Blog - Page 13 of 16 - Vignettes for the Romantic Soul

Blake

Blake leaned back in her white wicker rocking chair, happily soaking in the last of the fading sunset as she swayed. The warm Georgia summer heat encompassed her senses, inviting her to stay lounging in the relatively cool shade of her veranda forever. She closed her eyes with a groan when she heard the sharp clicks heralding her sure-to-be-irate mother.

“Blake Lorelai Dawes, it is unseemly for you to be out here unaccompanied. I have taught you better than to put yourself in such a precarious situation. Your father would have a fit if he discovered you out here alone.” The elegantly plump lady tapped her foot over and over, ruining the calm stillness of the coming night.

Blake sighed, raising her head to look over at where her mother was standing in the doorway, hands on hips and covered in flour.

“He’d have even more of a fit if he came out and discovered I wasn’t alone momma.”

Blake’s mother gasped in dismay. “Child, what a thing to say to your mother!”

“Oh momma. I wasn’t planning a scandal. The sky was putting on a colorful show that I simply couldn’t resist. Soon enough it will be dark and the stars will be twinkling up there just for me.” Blake lay back again, tipping her chair back further.

“Come inside, girl. I will remind you that rarely does a young lady plan for a scandal…and they still happen.”

Lazily shaking her head Blake didn’t look over. “Please, a few minutes more momma. Then I’ll come inside. I promise.”

Mrs Josephine Dawes left in a slight tizzy, muttering under her breath about willful daughters who don’t listen to their mothers as they ought. Apparently she didn’t appreciate that her only daughter never listened to her anymore.

It only took a minute, maybe less, for Blake to completely forget her promise to her mother. The stars were out and the beautiful simplicity of the sky made it impossible for her to leave. Minutes stretched as the stars twinkled overhead.

The stillness was shattered when a sharp crack came from the small grove of trees off to her right. Instantly adrenaline stampeded through her as she stood and leaned against the rail of the veranda. It was much darker than she had realized. Maybe going inside would be best. Sitting out alone in the dark wasn’t her most brilliant idea. She couldn’t see a thing. The beginnings of panic edged into her breath as she took a slow step back, as if she could sneak inside unnoticed if she moved slow and quiet enough.

Another crack that sounded much closer had her nearly jumping in her skin. She scarcely breathed as she looked for the source of the noise and failed. She spun around to flee indoors. Instead she ran right into a solid mass of warmth. Staggering back in surprise, Blake struggled to keep herself upright. He stepped forward, his arms outstretched but not touching her, as if he could hold her up by willpower alone.

“Ma’am.” The deep gravelly voice was just as heart-stopping as the rest of what she could see of him in the waning light. “Robert Hawkes, at your service.”

“Oh Mr. Hawkes.” Blake swept a hand to dust off her skirts before checking on her hair. Rumors had circulated about the man who had bought the nearby plantation and here he was standing in front of her looking all tempting. “A pleasure to meet you. My parents mentioned you had moved into the neighborhood. If you would excuse me for a moment I can step in and fetch them.”

Blake forced herself to stop staring, dropping her gaze to the porch. She moved to go around the large appealing man when his hand shot out, unseen in the darkness, snagging her corseted waist and forcing her to stop. He didn’t pull her into him, as she’d heard rogues would do when they caught a lady unattended but he didn’t let her pass either. A shiver ran amok across her nerves, her mind hyper aware of the warmth of his touch. She opened her mouth to protest, only to discover no sound would come out. She simply stood there gaping at his audacity.

After she stared at him for several seconds in shock, he loosened his hold slightly. “Before you go, if I might ask you a question?” He paused. “A personal question.”

Doing her level best to not hyperventilate at his close proximity, Blake strove for her most detached snooty tone. “You may.”

“Do you make a habit of tempting any and all passersby with your beauty in the moonlight?” His low voice immediately flooded her imagination with a variety of stolen kisses in the moonlight.

She didn’t have a chance to answer as his face moved in closer to hers, his arms wrapping further around her, pulling her in. Her breath caught. She couldn’t believe her first kiss was going to be with a man she didn’t know, even one as tempting and rugged as Mr. Hawkes. Her hands moved to push him away, knowing she should, and found herself unable to move him. In seconds her hands were pinned between them, useless.

