Copper Coloured Coffee

The little bell above the door jingled when Justin stepped across the threshold. No one inside the café looked up.

The howling October wind caught the open door and slammed it shut behind him. Furious nature returning the door to it's frame where it belongs. Still none of the patrons looked up from their laptops, books or conversations.

There was no queue at the counter. Justin smiled at the barista as he approached. She smiled back. There was a hint of something more than just polite costumer service to her smile. A subtle sparkle that most men would miss; but not Justin.
Justin was the type of man who lives for that subtle sparkle. His ego feeds from it.

"One large flat-white please darling", he said.

"Sure", said the girl, "that will be two pounds ninety".

Justin rummaged into the pockets of his olive-green overcoat to retrieve a crumpled five pound note. He passed it to the girl, making sure to hold her gaze. She broke eye contact first, to turn to the cashing register.

The barista's soft fingers grazed Justin's palm as she placed the change into his hand. He winked at her. She turned away to hide her blush but to his immense satisfaction Justin caught a glimpse of the blood rushing to her cheeks.

"I'll bring your coffee to your table", she girl said over her shoulder, as she busied herself with the complicated functions of the chrome coffee machine that dominated the counter.

Was a wink a bit too much? Na she loved it.

Justin turned and leaned back on the glass counter to scan the coffee shop customers. There was almost a dozen people slouched in comfy brown leather armchairs around little round tables.

I love the heat, look for me in the flames. That's what her last message said...that's too easy.

Justin swaggered towards the roaring fire at the far side of the room, meandering through the clusters of tables. Two chairs were facing the fireplace. He could see that one was occupied.

"Look for me in the flames huh?" he said as he approached.

A woman's laugh greeted him.

"Sit down honey", she said.

"Older woman seeks young man for hot coffee", said Justin as he sank into the brown leather chair. "I would hardly say that you qualify as an older woman".

"That's very kind of you to say, but I am older than I look", said the woman.

Justin shifted his weight on the soft leather to reach forward and offer her his hand. Effortlessly she extended her own, somehow remaining elegantly poised on the quicksand armchair.

"My name is Justin", he said.

"Marianne", the woman replied as she shook his hand.

"How very formal of you Justin", she said.

"What can I say, I'm a classy gent", said Justin.

"Seriously though, you look the same age as me and I've just turned twenty four. Is the older lady thing a joke?"

"No it is all true", Marianne said with a grin.

She pushed a strand of her long dark hair away from her face. She continued the motion to sweep a handful back. Justin watched her slender fingers curl through her thick dark locks.

"Are you disappointed?" she asked.

"No of course not!" said Justin. "Just I was expecting more of a MILF but you... well you are just beautiful".