love Me with terms and conditions

NOTHING ON HER MIND

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Hmmmm... The sound echoed in my head as my eyes skimmed through the menu, a symphony of flavors calling out to me. My eyes darted from one mouth watering option to another, So many tempting ways to have my pancakes stacked high with syrup, dusted with powdered sugar, topped with fresh berries but every day, without fail I chose the same thing, pancakes and sausages . I'd ordered it so often that I didn't even have to ask anymore, Joseph already knew, He'd greet me every morning with that warm smile of his and a steaming cup of coffee I could never afford. "It's on the house," he'd say, his grin never faltering but I knew every drop of that coffee came from his own pocket.

I sat there, swaying gently with my eyes sliding over the prices, calculating what I could scrape together that morning. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Joseph watching me, his expression shifting from curious to concerned, scratching his hair, then his chin, I was clearly stressing him out because Usually by now, I'd have signaled him over but today I just sat there, grinning like a fool searching for the one dish that would completely annihilate my bank account.

I knew I was stressing him out,His posture grew tense, a silent plea hanging in the air. I could feel his eyes boring into me, trying to read my face, to understand the mischief playing in my eyes. And then, I saw it,the one. My face lit up like a Christmas tree and right on cue, Joseph appeared by my side.

"You've found the one," he said, smiling back with a twinkle in his eye,I could feel his gaze probing, trying to figure out what on earth was going on in my unpredictable mind. "Please, don't ask," I thought, praying he wouldn't pry, But just as he drew breath to speak, I thrust the menu at him with a giddy squeal.

"THIS ONE!" I blurted, my finger stabbing at the double-decker cinnamon and bacon stack like it was the holy grail. "Yeah, that one... and, um, coffee. A large one." I added, settling back on my seat with a satisfied grin

"A large coffee?" he asked, eyebrows shooting up in mock surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yup! And I'm paying this time ,Oh and get yourself something too... Do not worry ...today's on me, Today ... i will be your sugar mummy," I teased, laughing as he walked away, shaking his head and chuckling under his breath with my name rolling off his tongue like a soft chant.

I looked around slowly, savoring every detail with a smile that spread from ear to ear. The café felt different today, warmer somehow. It wasn't just the soft amber light casting a golden glow over the chairs or the gentle hum of music that filled the air like a comforting blanket. It was something more,a sense of belonging I hadn't felt before. My gaze drifted from the cozy surroundings, and then to him.

Joseph, My heart softened as I watched him, standing there like a quiet piece of art I never grew tired of admiring. He had that effortless way about him, always calm, always kind. I couldn't help but smile as I stared, feeling almost childlike, like a little girl eyeing her wish list. His hazel-green eyes found mine, locking me in place,He smiled too, that familiar gentle curve of his lips and in that moment, it was as if the world had paused just for us.

He caught me looking again, like he always did and like every other time, I tried to hide it with a playful raise of my brows, pretending it was nothing and he mirrored it right back, sharing the quiet joke between us. There was an understanding in those brief glances, he never judged me never asked for more than I was willing to give, he just was and I was grateful for that.

When ever I looked at him, it always felt like time slowed, the way he moved especially when he made my breakfast was always so deliberate, like every gesture was made to be noticed. He'd look back at me as if to make sure I was watching, and I always was. That was the moment I cherished, before the rest of my day swallowed me whole, except this time was different. This time I wasn't in a hurry, I had all the time in the world and all I wanted was to spend it here, watching him, waiting for those pancakes.