A mere breath away from their lips touching he stopped and held her there, caught.

He sighed, looking straight into her eyes, “I suppose you’d never forgive me for stealing a kiss.” After a pause, he added, “I also suppose I better meet your mama if I ever hope to have a chance at courtin’ you.”

“Me?” She breathed in shock as he still held her close, pressed up against him. “You want to court me?”

“Right now, I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more.” He stepped back, gently letting her go. With a tip of his hat he moved even further away to a distance a respectable gentleman should give any young lady he chanced upon in the dark or anywhere since well-behaved young ladies were not out in the dark where they could be chanced upon.

“Momma.” She called out calmly, after she managed to catch her breath. “We have a visitor.”

Megan

“Stay down.” The man whisper-yelled as another bullet hit the sidewalk to her left, pressing her lower and tighter into the stone planter as if he could keep her safer that way. With each gunshot she shook harder. How was this happening?

Only seconds ago it had been a normal day. She had been walking to work with her big shoulder bag bumping against her hip in a comfortable rhythmic pattern, pleased that she would be getting to work on time without rushing.

Next thing she knew this guy came out of nowhere, enveloped her in a huge hug, pulling her down to the planter, at the same time gunshots started ringing out. The noise made her repeatedly cringe, wishing she could melt into the cold stone pressing into her back. It wasn’t until the man who had tackled her glanced over and forced her to make eye contact that she came to herself. She didn’t know him.

“Are you ok?” He asked as he held her gaze steadily. He didn’t even flinch at all the noise.

Megan couldn’t stay focused. Her gaze jumped from him to the people screaming around them, to where she could possibly run to escape, back to him, then on to any and everything else until he gripped her chin with a firm but gentle hand.

“Megan, I need you to look at me and verbally confirm that you are ok.” His calm voice broke through the chaos rebounding in her mind. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I…no. I’m not hurt, I think.” Megan blinked, staring up into his eyes like they were a lifeline. He returned it, as if he knew that she needed the steady reassurance. He continued to stare as her senses struggled to make sense of everything that was happening.

“We need to move.” He declared. And suddenly his face was right in front of hers. “Now.”

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” She pulled away, shrinking further into the cold stone.

Immediately she was distracted from her own question by the wry smile on his rugged face. “Now?” His head tilted to the side as he asked.

“What?” She gave a little shake to clear away her rather vivid imagination urging her to lean forward just a little and give him a quick kiss. He was so close and so gorgeous, it was hard to resist. Megan barely had the presence of mind to take his outstretched hand.

“We have seconds to get you out of here before that guy realizes that you aren’t hit or worse.” He rushed to explain.

“ME?!” Megan’s heart dropped. “What did I do?”

“You didn’t. Your boss did. Please let me get you safe before we go through what happened.”

At her nod he hauled her to her feet. There was a slight pause in the gunshots.

“How did you…” She began to ask as he pulled her quickly around the nearest corner.

“Not now!” The man insisted as they ran down the street.

It was several blocks before he flagged down a taxi and immediately directed the driver to go to a high rise building across town.

Megan flopped back into the seat and began to cry. While she had attempted to sob quietly he still noticed. Gently his arm came around her as he pulled her slowly over to him. The soft embrace only caused her to cry more.

When the driver noticed, he drove faster, probably wanting them out of his car before she did anything hysterical.

“Who? Who are you?” Megan whispered up into his ear.

“Dante.” He whispered back.

“You don’t look like a Dante.” She confessed as she leaned back into him. He was so comfortable.

He chuckled softly as he squeezed her close for an instant. “I promise I will do my best to explain everything as soon as we get to my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” Megan repeated.

“Safest place I know.”

She nodded. That made sense.

Once the cab dropped them off in front of a tall apartment building Dante slid his arm protectively around her, leading her into the building and to the elevator. It only took a few short minutes to make it safely into his small apartment. Megan plopped down on the couch.

“What is going on? Why do you think that guy was trying to shoot me?” Megan immediately started sputtering out her questions that had been racing through her head since they had made it to the cab.

Dante shook his head. “Let me explain. It should answer all or most of your questions. I am Mr Alvarino’s head of security.”

“My boss?” She interrupted in surprise.

