We are on our way to the mystery restaurant that Warren has in store, and it is a gorgeous evening. It is cool but not cold and it looks like it is going to be a clear night. We continue our conversation about everything and anything that comes up, I feel like he is a guy who tells it how it is and isn’t afraid to hold back much. I was quite surprised with some of the things that he has already shared with me, I am beginning to think that he is a lot more like me and is also one who does indeed wear his heart on his sleeve as he had told me before. I am fine with that, I will in no way be hurting this man, I am positive though he will end up hurting me. He ends up turning onto a side road that goes to this little restaurant alongside a local lake. I heard a lot about this place but was never here, it is a gorgeous wooded area and as you come closer to the restaurant the driveway opens and you have a gorgeous view of the lake. I am amazed at the scenery, I say in awe, “wow, Warren this is beautiful.” He looks over at me and smiles, “I hope you like it here, I haven’t been here in a few years and I thought that you maybe would enjoy this place. I know you told me that you like the Ocean and I would have liked to take you to Jersey and have dinner along the beach. But the 3-hour drive was a little too much to fit into the day so, I figured that I would plan for that outing on another date.” I blink at that statement as it hits me, another date, so he is thinking of seeing me again. I am hoping he means for us, I hope he is thinking about seeing me again, because I know that I want to see Warren Davenport again. He comes around his truck and opens up my door, he takes my hand and helps me down. I just can’t get used to a man doing these things, it is so odd. But I like it don’t get me wrong, he is just so perfect in so many ways and he is with me. We walk up to the entrance and he checks us in as the gentleman takes us to our table. This place is as beautiful on the inside as the outside, it is so romantic. We are seated, and he orders a bottle of wine for us, and he looks at me and tells me to order anything I want. I wonder what I am going to eat, I am now a bit paranoid about eating in front of him. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to feel comfortable the entire day and not worry about something. I knew something would make me nervous and it looks like eating in front of Warren is going to be the event to make me nervous. I open the menu and I gasp, oh my goodness this place is expensive, I look up at him and he smiles and says, “anything you want Sophie, I mean that.” I smile back and shake my head as in agreement. I look over the menu for the most non-messy dinner one that I will not end up wearing. I decide on the roasted chicken, with mashed potatoes, and mixed steamed vegetables. Warren orders the prime rib, baked potato and broccoli. They bring a basket of rolls and he digs in and hands me a roll. We start talking about food and Warren tells me about his appetite. I never knew anyone that could eat like he claims he can. I cannot believe how if he eats as much as he says he does, how he doesn’t weigh 700 pounds. He soon explains the answer to my silent question, he explains that he goes to the gym daily to eat that way. He says that if he wouldn’t go to the gym he would either not be able to move because he would be so overweight, or he would have to cut down on his food intake. He chuckles and says, “but I have a love affair with food and I do not see breaking off with that anytime soon.” Dinner is wonderful, and the company is even better. We finish up our meal and wine and we head outside. The sun is just starting to go down, so we walk over to the lakes edge and I am just amazed at this day and at this man. I look at him and smile as I say, “Warren, I seriously have no idea where you were hiding or where you came from, but I want to tell you that I had an amazing day today. I am really surprised at all the lengths that you have went to today for our date. I have never met a man like you, you are so kind and sweet and gorgeous to boot.” He looks at me as if I said something concerning, “Sophie, you aren’t going to say you don’t want to see me, again are you?” I shake my head and now I am the one who is confused, “oh my God no, I am hoping that we will see each other again Warren, if that is what you want. I am just at a loss as to how to thank you for today, no man has ever shown me this much attention let alone taken me out like you have done today. You proved to me with the plans you made that you listen to me when I talk to you, you paid attention to the things I enjoy, and you planned today around all those things. I feel like I am stuck in a dream and I don’t want to wake up. I just hope that this will not end up the way I am afraid it will. I guess I fear getting hurt again.” He takes my hands and faces me towards him, and says “you don’t have to wake up, this is reality and not just a dream. But I am hoping that this is the start of many wonderful dreams of yours that I can make come true. I know that you have granted me one of my wishes that I have been waiting to happen for a long time. I got to meet a wonderful, smart and attractive woman that is honest and great to be around.” He leans over and gives me a kiss, a kiss that sends electricity throughout my entire body, I feel little waves through my stomach and in between my legs as he kisses me and holds me within those strong arms. I am pressed against his rock-hard chest and I just want to stay here forever. It feels so safe, warm and it feels like I belong there in his embrace with his lips meshed with mine. When he finally releases me I feel faint, I stand a moment with my eyes closed and savor that kiss and hug. I open my eyes and I look at him and he immediately apologizes, I say, “Don’t apologize Warren