Unexpected love.

She glances in the restaurant window, her reflection staring back at her with wide eyes. Black curling hair down to her shoulders, damp from the rain, pouting lightly rouged lips and a small nose speckled with a dusting of golden freckles. A hesitant hand raises to smooth her curls, already beginning to frizz from the moisture in the air, before sliding down the front of her skirt.

For the tenth time that night she questions her choice of outfit and worry knits her brows together into a soft frown. But even if her heels pinch her toes and her skirt is more business-casual than 'date night', she's here now.

And late! She thinks with alarm, her heart suddenly beating furiously in her chest as she catches sight of her wristwatch.

Stumbling forward, the door attendant nods at her and pulls open the door with an appropriately detached smile. He takes her coat and hands her the coat ticket, directing her with an open palm to the seating attendant's booth. A suited man with perfectly groomed hair smiles openly at her, his eyes appraising her with professional accuracy.

"Welcome, do you have a reservation this evening?" His voice is clipped and smooth, the question a well rehearsed line in his nightly routine.

She nods and unclasps her purse, removing a small piece of notepaper with a name hastily written across the neatly ruled lines. The attendant takes the paper and peruses the reservation book with a well-manicured finger.

"Yes, booked for a table of two?"

She nods, her palms beginning to moisten at the prospect of what's ahead. The attendant, no doubt observing her nerves, takes little notice and sweeps her towards the dining room with a graceful stride. A lump has formed in her throat and she tries to swallow but suddenly her mouth is dry.

The attendant leads her to a table by the window which looks out to the coast below. A man is already seated, his face turned to the shoreline and his hands folded tightly in his lap.

"Your table, Miss. Your server will be with you both shortly." The attendant announces and briskly turns to return to his post by the door.

At the sound of her arrival, the man turns his face to her and she feels her skin prickle with goose bumps. He's handsome, and suddenly she's more nervous than before. His eyes are light green and a five-o'clock shadow traces around his sharp jawline. For a moment they simply stare at each other until he clears his throat abruptly and pushes out his chair, rising to take her hand in his.

"Nice to finally meet you." He says and his voice is a deep timbre but warm and calm. When his palm slips against hers, she feels a sudden shock of static electricity and they both startle. He laughs nervously, rubbing the shocked hand with his other and holding her gaze intently with his own.

"Should we sit?" He asks and she nods, surprise lighting her eyes when he moves to her chair and proceeds to slide it out for her. Her eyes can't help but follow his movement back to his side of the table and she takes those precious few seconds to study him.

He's tall and holds himself with an easy confidence. His expression is peaceful, the hint of a smile constantly dancing at his lips. She decides that he seems kind, sensing a gentleness about his nature which makes her nerves spike again.

He seats himself and rolls his shoulders forward, somehow seeming vulnerable despite his broad build. He smiles at her shyly but can't keep her gaze, glancing between his water glass and her face instead.

"You look lovely." He says and his expression is earnest, entirely sincere. She hesitates for a moment before her lips part in an easy smile and she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear out of nervous habit.

"Thank you. You do too."

They both startle when the serving attendant arrives at the table, so much in their own world that they didn't notice her approach. She sets their menus before them and recites the specials before asking for their drink order.

He looks over the top of his menu and gives a slight shrug.

"A glass of Merlot?" His tone hints at a question and she nods in quick agreement. She wouldn't know the first thing about wine and is thankful that he chose before her. The attendant bows slightly and removes the drink menu, leaving them alone again.

She looks out at the view and breathes an unintentional sigh. He catches her delight and smiles broadly.

"You like the sea?"

Childlike excitement lights her face and she nods hastily. "I love it. I grew up in a seaside house, so my backyard was just open water. We'd go swimming every chance we got, even sneaking out of the house for night swims."

He laughs and the sound is like music to her ears, her heart flutters inside her chest. She decides that she wants to hear it again.

"I grew up amongst farmland, I didn't even get to see the ocean until I was a teenager. But we did have a river that ran through one part of the acreage and we spent a lot of time there."

"When did you move to the city?"

He pauses to think, his brows knitting together in a frown of concentration. She finds herself inadvertently concentrating on the gentle pursing of his lips.

"Five or so years ago. If I'm being totally honest, I'm really not used to this kind of restaurant. I'm much more of a food truck kind of guy." He laughs at himself and the sound is even sweeter this time.

She bites her lip and his heart skips a beat. "I'm the same actually. I guess this restaurant wasn't either of our ideas."

Mischief glimmers in his eyes and he leans forward conspiratorially. She finds herself leaning forward too, somehow drawn to him by an unseen magnetic pull. She inhales deeply and her head fills with the warm scent of something woody and spicy. She inhales again.

"Should we escape?"

She laughs at his playful energy and in that moment decides that she'd go just about anywhere with him. "Yes."

