"Mind if I sit down?"

I stopped writing and looked up at the man gesturing to the other seat at the tiny café table.

"Em, sure, okay."

I knew I was staring but I couldn't help it. He gave me a tiny smile.

"What are you writing?"

Momentarily confused, I stared down at my papers to gather my thoughts.

"The next novel I'm working on," I answered lightly, still wary of the stranger.

"Really? Wow. I couldn't help but notice you when I walked in," he said sheepishly.

My heart thudded loudly in my ears.

"Oh?"

"Yes," he continued in a smooth and easy to listen to accent.

"I just couldn't help but think about how graceful you look. You're obviously an intellectual," he flirted with me which made me feel very good. I'd never been told that before.

"Am I allowed to know the story, or is it under wraps until publishing?"

I laughed.

"It's top secret I'm afraid. Classified information. If I told you, I'd have to kill you," I said with mock severity. He grinned.

"Not a bad way to go I reckon."

We looked at each other for a moment and my stomach jolted with excitement when he licked his lips slightly.

"Can I..."

He hesitated.

"I mean, um. Can I get you a coffee?"

He then glanced at my half full coffee cup on the table and blushed.

"I'd love one," I replied and his eyes widened.

"Okay, yeah, cool. I'll em, just, yeah," he said in a rush before making his way to the counter and ordering two coffees.

This was bad. I shouldn't be leading him on. He was incredibly handsome and it wasn't going to lead anywhere good. I thought about how hurt Ivo would be if he knew but for some reason I didn't feel as guilty as I might have done before.

He returned with the drinks and handed me mine, his hand shaking slightly.

"I'm Pheonix," he held his hand out for me to shake.

I took it with a laugh.

"Really?"

"Yes, I swear," he said with an eye roll.

"My parents were like, hippies or something. I'm stuck with it I'm afraid."

"I like it," I assured him. "I have such a dull name. It's Tim by the way."

"Tim, he repeated smoothly.

I sipped the warm coffee and felt calmer.

"So, Pheonix. What do you do?"

He seemed embarrassed.

"Oh, em. I'm a musician," he replied steadily, watching me for a reaction.

"Not like, 'I'm in a band'," he added hastily. "I'm a violinist. I wish I were a writer though. I'm not good with words, that's why I like music. It says the stuff I don't know the words for. You must be so smart, inventing stories and stuff."

I could feel myself fluffing up with pride from his admiration.

"Where do you play?"

"An orchestra in London," he said, somewhat proudly. "Where do you write," he asked with a cheeky smile.

I laughed and he joined me.

We chatted for about an hour and I was surprised at how easy he was to talk to.

His phone rang in his pocket when I was mid sentence about something silly and he looked at me, panicked as he tried to silence it.

"Shit, I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine," I said, surprised that he was so interested in what I had to say.

"Oh no," he sighed. "I told my brother I'd give him a lift at four."

He frowned at his phone and then looked up at me apologetically.

"I'll have to head on. Could I maybe have your phone number," he asked slowly with a smile.

I hesitated for a moment.

"Yes."

I said it aloud to him as he typed it in and he repeated it back to me to check that it was right. He didn't seem to know what to do then and stood awkwardly.

"Right, em. I'll be off then," he looked at me hopefully.

I stood then and he seemed to be surprised at my height. He was just slightly taller than me.

"Sure," I said flirtatiously and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

His cheeks went pink then and he backed away towards the door.

"Bye," he said breathlessly as he left. The minute he did I sat down to finish my coffee.

The waitress smiled at me when she took away my empty cup.

"He seems nice," she said in good humour.

"Yeah," I agreed.