A Fresh Start
Chapter 1
oOoOo
His POV
As I entered the dining area, I casually surveyed the room, avoiding the booths and middle tables but choosing a table at the back against the wall. I could watch the comings and goings easily. The view across the street was lined with palm trees and the beach beyond. I know, very touristy, but it was necessary to be here for the time being. The buffet was a sumptuous spread, with lots of tropical fruits, cereals, and the usual continental and hot breakfast options. This was peaceful, especially at this time of the morning.
Running along the beach before sunrise and a refreshing swim was a great way to start the day. A quick shower upstairs and a change into clean clothes for the day felt good. I chose this hotel because of the early breakfast option it provided, and it was blissfully not busy. It was rather nice to be amongst people, not having to watch each one as they passed and assess and process their potential for danger or threat. I breathed a sigh, yes, a sigh, of relief. It still takes some getting used to being back stateside.
I nodded and smiled at the waitress indicating my empty coffee cup. She smiled politely, a little starry-eyed initially, but she thankfully regained her composure. I had grabbed a juice, some mixed berries, mango and melon, and a natural yoghurt for starters.
"Just keep the coffee topped up each time you see it empty, please."
"Sure thing, Sir. I can do that. Would you like a bottle of water as well with your breakfast?"
"Yes please. Still water, thank you."
She was only young but knew the routine well. Experience is the deciding factor in any competitive field, even in the hospitality business.
My thoughts were suddenly distracted by that wretched woman. I put my head down, ignoring any eye contact. All thoughts of peace suddenly gone. I grabbed the newspaper, took a sip of my coffee and turned my body slightly as I held the newspaper up. Yes. I admit it. I was hiding. I didn't need this nonsense. She's been following me each day now since I helped her three days ago. I can't help myself, being chivalrous, coming to her assistance with picking up her lost papers before they blew across the street. Now she's stalking me. Thankfully the hotel has tight security in this dining area which is for hotel patrons only. There is no outside access but the view is magnificent, now marred by this pesky woman.
From the corner of my eye I caught sight of a new guest. Going by her complexion, I'd guess she was from northern climes, looking to enjoy the warmth of Miami. Her early summer glow was already evident, I figured she's been here just a few days perhaps. She was wearing denim shorts and a rainbow tie-dyed tank top, which displayed Miami Beach Babe in black across her breasts. Her legs were long and she wore flat sandals with turquoise beads, matching a bracelet on her wrist. She had a juice in one hand and a plate full of fruit topped with a Danish pastry, carefully making her way past the young family, avoiding the booths as well, taking a table near mine. Perfect. She was a good visual block from that hideous woman on the street, pretending to wait patiently. Note to self: find an alternative exit. But I refuse to hide myself. Treat her with ignore. But this new guest was refreshingly different. She seemed like she didn't have a care in the world, well, not something that was currently troubling her. She was not aware of her surroundings, but fully focussed on enjoying her food.
"A Danish will have to do since I didn't see any Boston cream doughnuts. Oh well. New beginnings. Go me."
She was talking happily to herself. I couldn't help but smile at that as she was oblivious to her surroundings. Interesting ... new beginnings. My curiosity was piqued.
Carefully placing her juice and fruit plate down, she smiled and breathed out a happy sigh. A look of sheer contentment filled her face as she looked over at the beach frontage, and, I detected, a small degree of relief with a good dose of satisfaction as she nodded to herself. As the waitress came past to top up my coffee, she waved politely indicating her empty coffee cup with a beautiful expressive smile. The waitress was polite and gave her some milk in a mini jug as well. In utter amazement, I watched as she added two heaped teaspoons of sugar and stirred in the milk, breathing it in with her eyes closed, holding her cup in two hands. She took a sip and sighed out loud, humming contentedly whilst nodding her head approvingly at the flavour. Did I say I was distracted?
"Perfect," she muttered with another sigh.
I folded the newspaper and put it neatly to the side on the table. I sipped my coffee and then started on my fresh fruit and yoghurt.
The sudden sounds of moaning stopped me mid mouthful. I looked up and watched as she had a look of sheer ecstasy as she bit into the maple pecan Danish. Madre Dios. The sounds hit me south of my waist band. A most unexpected reaction, but I couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Oh. Yes. That's gotta be my new favourite. Doughnuts be damned. Mm-mm!"
She opened her eyes, very striking blue eyes, and smiled as she sipped her coffee again. Taking another bite of her maple pecan, she hummed again, with a little shiver of delight and moaning once more. As she opened her eyes she saw my reaction, observing her wanton delight in a simple maple pecan Danish.
