"So how was your date with Mr. Gold?" asks Ruby while pouring me a cup of coffee the next day.
"It was very nice," I say and smirk.
Ruby raises her left eyebrow, prying.
"It was pretty hot," I add further.
"A hot date with Mr. Gold? I never though I'd actually hear that," Ruby giggles.
"Well, now you have," I say, biting down on my lower lip, grinning.

A couple of men enter the diner, and I recognize one of them from the bar. The one who bumped into our table last night. He notices me, and whispers to his buddy, and they both look at me, snickering like a couple of school girls.
Suddenly one of them, the buddy of said "bumping-into-table" guy, walks over to me. "You're new around here, aren't you? Can I maybe buy you a drink sometime? Or do you only fancy grumpy, older men?" he sneers.
"To the likes of you, yeah, I do. Ask me again in 15 years if you ever manage to grow into your big boy pants," I say, taking a sip of my coffee, staring him down over the brim of the cup.
He frowns while his buddy laughs his head off at my remark.
"That goes for the two of you," I say while getting up to leave. They both scowl at me, but I just smile, waving a silent "bye" to Ruby behind the counter, who licks her finger and points it at me while making a sizzeling sound. 

I open the door to Mr. Gold's shop. He's standing behind the counter, palms down on the glass' top, reading something. He looks up at once, smiling when he sees me. "Well, hi there," he says, his voice low and raspy.
"Hi!" I say, my stomach tying itself in anticipating knots. I find myself hardly able to breath as I walk towards him, the kissing at the bar the night before stealing the air from my lungs.
"Did you sleep well?" he asks.
"Ah, yeah, I did, very much so," I stutter, though I didn't really. I was way too restless, mountains of tension making it very hard for me to calm down fully to sleep soundly.
"You?" I ask.
"Not too bad," he smiles.
"Good," I nod, biting my lip, wondering if he'll try to kiss me, or if yesterday was, well, yesterday.
"Let me show you the back, where you can keep your bag and jacket," he says.
I round the counter, following him.
The back got even more trinkets, and my gaze wander over all the items in a rush, trying to take it all in. He's even got a slight bed pushed up against a wall. "Napping between customers?" I ask and smile roguishly.
He chuckles. "No, it's not used for anything... Yet," he says, his voice sounding raw, and a devilish smirk spreads across his tan face, eyes ever so playful.
"Might come in handy," I just say, taking off my jacket, turning to put it on a rack, forcing the redness in my face away.
When I turn, he's standing right by it, both hands on his cane, studying me. The situation is tense, and I feel akward, longing to be near him, to feel his hands on me.
"Well, we better get out front so I can show you the ropes," he says suddenly.
"Yeah, that you must," I say and sigh. I head for the door, but as I'm about to pass him, he blocks the way with his cane. I halt and turn to look at him, swallowing hard. He walks over to me, his hand reaching for my face and he pulls me nearer for a kiss. I moan against his mouth, kissing him back. The dark fire which engulfed us at the bar is back and I give into the flames licking across my lips, my mind, and my body. "Ahhhh," I gasp as he presses me up against a cupboard, and I slither my arms around him. He kisses me hard, and I mewl with ardor as the kisses grow more and more sultry. I'm panting now, and so is he, growling against my lips like a beast just getting ready to play with it's prey. He makes for my neck, my whole body throbbing, feeling his teeth nipping at my collarbone. "Ahhhh, god," I utter while sliding a hand into his brown locks, his lips now kissing my neck. I'm just about to plead him to take me, but then the bell at the door rings.
Gold stands up slowly, his eyes meeting mine with such hunger, I feel faint. His mouth is open, but his teeth are clasped shut, and he's breathing hard.
"Mr. Gold, are you there?" a man's voice asks from the front of the shop.
"Just a minute," Mr. Gold shouts, running a hand through his hair. He takes a deep breath, and nods his head, gesturing for me to follow him out to greet the customer.
I run my hands over my outfit, checking if it's not too out of control, and ruffle my hair, hoping I make it look casual.

"Ah, Marco, hello," Mr. Gold greets the man in the shop. "I was just showing Maeve here some of the inventory in the back. She starts working here today."
"Hi," I say and smile at the man. "Maeve Linden, nice to meet you," I reach out to shake his hand.
"Nice to meet you too," Marco smiles.
"What can I do for you?" Mr. Gold asks, and he and Marco go about his request, while I try to follow the conversation closely, but can't understand the content of it. I have to ask Gold about it later.