He nodded and continued. “This morning I went to his home to relieve the night guard, only to discover both the guard and Mr Alvarino dead. After reporting it to the police I was looking for clues as to why they had been killed. Several files were missing and I recalled a conversation I had with Mr Alvarino several nights ago when he mentioned he may have stumbled into a criminal’s business by accident and that he had given you the files for safekeeping. So I immediately tracked you down.”

“How come I’ve never met you before? And why would he give files to me? And how did he get mixed up with criminals, he’s a graphics designer?!”

“Do you have the files?”

“You didn’t answer any of my questions. And how do I know you are who you say and not one of the criminals after these mysterious files?”

He sighed. “I haven’t met you before this because I usually am more behind the scenes, orchestrating who goes where and clearing venues for Mr Alvarino to visit. I don’t have time for field work.”

“Then why come out today?” Megan tilted her head, curious.

His head dropped slightly before he raised his gaze to look straight at her. “I didn’t want you to be a casualty.”

“We’ve never met.” She pointed out.

He shrugged. “I’ve seen your personnel file. You were cleared through me just like everyone else. I’d say I know you pretty well.”

“And so you decided based on my picture and a few facts in a folder that you would ditch your desk and come dodge bullets to save me?” Megan laughed at the absurdity.

His gaze held strong, catching her heart on fire with his intensely sincere eyes. “Yes.”

“Oh.”

Aria

Aria slowly stepped out onto the top deck of the cruise ship and breathed. The view was breathtaking, worth trudging up all those back stairs. In the next two weeks 2 weeks she could do whatever she wanted and her mother would have no way of knowing how she spent her cruise. Aria had been furious when first learned that her mother had bought her this ‘gift’; another one of her blatantly obvious matchmaking attempts.

Her mother had gone so far as to have her escorted onto the ship and had stayed at her door until just before departure to ensure she didn’t escape, despite her adamant refusal that this cruise was nothing more than a vacation. There were no signs announcing it but Aria was more than a little suspicious that this was a single’s cruise. Her mother had been right in assuming that the only way to make sure she went was to physically place her there herself.

Aria felt the monstrosity of a ship get underway only minutes after her mother left. She stayed in her room for nearly an hour when she decided to explore and had found the top deck. Thankfully no one else had found it yet and she was blissfully alone to stare off into the sea in peace and relative quiet. It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. She just couldn’t stand most of them, the mind-numbingly empty-headed self-absorbed chatterers grated on her patience.

When she heard the heavy footsteps coming up the steps she closed her eyes in denial, wishing for just a few more minutes. She turned with a smile plastered on her face.

Standing in front of her was a blonde, muscled hunk of a man wearing only his swim trunks and flip flops, looking much more ready for the beach than a cruise.

“Sorry. I didn’t think anyone would be up here.” He apologized, as if he could sense that he was intruding on her quiet time. “I just needed a minute away from…” He paused, searching for the right word before shrugging. “…away from people to be honest.”

Relaxing back against the rail Aria nodded. “I can understand that.” She turned back to her view, giving him space. “I’m doing the same.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lean on the rail near her. For someone looking to escape people he didn’t seem to mind being close to her.

“Are you just saying you understand to let me off the hook for unknowingly stealing your solitude?”

Tilting her head to look his way she really tried not to laugh. Yet out it came, light and carefree. She really had needed a vacation. It was making her feel lighter already.

“Why do you think I’m up here if I don’t understand? There is sure to be a party in full swing downstairs.”

His laugh almost made her want to move in closer. She didn’t.

“Valid point.” He acceded with a nod.

They stood there side by side in silence for several minutes.

Aria heard someone calling out in search of someone and would have ignored it except the man standing close beside her flinched.

“Is that someone looking for you?”

Face full of guilt he nodded. Again the woman called out. And still she couldn’t make out exactly what she was saying. “Girlfriend? Crazy Ex? Pyscho stalker?”

The gorgeous man laughed.

“My sister actually. She told me last week that I hide in my office and work too much. This cruise is her latest attempt to introduce me to the benefits of being social and partying. I think she is probably searching for me because she can sense that I am hiding. Any second now she is going to find me again and drag me downstairs to meet all her new best friends. And then begins all the obvious pushing to get me to date them all to see which one I like best.” He groaned and put his forehead to the railing.