With a mouthful, and some escaping crumbs of the flaky pastry, she mumbled, half behind her hand, stifling a crumbly giggle, "Mm, oops. I'm sorry. This is just so yummy." And then carried on, smiling at me briefly before continuing to eat the rest of her breakfast. I couldn't help but smile at her genuine remark.
It is actually, so refreshing to see a woman enjoying her food, and not be eating like a bird. She had a nice figure from what I could tell with my casual glances. I smiled to myself, enjoying her pleasure in simple things. Returning to the buffet, I requested an egg white omelette from the Chef, requesting some onion, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes and the customary parmesan cheese before he folds it in half. It looked perfect. I selected a bagel with salmon and cream cheese, and some extra capers with fresh dill. As the Chef handed me my omelette, she passed me at the Chef's corner and asked for an omelette. I found myself being curious.
"Can you please make me an omelette like you did yesterday, when I suggested to surprise me? It was so yummy. And some of those yummy bacon crisps on top, I think that would finish it off nicely. Yes." The young Chef smiled at her and said it would be brought to her table. On her return she selected a few strawberries and had a refill of her sweet coffee.
Evidently, eating her strawberries also was an enjoyable pastime it seems. I chuckled to myself. Enjoying my omelette, which was obviously not as sumptuous as the blue-eyed babe's omelette, I smiled as I bit into my bagel. I couldn't help myself, but I did hum a bit at the fresh taste. Being stateside and eating real food, fresh food, really is a treat to be savoured. And savour it this blue-eyed lady did, with gusto. As her omelette arrived, she was delighted and ate heartily, approving of the flavours as the waitress topped up her coffee.
"Excuse me, Sir," a waiter interrupted, apologetically, "I have a message for you, from a lady, waiting outside for you." His eyes indicated the same wretched woman, who waved excitedly at me. Oh Dios, no. I briefly looked at the letter, an invitation to her upmarket hotel with her room number and her swipe card. Shit. I don't need this.
I looked at the waiter and smiled, giving him a ten dollar tip discreetly shaking my head, refusing the proffered swipe card.
"I'm sorry," I explained. "I do not know this person. Please return it to her and say "No thanks" politely, on my behalf."
"Thank you, Sir. I will do as you request." He nodded understandingly.
I sighed and decided to leave, before she saw me while she was distracted, as her eyes were tracking the waiter expectantly. Leaving a twenty dollar tip with an acknowledgement to my waitress, as she approached for another coffee refill, I stood up and pushed my chair in and thanked her with a smile. I folded the newspaper neatly on the table turning to leave quickly, when I accidentally bumped into the blue-eyed sumptuous eater.
"Oops. Omigosh. I am so sorry," she said as she spilt the last of her coffee on my button up shirt, her hands wiping away the spill quickly to clean up the stain. With her serviette, she continued wiping, with apologies not realising she was falling backwards from the impact of our collision. I grabbed her by the arms to stop her fall as she had bounced off me, and steadied her. Reluctantly I let go of her, strangely feeling the loss as there was a definite nice sensation with our contact, like a zing or a tingling sensation. I think she felt the same connection as she rubbed her neck. Hm. Now that is interesting.
"De nada. No problem, Babe. It will wash out. I wasn't looking where I was going. It was my fault entirely."
"Ah yes. You were … escaping, perhaps?", her eyes drifting to the front of the hotel dining area with a knowing smile.
I grinned apologetically. "Sprung," I confessed, bending my head down in feigned guilt at being caught. I noticed she also had some coffee on her colourful tank top and was tempted to wipe it away, but decided that I'd better not. Maybe that would be a bit too presumptuous or forward. She looked at her tank top and smiled.
"Meh. It's alright. I have more. Enjoy the rest of your day. I have to go upstairs to change anyway. See ya." I smiled with a nod, struck by her gorgeous smile. I detected a Jersey accent, for sure.
And with that she was gone. I was intrigued. I raised an eyebrow reflectively as I proceeded to the elevators. That was an interesting interchange. She was very observant even from that brief encounter. It's not like she was watching me because her entire focus was on her coffee and her food. For a change, once again, it was so refreshing. She wasn't starry-eyed and gushy, nor did she objectify me or do that tongue-tied thing that some women do. Without sounding vain, I had my good looks from both my parents, beautiful people, and it was a curse, although sometimes it wasn't. But it was not like something that I could just switch off. For once, talking to a lady, albeit briefly, it was indeed refreshing since she did not fawn all over me or even flirt, or do the deer in the headlights routine. I've seen it all. She was happy, and funnily enough, it made me feel happy as I bounded up the stairs two at a time.
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