Captivate Me: Chapter 1

The first time I saw him, I swear my heart stopped. It happened a little over a year ago, but we both still remember it. After all, it's sort of hard to forget a meeting like ours. It certianly was something.11

While I'd love to tell you it was breathtakingly romantic, I would be lying. We did not fall in love the first time our eyes met. More like I wanted to die the first time our eyes met. Romantic it was not. Emberassing it was. Our first encounter was one of those oh-my-god-please-shoot-me-now kinda moments. Yeah, it was that bad.22

It was an average day and I was on my way to the first day of work. It was kind of hot and I had an hour to kill, so I figured I'd go in and grab a soda. Nothing abnormal about that.33

I can promise you now he wasn't the person working the counter. Oh no, of course not. That would have been far to normal for someone as clumsy as me. But anyway, back to the story.44

Well, I got my soda. Nothing too exciting there. As soon as I was out that door, I broke into an easy jog. I figured getting there early would make a great first impression. And then I ran into something, spilling my opened can of soda all over it. I look up and, surprise, surprise, it's him. (I didn't know who 'him was back then, though)55

Looking at 'him' was enough to make me want to cry. He was absolutely gorgeous with glowing russet skin and sexily disheveled dark hair. He was tall, well-built, and covered in soda. The world was truly a cruel place.66

Instead of yelling at me as I would have expected, he merely looked down at me (way, way down at me as he was about a foot taller than me). And that was when I went into ramble-ridiculously mode.77

"I'm SO sorry," I choked out, wishing I could dissapear.88

"Uh, it's okay," he said, still looking at me.99

"D-do you want me to get you a new shirt?" I stuttered.1010

"That's okay," he assured me. "I can just borrow this idiot's shirt," he said, pointing to the amused guy standing beside him.1111

My cheeks reddened.1212

Noticing my obvious discomfort, he grinned appologetically. "Excuse him. He doesn't know how to be polite. I'm Dean by the way."1313

"Holly," I replied quietly.1414

"Nice to meet you," he grinned, extending a hand.1515

My heart nearly stopped when our hands touched. No, it wasn't the magic of the moment. I think it was a combination between my emberassment and nervousness. I was terrified I would somehow farther screw up. Enchanting and demure, I am not.1616

"I need to get to work," I suddenly blurted.1717

"Uh, all right," he said, confusion crossing his handsome face. "See you around then."1818

With one last timid wave, I bolted for the safety of work. 19