However, sometimes it does happen on the spot. A wink or an unpretentious smile, a spur-of-the-moment decision to steal a kiss, or a slow dance that goes on just long enough to speak its own language. It’s true love. Love at first sight. Yes, it happens. Yes, it does. It’s not just for the fairy tales, it’s for real-life lovers searching for real-life love.

For Christie and me, it was definitely attraction at first sight, and although it wasn’t love right off the bat, that was not long in coming.

When I’m with her, somehow everything becomes more confusing and clearer at the same time. It’s like I’m more confident but also more unsure of myself, both freer to be myself and more thankful to be entwined in someone else’s life. It’s tough to explain, but it’s also the best feeling in the world.

I arrived at the restaurant about ten minutes early and told the hostess my name.

“We have you down for a table for two,” the young woman told me. “We’re getting it ready now. Would you like to wait here up front, or shall I take you back?”

“I can wait here.” I showed her the rose. “Listen, if there’s any way, could we get this to our server so he can deliver it to my wife when he brings out our meal?”

She accepted it to take to the back and smiled warmly. “You are such a romantic. Your wife is a lucky woman.”

++++

Carrying the Timothy Sabian novel, Tessa entered the bookstore.

She’d been to the Mystorium so often that she could’ve probably worked here if she’d wanted to. She knew all the nooks and crannies of the sprawling, labyrinthine store and had even had to watch the cash register for Rebekah a few times when she went into the back room to get more cash or rolls of receipt paper.

Already, there were two dozen people or so packed into the largest space available. Rebekah was setting up folding chairs.

Tessa asked if she needed a hand.

“I should be good. I’m almost done. So, have you ever heard him speak before?”

“No. Actually, this is the first book signing I’ve ever been to.”

“Oh, well, we’ve only had him here once before. If it’s anything like last time, he’ll probably read a little from his work in progress, do a Q and A, and then sign.” Rebekah paused, and her eyes lit up slightly, but just enough for Tessa to notice. “It’s really good to have him back.”

A tiny smile. “Are you crushing on this guy?”

Rebekah cleared her throat. “Never.”

“Uh-huh.”