Many times he had thought about meeting her in person, but because of circumstances it was a prescription for disaster. Then came a time, when he was on a business trip in her town.  Reluctant to change things between them, he didn't tell her.. Better she remain catalogued in his mind., as a bright little package labeled fun personalities..  and really she  was fun. No other person male or female had ever tickled him, like she could. Even when she was serious, he had to smile.

 

Dragging along his trusty laptop, in between business meetings and at night, he posted as usual.

 

On his last day in town, they got into a conversation about night clubs and bands. She casually mentioned, that she would be in one of those clubs later for a company party. A co-worker was getting married and this was her last big blow out, before tying the knot.

 

As it happened, the club was less than two blocks from his hotel.

 

Just knowing she was that close was too big a temptation to resist.  Arriving early, his intention was to have a couple of drinks and watch her from afar. She came in with a large group of people and having seen a picture of her, there was no trouble picking her out. She had never seen his picture, so no worries about her recognizing him.

 

The women in her group far outnumbered the men and before long, one of them was at his table, urging him to dance. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to be pulled onto the dance floor trying to keep sight of her thru the maze of gyrating bodies.

 

When the song was over, the little blonde he'd danced with asked him to join them. This was more than he hoped for and he readily agreed. Nobody seemed to notice there was an outsider in their midst and he quickly blended into the crowd . After a bit, he got his courage up and casually manuevered closer, wanting to hear the sound of the voice he had imagined so many times. Once there, the scent of her perfume distracted him and the words stuck in his throat. 

 

He had decided to tell her who he was, but the loudness of the music made conversation impossible.  By the time the band took another break and it was quieter, he'd lost his nerve.  What if she freaked out and thought he was stalking her? This was somebody he cared enough to spend hours online with and the thought she would think less of him, for being there without an invitation was unsettling.

 

He decided to ask her out for coffee after the party and tell her everything. At least, that was the excuse he gave himself for staying.

 

She was  no shrinking violet and there was a steady stream of people by the table, but she appeared to be unescorted. The chairs were jammed so closely, he could feel the warmth of her body. Unbidden, thoughts of how that heat would feel uder his hands, made him shift uncomfortably in his chair. As if she read his thoughts, she smiled and suggested a dance. After that they stayed on the dance floor, isolated from the rest of the party and alone in the sound.

 

As the night wore on, both of them drank way too much. He knew he should go, but against his better judgement, he stayed drinking her in with his eyes, listening to the lilt of her voice and reveling in the sound of her laughter.  There were prettier girls there, but he saw only her.

 

He was never quite sure how it happened, but they ended up in his motel room. For just a second when they walked thru the door, a sober thought niggled him to tell her. About that time, she stumbled and when he reached to steady her, it was as if an electric spark flew between them. With a graon, he pulled her into his arms. The rest of the night was a blur of heat and passion. Fantasy come to life wiped everything from his mind, but the need to get closer.