Marco leaves, and Gold looks at me. "I-hhh... I don't know what came over me in the back there, I-hhh..." he takes a deep breath.
"Well, whatever it was, I hope there's plenty more where that came from," I smile, dragging my teeth over my lower lip, trying to strangle the lust filling my limbs once more.
He smirks. "I got fully stacked vaults waiting to be blown open to unleash even the darkest of desires," his raspy voice proclaims.
"I'll bring the dynamite," I grin.
"If you bring more than you already are, I'll be blown to smithereens," he chuckles.
"At least you'll go out with a bang," I join in laughing.
"Hear, hear," Mr. Gold says, giving me an approving smirk.

Mr. Gold instructs me to sort his trinkets and treasures by category, since everything up until now has been very randomly and eclectically placed around the shop. "Do as much as you can, no need to stress, and resume the next day. I got a lot of stuff in here, but take your time and sort out a system you think will work for a looking customer. Ask me if you got any questions about the antiques. I'll be happy to tell you more."
I get to work on the task at hand, Gold finishing reading whatever it was he was reading when I first came into the shop.
I ask a few questions while sorting, and he tells me a few more stories how items came to be in his shop, and it's story before it's current location. I find it wierd he knows so much about all of it; what they're used for, and by who, and he talks about them like they don't belong to this world, and I'm almost fairly certain they don't. Not even he. 

Gold disappears into the back while I'm taking my job seriously, intrigued by all the pretty and odd nips around the shop. Suddenly I drop a brass vase onto the floor, and Mr. Gold walks out from behind the curtain.
"I'm so sorry," I stutter. "I got too eager. I hope I didn't dent it," I say, sitting on my knees, studying the vase. "I think it's okay."
I look up at Mr. Gold. "Not to worry, dearie, it happens," he smiles. He looks at me, his dark eyes warm and wanting. I open my mouth to say something, what exactly, I don't know, as my stare wander to his black pants, and what I know lurks beyond the fabric. I run my hands tryingly up his thighs, he stands unwavering, not telling me to stop. My hands slide to his behind and I give his firm cheeks a squeeze, pulling myself nearer to him. My hands venture slowly to his front, where the formal fabric is now rather bulging. I stroke my hands gently over his hardness, drawing a sigh from him. I rub my hand over the conture of his stiff manhood, and he support himself against the counter, low growls escaping him. "Maeve," he suddenly says. "As much as I'd like you to finish what you've started, we're awfully exposed here, and even if I like the element of danger, we need to stop."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me," I say, looking up at him.
"Sounds like we got the same bug," Gold smirks.
"I guess we do," I flash a smile at him.

The door suddenly opens, and the Mayor walks in. "Gold?" she asks, skimming my head over the counter. I act fast. "Here's the vase," I say and hand it to Mr. Gold who takes it and puts it on the counter, and then helps me up.
"Miss Linden," Regina recognizes me.
"Miss Mills, I mean, Mayor," I reply.
"You found his shop I see," an somewhat evil grin on her face.
"Yeah," I reply while straightening myself up.
"And thank you for that," Mr. Gold says.
"A thanks from you? That's a first," Regina scoffs.
Mr. Gold scowls at her. Clearly there is some bad blood at work here .
"Yes, thank you!" I cut in. "He offered me a job, so looks like I'll be staying in town for a while."
"Ah, well, that's nice. We should have coffee sometimes," Ragina gives me a smile.
"Sure," I beam back.
"Anything I can do for you?" Gold seems to be asking with clenched jaws.
"Yeah, I got some business I must discuss with you, it won't take long. Can we have some privacy?" Regina asks, and I understand when I'm not wanted.

I walk to the back to have some water, trying to catch some of their mumbling, but no luck. Then I notice what time it is; almost four. My hours at the shop has just flown by. I dapple some gloss onto my lips and stand in the doorway to the back room when I hear Ragina leave.
"Your first day's coming to an end," Mr. Gold says.
"So it seems," I say, smiling at him.
"I hope you'll enjoy working here."
"I don't think that's gonna be a problem," I reply.
"We're still on for dinner tonight, right?" he asks.
"Of course! Where should we meet?" I ask.
"Why don't you come to my house, and I'll make dinner," Mr. Gold suggests.
"Sounds great!"
"Then it's settled. Be there at seven."
"Okay," I say, going to get my jacket and bag. "Should I bring anything?" I inquire before leaving.
"I got it covered," Gold says and smirks.
"I bet you do," I say, biting my lip before giving him a flirty "bye" and head back to the B&B.