“Not the life of the party?” Aria was growing intrigued by this man who not only managed to not annoy her when he spoke but caught her interest. If people weren’t talking business with her, she found that they irritated her too much to endure their presence any longer than absolutely necessary.

She watched as he faced her. “Truthfully, when I get around to showing up at a party I can be considered quite social and the life of the party. I can hide my antisocial comfort zone very well. Though I simply prefer to not show up at all. And since I haven’t felt the need to be social lately and so my sister has decided that I’m broken and need a girlfriend in order to be fixed.”

“Why? Sorry. I meant to say; would you like me to run interference?”

“Yes!” He laid a hand on hers where it rested on the railing. “If I was hanging out with a beautiful woman, she would get off my back and would have to be nice. A double win.”

Aria pushed her flustered and flattered ego aside for more pressing and immediate concerns. “I don’t think I caught your name. It might be important or your sister will be suspicious. I’m Aria.”

“Mace.”

“Well Mace, now that I am thinking about this, maybe you can help me as well, teach me to hide my anti-socialness. I’m afraid I have never been considered the life of any party.” She shrugged off the bitter sadness that swelled inside her for a moment. Memories of her mother constantly chastising her for hiding in her room during events flooded her.

Mace softly squeezed her hand, pulling her back to the present. His eyes were equally soft as he looked straight into hers. “Preferring some time to yourself is not a flaw. Nor is being shy. And… I will be happy to show you how to have a good time at a party.”

“Mace!” A girl who looked nothing like Mace stormed up onto the deck they were on. “Oh. Sorry.” The girl only hesitated a second before pushing forward, arm extended. “I’m Mace’s little sister. Don’t mind me.”

Arabella’s Errick (His POV)

Lord Errick Shorn, Earl of Tourlaine took in the mass of glittering debutantes and inwardly groaned. He was tired of the endless crowding of simpering young ladies vying to be near him. In their over-eagerness to please, conversations were limited to what they thought would please him. Yet they had no idea and never took the time to find out what he was interested in.

Before he could become ensnared by any more of the influential matrons pushing their daughters at him, he stepped out onto the dimly lit patio. It was too cold for anyone to be out walking in the cool evening air but warm enough that he could stay out for a good while and not freeze.

Glancing back into the ballroom, a tall dark-haired beauty that he did not recognize caught his attention. The woman was stunning, it took no brains to notice that, but that is not what held his interest. She had a familiar look about her, as if he should know her, but did not. Who did he know that would spark that sort of recognition?

The lady was currently enduring a dance with the Marquis of Waltonbury. And if dancing with him was anything like talking to the man, she was enduring his presence well with a smile he might say was demure or even sweetly forbearing.

Safely hidden outside he openly watched her glide across the floor despite her partner’s heavy-handed lead. She didn’t even wince when the Marquis stumbled a time or two over his own feet.

Once the dance ended Errick watched as she began making her way to the same door he had used to disappear out onto the patio. He melted back into the shadows, keeping an interested eye on her progress. Many people, men and women alike, paused in their conversations to watch her pass.

Surprisingly she made it outside with no major hindrances, no one seemed to notice her slip out after all the attention she had received simply walking across the room. He watched her give a hearty sigh once the door closed.

“Escaping?” He rumbled softly, not wanting to scare her too much.

The small smile on her face vanished. He couldn’t even hazard a guess as to what she was thinking of his intrusion. “I beg your pardon?”

While she attempted to sound scornful Errick inwardly smiled, allowing her to step back a pace.

“I saw the look on your face when you came out. Complete relief.” Just like my face must have looked like only minutes ago.

“I…yes.” Her face was a kaleidoscope of artfully suppressed emotions. “It was becoming rather stifling in there.”

He nodded, holding back his chuckle of agreement.

The woman’s eyes darted back toward the party. “May I ask why you are out here?”

Errick watched her glance about before settling her gaze on him as she awaited his answer. “I find I am in agreement with you, milady. Stifling. Was it the heat or the company?”

The tantalizing woman shook her head, causing her tight ringlets to bounce and sway. Errick had to fight the urge to reach out and snatch one. The impulse shocked him.

