The cold winter air was frosty, the view was clouded by the fog. All that could be seen was the white freshly laid snow and a faint trail of two sets of footprints leading across what was once a field of daisies.
If you were to follow the trail, then you might feel lonely as even though it’s Christmas, you wouldn’t find the warmth of a fire or the joy and delight of a family gathering around waiting for Santa to arrive.
The couple walked, the crisp sound of the snow crunched beneath their feet. Walking close enough to them then you could see every detail like the matching timberlands on their feet and the burgundy hats on their heads. Both their coats were black, although they weren’t a perfect match. Both wore blue jeans, tightly fitting - nice and snug.
“Where are we going?” Laughed the girl.
Her hair was long, straight and a shade of dark brown, it was easily down to half the length of her full arm. Her dark brown eyes met with his as they stopped walking and the snow fell faster around them, already appearing to cover their tracks.
His eyes were an emerald green, his hair wasn’t visible though the stubble on his face implied that his hair was of a similar colour.
“Emily, do you trust me?” The man asked, his voice was calm though you could hear the gruff sound from within.
“Of course I trust you, James.” She paused for a moment, gazing into his sparkling eyes as a smile crept on her face. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He smiled back, taking her small hand in his large one, fully covering it with ease. “Then believe me, it’s something you’d like.”
They walked some more until they saw a few lights in the distance. Emily frowned, her eyebrows knitted together as she strained to see where the lights were.
“You could just tell me?” She fluttered her eyelashes, pouting as she pushed out her bottom lip.
James chuckled in response, “We’re almost there, don’t worry.”
They wandered some more, slowly approaching the lights. The closer the got the more people appeared. There were kids on the streets, throwing snowballs. Laughter and Joy was seeming to be enveloping the area.
They paused for a minute, to avoid a ball of snow, a little girl laughed as she looked up at them.
“Look!” The girl exclaimed point up to a tree.
Emily and James furrowed their ‘brows, looking at each other before looking up.
“Mistletoe!”
They smiled in response.
“Do you mind?” James asked, cupping her face in one hand.
Emily shook her head, enclosing her arms around his neck.
The icy winds blew and the snow began to fall faster. Not many drops fell down on their heads as the tree concealed them from the majority of the flakes with its thick lively branches.
The couple moved in a synchronised motion, both moving their mouths closer to each other, both partly opening their mouths as they closed the final distance. They moved in a rhythmic motion, as if they were one. Both their eyes were sealed shut. Oblivious to the world but joined as one.
It took a moment before they pulled apart. Breathless.
“I need to tell you something, urgently. It’s about your boss.”
Charlotte’s eyes shot up from the computer in front of her as she glanced over at the intruder who didn’t even knock on the door. They’d just allowed themselves entry and stole her attention with one simple line.
“My boss?” She questioned, her brown eyes met with those of a young man.
His appearance seemed familiar though Charlotte couldn’t figure out why.
He had a slim but muscular frame which was complimented by the tight fitting navy suit he’d worn.
“Yes, your boss. David? He is your boss, isn’t he?”
Charlotte went to open her mouth but abruptly stopped herself, nodding slightly at the man before her.
His blue eyes skimmed over the office, he walked in and closed the door behind him.
“Do you mind?” He asked, pointing to the blinds which over hung the glass panels.
Charlotte shook her head, leaning back in her chair slightly. She seemed rather intrigued in what this man had to say.
The man closed all the blinds then paused before locking the door and walking over towards Charlotte’s desk. Startled, she sat upright shifting closer to the panic alarm button hidden under her desk.
“I’m David.” The man stated.
Charlotte shook her head before arguing with him; “No, David’s on vacation. You are not David. I know David.”
The man smirked, “You’ve been in his bed, that doesn’t mean you know him. Do you have any idea of who that man is? Have you even seen any identification which states he is who he says he is?”
Charlotte paused for a moment in thought before shaking her head, “No, I don’t recall.”
The man passed her a USB stick. “Put it in, load it up.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“Why not?” He asked, watching her as she nervously twitched.
“It could be bugged. You say your David but you haven’t proved that to me. Why should I trust you?” Charlotte stated, pulling her chair closer to her desk.
“You trust him but not me?” The man laughed.
Charlotte nodded, “It would appear so. He is my boss.”
The man put a briefcase on the desk, shaking his head. “Charlotte,”
Charlotte felt her cheeks redden as she began to panic. How did this man know her name?
