Chapter 3 #2
A sudden flash of guilt caught her. She’d only been broken up from Tom for a few weeks.
She shouldn’t be lusting after tall bakers this soon, should she?
In reality, as she’d examined and re-examined her relationship since finding him in the stationery cupboard, she had to admit they both had become slightly …
bored. That was probably the only way to describe it.
They hadn’t made the effort to go out on dates for a long time and when they did stay in together, they didn’t cuddle on the sofa or hold hands while they watched a film.
They sat on opposite ends of the couch, on their phones, talking to other people.
Her to Ada and him, obviously, to Claire.
The chef shifted position, blocking her view.
He was so present and passionate, focused solely on his work, she had to shuffle sideways, too eager to keep watching.
Only her elbow caught a stack of bright white cups, and she sent them tumbling to the ground.
The noise was deafening, filling the empty café, and as they clattered, the man spun, and she ducked to try and catch as many as possible.
‘Sorry! I’m so sorry!’ Milly cried, gathering them up. Luckily none so far had broken and she stood, cradling half a dozen like tiny porcelain babies.
Their eyes met across the counter, leaving her utterly and completely speechless.
If baker-boy had been worth looking at from the back, he was even more so from the front.
His eyes were the colour of dark denim and his hair just the right side of scruffy, dense and dark brown, and just long enough she’d be able to push her fingers through it if she wanted to.
And she kind of did. She swallowed as she looked at his mouth – perfectly full and totally kissable – lifted at one corner in an endearing smile.
He had just the right amount of stubble, on his cheeks and around his mouth so it wasn’t a full-on goatee but made him look handsomely dishevelled.
‘Can I take those?’ he asked, the other side of his mouth lifting into a grin. His English was perfect with a hint of the Danish accent that she was now realising made her knees go weak, at least when he spoke.
‘I … ummm …’
He motioned to the cups still hugged to her chest.
‘Yes! Right! Yes, please. Do – do take the cups. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to knock them over. I haven’t broken any, have I?’
‘No, it doesn’t look like it.’ He took them, his fingers brushing the skin on her arms where she’d only worn a T-shirt. It sent a tingling across her skin that was incredibly enjoyable. ‘Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink?’
‘Yes, please. Can I have an …’ She perused the menu written above his head in Danish and English. ‘Iced latte, please?’
‘Of course.’
He moved back behind the counter and fiddled with the machine to make the coffee.
The smell of the bitter coffee beans hit the air straight away and he smiled at her again over the top of the silver machine, making her heart do a strange pulse in her chest. She knew she should move away.
Maybe place her case to one side and take a seat, but eager to continue talking, she didn’t move an inch and instead said, ‘That smells delicious.’
She hoped he’d tell her his name, so she knew if this was Ada’s housemate or not. Stupidly she hadn’t asked for a description of him.
‘We only use the highest quality coffee beans here. It’s important to serve the best we can.’
A few seconds later, he handed over the most delicious-looking iced coffee she’d ever seen. A coating of vanilla cold foam covered the top and the coffee was the perfect colour of light brown. She sipped, savouring the flavour.
‘That’ll be fifty-five krone.’
She caught herself just in time. Money was something she was going to have to get used to in Denmark.
After all, it sounded like a lot but was only about six pounds, which she’d paid in coffee chains, and they hadn’t tasted anywhere near as nice as this.
She tapped her card, then swirled the straw around, mixing the delicious vanilla foam into the coffee, and took another sip.
The two flavours combined and hit her taste buds, sending some of the tension from travelling out of her body.
‘So,’ he said, leaving his dough and turning to wipe the counter where he’d just placed her coffee. ‘You’re visiting Copenhagen?’
‘Yes, for the first time.’
‘And what do you think so far?’
‘I only just arrived but it’s a beautiful city.’
‘Nyhavn is beautiful – what everyone thinks Copenhagen looks like – but there are so many other places to visit.’
‘Where would you recommend?’
He paused and looked up at her, his eyes shining with attraction.
The dark-denim colour seemed to have lightened to a sea blue and Milly found herself flicking her long blonde hair back from her face.
She hadn’t flicked her hair since she’d been flirting with Tom.
Did people still do that? She sipped her drink, knowing if his eyes followed to the straw there was a good chance he was at least a little bit attracted to her.
They did and she cheered internally. To think this hot guy might be into her was the confidence boost she needed, though she had to say she hadn’t gone through the self-loathing her teenage break-ups had induced and for that she was grateful.
Tom could get lost if he didn’t know a good thing when he saw it. She was here in Copenhagen, and she was going to have some fun. After all, nothing helped heal a broken heart like some harmless flirting and it was proving very good for her self-esteem.
‘You should definitely visit the Royal Library Garden and Christianshavn to begin with, but there are lots more places too.’
‘I’ll make sure I do.’
‘If you need any other suggestions—’
But before he could finish, a figure ran through the door, squealing.
Milly didn’t see who it was but then a blur of brown hair flew into her face, some going in her mouth, and Ada’s arms wrapped her in a hug.
Milly giggled as she moved her head, so she didn’t inhale any more hair, and squeezed back even harder.
Ada was squishing her cheek into Milly’s face so hard her glasses were in danger of bending.
Not attractive in front of sexy baker, but joy at seeing her friend trumped every other emotion.
‘I’ve missed you so much!’ Ada planted a giant kiss on her cheek. ‘I can’t believe you’re finally here! Oh my God, it’s too much!’
‘I’ve missed you too,’ Milly replied, manoeuvring herself and her coffee so she had a free hand to adjust her frames.