Hey guy's, thank you for the alerts and reviews for the last few chapters. It's kind of scary starting a new story (even when you've written a a few)
So I own nothing to do with twilight, just the plot to this lil fic.
Breath of Twilight is awesome and you should definitely go check out her stuff (the link is on my profile) She is my Beta reader and friend and picks up the mess for me. Thank you Kelli, *Big smooches*
I'd really like to know what you guys think of this one as it's a bit different from my others.
I think we need a bit of Edward's POV so...
Chapter 3
EPOV
My Father had originally wanted me to follow in his footsteps and enter the world of medicine -and I did give it a go- but it wasn't for me. I decided, after nearly two full years at med school, to give it up. Instead, I started a business degree. I also took an evening pastry course, which I developed a love for. So after graduating with honors, I decided to combine the two.
I turned the key in the lock of the galvanized shutters and rolled them up into hiding, letting the light filter in the windows of my little Bistro.
I had taken so much shit from my big brother when I'd announce I wanted to open a coffee shop -see, he thought it was very gay-, but I stood my ground and found the perfect little place to start my own business. I didn't care what he thought; it was mine, I owned it, I'd built it up from scratch and had made it successful.
The Coffee Pot.
My little contribution to Chicago.
I didn't try to compete with the bigger franchises and deck it out with all the modern minimalist crap. Instead I based it on a quaint little book shop. I had comfortable couches and chairs, tables set out in no particular order and a whole wall that was filled with books. I loved it, and my regular customers seemed to enjoy the relaxed, un-rushed atmosphere I had created.
Once I'd switched on the coffee machine, unturned all the chairs from the tables and put the oven on to heat up, I pulled out the ingredients for today's goodies.
Chocolate brownies and a chocolate, orange cream pie -a recipe I'd picked up from my mother, that she always used to make with me when I was little-, and a huge ass, mushroom and broccoli, quiche.
Before long, my sister, Alice, came rolling in, in her usual 'chipper' mood, and began wiping down the tables, before finally flipping the 'open' sign around on the door.
She was a hyperactive little pixie, but I loved her regardless, even if she did annoy the shit out of me sometimes, or meddle in my private life. We'd always been close from a young age and had just morphed into best friends as well as siblings; so when she'd been in need of a job, and I had been in need of some help, it just seemed inevitable to ask her to work here.
We were always busy throughout the day; coffee being our number one seller and pie following close behind. I loved pie and made at least two fresh pies a day. I tried to source local ingredients where I could and had the best Colombian coffee imported from South America. I tried to give my customers what they wanted, and that had them coming back for more.
"Edward, I need two poached eggs on toast, stat!" Alice chirped as she danced into my kitchen with a twinkle in her eye, later that day. "And you have an admirer," she giggled and pointed out into the diner, towards the window.
I rolled my eyes at her but followed her gaze anyway and was taken aback by the beautiful young brunette, curled up in one of the chairs, looking around her. She glanced around her with a wistful smile and stalled when her eyes met mine. I couldn't tell their color, but I sure as hell wanted to find out. She quickly turned her attention away from me and a blush crept up her cheeks in embarrassment from being caught staring.
It should have been me that was embarrassed, I was the one staring, she'd just happened across me looking at her while taking in her surroundings. I drank in her appearance as she sat there fidgeting.
"Earth to Edward..." Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face, and I started at the action.
"What?" I asked, looking at the pie case before me that was waiting to see what I was going to fill it with.
"Eggs?" she reminded me.
"No, I was thinking about a lemon meringue..." I started to answer, but she chuckled and butted in before I could finish.
"Noooo, I need two poached eggs, remember?" She rolled her eyes at the oblivious look on my face, "With toast..."
"Right." I let out a single chuckle and hoped to God she didn't notice my ears turn pink.
I looked around me aimlessly for a second.
"For fuck sake, Edward...Eggs! It's not difficult."
My only response was to flip her off and banish her from my domain...at least until she had to bring in another order, anyway.
I made good on the order just as she came in to check my progress.
"Is it ready?" she asked as she leaned against the counter top. "'Cos she's been waiting a while."
My head shot up with a grin spread wide across it. "This...is for her?" I questioned and pointed to the hot food waiting to be served.
She nodded and made to grab the plate, but I got there first.
"Hey that's my job!" she pouted and slapped me upside the head.
"Fight you for it." I chuckled and held out my balled up fist.
"How the hell are you older than me?" She griped, but copied my gesture.
We counted silently in our heads as we raised and lowered our fists twice before deciding on paper, rock, or scissors.
My hand remained balled up as she split her fingers into a scissor pose.
I grabbed her hand and childishly declared myself the winner, "I win." I winked and passed her.
I made my way over to the girl and took in the title of the book she was reading; chuckling when I realized I had read it already.
She was so lost in her own little world that she didn't notice me to start with.
After standing there for a few moments, I finally spoke up. "Colorful lady," I spoke quietly so as not to startle her.
She spun her head around to look at me, and I noticed that her pupils contracted from the adjustment of the light.
At least I knew their color now. Deep chocolate.
"Excuse me?" she squeaked quietly, with a hint of panic in her voice.
The sound reverberated throughout me.
"Moll Flanders." I nodded towards her book and winked as I set the tray down before her; I unloaded her food and lowered the tray to my side.
"Oh right, yes, she was indeed," she smiled as I turned and walked back towards the kitchen, turning to smile at her again from over my shoulder.
Alice grabbed me as soon as I got back into the kitchen and pushed me into the wall.
