It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Hello Chief Cray, what can I do for you today?" Peeta asked the serious customer in his usual cheerful manner. Cray just gave him a blank stare and adjusted the tie on his neck.
"I have no time for your pleasantries Mellark. Just give me the usual and I'll be off. Make it quick." Cray said coldly, looking around the bakery impatiently. "Aren't you the owner? Where are your assistants? Shouldn't they be helping you?" He looked back at Peeta with a questioning yet cold stare.
Peeta just smiled while working on the order; he is used to Cray's attitude. The guy is one of the loyal regulars of this bakery. He started buying his usual espresso and cinnamon bun years ago when he was assigned as the unit chief of Panem's 12th Police District. "Bristel called in sick. Darius had to attend to a family concern. I'm fine here alone, I can handle this." Peeta handed the to-go bags. "Here you go."
Cray snorted as he reached for the bags. "If it were my men down the station abandoning their posts, I would make sure they'd never hear the end of my wrath."
Peeta laughed. "Good day to you." Cray walked away, muttering a silent "hnnn" in response. As Cray stepped out of the door, Peeta saw a woman glance at his bakery before turning around, a dark braid swishing gracefully behind her.
"Peet, we need to hunt." said Finnick on the other line as Peeta answered his mobile phone.
"Finnick..." Peeta responded exasperatedly. He was in the stockroom of the bakery when Finnick called.
"I know what you're going to say. 'Finnick, I can't.'. I will not accept no for an answer this time, Peet. All the pretty fish in the sea are waiting for us at the bar in 5th avenue. All we have to do is to go there and make sure that we-"
"Hook, line and sinker. One nighters are not my thing Finnick. Unlike you."
"I am a healthy, sexual man. Sex goes a long way for favors. Trust me."
"Trust you? You, playing hooky with three women drooling over you, trying to win your sexual favors? I'm not sure about that."
"Angel Peeta, you are such a saint. As far as I remember, you have a better track record than me when it comes to fooling around women-"
"Goodbye Finnick." Peeta hung up the phone, Finnick's last words being "Hey! W-".
Peeta sighed as he carried the sack of flour he intends to use for tomorrow's batch of bread. He went out the stockroom, up the stairs and proceeded to the shop, intending to beeline for the kitchen opposite the store display. He saw a pair of boots as he stepped out of the door. A customer. He placed down the sack of flour to greet the customer.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't notice you there. Welcome to Mellark's, how may I help you?" Peeta greeted cheerfully. She raised her face to meet his.
Her swirling liquid mercury eyes caught his attention. How could someone have such eyes? He smiled at the thought. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink under her smooth olive skin. Her expression was unreadable, but it seemed akin to...hunger. He glanced over her petite frame, which was hidden in a baggy plaid shirt and dark jeans. His eyes traveled back to the two undone buttons of the shirt, the teasing sight of her smooth chest made his throat feel dry. Her slender fingers suddenly came up to the end of her dark midnight braid. How would that smooth braid feel like between his fingers? Peeta mentally scolded himself at the thought. He licked his lips in uncertainty. Who is this girl? A fleeting memory of a dark braid crossed his mind from earlier this morning.
The mysteriously beautiful lady bit her lip, causing Peeta to be a bit more distracted, before speaking. "I, uh-" she cleared her throat a few times. "I'm... new here in town and I happened to pass by your bakery... I was just wondering if I could have any of your best sellers?"
Peeta quickly grabbed a small towel from his pocket to wipe the sweat on his forehead to ease his thoughts. He was so tempted to know more about this woman. "Ah, your first time here in Mellark's? I'm honored. What would you like?" He gestured towards the items on display.
"I'm not really sure." She cast a side-away glance on the display. "Can you...recommend me something?" She said shyly.
For some unknown reason, Peeta wanted to impress this woman. "Hmmm. I'll give you one of our simplest specials." He walked briskly and bent down the display to pick up a couple of cheese buns and placed them in a bag. He glanced at the woman now standing on the counter, staring in his direction. She quickly averted her eyes. He approached her and handed her the cheese buns.
"Here you go." Peeta said, looking at a stray lock of hair on the side of her beautiful face.
"How much would it be?"
Peeta waved his hands off dismissively. "It's on the house." Her eyes quickly turned from mercury to frozen steel in seconds that it almost took his breath away. Such a fascinating woman.
"No, I'm willing to pay for it. How much?" She said in a clipped yet musical voice.
"It's on the house. I insist. It's your first time here so that would be my gracious welcome to you." She looked at him straight in the eyes with such fierceness that he almost wanted to take it back. But he had a better idea. "I would like to hear your feedback about the cheese buns. Drop by tomorrow and fill out the customer service form here on my counter. If you don't like it, that's okay, just write it down. I assure you though, I have yet to meet someone who doesn't fall in love with the Mellark traditional cheese bun at first bite." Peeta wanted to wince at the last statement he said. It sounded like a disgusting pick up line.
The woman mulled it over for a second, biting at her lower lip. Peeta shook off an imprudent image that circulated in his head at the sight.
"Hmm, I'll see." She stared at him for a few more seconds, making Peeta swallow nervously. "Goodbye and thanks...?"
"Peeta." He pointed to himself.
"Katniss." She said with a small sexy smirk.
That smirk should be illegal, Peeta thought as a warm feeling enveloped his chest.
AN: What do you think? Send me some love. :) Tumblr: biopolarism