“If I admit to either I could get in trouble.” She chided softly.

And he was hooked. Here was a striking woman with whom he didn’t mind conversing with. In fact, he was quite enjoying himself. “Who would I tell?”

Her head tilted fractionally to the side, as if measuring his worthiness yet she held his gaze. “I don’t know you, so there is no end to the possibilities of who you could tell.”

He was inordinately pleased that he had greeted this fiery spark of a lady. “Good point.” Errick acceded. “Any chance you will answer what brings you here?” He took a step towards her.

After a long silence she looked into his eyes with a glittering sparkle. “To this particular event?” At his brief nod she continued, “My mother accepted on my behalf.”

Immediately he knew the reason she had come out to the patio; to hide. “Ah. So you are an unwilling participant.”

She made an odd little scolding tsk as she slowly shook her head at him. “There you are, trying to get me in trouble again.” Her soft teasing smile offset her tone.

Realizing that he had cornered her. He stepped back and gestured over to a nearby bench. “Just trying to get to know you.”

“Without getting to know me.” She moved toward the bench, glancing his direction as she passed him. As they went and sat on the chilly stone bench he feigned surprise. “What?”

“You know what I mean.”

There was silence between them for several moments, though not an uncomfortable one, when she smiled. “You have yet to introduce yourself.”

He relaxed and bowed his head. “I am not the only one who has failed to do so.” The grin he shot her was meant to encourage her to introduce herself first. Instead he watched her spine straighten and her slender shoulders draw back.

Full of practiced haughtiness she declared, “I was just introduced inside. For all I know, you already know who I am and are toying with me.”

“That argument can go both ways. You may already know who I am and be acting the innocent. However, I must confess, this is the most entertainment I’ve had in ages. Meeting you has been a delight.”

Again her head full of curls shook furiously. “I concede. Whether you already know or not, I am Lady Arabella Bourrada.” The incline of her head was as gracefully executed as a full curtsey.

The shock that thrummed through him invigorated his senses while he fought back the momentary alarm that accompanied the sensation. He recognized the name. Her mother was always going on about her most eligible daughter. “Lady Eleanor’s daughter.”

“You know my mother?” Her wary surprise made his smile return full force. There was something so alluring about how genuine her expressions were, even when she was trying to hide them beneath the veneer of polite gentility her mother had no doubt drilled into her.

Letting out a soft chuckle he nodded. “Everyone knows your mother if she has anything to say about it.” Purposefully he left out his own name. It was obvious that she did not know who he was and he was enjoying his anonymity. He didn’t want to spoil the moment. Yet her own curiosity pushed her to be more forthcoming than he suspected her to usually be.

“Who are you?” The words burst from her lips as if pushed out without her consent. The bright blush that followed confirmed it.

He stood up and bowed low to her, extending his arm to escort her back inside. “It has been an absolute pleasure to become acquainted, Lady Arabella. Forgive me for my lack of manners in not introducing myself sooner. I am Lord Errick Shorn, the Earl of Tourlaine.”

Have you read Arabella’s Point of View of their mutual fondness for hiding on balconies? Read here.

Ella James

The sun beat down in rolling waves, the air shimmering. Ella James relaxed on her lounge chair by the pool basking in the warmth while contemplating whether she was ready to dive in again. Deciding against swimming, she sighed and closed her eyes against the light, reveling in the prickling heat playing across her skin.

She was about to fall into a blissful sleep when she was abruptly lifted up and out of her chair by a pair of powerfully strong arms. Struggling to free herself from the steel-like embrace, she blinked furiously in the bright glaring sun.

It was the chuckle that preceded her graceless dunking that gave her the clue she needed to figure out who it was she was going to pummel as soon as she got out of the water. In that last millisecond she stopped struggling and latched onto his neck. The momentum did the rest of the work in hauling him in with her.

The chilly water jarred her a little but was more refreshing than annoying. Still, when her head broke the surface she shrieked, “Ryan!”

She heard his low, slow chuckle immediately behind her. Spinning as sharply as she could manage in 8 feet of water and tangled in her sundress, Ella James splashed him right in the face as he lunged toward her, fully clothed in what must have been a very nice button up shirt and silk tie before its drenching. Ryan slowed at her splash as he shut his eyes to the watery assault but it did not stop his forward motion. Instead he barreled straight into her, blinded and unable to see how close she was. Again she went under, this time a lot harder.

