Chapter III

His kiss took me by surprise but it was not unwanted, I immediately let go of the cloth and wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on my toes and his arms around my waist. I felt like I was on the top of the world and smiled before I pulled back, gasping for air.

We both stood there looking at each other, out of breath, thinking about what just happened.

"Shit" Tommy sighed and he grabbed my face with both his hands and went in for a second round. His tongue making gentle movements in my mouth made the butterflies in my stomach go wild. Once again both gasping for air we pulled apart. This time I took a few steps back out of safety because I couldn't afford going in for a third time, well at least not until I properly catch my breath. Suddenly I realised that I was in the bakery and that I should be making bread and pastries instead of kissing Thomas fucking Shelby.

"Stay calm, stay calm" I said to myself as I walked around in the kitchen getting everything I need to make the dough. Tommy just looked at me in disbelief. I put on my apron and poured everything in a big bowl and started mixing it.

"You're going to ignore what just happened ?" I felt disappointment in his voice which made me want to drop everything and kiss him again but I needed to get my priorities straight.

"No, Tommy but I am running late, I have so much to do and this is all your fault, you distracted me" His laugh filled the room as walked up to me slowly.

"My fault eh?" He smiled as he hugged me from behind placing his chin on my shoulder and pulling on my waist.

"Because the way I recall it, you have just as much fault it in as me, Ms. Brown" and he kissed my neck.

"Tommy, please" I begged.

"Only if you promise to meet up with me" Meet up with Thomas Shelby? But where? People would talk and I knew my father didn't like whispers in the street. He would have to court me properly if he wanted to meet up with me.

"I don't kn-" but Tommy interrupted me with another kiss. I didn't want to give in, I didn't want to seem as eager as some other girls in this town but the warmth of his plump lips placing little pecks all over my neck made me swoon after all.

"Okay fine, but somewhere where no one can see us" He let go of my waist and took a step back, he looked very satisfied with himself.

"Wednesday at 7 PM, I'll let you know where" He smiled as he made his way to his cap and put it on. He winked at me and walked out of the door.

With my hands in a big bowl of dough I sighed at what just happened. How did that escalate so quickly? But I didn't have any time to lose and went back to work.

It was 6 in the morning when the first client came in to buy bread. Luckily I was able to work fast and was satisfied with the amount of pastries and breads I was able to make. And my day just went on as usual. It was 8 PM when I closed the bakery and I was so exhausted. I couldn't feel my legs or arms and I just wanted to go to bed.

I closed the door behind me and started to walk home when Lennart walked up to me, I rolled my eyes before he even was able to say something. I was tired and just didn't want to deal with his annoyance.

"Hey Eleanor, want to go to the pictures together ?" Didn't he notice how tired I was ? How I just longed for a good night sleep.

"Sorry Lennart, I worked all day in the shop today, I can't feel my body" I could see him trying to gather all his confidence to say what he was going to say next.

"I can make you feel your body again El" he whispered in my ear;

Lennart was always desperate to court me since we were 14 but he was always harmless, but this made my stomach turn. Before I could think twice about it I felt the palm of my hand hit his left cheek, making a loud smack.

"You should be ashamed of yourself Lennart Bell, you should be very ashamed, how dare you say something like that" He placed his hand on his cheek, in disbelief of what I just did, turned his heel and walked away as fast as he could.

"Oehhhh" I could hear a male say and then burst into laughter. I looked over my shoulder and saw the Shelby brothers across the street unable to control their laughter. Well everyone except one, Tommy wasn't really laughing, he just stared at me with those blue eyes while he exhaled smoke. I couldn't figure out if he was mad or just not interested. His expression was blank. I was tired and really didn't want to deal with anything so I just continued to make my way home.

The next day I barely could get out of bed, my body was sore but I didn't really have a choice. It was early in the afternoon when Finn Shelby walked in the shop. He bought a bread but when he handed me the money, he also gave me a note. Before I could say something he had walked out the door. It opened the note and Tommy had scribbled some instructions on it. I put the note in my bag and smiled of excitement. I would be seeing Tommy again tomorrow. And I caught myself blushing just thinking about it.

It was late in the afternoon when Lennart walked into the shop. He kept looking at the ground as he approached the counter, holding a handful of wild flowers .

"Afternoon, Lennart" I said softly, looking at him while he kept his head down, observing his blond soft curls. He was a sweet kid Lennart and he means well, he is just a little desperate at times. I figured he came to apologise, he was mortified about last night and I felt so sorry for him. His mother died when he was young and his father was an abusive drunk. It is a miracle how he managed to still be so kind hearted because I know he suffered a great deal growing up.

"Eleanor, I don't know why I said the things I said last night, I am so sorry" He finally looked up and now I could see the tears in his eyes. My heart broke for him right there and then.

"Oh Lennart, it's fine, I was tired that's why I reacted so harshly on you I am also very sorry" I took the flowers he handed to me and put them in a glass that I filled with water. He must have walked a while to get these because there is no wild flower to be found within a mile from small Heath.

"Please sit, we'll drink some tea" I said as we took a sit at one of the tables. It was quiet in the shop so and I could do with some tea.

"I really shouldn't have said that to you, I am really sorry about it, I really am" I smiled at him to make sure he knew I had forgiven him. "I know, it's fine"

"I will never do it again" he promised and I knew that was the truth.

"Can I ask you something El ?" he asked after a moment of silence and I nodded as a reply.

"Why don't you want to court me? Did I do something? Are you seeing someone else?" and my heart dropped. Why didn't I want to be with him ? That was a good question. Lennart was a good guy, well-mannered and even has a job at the factory. He would be the ideal husband but I never had feelings for him. I never had feelings for anyone so it's definitely not about him. But what about Tommy? Did I have feelings for him? I did think about him, especially since that kiss but that's just lust.

"Eleanor?" He said concerned because I got caught up in my own thoughts.

"Oh I am sorry Lennart," I placed my hand on the back of his, "It's not you, you're a very good guy, I can see that, everyone can, but I never thought about love or courtship and I am not ready for that yet" I saw a smile grow on his face and I couldn't help but smile back.

The next day my father felt a lot better and he went in early to prepare the bread so I could sleep a little longer. But I did go in to help him around noon because it always gets busy then with women who come in to gossip with their friends over a cup of tea and a pastry. But my father let me leave again after it got quiet.

"You go enjoy yourself love, you have done a great job the past few days without me" he pulled me in for a hug before I left. I knew my father always wanted a son to take over the bakery but I never heard him complain about it or treat me differently for it. I truly was blessed with my parents. So when I told them I would leave for a while that night they didn't ask me too many questions and just wished me fun. I followed the instructions on Tommy's note and they led me some place north just outside small Heath. I reached the place at the canal and wondered how impossible it was for someone to find us here. When I said somewhere no one could see us, I never imagined it would be this far from the public eye.

I started walking around, thinking about why on earth I was here ? We kissed once and now we were going to be alone in this place ? I will be one of those girls he had fun with for one time and then act like nothing happened. My stomach turned, I couldn't believe I let him play me like this. Just when I thought I could still escape without him ever knowing I was here, I could hear his footsteps coming closer. Shit.