Couple more A/U DA fics
Holly, this setting might feel kinda familiar to you too. :)
Title: A Table for Two
Rated: T
(300) words
A/U
Charles patted down his hair, tugged his jacket into place, and attempted to suck in his stomach before sighing resignedly. She probably never even gave his looks a second thought.
The register was already open to today’s date, and even though she had a regular booking each week, he still ran his finger along the names to check she was listed.
Mrs Elsie Hughes, table for two.
He blinked. Two?
“Good evening, Mr Carson.”
His head shot up at the sound of her lovely Scottish accent.
“Mrs Hughes. How are you this evening?” he asked, stepping forward and taking her jacket.
“Well, thank you.”
The door opened again and a short, red-faced man entered.
“Joe,” she greeted him with a hug.
He felt his temper flare as Joe openly looked her up and down, and then smiled, obviously finding her simple yet elegant evening dress as pleasing as he did.
He cleared his throat, retrieved two menus from behind the counter, and held his hand out to lead the way to their designated table.
His mind was whirling. She always dined alone. He had always presumed she was a widow, or a divorcee. He had never once imagined her still married.
He asked Anna to wait on their table.
“But, you always--”
He cut his head waitress off with a wave of his hand and stomped away to help behind the bar.
At one stage, he gave into temptation and allowed his attention to wander to her table. Joe was acting very familiar with her.
With a heavy heart, he mixed more cocktails and poured more wine, trying to convince himself that Joe could always be her brother.
But the next time he looked up again, all hope was dashed.
A brother wouldn’t be offering his sister an engagement ring.
Title: Prior Engagement
Rated T
(300) words A/U 'sequel' to A Table for Two
Elsie watched as the owner of CC’s expertly polished the restaurant’s glassware before hanging them in their designated place on a rack above him.
She was mesmerised with the way he spun the glasses around in his large hands.
“Would you like anything else, ma’am?”
She pressed a cool hand against her forehead, hoping this young girl blamed the glass of wine she’d had with dinner for her flushed appearance.
“Perhaps I could get Mr Carson to bring you over a liqueur?”
Elsie bit down on her bottom lip and glanced over at Mr Carson again.
It didn’t usually matter how busy the restaurant was. Every week, when she dined here, he found time to sit with her at the end of her meal. Quite often, their conversation was the only real conversation she had all week.
But, tonight, he made no move in her direction or showed any sign of coming out from behind the bar at all.
What was she expecting? She was simply a paying customer to him.
She clutched her hands in her lap, berating herself for her foolishness.
The sensible thing would have been to have left at the same time as Joe.
“No, thank you, Anna,” she said politely, gathering up her handbag to go.
She was behaving as foolhardy as Ethel. One man had already expressed an interest in her tonight; even going as far as to propose. Yet, it seemed, she wasn’t satisfied until all potential suitors were dropping at her feet.
The sharp scent of whiskey burnt through her senses as a mug of steaming beverage was placed in front of her.
“Mrs Hughes, I hope I’m not intruding. I was wondering if you’d like to stay and indulge a ridiculous old fool.”
She let her handbag slip from her grasp.
Title: A Table for Two
Rated: T
(300) words
A/U
Charles patted down his hair, tugged his jacket into place, and attempted to suck in his stomach before sighing resignedly. She probably never even gave his looks a second thought.
The register was already open to today’s date, and even though she had a regular booking each week, he still ran his finger along the names to check she was listed.
Mrs Elsie Hughes, table for two.
He blinked. Two?
“Good evening, Mr Carson.”
His head shot up at the sound of her lovely Scottish accent.
“Mrs Hughes. How are you this evening?” he asked, stepping forward and taking her jacket.
“Well, thank you.”
The door opened again and a short, red-faced man entered.
“Joe,” she greeted him with a hug.
He felt his temper flare as Joe openly looked her up and down, and then smiled, obviously finding her simple yet elegant evening dress as pleasing as he did.
He cleared his throat, retrieved two menus from behind the counter, and held his hand out to lead the way to their designated table.
His mind was whirling. She always dined alone. He had always presumed she was a widow, or a divorcee. He had never once imagined her still married.
He asked Anna to wait on their table.
“But, you always--”
He cut his head waitress off with a wave of his hand and stomped away to help behind the bar.
At one stage, he gave into temptation and allowed his attention to wander to her table. Joe was acting very familiar with her.
With a heavy heart, he mixed more cocktails and poured more wine, trying to convince himself that Joe could always be her brother.
But the next time he looked up again, all hope was dashed.
A brother wouldn’t be offering his sister an engagement ring.
Title: Prior Engagement
Rated T
(300) words A/U 'sequel' to A Table for Two
Elsie watched as the owner of CC’s expertly polished the restaurant’s glassware before hanging them in their designated place on a rack above him.
She was mesmerised with the way he spun the glasses around in his large hands.
“Would you like anything else, ma’am?”
She pressed a cool hand against her forehead, hoping this young girl blamed the glass of wine she’d had with dinner for her flushed appearance.
“Perhaps I could get Mr Carson to bring you over a liqueur?”
Elsie bit down on her bottom lip and glanced over at Mr Carson again.
It didn’t usually matter how busy the restaurant was. Every week, when she dined here, he found time to sit with her at the end of her meal. Quite often, their conversation was the only real conversation she had all week.
But, tonight, he made no move in her direction or showed any sign of coming out from behind the bar at all.
What was she expecting? She was simply a paying customer to him.
She clutched her hands in her lap, berating herself for her foolishness.
The sensible thing would have been to have left at the same time as Joe.
“No, thank you, Anna,” she said politely, gathering up her handbag to go.
She was behaving as foolhardy as Ethel. One man had already expressed an interest in her tonight; even going as far as to propose. Yet, it seemed, she wasn’t satisfied until all potential suitors were dropping at her feet.
The sharp scent of whiskey burnt through her senses as a mug of steaming beverage was placed in front of her.
“Mrs Hughes, I hope I’m not intruding. I was wondering if you’d like to stay and indulge a ridiculous old fool.”
She let her handbag slip from her grasp.