Golden Darkness

Chapter 1

I stared at myself through the mirror above the bathroom sink. As far as looks were concerned, I had no idea why he found me attractive. I still couldn't quite wrap my head around the idea that of all the women he could've noticed, from all the women he could've had, he chose me. And I chose him. I smiled to myself as my mind wandered back to that day. The day I met him.

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I was at a fundraising event. It was a bake sale and a walk-a-thon combined. I guess the idea was to lure people in with homemade cookies and brownies and then try to get them to walk off the extra calories. It was kind genius, actually. I was helping pass out free samples of the bake sale and trying to stay cool under the sweltering August sun. I approached a man who had his back turned to me, facing the bake sale tables. I walk up next to him, and loot at the tables too.

"I see you're eyeing the lemon bars," I said. He turned to me, appearing slightly startled that someone was talking to him. He was wearing a plain blue baseball hat that covered all but just a little blond hair peeking out from under the cap. He had jeans, a white shirt, and a khaki jacket with stitching on the side. It read "1918" in fancy script. The baseball cap cast a shadow over his face, so it was hard to see. But I continued anyway.

"You have a good eye. Those are mine," I winked at him, simply trying to ease the tension. He clearly wasn't used to talking to strangers. "Would you like to try a sample?" I asked, holding out the red tray with little plastic cups containing an assortment of miniature sweets. I nodded to the lemon bar sample. His shoulders relaxed and he looked visibly more comfortable. The man took one and nodded.

"Thank you," he said quietly. His voice was deep and soft. I could tell right away that he was a leader, not a follower. He was used to being in command; in control.

"No problem. What's your name then?" I asked politely. He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. "Just trying to make pleasant conversation to pass the time." I shrugged. I still couldn't see his whole face. When he would move, one part would be in the light, but another part would be plunged back into shadows. There was an awkward pause. Fine, if he didn't want to give his name, I'll change the subject. My eyes swept over his jeans and jacket.

"How could you possibly be wearing that right now? It's ninety-six degrees outside!" I laugh. I can see a hint of a smile form on his face.

"It doesn't really bother me," he shrugged. Yeah right.

"It seems to me like you're hiding something. What? Do you have an embarrassing tattoo on your arm that you don't want anyone to see?" I smiled teasingly at him. He chuckled softly. A deep sound that filled my chest with warmth.

"No, no. Nothing like that," he stared at me, seeming to wonder if he should continue the conversation. "So, where's the money going to?" he inquired.

'To where is the money going,' I thought instinctively. Don't ender your sentence in a preposition. But I shook off that "grammar Nazi" side of me and answered his question. The money was going toward disabled veterans and troops that have sacrificed so much for our country. I explained that the money would be used to help with medical bills and mental health care for the veterans. The man seemed to like this answer.

"So, have I earned your name yet?" I teased.

"What's yours?" He was just messing with me now.

"I asked first."

"You're the one who approached me," he grinned. Wow. His smile was...mesmerizing.

"Uh," I stuttered, trying to pull away from my distracting thoughts. "My name is Eleanor. But my friends call me Ella. Or just El." I was rambling just a bit, but I couldn't help it.