The next morning, Lena arrived at The Cafe by the Sea early to start preparing for the day ahead. As she unlocked the doors and turned on the lights, she noticed a figure standing outside, watching her.
It was a man, tall and lean, with dark hair and piercing green eyes. Lena felt a shiver run down her spine as he approached her, his gaze intense.
"Good morning," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "I'm looking for a place to have breakfast. Is this cafe any good?"
Lena tried to keep her composure as she smiled and welcomed him inside. "Yes, this is my cafe. I'm Lena. I can guarantee that you won't find better coffee or pastries anywhere else in town."
The man nodded, his eyes scanning the menu. "I'll have a black coffee and a croissant, please."
Lena prepared his order, trying not to stare at the man as he sat down at one of the tables. There was something about him that was intriguing, yet intimidating at the same time. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
As she brought him his breakfast, Lena tried to make small talk. "So, are you from around here?" she asked.
The man shook his head. "No, I'm just passing through. I'm a photographer, and I'm here to take some pictures of the beach and the town."
Lena nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She had hoped that he might be a regular customer, someone she could get to know and maybe even befriend. But it seemed that he was just passing through, like so many others.
As the man finished his breakfast and prepared to leave, Lena found herself feeling strangely drawn to him. "Hey, if you're looking for something to do in town, I can give you some recommendations," she offered.
The man turned to her, his eyes meeting hers. "Actually, that would be great. I don't know anyone around here, and I could use some local insight."
Lena felt a rush of excitement as she led the man out of the cafe and onto the street. She couldn't explain why, but there was something about him that made her heart race. As they walked and talked, Lena couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious stranger was, and what secrets he was hiding.