Coming up out of the water Ella James gasped for air. As soon as she could breathe she pounced on him, trying to bring him down and give him his own dunking but he was too solid and easily caught her around her waist. He hauled her once again into his chest and absorbed her momentum with a tight spin before laughing and dunking her again. She came up spluttering.

Ryan’s laughter rang out across the water.

“Hold still.” She yelled.

“Not a chance.” His laughter continued as he tightened his firm grip around her. “I don’t have a death wish. Besides I’m supposed to be working.”

Ella James shrieked as she found her arms pinned to her side with Ryan holding her immobile. As she quit struggling the world outside the two of them faded and blurred and she found herself leaning into his embrace.

One moment she was noticing her brother’s friend in a whole different way and in the next he threw her bodily into the air and back into the water for another dunking. Their battle continued for several more minutes with neither of them really getting the better of the other but she was definitely the only one getting dunked.

Ryan tried again to pin her arms to her side with a huge bear hug but she dodged out of the way. Arms free, she absorbed the pull of his hands on her waist and instead of coming up for air she swam deeper, aiming for his feet and yanked them out from under him. She finally succeeded in pulling him under with her.

It wasn’t until she walloped Ryan on the head by a pool noodle that Ryan stopped long enough for them to notice that they weren’t the only ones witnessing their epic water battle. They found her brother, Adam, standing with his arms crossed, eyes flashing, feet planted, lips compressed in a thin line. If his long suffering expression was any indication he had been standing there a while.

“Joining us?” Ella James called up to him, trying to break the tension. “I am currently attempting to drown your best friend and I’d appreciate the help.” She grinned up at her brother. As an afterthought she added, “He deserves it.”

A miniscule smile broke through Adam’s severe frown. “Ella James, at this point I would happily volunteer but the truth is I need that lousy friend of mine to get out of the pool and finish the deal we’ve been negotiating for months.”

Ryan reached out and pulled Ella James in front of him, pretending to hide from her brother. “Dude,” he called. “I wasn’t planning on getting in. Your sister looked like she was about to suffer from heat stroke and I felt it was my duty as your friend to save your sister from certain trauma. As I was so graciously depositing her in the pool she took me in with her.

“Uh huh.” Adam was not impressed. “Get out.”

Ryan nodded. “Sure thing. Give me a minute to apologize to the fair maiden.”

“Make it quick.” Adam called as he strode back to the house.

Wasting no time once Adam turned his back Ryan spun her around to face him and pushed her against the pool wall, effectively caging her in between his arms and the wall. Stunned by his sudden change from laughing to sultry serious Ella James did her best to look defiant. Ryan stayed still, close but not touching her.

After a long heartstopping pause she cocked her head to the side. “I’m waiting for that apology.” Ella James grinned. It wasn’t often that Ryan offered to apologize without a lot of arm twisting.

His grin turned warm. “Well, I wouldn’t want to keep a lady waiting.” He swooped in and caught her in a scorching kiss. It lasted mere seconds but she was stunned.

Ryan pulled back slowly. He paused and glanced over at the door Adam had gone through, “I think I will finish up this apology later.”

Ella James had just enough time to blink before he hauled himself out of the pool, jogging toward the house. As he reached the door, he looked back and winked at her.

She could only stare at the muscles now well defined by his wet clingy clothes. As he disappeared she came back to her senses and hollered after him, “Ryan!”

Alexandra

“Attention.” The tall woman in front of them stood up. Alexandra didn’t want to go anywhere near her, but as the rest of the girls moved forward, she was jostled forward with them. On the other side of the room the group of boys did the same. The woman continued, “As you know, this is the day when you are informed of who your life-mate will be. This is a courtesy as well as a ceremonial initiation into your training. After tonight you will not see your life-mate again until you turn 20, roughly 5 years from now, to perform the official life-mating ceremony.” She pulled out her list of names.

Alexandra stared over at the boys. She was going to be stuck with one of them for the rest of her life because their names were listed next to each other on a paper. True love in the making. Ha.

