Chapter Three

Carolyn was nervous.

It was nearly ten a.m. and she was looking forward to seeing Eric. She spent the week avoiding him. After their meeting she was werery on being next to him again. She closed her eyes and she was captivated by his blue eyes. There was something about them that she couldn't get them, or him, out of her mind.

"Carol?"

"Huh?" Carolyn spun around to acknowledge her sister.

"I need you to help me with the table. The wind keeps making the banner fly."

"Sure." Carolyn helped out the team, not thinking of Mr. Blue eyes.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

Carolyn looked up and there he was. Mr. Blue eyes himself flashing his pearly whites. She got up dusting off her hands.

"Hey. Glad you could make it. Let me introduce you to my sister before we go about the tour. Bethany?" Bethany turned to her sister.

The two almost looked alike. Both had red hair and green eyes but Bethany was shorter by a few inches.

Carolyn picked up her hair in a messy ponytail and turned her attention to Eric.

"Eric, this is my baby sister, Bethany. Bethany this is Eric." The two shook hands.

"Nice to meet you." Bethany said first.

"Same to you."

"So, let me show you around." Carolyn announced pointing towards the next booth with her open hand.

Eric smile, but followed. "To be honest, I don't really want to know much more about the town. I'm more interested in you and your family."

"Me? I don't know what is so special about me."

"You'd be surprised what people find interesting."

They walked over to a bench and sat under the pavilion.

"What about me do you want to know?"

Eric leaned back, placing one arm behind her while he tried to face her face to face. "Everything."

That one word made Carolyn's heart skip a beat. What she about to unleash? She had many places to start but what did be really want to know?

"I'm an open book. Ask me anything." Famous last words, she thought.

"Alright. What do you do for fun?"

Carolyn gave a chuckle. "I don't think many people find it fun but I love to read and write. I read almost anything people suggest to me and I write lots of stuff.  From short stories to poems."

"Actually a creative mind is signs of a healthy mind. I would call it fun if you enjoy doing it."

"I do. I have to find something else to read besides documents and spreadsheets."

Eric smile at her again. She found herself smiling back. How was it this strange man made her feel like a giddy school girl? She just couldn't put a finger on it but she felt like she could tell him anything her asked for. She doubted she'd do anything for him but then again she just met him.

"Next question. Do you feel you've been sexually pleased with you past lovers?"

"Bit personal, don't you think?"

"You said anything. Besides, I'm curious." He gave her a wicked smile.

"I was raped at fifteen by my first boyfriend. He tried to pull the whole 'if you love me you'll prove it' BS. I wasn't ready but he took it anyways. Took me three years to trust guys again. But that didn't turn out well either. He got terribly angry how I would cancel dates because I had to take care of Bethany or be there for my mom. He turned out to be a very selfish person. He was also way to rough in bed. He wanted...well kinky stuff that I wasn't into it."

Carolyn had small flash backs of the horrible moments. She has had such bad luck with men, she hasn't been on a date in almost a year.

Eric looked like his jaw clinched. Why was he so upset? However, most people gave her the same look when she explains things. She found it embarrassing but a bit relieving at the same time. She was open with Bethany about safe sex and only having sex with someone that starts off as a good friend first. To not rush into it and take her time being a kid.

"Are you looking for a gentlemen now?"

The question caught her off guard. "No but I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason."

"How about love at first site?"

"I guess that's possible." Is that what happened to Carolyn? Did she find herself in love with a guy she only just met? Surly there was another reason she had feelings for him.

"...dinner tonight?"

Carolyn snapped out of her thoughts realizing she didn't hear anything Eric said. "I'm sorry.  What was that?"

"I asked you out to dinner tonight. I think some more questions could be better asked over wine."

Carolyn smiled at him. "Yeah. Dinner sounds nice. Where and when, we can meet."

Eric looked offended but didn't sound like it. He shook his head briefly, "No. I'll pick you up at nine and the where is a surprise. Just give me your address." He handed her his cell phone.

Carolyn took the phone and looked at it. Did she really want to do this? She felt like she owed him a chance. Sighing, she opened the notepad app and entered her address.

"Great." Eric said. "I'll see you at nine." Was all he said as he walked away.

Carolyn, still in shock, walked back to the high school's booth.

"Carolyn, what's wrong with you?" Bethany inquired.

"I'm going out on a date with Eric this evening."

"That's wonderful. You need to get out and have fun. I can take care of myself tonight."

Carolyn couldn't hear anything else her sister said. All she was thinking about was what to wear and what she has gotten herself into.