Chapter 1: Barbecue

At the office picnic and barbecue, Lara was distracted. She held her now-empty disposable plastic tumbler tilted toward the ground. Turning her head slightly, she saw the most beautiful man she had ever encountered. Being in her early thirties, this was no small event. Turned slightly away, he was talking to another guy.

“Why has this stranger affected me like this? Like I remember from a kid’s book: ‘He’s not short, tall, big, or small.’ But those eyes! They just draw me in. Lashes like that should be illegal on guys. Lots of curly black hair. Trimmed beard, under a killer smile. Killer! Who is he?”

“I did NOT expect to see a cute guy here today, I know everybody in the office. He’s not from our shop, for sure. Very, uh, healthy looking: my age but no gut.”

Just then, Lara’s thoughts were disrupted when Celia (her work partner and friend from the adjoining office) appeared at her elbow.

“Here, Lara, I saw you were dry.” Celia slipped a newly filled cup into Lara’s old one, nesting them together.

“Wow, thanks for the refill, Celia, you notice everything!” Conspiratorially, “I gotta ask, do you know that guy?”

“What guy?”

“Are you kidding? The extreme hunk over there. He’s doesn’t work for us, I’m sure of it.”

“Hunk? Who?”

THAT guy.”

You think he’s good looking?”

“Stop teasing me! Yes, I have eyes. I am trying to think of an excuse to go meet him.”

“Well, he is moderately attractive, I guess.”

“Celia!” hissed Lara, sotto voce. “Focus! Do. You. Know. This. Guy?”

“Well, kinda. He and I have been married for about nine years, now.”

And in that moment, Lara felt stunned. She sloshed a bit of her drink on the grass and covered up her reaction with some coughing.

Celia chuckled, catching her husband’s eye.

Davis

The man of the hour was walking towards them. Lara kept her composure, outwardly.

“Davis, this is my office buddy, Lara Norton; Lara, my husband, Davis Catania.”

Lara: “Hello, Davis. I’m glad to finally meet you.”

“And I’m happy to meet you, Lara. Celie has talked about you often, it’s all good, I promise.”

“I hope so. I’m afraid she never mentioned your name to me before, just, ‘my husband.’ So Celia didn’t take on your name, if I can ask?”

She answered, “I didn’t want to be ‘CC’, so I just kept my birth name. It’s easier to keep ‘Celia Burton’ on all my records and ID.”

The conversation continued covering various light topics, “small talk,” like you might hear at any picnic or party. This was a relief to Lara, who was still struggling with her internal reactions to him.

Close up, Davis was even more overwhelming. In the strong sunlight, parts of his black hair actually glinted blue. His features were strong and symmetrical. Lara was careful to keep her eyes up. Being herself attractive, she loathed men who “talked to her tits” instead of her face. But temptation was strong!

Basic information, some of which Lara already knew, was being shared. Celia and Davis had met in college eleven years ago, married after graduation. No children. Also an office worker, Davis kept himself in good shape with a gym membership.

“I think the sun is starting to get to me, guys, I’m going to skip out now and cool off. Great to meet you, Davis, and I’ll see you at work, Celia. Bye, now!”

In truth, it wasn’t the sun that was heating Lara, but a different heavenly body, 5’ 11” tall [180 cm] and topped with black curls.