“Alexandra Royen. Brandon Sauer.” With a brief pause to allow the two of them to step forward and move across from each other, the woman continued on.

Alexandra stared over at the pudgy boy to whom she was now stuck. She was going to have to be top of her class in order to make up for whatever deficits this boy brought to the table.

With great reluctance she extended her hand, her mother’s sharp tone echoing around her head. ‘Manners matter most.’

The boy hesitated before taking her hand in a surprisingly firm grip. “You are beautiful.” His gaze was direct and he didn’t smile at her like he was teasing. Surprised, she gaped at him for several seconds.

Glancing down the newly formed line, Alexandra realized that most of the other boys and girls were talking to each other. One couple was already kissing.

Looking back at her future life-mate she laughed. “Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you.” The boy blushed. She hastily corrected herself mentally; his name was Brandon, not boy. Belatedly she added, “Brandon.”

“Alexandra, I’ll make you proud of me next time you see me.” He stood taller and smiled with a confidence she wasn’t feeling.

After only a few minutes, they were separated once again and led off into different buildings where they would be spending the next 5 years learning, near but apart. Someone higher up had decided years ago that by separating the boys and the girls as they entered their young adult years would allow society to help mold them into what was needed in the community.

For years Alexandra had heard her parents talk about their own life-mate ceremony with fondness. She had always been skeptical. Now, having met her own future life-mate she was even more skeptical. They said that each young person had been assiduously observed so that the pairings would be successfully matched, but how did that make Alexandra, who couldn’t stand being still for long, the suitable life-mate of a boy who looked as though he didn’t move from his couch most days.

For Alexandra, those five years of training held little meaning, mindless academia that required little effort on her part. She excelled in most every subject and was top of her class. Early on her advisors informed her that she had an aptitude for finance, so her training started immediately.

However they weren’t allowed to leave the designated outdoor recreational area, so she couldn’t go hiking as she had always done with her family. The treadmill in the small indoor gym became her escape from the stress. In her spare moments she would bring to mind that pudgy boy whom she had spoken to so briefly and wonder how they were ever going to get along. She studied and worked hard instead of dwelling on it. She tried to ignore the other girls when they would start to fantasize with each other about their futures. Alexandra was determined to make her own future.

When the day came for the life-mating ceremony Alexandra shivered in the cool breeze. Headmistress Crent had insisted that each of the girls appear in dresses. Alexandra only had one dress and it was not suited for the cooler air breezing about. Miffed and irritated, she fought to keep her bad mood from showing. She didn’t want the boy, Brandon, to think she was mad at him. That wouldn’t be a great way to start anything.

From where she stood on the cool grass she watched as men strode out of the other building to greet them. Her mind had to completely switch gears. These were no longer young, untried boys. In fact, some of them were very attractive men. She didn’t hold onto any hope that one of the attractive ones would be hers, after all, she had seen him all those years ago. And exercise was not a requirement of their studies.

Watching impartially as the other girls found their life-mates once again, Alexandra tried to not stare. Looking over the group she didn’t see anyone that looked like the boy she’d met so briefly all those years before. When no one stepped up to her and all the other pairings were complete Alexandra began to panic. What would happen if he wasn’t there? Was she destined to a life alone?

One of the other men with his arm around his life-mate, Karen, stepped closer and whispered, “He’s coming. You have yourself a very ambitious man, always something to prove.”

She had just enough time to breathe a sigh of relief when the door to the men’s building burst open with a bang and a tall athletic mountain of a man came running out. His brisk jog over to the group made sure everyone saw his entrance. He didn’t seem to care, his eyes locked firmly on Alexandra.

This wasn’t the out-of-shape boy she had met years ago. This man was seriously physically fit, and gorgeous. Alexandra had to focus on her breathing.

When he was less than a foot away from her he slowed just enough to scoop her up and twirl her around, happily laughing.

“Alexandra!” His new bass voice rumbled as he gripped her close.

“Brandon?” She still hesitated, not able to bring together this man with her memory of him. All thoughts disappeared as he kissed her, allowing the momentum of their spin to slow as she melted into him.

With a sigh, she no longer wondered if she would be physically compatible with her life-mate. There was no doubt she would. And now, the idea of getting the time and chance to discover the rest of the man in front of her seemed intriguing. What had made them compatible?