Chapter 1

Unbelievably, Alex barely noticed her the day that Cyn walked into Prossa’s Hardware Store. The day that Cyn walked into his life. But he definitely took notice when she strutted right up to him, smiled, and asked, “Hey, handsome, could you help me pick out some paint for my bedroom?”

Momentarily stunned, Alex simply stared at her. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t noticed her the second she walked in. Her face was warm, comforting, and as spectacular as the summer sun. Round, bright, with a blaze of golden hair surrounding it. Her eyes exuded a fiery heat despite their cool blue color. She had plump lips, rosy cheeks, and a smile that almost blinded him.

And her body. Curvy – some might call her “fat.” Mammoth tits, a surprisingly slim waist for a bigger girl, and large, rounded hips which only made her large, hourglass figure even more pronounced.

Cyn looked at his name tag, snapped her fingers twice and asked, “Alex, honey? Try to focus. Paint?”

“Right. Right. Uh ... it’s down back.” As they walked down the center aisle, Alex asked, “What color were you looking for?”

“I don’t know. I just got a sudden urge to repaint my bedroom, so I hopped into the car and came here.” Then she added, “My parents are at our beach house this weekend and I was bored.”

As they got to the back of the store, Alex pointed to the display of paint color cards. “Well, here are all the colors that we have. See if something strikes your fancy.”

Waving her hand at the display, Cyn told him, “Oh, I don’t want to look through all of that.” She smiled at him and he was simply entranced. “What color do you think would fit me? What do you think would be my style?”

“I don’t even know you.”

She held her hand out to him. “I’m Cyn. I like long walks on the beach, the smell of summer rain, and sunflowers.”

Alex shook her hand. “I’m Alex,” he said.

“I know.” She pointed to his name tag. “I called you by your name, like, two minutes ago.”

Alex looked down at his shirt and muttered, “Oh. Yeah.”

“So, what color should I paint my bedroom?” Cyn asked. Then teasingly added, “Alex.”

“Ummm...”

“Not much of a talker, are you? Alex.”

“No. I ... I was...”

Cyn put her hands on her hips and looked at him. “But you’re very cute, Alex.”

He turned bright red. “I...”

Cyn waited patiently, clearly enjoying how flustered he was becoming. “This is a big decision, so take your time.” Then, again, added, “Alex.”

“Uhhh...” Gaining back a modicum of composure, Alex finally stammered, “Yellow? Like sunflowers?” What he was really thinking was yellow, more like bright, cheerful, and beautiful. Stunning even. Like Cynthia.

But that was just his eyes looking at her and his mind wandering.

“Yellow...” Cyn mulled the idea over in her head. “Yellow ... I like it! That’s a great choice. And I love sunflowers.”