Stephanie and Dani

That Saturday morning in September I never suspected that a fellow nature enthusiast was about to change my life. She was standing just a few feet away with the narrow waterfall at her back. Her eyes held my eyes for a few seconds.

Low-rise baby-blue cutoffs and white crop top bared her curves and cleavage. She wore pink Nike hiking shoes similar to my own. Her blond hair cascaded past C Cup breasts. Just a hint of makeup adorned the bluest eyes I ever saw.

"First time hiking," she queried.

"I do plenty of walking, usually just the streets through my neighborhood."

"I'm Danielle McGavin. Friends call me Dani."

"Stephanie Tattaglia," I replied.

We fell into easy conversation about hiking. As it turned out this is not her first trail but one of several which she had hiked since her college days. At 32 years old, she maintains a slender vase-shape figure.

I mentioned running five miles a day, usually in the morning. I talked about taking different routes just to keep things interesting. I mentioned barking dogs.

The conversation continued letting us became better acquainted as we walked.

Danielle turns out to be a graphics designer.

"I work from home. My apartment came with two bedrooms so I made one of them my office."

"Are you self-employed?"

"No," she replied. She added, "tell me about Stephanie."

"I'm an RN, night shift emergency department at Nashvlle General."

"How long have you been employed there?"
"Since I graduated college, nine years ago."

"So that would make you 31, right?"

"Bingo," I replied.

"Are you from around here?"

"Murfreesboro," I replied.

"That makes two of us."

Barely six months had passed since Lynne had walked away from the relationship breaking my heart. They had been the best years of my life. As I look at Danielle part of me wants to find love again while another part of me wants to protect my heart.

After roughly a half hour we parted company but not before exchanging contact information. I returned to my apartment. She, no doubt, returned to her place.

Over the next several days Danielle and I exchanged short text messages, none of which contained romantic overtones.

The texts were simply videos or photos that she thought I would appreciate. Some just mentioned incidents.

A week passed. Just home from work the following Saturday, I opened a video chat with my sister Joann.

"What's happening girl?"

"Not much. Do you know Dani McGavin?"

"Yes I do," said Jo. "You know we graduated high school together, right?"

"I met her on the trail last week. When I told her my name she mentioned you."

Joann and I kept the chat going.

A text came through while my sister and I were engaged in video chat.

It turned out to be from Dani.

"Coffee tomorrow morning?"


"Sure," I replied.

Suddenly things got complicated. Seconds after I replied to the invite from Dani I responded to a knock on my door.

Lynne Robertson had decided to pay a visit.

"What a surprise," I exclaimed.

"May I come in?"

"OK," I said.

I moved aside letting her in.

"I made a mistake in leaving you. Stephanie I miss you terribly."

"I can't," I said softly but firmly.

"I'm still in love with you."


"I moved on."

"There's someone else, isn't there."

I gave a silent nod.

"Who is she?"

"No one you know," I said.

She hesitated to leave.

I added, "you should go."

Sitting alone in my apartment I contemplated the difficulties of having to deal with my ex. Dani and I are not lovers but we're building something. Lynne has no right to want me, not after she broke my heart, not after telling me that I mean "nothing."

At 9 on Sunday morning Dani waved to me from a corner table in her favorite cafe. Taking my Latte and Tiramisu, I joined her there.

We swapped anecdotes and had a few laughs making me feel as though we had been friends all my life.

Her expression changed.

"Stephanie we need to talk about us, about this."

I replied with a silent nod so she continued.

"I have feelings for you."

A few seconds of silence ensued so she continued again.

"We can go slowly if you want."

"Danielle this is scaring me."

Lynne Robertson please stay away. I'm in a new relationship.

We remained for several minutes after finishing our coffee and pastry.

She suggested taking "a long walk through the park."

The breeze chilled the air as we walked at a leisurely pace until we came to the park.

She patted the spot next to her on a bench. The kiss was tentative.

Lynne Robertson could not have been far away. Barely five minutes had passed since Dani and I took our seats on the bench. I looked ahead to see my Ex closing the distance between us. She finally stopped close enough to reach out and touch me.

"I thought I would find you here."

I did not reply. Danielle gave me a sideways glance then looked at Lynne. My Ex tried to resurrect old memories.

"This used to be one of our favorite spots."

"I don't recall," I lied.

Danielle and Lynne seemed to glare at each other for a few seconds.

As Lynne finally moved out of earshot Danielle spoke.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me. She hurt me so badly when she told me that I meant nothing to her. I just want her to go away."

We leaned into lip lock. When we finally parted we were both out of breath.

"Next Saturday night I want to make dinner for you."

"I'd like that. It's not often that I get to eat Italian cuisine."

My brain went to work thinking about recipes.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you, about 6 o'clock."

The week passed quickly. I had crossed paths a few times with Lynne, a fellow nurse in the department. The encounters were brief.

Saturday came around. My dining table was set with my best China. The Lasagna had just come out of the oven.

Danielle wore a blue moon Contour Sculpt sleeveless mini dress that hugs her curves. She held a bottle of Italian red wine.

"You look put together."

"I just bought this dress. It's the one I told you about."

I set the baking dish on the table.

"This might not be as good as my mom's."

"I'm sure it'll be delicious."

We enjoyed a leisurely meal and talked about growing up and siblings.

"My parents are old fashioned. They know I'm gay but they don't exactly approve of it."

I contemplated her remark replied to it.

"My sister Joann was the first person I came out to. When Lynne left I cried on Jo's shoulder literally."

"Is Joann gay?"

"She's straight but I knew that I could come out to her."

"Your sister sounds like a kind person."

I poured a second glass of wine then a second one for my guest.

Dani and I settled into my sofa, a tan fabric piece facing a 50-inch Samsung. I cued up "Bloomington" a coming of age picture. She snuggled her head against my shoulder and I draped an arm over her shoulder.

"I never had an affair with a college professor but I did have a crush on one. Her name was Brenda Larsen. She taught Corporate Identity."

"You guys were on a first name basis."

"Yah," said Danielle.

As the movie came to an end we opted for jazz music. I opened Music on my Mac. Book and selected Keith Jarret. The set opened with "Skylark", a song that made our feelings rise to the surface.

She pressed her lips against mine.

Dani and I dashed naked off to bed, having left clothes strewn across the floor. Soft moans of delight escaped my throat and hers as soft hands found every erogeneous zone. Her lips pressed my lips then the kiss deepened.

The soft moans crescendoed into screams as orgasms wracked our bodies.

We awoke to sun rays brightening the room.

"How did you sleep," I asked in a soft tone.

"Like a baby," she replied.

The sound of a kiss shot through the room.

Seconds afterward we stood toe to toe in the warm shower.