If not for his eyelashes, the problem would never have arisen. But there they were, long, feathery, dark; framing eyes so brown, they looked black.

He ordered coffee and paid the barista.

Ruth watched him out of the corner of her eye while she pretended to eye the baked goods.

When he walked away, she actually turned to watch, earning a dirty look from the woman behind her. She was tempted to say “Seriously? You aren’t watching him too?”

The barista gave her a grin that said she understood completely.

Coffee in hand, Ruth sidled over to the table beside his. They faced each other. He was reading his phone, so she took hers out. Pretending to check her email, she positioned the phone and clicked the camera button.

She wanted something to remember him by – not that she was likely to forget him. Click. The flash of light made him look up. Ruth’s mouth opened and she squeaked while her mind raced for a plausible excuse for what she had just done.

“Would you like me to smile?” he said, doing so. Red-faced, Ruth could only nod and hit the button again. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re welcome. My name is Brad, by the way.” “Ruth. How do you do?”

How do you do?

 Oh my god, thought Ruth. I sound like Miss Manners, which is pretty strange, considering I just stalked this guy in Starbucks and took his picture.

Brad had put his phone down and was eyeing Ruth with interest. He picked his coffee cup up with his left hand, and Ruth noticed that he wore a wedding band. Damn. Married. And not just married. Married and advertising it. Happily married, apparently.

But Brad was still looking at her from under those incredible eyelashes. He was smiling ever so slightly, as if he knew what she was thinking – as if perhaps he was thinking the same thing.

Oh, come on. What’s the harm? she thought. It would only be a fling. She wasn’t about to break up his happy home. She just wanted to borrow Brad for a few hours – like a short-term library loan. She would return him in excellent condition.

Suddenly Ruth noticed a shadow. Someone was standing behind her. She looked around and saw a woman who smiled at the photo on Ruth’s phone.

“Great shot,” she said. She winked at Brad. “Hello, darling.”

This article was written by Sandra Leigh.

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