The doorbell chimed as it opened, announcing a new arrival to the coffee shop as Liz gave yet another written food order to Janet, the cook.
It was unusually busy morning in the Coffee Shop for the time of day. It had felt like the door had been going non stop as Liz served customer after customer. Usually, Liz liked to talk to her customers as they came in, however, she had had no option to today, as a steady stream had meant that she was constantly turning to the coffee machine to make cups of coffee and rushing in and out of the kitchen delivering orders to Janet and taking food out to the seated customers. However, Liz would have had it no other way. She had only been open a year, but in the last couple and she loved running the coffee shop on the corner of a busy main road.
Liz was a very lively 37 year old woman. Although, she was 37 years old, you would not have guessed her age, her sparkling bright blue eyes showed a bright enthusiasm and joy way younger than she was. Auburn hair, streaked with gold was tied up in a messy bun, which only added to her youthful features, faint laughter lines across her tanned face being the only slight giveaway to her mature age. She wore very little makeup, only a hint of black eyeliner and full lips painted a dark shade of pink being the only makeup on her face. She kept herself in shape too, although her shapely figure was hidden underneath the drab black uniform and apron she wore, she had her black shirt open just enough to show a hint of a pair of pert, albeit small breasts.
She had opened the coffeeshop a year ago, after leaving a well paid job to follow her passion, which was cooking. After what had seemed like a whirlwind of training in cookery and hygiene, she had managed to buy an empty shop on the corner of a busy main road and had refitted it with the equipment needed to run her own little coffeeshop. It had been the best decision of Liz's life. Although trade had started off slow at first, it had quickly picked up as the word had gotten around. Liz had even managed to convert the upstairs into a flat, which was now rented out to a tenant.
It hadn't all been plain sailing though. At some point, he and her husband had drifted apart and she had longed for a reconnection at some point. It hadn't happened, and he had ended up moving in with another woman. Liz had been sad at that, but overall, life was good.
"I'll be out in a minute!" she called out, handing Janet the note and rushing back to the front counter. Even as she rushed back, she was graceful, her firm hips swaying slowly and hypnotically from side to side. They were a little flatter than they should have been, the result of having two children, but they were still very impressive.
As she came out, she saw him. A tall lithe man of no more than 24 years old, he had been one of her first customers when she had first opened the shop. He wore his afro hair short, in a high skin fade that stuck close to his head. His rectangular face had a strong jawline and cheekbones. He looked into the world with deep brown soulful eyes. Dressed in dark blue overalls and wearing a black woollen cap, he looked magnificent as his full lips cracked into a smile as she approached, revealing his dimples.
"Hi Liz," he beamed at her.
Liz couldn't help but smile back at him. "Hiya, James. Hows it going?"
"All is good in the world now I'm here," he replied, still smiling at her.
A moment passed, where Liz felt herself blush a little. "You want your usual?" she asked.
"Yeah, please."
"Hang on then," she said flirtingly, flashing her best smile before nearly skipping back into the kitchen.
The temperature seemed to have gone up by a few degrees as she entered. Or was it just her? Janet turned around as she entered.
"Is lover-boy in then?"
"Oh stop it!" Liz scoffed. "He's not my lover-boy."
"Whatever," Janet retorted. "We all know you'd like him to be. I'd like to get my hands on him, if I'm completely honest..."
"Janet!" Liz started, but the older woman cut her off.
"Relax, I'm joking! The butty is over there, on the hot plate."
Liz shook her head as she picked up the brown bag and headed back to her waiting customer.
Jaime was looking at something on his phone as Liz returned to the counter, bag in hand. He put it away as he approached.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Texting you girlfriends are we?"
The man looked at her with his deep brown eyes. They had a playful look to them. "Yeah, you know how it is- I've got to tell them all to come here and get their morning butties from you, haven't I?" he replied with a wink.
Liz crossed her arms in mock anger. "Well, I was going to tell you that was on the house, but since you're texting all your other girlfriends - that'll be £5.40 please."
Jaime's eyes dimmed a little as he handed over the £10 note. "And I thought you liked me," he said teasingly.
Liz smiled back at him. She did, but she wasn't quite prepared to let the world know just yet. She let her fingers work the till and got his change.
"There you g,." she said, depositing the change into his hand. Her hand lingered on his, just a little too long before she pulled it away.
"No problem." Then Jaime smiled. "Thanks for the butty!". Just before he turned to leave, he leaned in a little closer so that nobody else could hear in the busy coffee shop. "I'll give you yours after work."
Then he winked and walked out of the door.
A few hours later saw Liz sat down in the chair, exhausted. It had been a very busy morning. After Jake had been round, the shop had gotten even busier and it seemed like a constant stream of customers had come and gone, getting coffees, sandwiches, cakes and meals. Liz would normally have expected a mini slump just before lunch, but it hadn't really occurred and she hadn't really stopped.
It was only at half two that the steady flow of customers had slowly started to fade to a trickle and then eventually stopped. Now at nearly half past 3 in the afternoon, the shop was empty. Not anticipating another flow of customers in the last half hour, she had sent Janet and the two waitresses home, she could always call them back if she needed to, everyone was local.
She gathered her thoughts as she thought of the events of today. Although lots had happened, there was only one thing that had stuck out for her.
Jaime. The young man had really brightened up her day, indeed, most of them since he had walked into her life a few months ago. With his carefree attitude and happy demeanour, it seemed that he had breathed life back into her. He was also very flirtatious with her - he had been from the very first time he had walked into the shop. She thought about the latest exchange. He was supposed to be seeing her a little bit later, but he was always trying to surprise her. Even though she felt exhausted, she felt a burst of energy as she thought about what he had said just before leaving.
"I'll give you yours later."
She couldn't wait to get her hands on him. It had been out of the blue how it had all began, on a lazy afternoon when he had come into the shop earlier than she had thought he would, literally the last customer of the day. But what a last customer...