there is absolutely nothing to apologize for, I want to thank you. Thank you for running into me that night at the stop light and thank you for everything. I just want to ask one favor.” He shakes his head and says, “yes anything you can ask me anything Sophie.” I say to him, “Please Warren whatever you do, do not change the person that you have been today. I don’t want you to play me as a fool, I am not blind Warren, I see you and I see my reflection every time I look into the mirror. I know that a hunk and nice guy like you can have any gorgeous woman out there, and I know that I am not worthy of a guy like you. Please Warren, the girl in front of you has had a rough go with men and I have built a guard that protected me from being hurt and for some reason today you were able to lower that wall, and I am scared. Whatever you do, please don’t shatter me anymore than what I already am.” I quickly say, “If you were just doing this as some sort of game, or you just needed to find a girl to hold you over until the knockout comes along, let me know now. Please don’t put on an act to be someone you’re not and then walk away from the girl that lies there in pieces, shattered, hurt and alone.” He is shocked I can tell by his face as he grabs both my hands again and looks me deep into my eyes and says, “Sophie, I promise you I am not going to hurt you, I knew on the day of the accident that there was something special about you something different it is like you drew me to you. I am the man you have seen today, I am in no way planning on hurting you Sophie. Please believe me when I tell you that I am not a guy to play games and to hurt women, I hardly ever go out on dates. I have been looking for a woman that I can date and have fun with and maybe even end up having a future with. Sophie, this was not a one-night thing, I really do want us to see each other again. I don’t know what you mean by you are not worthy of me, Sophie apparently you are blinded from what you have been through to not notice the beauty you have and the beauty you obviously possess inside of you as well” I look at him and smile at him, I shake my head but do not speak, I am barely holding back the tears that threaten to fall. We walk to his truck hand in hand, I just hope he can’t see the tears in my eyes as he shuts the truck door. He gets in and shuts his door and looks over at me, I keep my head straight looking out the windshield. He reaches over and touches my chin to turn my face to him. He says “Sophie, please if just one thing comes from today, let that be your trust in me. I will not hurt you, and I don’t like to see the concern in your eyes and face, I want you to feel safe with me and to be happy.” A tear escapes from my eyes as I say, “Warren I will try but my heart and who I was have been shattered time and time again by men who couldn’t hold a light to you. I want this, I want us to see each other I really like you, a lot. Just know that what I am feeling and fearing right now is not something you did wrong, I just want you to come clean and be honest with me. It is hard for me to believe that you are truly interested in me.” He leans over and kisses my cheek and as he says, “we will work through this Sophie, you will see all you have to do is trust in me. Forget about all those fuckheads that did what they did to you, obviously they were not very fucking bright. I am not a dumb man, I know when I see something good, and you Sophie are good. We have a lot in common, more than you know and we had a great time together today. I don’t want it to end on a bad note, please Sophie trust me.” I shake my head as he pulls out of the parking spot, I watch the lake disappear as we drive off into the wooded area. I think to myself I just hope that I am not going to regret my choices. I pray that you are truly the gentleman, and nice guy that you showed me today. I think to myself about how much effort he put into today and I wonder if he really would have gone through all this trouble just to fuck me over or to just have a girl in his life for the moment. As we pull up to my apartment he puts the truck in park, I think ok now he is going to want payment for the money that he spent today. I am shocked when he leaves the truck running and gets out to come over to open my door. He takes my hand and helps me out of the truck. He holds my gaze with his and says, “Sophie, you are a great person, I can see us seeing each other and having a lot more fun dates. I just don’t like to see the pain and fear in your eyes that I can see. I do not want to make you uncomfortable, or pressure you in any way. We will take this slow so that you can see that I am the man you seen today. This was only the first date, I will prove to you that you can trust me and not fear anything when it comes to me.” I can’t find my voice, as tears begin to fill my eyes again, he looks at me puts his arms around me and squeezes. I don’t know if it is just me hoping or if I really can feel the honesty in his hug. He looks down into my face and leans forward for another kiss, this one has more passion in it, and again I feel it all the way down to the tips of my toes. He tells me goodnight and asks that I say good night to Brandi and says he will give me a call tomorrow if that is ok. I shake my head and thank him again for the wonderful date and tell him to have sweet dreams. I unlock my front door go in and close it, I lean against the door as the tears start to fall from my eyes as I say out loud, “I hope my choice in trusting you is right and that I will not be hurt yet again.” I am not sure why I am crying all I know is that for me Warren Davenport feels like he can put my heart back together again or will destroy it for good. I just pray that he is willing to take the time and patience with me and help me in the search of finding the Sophie that was at one time whole.” |