DISCLAIMER: Don't own, highly doubt I ever will – the characters. Except the ones based on the peeps I know. It should be clear who those are – but, just in case, you'll need to know that I don't work for Torchwood. At least not Torchwood Three.
He was standing outside of the bookstore, wondering if he had completely lost his mind. Did he really need tea that badly? Of course he did! Taking a deep breath, he strode inside and up to the counter where she was working. It took her a moment to register who he was, but when she recognized him, her face lit up and she leaned on the counter.
"What do you want today, Mr. Jones?" There it was – her charmingly clear American accent. Not a bit of a Welsh lilt. And the hair toss; can't forget the way she tosses that ponytail around.
"Uh…" Ianto looked up at the menu, but secretly knowing exactly what he was going to order. "I'll take a Hazelnut Latte, no, make that a steamed milk with a touch of peppermint. Yeah."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you doing today, lounging?"
He put his hands in his back pockets and pushed down as he looked at the ground, the counter, anything but her. "Why d'ya ask?"
"The look." She motioned with the pen she had used to write down his order. "And the steamed milk – Mr. Jones, you will fall right asleep!"
He looked up at her, but only saw a bit of her as the brim of his hat was in his way. Erin found this too cute and smiled warmly at him. "I'm not at work right now, doesn't matter."
How cute is it when he does that? And this new look? Improvement! Erin thought as she handed the paper over to the girl she was working for. "Hey, you know what? I get off in like fifteen minutes – you wanna go do something?"
Ianto felt all the breath go out of him and tried to hide it with a cough. He nodded as he covered his mouth.
Erin grinned broadly at him. This was her chance to go out with the handsome banker that had stopped in for lunch, or at least a hot beverage, for the last three months. "Okay, tell you what – I am going to go and clean up this espresso machine that April made a giant mess of, count my drawer, and then I'll meet you out here."
"Sure," Ianto answered automatically, trying not to think.
"Great! April is not really good with the machine. Sometimes, I wish she would just refrain from touching it!" She laughed as she picked up a cleaning rag and the man felt his heart jump a little.
"Right. Over there then?" He changed the subject, pointing to a row of couches near the window.
"Yeah, that's as good a place as any other." Erin looked at him for a minute, taking in his face, wondering what was different about it. "Here – take this cookie. It will help keep you awake."
Ianto took the wrapped up napkin and went to sit on the designated couch, but not before thanking her with his eyes. The sofa was soft and yielding, just right for sitting in and reading a book while having a wonderful hazelnut espresso, double shot, light on the skim milk. He made a mental note to try that the next time and leaned his head on the back of the couch, never meaning to fall asleep.
At the feeling of someone watching him, his eyes popped open. "Whut?" he managed to croak out.
"Nothing, Sleeping Beauty. You must work long hours." Erin reached to adjust his cap without thinking. How cute is he?
Ianto straightened in his seat, embarrassed. Smooth move, Cassanova. Great way to start. "Yeah, uh, something like that."
"Are you ready?" Erin stood, draping her coat over her arm and offering her hand to the man who was sunken into the comfort of the couch.
Ianto took it and stood, noticing the height difference between them. She was just tall enough that, if he were to sweep her up in his arms, he could rest his chin on her head. Ianto shook his head of the thought, wondering just where it had come from. Sure, he and Jack had decided to end it, knowing that it would cause more pain the longer they let it go on. They had agreed that there was something there but that it wasn't fair for either of them to continue. And they had been doing just fine until Jack had met someone. A female someone. A female someone who was taking up all of his non-work time. He tried not to think about it as he looked at Erin, who was looking at him with what was either bemusement or pity, he really wasn't sure.
"Ianto?" Erin reached out for his shoulder. He could feel the heat as her hand rested there and it took everything he had in him not to turn to look at the hand itself, but rather, focus in her face. "You okay? We could do this another day if ya want."
He shook his head and felt a smile growing across his face. He hadn't smiled like that in a while and it felt good. "No, no, let's go get something to eat – you hungry?"
She smiled warmly back. "Yeah, that sounds nice. Let's do that. I could murder some fries!"
A small chuckle was forming in Ianto's throat. "Ahhh…then you would be the infamous Chip-Murdering Barista that I have been hearing about so much in the news." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Guilty. You aren't going to turn me in are you?" She raised her hands in surrender and played along.
"No, no, your secret is safe with me." Ianto smiled.
Erin let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and they both broke out in laughter. When it had subsided, Ianto offered her his arm and they left the bookstore, Ianto feeling better than he had in a long time.
Okay, so they get their first "date". How do you guys feel this is going? More reviews, the faster I post!
