Stacey was speaking very quickly. Her eyes were wide and full of panic, guilt written all over her face.

Gently, I grabbed her by the elbow and gave it a light squeeze.

In reaction, she looked up at me, our eyes locking.

Instantly, electricity flew between us, scrambling my brain. I wanted to say something, but I could do nothing but gaze at those beautiful hazel eyes of hers. Somehow, they were even more beautiful now than they had been last night. My breath hitched in my throat as my heart hammered faster than ever. Beads of sweat prickled my temples.

After a moment, however, I was able to compose myself and pull away. “Hey, it’s alright,” I said. “It was an accident. I have plenty more shirts. It’s no big deal.”

“Are you sure…?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Positive.”

“But at least let me help you clean it.”

I had the feeling that I wouldn’t be able to convince her otherwise, so I nodded in agreement.

Together, we walked back into the coffee shop and into the family bathroom.

“I’m not making you late for work, am I?”

“Well, technically, I was on my way there, but I also don’t have a set time when I need to clock in, so it’s fine.”

She frowned, wetting a wad of paper towels under the tap. Then she started to dab my shirt, soaking the material in an effort to fight the coffee stain already settling into the fibers. As she did so, there was a look of pure concentration on her face.

All I could think about was how close she was standing. So close, in fact, that I picked up the scent of her perfume. Vanilla with a hint of rosewater. It was intoxicating. Sweet. Just like her.

My nostril’s flared as I breathed in it, feeling like I was getting high off the scent.

And then, her hand moved further down my torso, nearing my pants. A burst of excitement surged through my veins. Blood rushed from my head down to my groin, causing my member to stir to wakefulness.

No.

Not now.

I filled my brain with disgusting thoughts, trying to quell my erection.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, noticing how tense I had become. At her question, we once again locked eyes, but this time, our faces were dangerously close. I could feel her warm breath on my lips, and I wanted nothing more than to tangle my fingers into her hair, pull her close, and taste how sweet she really was.

Desire like I had never felt before bubbled inside of me.

What was this? Why was I feeling this way?

I took a deep breath and looked away.

We were both blushing.

Could it be…?

No.

I barely knew her. That would be silly. Love at first sight was just something you read about in fairy tales. It didn’t happen in real life, did it?

“Um… sorry…” she mumbled.

“No, no, don’t apologize. Thanks for helping,” I answered quickly.

Silence.

A thick awkwardness wrapped around us, making the bathroom air stuffier than it already was. It was only then that I realized I was alone with her. We were alone – together – in a small room. Well, there was the baby. But if this was a movie, I’d be making a move. I’d be pushing her against the wall, our lips colliding together in the start of an erotic dance.

I pictured her clothes coming off piece by piece, scattered all over the floor.

No, Ned, not here. Not now, I mentally chastised myself.

“We should… um…” I started, but I couldn’t find the words to continue.

“Leave?”

“Yes,” I breathed, sweating through my shirt. It had become impossibly hot.

She nodded her head and, with cheeks aflame, she grabbed the stroller and headed out. Once on the sidewalk, we were about to part ways when something possessed me. Without thinking, I grabbed her hand, our fingers locking together.

To my surprise, she didn’t pull away.

“Um… do you think… you’d like to have dinner with me?”

She blinked in confusion. “What?”

I gulped. Great, here comes the rejection.

Still, I wet my lips and tried again. “Do you want to have dinner with me? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I can cook something, or we can order delivery and eat at my place.”

“Oh…” Her blush deepened as she looked away.

Dammit. Why had I been so rash? Now I had scared her away….

“I’d love to…”

Wait, did she just say yes? Her answer came as a complete surprise.

“What time?”

“What time?” I repeated like an idiot. “What time for what?”

“Dinner?” She laughed. “Are you okay?”

“Oh… right! Um… how about seven? Does that work for you? I leave the office at six. But if you want to do something a little earlier, that’s fine too. My schedule is pretty flexible.”

“No. No. Seven is perfect. Well, I guess I’ll see you back at the apartment then?”

I nodded. “Yes! At seven.”

“At seven,” she said with a smile before walking away.

I followed her with my eyes until she rounded the corner and disappeared. I couldn’t believe it. Had I actually asked her on a date? The last time I did that, I was in high school, trying to get a girl to go to prom with me. Let’s just say, it didn’t really work out the way I had planned. I wasn’t the smoothest of guys when it came to women…

Finally, I managed to pull away and head for my car, still thinking about Stacey.

There was definitely something going on between us. As oblivious as I usually was, I could feel it. Something about the air changed whenever I was with her, almost as if all of the particles were charged with energy. It was a feeling like none other, and one that I didn’t want to fade.

Yet I didn’t know what to make of it.

What the hell was I supposed to do?