They rise together and he reaches for her hand, her fingers interlink with his without a moment's hesitation. He leads her out into the street, both of them entirely oblivious to the concerned expression of the seating attendant.

It's drizzling again outside and her hand instinctively rises to her curls but a shining smile from him stops her. Suddenly the smoothness of her hair doesn't matter so much anymore.

They half-walk, half-run toward the coastline, uninhibited laughter erupting from each of them every time their eyes meet. Her heart is pounding with excitement and her breath is short and she realises for the first time in a long time, that she feels alive.

His eyes keep tracing her profile, memorising the smallest details of her face. From the curve of her chin, to the slight upturn at the end of her nose, he realises he'd never tire of looking at her. Confusion muddies his thoughts for an instant as he realises that he's never felt like this before. But then she smiles at him and the confusion melts away because all at once, he feels entirely at peace.

They reach a food truck at the beginning of the boardwalk, both breathless and far too damp. Nearby, other people quirk their brows at the couple and question their sanity to be running around without umbrellas in such weather.

Still holding hands, they order food and huddle together as they wait. She's close enough to feel the warmth of his body radiating through his shirt and upturns her chin to find he's already staring at her.

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips and his eyes lock on the movement, something darkening in his expression as his jaw clenches. Her heart jumps again and desire stirs in her.

A throat clears and they break eye contact to look at the vendor, a knowing smile already on his face. The vendor offers their food and winks at them.

She blushes and he feels the intense desire to reach out and brush his fingertip down her cheek. Instead he tightens his grip on her hand and leads her down the boardwalk until they reach a small shelter, sitting down on a wooden bench.

They eat in silence, both acutely aware of the other's presence but each focusing on the sea view ahead. She wipes the corner of her mouth with a napkin and scrunches it, dropping it into the food tray. He collects their trash and quickly throws it into a nearby trash bin.

She watches him walking back and decides that he's possibly more handsome after running through the rain. He stares at her as he returns, adoring the way her hair is curling around her forehead and the rosy flush across her cheeks. She's perhaps more beautiful than back in the restaurant.

When he sits, they're wrapped in a peaceful silence. Thoughts flood each of their minds but neither is willing to break the moment.

Finally, he takes the lead. "I'm really glad I came tonight."

She swallows and tucks hair behind her ear again. "So am I."

"Is it really cliché to say that I don't really want it to end?" He asks and his voice is alight with musical playfulness.

She laughs despite herself and shakes her head. "I was thinking the exact same thing."

He takes her hand again, gentler this time but with no less intensity in the gesture. Heat prickles across her skin and she wonders how something so simple can ignite such passion in her.

He's watching her profile again, wonder written across his face as he follows the subtle changes in her expression while she thinks to herself. He can't help himself. He cups her cheek with his hand and leans in.

She closes her eyes, breathless and yearning.

Their lips meet with the gentlest brush of a kiss, the most tentative of greetings. But inside each of them, the simple touch causes an explosion of fireworks.

As he makes to move backward, she chases after him and catches his lower lip between hers. He responds with careful intensity, his thumb sliding down to hold her jaw. Her eagerness is matched by his and when the kiss ends, they rest their foreheads together, both unwilling to move further apart than that.

"I've never felt like this before." She breathes heavily and he squeezes her hand.

"Me too."

They feel peace, the soft sound of waves crashing against the shoreline only adding to the serenity of the moment. The wind picks up and she shivers. Noticing, he instinctively draws her closer and wraps an arm around her shoulders. Her face presses against his chest, one of her hands splayed over where his heart lies.

She closes her eyes when he tucks his chin over her head, hearing him take in a deep breath. His nose fills with the sweet scents of lavender and vanilla and he decides they're his new favourite fragrances.

Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Hours pass. They stay seated on the wooden bench, huddled into each other's warm embrace until the sun rises over the ocean.

The weather clears and as the first golden rays peak over the horizon, her mouth opens with a small gasp of wonder. His eyes shine as he takes her in, the innocence in that simple expression causing his heart to ache.

She leaps to her feet, kicking off her heels so she might feel the rough sand against her skin. Her hand clutches his tightly as she pulls him up, a wild grin reaching almost ear to ear.

"Come on!" She exclaims and forces him to match her speed as they race toward the shoreline. The sand is damp between her toes and she loves the way it scratches, memories of home life filling her mind.

She reaches the water's edge and, without any hesitation, steps into the waves. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes find his and he can't hide the happiness he feels watching her joy.

He steps into the water too, dress shoes and all, his trousers soaking up to his calves.

She laughs and stares at him with amazement. "What about your shoes?"

He tugs her into his body, welcoming the warm press of her chest against his, and draws his arms around her waist.

"What about them?" He asks in return and leans down to take her mouth on his. She melts into his arms and slides her hands to the nape of his neck.

They break apart, her head resting against his chest again as they gaze out at the sun blooming on the horizon. Without knowing it, they both think the same thought in the same moment.

I think I'm in love.