Mid Week Tease: Espresso and Scones #MWTease #NaNoWriMo #WIP

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It's Thanksgiving Eve in the US. As everyone prepares to stick large stuffed birds in the oven and welcome throngs of relatives and friends into their homes, Charlotte and Jacques are enjoying a NYC scone. Here's more unedited words from my NaNoWriMo project... Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.
As much as she tried to focus on her run, she bypassed her usual route of winding paths and found herself heading down Sixty-ninth Street. She glanced at her watch. Damn, she was early. She hated to be early. In fact, she was never early. She pulled open the door and stepped inside promising herself if he wasn’t there yet, she’d turn around and leave. Scanning the small shop, her gaze landed on a dark mop of wind-blown curls. He occupied a table for two in the corner with one leg casually slung over the other, his attention on the newspaper he held in one hand while sipping a small demitasse cup in the other. 
She strode to the table. “You know no one reads a newspaper anymore.”
He lifted his face and his gaze met hers as he shot her a crooked smirk. “I read the newspaper.” He moved the slid the stack of papers to the side and gestured for her to sit. 
“Well, you should get used to reading it off your tablet. I hear newspapers will be obsolete in a couple years.”“And what a shame that will be. There are some things that should remain as they are. Newspapers are one of them and proper manners are another. May I get you an espresso? Or would you prefer one of those trendy mocha-choka lattes?”
“Espresso, please.”
“I’ll be right back.” He left the table and she flipped through the newspaper on the table. It reminded her of Sunday mornings when she was a girl. Her father would spread the paper over the kitchen table. He started with the sports section first, rattling off the most recent Yankee player statistics and checking on the results of his favorite Nascar drivers. 
Jacques returned with a tiny cup identical to his and a plate with two scones. 
“I’ll vouch for Beatnick's espresso but you’re on your own with the scones,” she said before taking a sip from her cup.
He took a bite and shrugged. Not bad for a New York scone.” He leaned back in his chair. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
“You invited me.”
“I did, but you didn’t respond.”
“I don’t recall you asking for a response,” she snapped back. 
“I didn’t know I had to. I guess I’m new to casual email communication. I much prefer speaking to writing.”
She smiled. “Considering I went into broadcasting instead of journalism, I guess you can say the same thing about me. I believe you had a question for me. Now that you found the best espresso in town, do you want to know where to get the best bagel because that would be in Seymour’s in Brooklyn.”
“Good to know. I wanted to ask you to be my date for the opening of Robbie Hushe’s new restaurant Saturday.”
“Chef’s Table East? I thought that wasn’t opening for a couple months.”
“Officially it’s not opening for a while. Robbie always does a soft open before the official opening so he can show off his new place to the who’s who in New York.”
“And I suppose you’re a who.”
“Me? No but I get invited since I trained his staff. You on the other hand are a who. Robbie asked me to extend you an invitation.” 
“You could’ve asked me in an email.”
“And what fun would that be, Charlotte?”

She stared into his electric blue eyes. What fun would it be, indeed.
What do you think about Char and Jacques? 
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Published on November 25, 2015 03:42
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