"Whew! I hope this is worth it."
But, of course he knew it would be worth it. It was just the time spent in the car showing its wear. But the end was near. He could feel it as he aimed his car along the twisting Virginia mountain road. Fall in the hills was always special to him with the brilliant yellows, oranges and reds layered across the mountainside like an oil painting lazily strewn across the landscape. The sun cascaded through the treetops, making for the beginning of a beautiful sunset.
"How perfect is this?" he thought. With the scenery, the hint of a fall chill in the air... and her! The reason for taking this insane trip! The reason he completely rearranged his life, came up with multiple alibis, and the reason his hands were sweaty and his heart was about to beat out of his chest. Her blue-green eyes dazzled him from the first time he saw them, even though he only saw them through a picture. The pictures she did send him were wonderful. He could only hope that reality lived up to the expectations. A smile and small laugh followed that. She probably thought the same of him!
Upon pulling up to the inn, he could only smile. "Even if she is a bust, the weekend will be worth it for this place!" The website didn't lie. It was dark wood with beautiful scenery all around. The waterfall that the site showed but be heard as is cascaded over the rocks behind the inn and the ensuing stream of icy cold water flowed just off to the right and snaking under the bridge at the foot of the driveway. The lobby was just as inviting - a large stone fireplace with a large roaring fire dominated the room. To the right was the bar. Not a closed, separate entity, but more of an extension of the lobby, separated by only tall plants and some conspicuously placed granite rocks.
He checked in and got the keys, along with an envelope. It wasn't special. Standard white letter size with his name on it. What caught his eye was in the upper left corner. A checkmark! That was the signal! The signal that she was here! "Wow! She must've hauled ass up here!" Now he was really going insane. Where is she? Would he recognize her from the pictures? None of them actually showed her face well... so other factors would have to come into play.
"...Hi..."
Well, that left nothing to doubt. That voice was unmistakable. He took a deep breath and slowly turned around. He was met with a beautiful set of blue-green eyes that twinkled with excitement.
"Christy?" he said with nervous anticipation.
"Mark!" she exclaimed with more warmth that made the fire envious.
They moved towards each other and embraced like lost lovers, holding each other as if their very lives depended on it. The electricity they generated could be felt throughout the room. This was not lust... this was real love, the kind of love movies used to be made of.
No words were spoken for a long time. This was all about this new feeling. That single point of first contact that has no substitute. "Ohhhhhh, Mark! You are making me weak already." He reluctantly pulled back and looked directly in her eyes, smiling. "Maybe we should get a drink first?" She nodded her approval and they walked arm-in-arm to the bar. They quickly found a booth and he ordered two bud Lights (her preference, he remembered).
There was nervousness as they held hands, talking about simple things... the weather, the drive, the fireplace. Simple handholding gave way to hands on thighs and heavy petting. There was no doubting the attraction, the desire, the pure passion in the air. It was palpable. But at the same time... that nervousness of when to take that big step? Mark came to the conclusion that there was no sense in being timid now.