And so here we are, with me anxiously staring out of the window and looking for him. He had sent me a ticket to his last seminar and had promised to escort me there as a way of an apology but it didn't look like he was coming. Suddenly, a black limousine pulled into the parking lot and trundled to a stop just outside my door and my heart skipped a beat.
"I'm here, sweet Carla. Come out and meet me."
Apprehension rolled through me like a conquering wave and my mouth dried up, my palms suddenly clammy. Did I really want this? I grabbed my purse before I had a chance to second guess myself any further and headed outside. The driver's door opened and he touched the brim of his hat in welcome to me, opening the door and offering his hand as I stepped inside. It took a moment before my eyes adjusted to the dark interior and I instinctively turned toward the other seat.
"Hello, Carla."
His smile made my heart leap again and I knew I'd made the right decision. He was easily six feet tall and had a nice build but his best item was his face. Dark hair framed light green eyes and a full mouth that curved into a smile that mirrored my own. I nervously perched on the seat across from him, staring in surprise at his beauty.
"I want to hear your voice for real."
He smiled, easily and slowly, leaning closer to me and touching my hand. "Hello, Carla. I'm glad to finally meet you."
I released the breath I was holding so hard that it sounded like a sob and a look of panic crossed his face. "I'm sorry. I've just been waiting so long ... "
He scooted across the seat and enveloped me in his arms, holding me tightly against him and I let a few tears go, overwhelmed. "It's all right. I didn't mean to frighten you."