“Don’t worry, just some proof.” The man smiled at her, opening the case up. His eyes moved from the cases contents to Charlotte’s eyes.
Charlotte reached her hand a little closer to the panic button, trying not to make her action obvious.
“Charlotte, put your hands on the desk.”
She gulped in response, her eyes widened.
“I know the panic buttons there. After all, I did put it there.”
She lifted her arms up and slowly placed them on the desk in front of her.
The man in front of her pulled something from the black briefcase.
Charlotte couldn’t see what it was. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Her breaths came at a fast pace as she began to panic.
What should she do? Who was this man?
It was a peaceful place, the distinct sound of mugs being placed down occasionally broke the relentless sound of pages turning. The smell was a mix of ground coffee beans and the fresh smell of a new book. No one seemed to have spoken, and those who attempted to communicate were barely whispering.
The shop was that of an unusual sort, there was oak tables lying around with well cushioned arm chairs surrounding each and everyone. In the far corner was a small area which appeared to be a coffee shop. You’d have thought nothing different if it wasn’t for the relentless bookcases covering every inch of the walls from floor to ceiling, left to right. There was even the odd bookcases periodically spaced between the tables. This place had to be the dream for a bookworm. What would be a better place to indulge in a nice hot drink and read until your hearts content?
A young woman was eyeing up a selection of romance novels in a secluded area away from everyone else. Her petite hands swiftly guided along the spines of the books - somehow none of them had been broken or even hinted the sign of a crack.
Her attire appeared to be rather formal, for someone who was in a coffee shop, especially that of one full of novels, it seemed rather peculiar. Surely you’d go to that sort of place in loungewear and relish the peace in comfort. However, she had a green blazer was buttoned up around her front, covering the majority of the white turtleneck beneath it. Her bottom half sported, a black lacy pencil skirt which had barely covered her thighs and black heels which hugged her small feet. Her blonde hair was neatly tied back into a bun though, even with her face visible, her expression was unreadable.
Her hand wondered further up the shelves to a place her small height would barely allow her to reach. She paused in thought before pulling over a red chair and kicked off her heels. She took a deep breath in as her chest rised, stopping to undo her blazer. Swiftly, she slid her arms out and allowed it to fall on the back of the chair. It had seemed like this was something of a regular occurrence for her. Holding the back of the chair to steady herself, she pulled herself up. Her green eyes skimmed over the books just as quickly as her hand before they came to a halt and pulled down a copy of Romeo and Juliet.
Unfortunately the action wasn’t as smooth as she’d have liked. The chair beneath her rattled and the woman lost balance falling over the arm rest of the chair. Her eyes closed, bracing herself for the inevitable. Though it didn’t come…
Warm arms seemed to have caught her in an embrace, her eyes fluttered open to see a man, who was probably in his early thirties. The woman was taken a back by this. Her eyes looked deeply into his. A mug was put down on a table near them, pulling her back into reality.
“Sorry,” That’s all she said, it was barely even a mumble as she quickly pulled herself back to her feet.
The man smiled, his brown eyes were warm and welcoming. The warm feeling that radiated of this man, had already been a noticeable quality. He too was in a smart attire, his white shirt sleeves were folded up just above his elbows, and black suit trousers were fitted tightly around his muscular legs.
“Sam, Samuel Cunningham.” The man held out his hand for the lady.
“Grace,” She replied taking his hand in hers.
“Just Grace?” He asked, the corners of his mouth turned upwards.
The woman nodded in awe repeating what he’d said, “Just Grace.”
“Well, just Grace, how about I get you that book and a coffee?”
The woman blushed, her cheeks turned a pinkish tone. “No, it’s fine but thank you Mister Cunningham.”
“I really don’t mind, if you have the time, I’d love to buy you a drink, Just Grace.”
Grace blushed, realising what he’d just said. “It’s Grace, Grace Henderson.”
Samuel chuckled at her, nodding. “I did assume you did have a surname Miss Henderson, though if Grace is what you wish to be called then Just Grace it is.”
It wasn’t long before they were both sitting down, sipping coffee.
“So is romance your favourite genre?” Samuel asked, breaking the silence.
Grace nodded, swallowing the coffee in her mouth.
“Why romance?” He asked, his eyes met hers once again as she looked up from the drink in her hands.
Grace shrugged, her lips parted as if she was going to say something but she paused, closing them before reopening them to speak, “I just always imagined one of them meet cute moments, though that sort of thing only happens in novels or movies.”
Samuel smiled at her, “Maybe it did just happen.”
