“Home at last.” James cheered, switching off the engine of his SUV. “Take my keys and go in. Wait for me in the living room. Don’t turn on the light. You’ll spoil the surprise.”

“Yes, sir,” Olivia smiled playfully. By then, he was overflowing with a sense of relief. They had managed to avoid a painful argument and they were about to spend another wonderful night together. In spite of that, though, he could not forget the stiffness in her voice or that she had almost believed a stranger’s lie.

“I barely know you and I’ve been nothing but good to you so far. Still, you let that bitch’s tweet affect you. Take your own advice, Olivia. But, I can’t blame you. We’ve only been dating a few days.”

The large box in his trunk brought a smile to his face. He picked it up and carefully carried it, until reaching his front door. James stepped inside and pressed the light switch on the wall on the left.

“You can open your eyes now.” He said. Olivia obliged. Surprise spread over her face, as she laid her eyes upon the box. The shape and the large, black letters near the floor left her no doubt. It read:

Taylor – 616CE

She covered her mouth with her hands, shocked to her core. James waited for her to say something, anything, but she would not speak. Silence was so thick that he could cut it with a knife. Olivia blinked back tears, as her hands began to tremble. Her muffled sniffle filled the air. Baffled by her reaction, he breathed in heavy sighs, tapping his index finger against the box.

“It can’t be.” She finally whispered, dropping her arms.

“It is.” He assured her. “I thought you’d – ”

“I can’t accept this.” Olivia sniffled, raising her eyes to his face. “It’s just too much.”

“What?” His voice went up several octaves in surprise.

Olivia ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms. “James!” Her broken voice vibrated through his chest, as tears streamed down her cheeks. “This is a twenty-five-hundred-dollar guitar, for God’s sake!”

“Oh, man…” He whispered, running his hand through her hair. “I’d no idea you had so much pride.”

“I’m sorry.” A heavy sigh left her lips, as she stared up at him. “I can’t believe you. This morning, you went through God knows what and then, you bought me a present?”

“I remembered what you said the night I found you.” James’ voice was thick with emotion. “You know, about Taylor guitars.”

“A pair of shoes would have sufficed.” She teased him, putting her hands on his chest. “It would have been a lot more useful.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He nodded, a faint smile forming on his face.

“The guitar was going to help me release tension?” She raised her eyebrow: “How?”

“No, not really,” James muttered. “I have another surprise for you. This one’s in my bedroom.”

“I’d love it if we went to the pool again.” Olivia spoke in a husky voice.

“We can’t.” He said. “Just count to twenty and come inside.”

“Nice going with that guitar, you idiot: you should have seen it coming. Anyway, I think she’s going to love this. I know I will.”

James lit two candles and placed one on each nightstand. He pressed the “play” button on his stereo, the click-clacking of her heels getting louder by the second. The sensual, keyboard introduction of Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” filled the air, as she walked into his room.

“May I have this dance?” He requested, offering his hand, gazing deep into her eyes. Yet, she did not give him her hand. Nor did she put her own hand on his shoulder. Instead, she wrapped her slender arms around his back and closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest. James bent his head down and buried his face in her hair, taking her in his embrace. With her intoxicating scent filling his nostrils, he lost himself in the moment, savoring the sensation of her warm body in his arms, as the romantic ballad sent chills down his spine…

Watching every motion In my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean Finally lovers know no shame Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn around and say Take my breath away Take my breath away Watching I keep waiting Still anticipating love Never hesitating To become the fated ones Turning and returning To some secret place to find Watching in slow motion As you turn to me and say My love Take my breath away Through the hourglass I saw you In time you slipped away When the mirror crashed I called you And turned to hear you say If only for today I am unafraid Take my breath away Take my breath away Watching every motion In this foolish lover's game Haunted by the notion Somewhere there's a love in flames Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn my way and say Take my breath away Take my breath away

With Berlin’s ballad slowly fading out, Olivia slowly leaned back and opened her eyes. The sweet, loving look in them made his heart leap with joy. Even in the pale candlelight, they were shimmering. She did not need to open her mouth; they were describing her feelings very well. Her tight hold felt like a sweet prison he did not want to escape from.

“I could write ten poems about your eyes.” He said in a voice no more than a delicate whisper: “so true, so penetrating; just beautiful.”

“You don’t have to.” She whispered, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment: “all I need is your smile; your voice; God, that voice…”

James could not resist her anymore. He tilted his head down, his heart pounding in his chest as his lips crushed against hers. Olivia’s passionate kiss swept him off his feet, as she ran her hands up his back. But his girlfriend had done much more than that, in the few days he had known her. She had pulled him away from his reality, showing him everything he had been missing out on for almost a third of his life. Amazingly, Olivia had won his trust and restored his faith in people.

“I’m falling in love again. Nah, who are you kidding, James? You already are in love with her. That’s why you bought her the guitar, that’s why you feel your heart melting, every time she kisses you. Enjoy it. You’ve been waiting for this for too long…”