Tess awoke to the sun pouring through her blinds. She turned over and saw Paul lying next to her, so peacefully - so very sexy. She was dumbfounded that she had spent all night with essentially the man of her dreams, and in a couple days, he'd be go...
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Is this really happening right now? Where did this guy come from? He's seriously too good to be true. He's on a business trip, which means he's probably just looking for a fling. But this doesn't feel like any fling I've ever experienced.
Thoughts race through Tess's head. They walk through the park, together, hand in hand. It feels surreal. She looks around at passersby to not make it obvious that all she really wants is to stare at him. The times she did glance over at him, she caught him staring, too. He smiles at her, "Do we really have all this in common or are you just agreeing with me to get on my good side?" She giggles, realizing that he was thinking the same thing as her. "So, I'm not the only one thinking this is all too good to be true?" He shakes his head.
They find a park bench near the pond and sit down. It's a beautiful afternoon; not a cloud in the sky. A pristine calmness could be felt. There was no other person in the world in existence at that moment. She only saw him and he only saw her. Tess wondered how in the past ten years since she'd moved to New York, she hadn't found a man like Paul. He's the epitome of her type and has everything she had ever hoped and wanted in a man.
She was 21 when she moved to New York. She was an artist and dreamt of owning her own studio and gallery. Maybe she doesn't own Sunset Heights, but she runs it, and that's pretty close. But, her work consumed her. She knew Sarah had her doubts about her; constantly trying to set Tess up on dates with a friend of whoever she was dating at the time. But Tess knew better. She knew how it would end. They were needy and wanted way more than she was willing to give. Although, it could be that she just didn't feel it with them. She didn't feel that spark. The kind of kiss that you see in the movies. The one that makes you kick one leg up; the kind that makes you look like a silly school girl – or a flamingo.
And now there's Paul. The one who gave her a tingly feeling in the pit of her stomach from the moment she saw him. He was perfect. Maybe too perfect. She looked deep into his eyes as he told her about his family and life back in Miami. "Are you originally from there?", she asked. He nods. "Born and raised. But I travel quite a lot because of work, so I'm really not there a whole lot. But when I am, it's all work and no play." She smirks at him, "So you're saying you're pretty boring then." He nudges her, "Are you testing me? Am I going to have to show you how fun and exciting I am?" She laughs, "Not at all, 'cause I'm probably just as boring, if not worse."
He lets out a big belly laugh. "You're gorgeous, how the hell can that be possible. You probably have guys lining up to go out with you." Tess straightens her posture up with a little attitude, "That's right, you better take a number." He puts his arm around her and hugs her. She fit so perfectly in his arms.
"What do you say we grab some dinner?", Paul suggests. "Sounds like a great idea." Paul smiles, "Why don't you go home, freshen up, and meet me at the MOMA in about an hour." Tess looks at her watch, she releases herself from his embrace, startled. "Oh, my goodness, you never made it back to the museum! You had work to do and I kept you from it." "Don't worry, this was well worth my time. I'm going to head over there now and take care of a few things before I see you again. I will see you again, right?"