"Hey, mighty mouse, mind going easy on your brother please?" I grumbled and shook myself out of her grasp.
"I know that look in your eyes, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen!" She waved her finger in front of my face. "Don't be giving away your profit margin just to try impressing a girl."
"What?" I shrugged in innocence, both loving and hating that she'd picked up on the fact I gave away free food on occasion.
It didn't hurt now and again. And this place wasn't my 'be all and end all' of financial security. My parents had been wealthy, as were my grandparents, whom, after passing away, had left us a tidy inheritance.
That had been, after all, how I managed to get this place.
"Aren't you finished for the day yet?" I whined and ignored her uncharitable comment.
"I still have five minutes." She gave me the stink eye and waved her finger again.
By early afternoon Alice had left for the day, and the coffee shop grew quiet, yet she remained there, lost in a fictional world. I watched, from the safety of the kitchen, as her eyes flew from side to side; she'd bite the end of her fingernail as she drank in the words on the pages. I was mesmerized with the way she had curled up in the chair and had slipped off her shoes. She looked so comfortable that when it came time to close up at three, I didn't have the heart to disturb her. So I left her to read, placing a fresh cup of coffee in front of her every now and again. She didn't notice the change in cup or the fact that it had magically refilled itself when she wasn't looking. Eventually I slid a plate of chocolate, orange cream pie in front of her and the scraping noise on the table finally caught her attention.
"I didn't ask for pie," she whispered with a crooked smile.
"I thought you might be hungry again." I grinned back as she looked down at the confection; bewildered.
"I might not like pie." She licked her lips, inviting me to challenge her.
"Well I have a knack for knowing who likes pie and what their favorite is...and you look like you like pie..."
Her eyes went playfully wide. "I look like I like pie? Are you saying that I'm fat?" Her face was perfectly straight as I went into bumbling idiot mode.
"NO! No, I just meant....Oh crap...I just meant that you...forget it." I blushed, trying to stop myself from digging a bigger hole to bury my ass in. I made to grab for the plate, but she pulled it towards her and curled her arm around it.
"I love pie." She grinned widely and bit her lip.
My body slumped in relief that I hadn't just insulted her monumentally, and she chuckled at my sudden ease.
I sat down in the matching Chesterfield across from her and watched as she picked up the fork I had put on the plate and angled it over the pie, holding it in mid air.
"You're going to watch me eat the pie are you?" She lifted her eyes to mine and my pants grew tight.
Seeing her looking up at me through her lashes like that...
"You can tell a lot about a person by how they eat pie."
Way to go Edward! I chastised myself; now she was sure to think I was either crazy or psychotic.
"Huh? Care to elaborate?" She propped her chin up with her hand, as her elbow rested on the table; her fork cutting through the crust before spearing it and letting it wave in the air in front of her mouth.
"Um...Well...if someone were to eat the crust side first, they'd be classified as a traditionalist, they enjoy the simpler things in life. They don't need the fancy shit or material things. They prefer to work up to the good stuff...so it can be appreciated more...."
"What if I were to eat the cream part first?" She surveyed the slice of pie in front of her then eyed me patiently, waiting for my answer.
"Then, you would be a risk taker...Someone who jumps in head first and doesn't consider the consequences, nor do you worry about them. You'd be classified as wild and daring..."
"You're so making this shit up as you go along, aren't you?" She smirked as I hung my head.
"Every damn word of it." I laughed as she rolled her eyes at me. "I can tell who likes pie though, and I am good at guessing their favorite." I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest.
I was captivated with the way she finally lifted the fork to her mouth and gently pulled the crust from it with her teeth. Her eyes rolled in pleasure and she 'hmmm'd' and licked her lips.
Oh yeah, I knew it. I'm a genius.
"This is so good," she moaned after taking another bite full.
A shit eating grin spread across my face before being flushed down the pan with her next words.
"It's really good...But not my favorite."
I felt my shoulders slump and my mouth hang open. "Sure it is," I countered, sure I had her summed up.
She simply shook her head and giggled at me as I sat there perplexed; scratching my head like a buffoon.
She finished up her pie and pushed her plate towards the middle of the table.
"Is it always this quite?" she asked, looking around and realizing we were the only two people here.
"Well, seeing as we're now closed...then yeah, it's usually this quiet," I leaned in to whisper.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry...I" She started to stuff her belongings back into her bag and reached under the table for her shoes.
I chuckled at her flightiness as she stumbled out of the chair while trying, and failing, to get her shoes back on her feet without falling over.
"Don't worry about it. It was nice to have company while I cleaned up." I shrugged and stood to face her.
"Shit, I need to pay for my food, too." Her hand delved into her purse rooting around for a wallet, but I quickly waved my hand at her in refusal. I didn't care if Alice got pissy with me for it, I was the boss, so I could do what I liked. "No, please, let me pay for what I had," she begged holding out some cash once she'd found it.
"I already rung the register up and locked it." I grinned knowing I would get her to put that money away. "You don't want to make extra work for me do you?" I gave her my best smile, the one I reserved for getting my own way, and it worked like a charm.
She looked to me and then the cash register on the side and dropped her arm.
"Thank you," she sighed, the side of her mouth twitched in protest with her gratitude.
"You're welcome," I answered, watching as she fumbled to return the money to her wallet and pick up all her stuff.
I followed her to the door, turned the lock and pulled it open for her to leave. Though, I might not have opened it as wide as I should have, as she had to brush past me to leave. I watched after her as she retreated down the street, unable to take my eyes off of her amazing ass, until it was no longer in sight. Finally, I closed the door with a sigh.
