Chapter 1

I never spoke with him until the last day of the year. There was no reason to. He was older and it just never seemed right. I saw him all of the time around town and he would catch me off guard with his eyes, those beautiful brown eyes. Something about his eyes were mysterious that I wanted to solve. It was a small wish that I could not act upon.

The last day of the year, I was walking back to my house. I had done a little bit of sight-seeing and window-shopping since it was after the holidays and every store had end-of-the-year sales. It didn’t do me much going alone, but I guess it was some activity I can say I did. Not paying much attention to the world around me, I was jamming inside my head with headphones and country station, the only station that could tell love stories from the heart. I took a slightly longer step than the one before and slid about ten inches down the sidewalk. I didn’t know I could keep my balance that long. Here I go, headed down to the ground, knowing it was the last breath I would take, an arm wrapped around my waist and spun me in a circle until my feet were flat on the ground. My brain still spinning, I looked up and took a long blink. I could hear his heart beating, I only prayed whoever this hero was couldn’t hear mine.

“Thank...” I managed to get out, but stopped as soon as I recognized the eyes. “Um… Thank you. I wasn’t paying attention where I was going.” Oh Lord, anybody but him.

“So I saw. You’re welcome.” He looked down and let out a small gasp. He let go of me and took a small step back. “Sorry about the dramatic save, but I slipped also.” He let out a little chuckle.

“Oh no, it’s fine.” Great, my go-to answer. “I felt like I was in a commercial.” Stupid thing to say. “But it was fun. Thank you.”

Giving a smile that melted my heart, he softly spoke, “Is your mind blank from the fall or from me?”

My heart dropped. “It’s a big blur.” I cannot think straight to save my life. I never thought I would be talking to him or listening to his voice: not too deep and not too high. It was just perfect. Great, my life was in danger again. First, public humiliation, now heart attack. “I thought for a minute that I was gonna die of public humiliation.”

He laughed, “Well, I’m happy to have saved your life.”

“Thank you.” Stupid woman, stop thanking him.

“I’m going to head off now. Let your thoughts get organized since you’ve thanked me at least four times.” He was still chuckling.

“Okay. Sorry. I-I just... I don’t know.” Honesty is the best policy, right? I hung my head. I saw his sneaker take a step towards me. Warmth had filled my face as if the sun was touching my cheek. He lifted my head with his hand and stared into my eyes. He placed light pressure with his other hand on my waist and whispered, “How about I walk you home?”

I nodded.

His hand went from my waist into my hand. I had stuffed my headphones sometime during this fiasco. He walked on my right to keep me away from potential ice. He already thought I was clumsy. What was next?

We had reached my house and I continued to walk up the walkway, he stood at the end. “What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Your home is so beautiful. Enriched with Christmas lights and garland and just wow.” I just smiled. “You do realize it is almost January 1st, right?” he asked, dampening the good feeling.

“Yes, I know. Tomorrow exactly. Growing up, we left our lights up until after the New Year. It didn’t feel right taking them down yet.” Exchanging smiles, “Would you like to come in for a moment or two?” I heard myself slip out.

“Sure, that would be nice. But only for a moment or two.” He smiled.

Shocked at the invitation acceptance, I unlocked the door, turned off the alarm, and motioned him inside. Following him inside, I slid my phone out of the jacket pocket into my pants pocket and tossed off the jacket to the armchair by the entrance to the hallway. I had stumbled to the entrance to the kitchen doorway. I turned around and this man’s look was just precious as a baby. I wanted to stare at it forever. Finally, I broke the silence. “Would you like anything to drink? Coffee, Water, Coke?”

He shook his head no and walked towards me. My heart started pumping. He had placed his hands on my waist again and pressed close, pushing me against the wall. “This is a very beautiful home, but I need to go.” Releasing me, he started towards the door.

“Just for a moment or two?” I joked. He smiled and laughed. “This is crazy, but what is your name?” I asked him.

He replied, with straight face, “What is yours?”

“I asked first,” I said, chuckling, as I was walking towards him.

“Well, if you must know my identity, and it seems that I can’t stay as your nameless Knight in Shining Armor of the night.” Opening the door, he stepped outside. Smiling softly, he said, “It’s Shane. And who are you, my damsel in distress?”

Giggling, I wished I could stay labeled as the damsel in distress, but I leaned on the door frame and uttered, “Sophia.”

“Sophia. That is a very beautiful name.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek and walked away.

I stepped back inside, closed and locked the door, and turned the alarm on. I slid down the door to sit on the floor. I just knew it was not the last time that Shane, my Knight in Shining Armor, would be at my house.