? Im not going to.... Oh!"

"Im so sorry madam, its all my fault." Tom strode into the main shop and held out his hand.  Jennie slipped in behind him and watched, astonished, as he held out his hand to the itate customer.

"Please dont think badly of Miss Gardiner here. She was..." he looked as Jennie and smiled enigmatically. "She was just making sure I had everything I could possibly need. I can assure you, this is quite the most accommodating bookshop I have ever used. Now, if you'll both excuse me.... " he bowed a little, actually bowed, and both women let out a little sigh of contentment. "Jennie, see you tomorrow? Seven thirty?" Give me a ring......

The shop closed with a delicate twinkle, and Jennie turned to the customer. "How may I help you? Book? Magazine? CPR?" She grinned, and the woman nodded, smiling now. All previous angst deflated by Hiddlescharm at its best.

"Oh my goodness, you are so lucky. Tom Hiddleston as a customer? I'd never survive. Now, I actually came in for......"

Jennie never really did remember how she got through the rest of the shift.  All she could recall later was a smattering of conversation with the woman, selling her three copies of the same book for presents, and then floating around the shop for a couple of hours. 

Finally, as dusk fell, it was time to go home.  It was then she realised she had nothing in for her evening meal.  She'd meant to go shopping that morning before she started, but with one thing and another and the temptation of another half hour in bed, she hadn't. Dammit, she cursed. Oh well, cafe soup and sandwich it was then.

Putting out the lights, the bank of switches by the door, it always made her think of some b-movie.  One by one, she flicked them off, and darkness fell.  As the last one died away, she turned to go to the door. She dragged the little crate from behind the counter and used it to stand on.  The alarm box was high up on the wall, and she was putting it politely, a short-arse!!

Stretching up, she slipped the little silver key into the lock. Before she got a chance to turn the key, the front door opened, and a pair of arms reached out and swept her off the box.

She almost screamed, almost. She couldn't make a sound because as soon as her mouth opened, it was caught by velvet lips as Tom kissed her passionately.

His arms held her tightly, her own limbs hanging limply, as he kissed her.  She melted into his embrace, kissing him back as if her life depended on it.

"I love you, Jennie. I always have." He growled as he released her, stepping back into the gloom, hand held out. "Come, let me show you how much....."

"Oh, Tom....." she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, her fingers brushing her kiss swollen lips. "I love you..."

Opening them again, she sighed. She really needed to get a grip on that overactive imagination. There was no Tom. Of course there wasn't.

She closed up and walked away. As she did so, a figure fell into step behind her.  She didn't turn. She just tightened her grip on her bag and upped her pace.  The figure behind matched her. She could see the cafe up ahead, sanctuary. 

Part of her wanted to turn and face the shadow, part wanted to take to her heels. Common sense told her she was unlikely to outrun anyone with legs longer than a bloomin ten year old.

She fought the panic rising in her chest and focussed on the lights ahead.  With an almost superhuman effort, she calmly raised her hand to the door handle and pushed. 

The noise from the cafe washed out of the door and over her in a warm blanket of safety.  Without turning, she knew the follower was gone.  Melted away into the night.  She chose a table at the back, next to the wall, and sat down, shaking. 

Not looking to right or left, she pulled her phone out of her bag.  Ordering tomato soup and a cheese sandwich from the waiter who'd stalked over the minute she took her coat off, she punched in a number.

Sitting at the small table, she gently drummed her fingers on the spotless but slightly worn formica. Her nails clicked, and it hypnotised her as she waited.

The number rang a couple of times, and then a voice broke her trance.

"Jennie! Hello darling! How lovely to hear from you so soon! Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Tom, I'm so sorry, I just needed someone to talk to. I was followed all the way from the store and I got spooked and I'm on my own in the cafe and I dont want to leave again and...." she trailed off, aware she was rambling.  She took a deep breath to steady her shattered nerves.

"Oh Jennie, darling. You poor thing.  Just you sit there and talk to me as much as you need to. How awful for you, love. Have you ordered something to eat? Look, while you eat, let me tell you all about this new project...."

"Thank you," she whispered and raked in her bag.  Putting in her earbuds, she ate her meal and listened to his wonderful voice.  Warm velvety tones  hugged her ears, his voice deep and relaxing.  Quite honestly, he could have been reading the back of a sauce bottle, and she would have been entranced.

When he finished telling her about the project, he read to her from the book that had brought them together in the first place.

As she sipped a final mug of coffee, she found her voice again. "Thank you, you've been so kind. I don't know what to say..." The tears that had been kept at bay now trickled down her cheeks.

Tom smiled. Not at her tears, but at the knowledge he was about to banish them. As she sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve, he spoke softly into her ear.

"Question darling...."

"Yes?" She sniffed sadly.

"Think we have time for another coffee before I take you home?"

Dropping her phone in shock onto the table, she looked up.  With a strangled sob, she threw herself into his warm, wonderful hug.

"You're here! Oh my God! You're actually here!"