She’d met him at Starbucks, a charming man, about her age. His good looks still shone through his craggy face and even though his hair was grey, she could see it had once been blond. His slim body fit agreeably into his mostly casual clothes. She decided he’d clean up well and pictured him dressed in a black tux with a bright red bow tie. She melted every time that the image passed through her head. She loved it when he put on his reading glasses. “You look like a banker,” she’d say and laugh.
They chitchatted each morning on the coffee bar patio. Neither had spouses still in their lives; both had retired years ago, he from sales and she from teaching. Their conversations ran from current events to cars to where to get the best deals on luggage. They usually arrived at around 10 am and stayed for exactly one hour, at which time, one would say, “Let’s start the day.” He always walked her to her car, politely said goodbye and then took off on foot.
She brought the meringues with her to Starbucks on Valentine’s Day. With romance already floating around, she thought her plan for a smooch would get an extra boost. She wondered how deeply he would kiss her. Would it be just a peck? Or would it involve his wonderful lips pressed against hers? Perhaps he would seek her open mouth with his tongue. Oh the thought sent shudders through her body.
She ordered her coffee, chose a table and sat. She unfolded the packet of meringues. There they lay, in all their tasty, sexy innocence. A slight gingery cinnamon scent arose from the stack of hardened, white fluff. She savored the thought of the first taste. Punctual as usual, her dapper companion arrived, ordered his coffee and sought her out.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said, pushing the delightful cookies towards him.
“What have we here?” he said lifting one to his lips.
“Oh just a bit of deliciousness,” she said sipping her coffee.
“Cheers,” he said coffee in one hand, cookie in the other.
“Cheers,” she said as he took a bite.
“Mmmmm,” he said as he finished the meringue. She reached for one and ate it. The cinnamon and ginger flavor warmed her insides as it went down. Her blood vessels dilated and her heart opened as she knew it would. She noticed he took two more and swallowed them, then another and another. She began reaching for a second but before it even got to her mouth, he said, “I am going to kiss you!”
And he did. His lips upon hers, tongue reaching for the back of her throat, the smell of ginger and cinnamon permeating her mouth and seeping through her body. She became a young, firm meringue, sweet and sugary, tasty and melting as he slowly ingested her.
And when he released her all that he said was, “Well, then.”
To which she replied, “Yes, well then.”
She folded up the packet of meringues and put them in her purse. She raised her coffee to her effervescent mouth and drank deeply. ©kcasady2014
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