Back to back home runs. (Life is always sweet and salty, isn't it?)

He called.    

Many times, as a matter of fact.  We’ve been texting, chatting and sharing our lives at a comfortable pace. 

He knew I needed a diversion, and we both wanted to spend some time together.   “Why don’t we meet at the park again and we’ll take the dog for a long walk around the lake?”  (He was dog sitting for a friend.   She was a gorgeous black chow mix, who brought an incredible smile to my face.)

We met after work on Monday and enjoyed another picnic by the water.  My heart skipped a beat when I saw him, his handsome face smiling at I walked towards him.  We laughed and chatted easily, comfortable and almost giddy in each other’s company.  We walked around the lake hand in hand, exchanging stories about the day, the past, our families and our fears.   

And even though it was AGAIN 80 degrees out – with a hundred percent humidity, we managed a two-mile hike around the lake and through the mountain trails.  (Sure my hair was soaked and my face glistened, but he didn’t seem to mind. He told me again how beautiful I was, and I searched his face for any indication of mental illness.   I realized he has a crazy attraction to sweat.)

We walked along a rocky path through the overgrown forest and finally came out onto a narrow, macadam road.  It looked like a bike-path, but could easily accommodate vehicles as well.

He stopped at the path and looked at me for a moment.  I peered up at his rugged, handsome face and said, “What?”

“I’d like to try something, if you don’t mind.  You can trust me.”

Oh Jesus, I thought, this is it.  Surely that’s what every SINGLE serial killer in this world has said to his victim.

And of course I said, “Ok.”  Gulp.

He stood up straight and tall, heads above me,  and placed my right hand in his left.  He put my left hand on his shoulder and his right arm around my waist. 

And then we danced.  

Up on a steep mountain road in the middle of nowhere, we danced.    We danced to the music of the forest, to a sweet song wrapped in the perfume of pine and wildflowers and gazed into each other’s smiling eyes.

Somebody pinch me…