The next day, I was awakened by the ringing of the telephone.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Dawn?"

"Yes, this is her. Who's this?" I say rubbing my eyes and sitting up in the bed to notice it is only 8:30am.

"Did I wake you? This is Brian. I'm sorry I called so early, I can call back later if you want?"

I open my eyes wider, "No, that's okay. I had to get up in a few minutes anyway. Charity and I are going shopping."

"Oh, okay. I just wanted to tell you I had a good time last night and was wondering if you wanted to have dinner at my place tonight? I really like you and I would like to get to know you better, if you want?" He pauses.

"Well, I'd like to see if you really are country and can cook, so that would be nice. I'd like to get to know you better, too. When do you want to get together?" I ask.

"How about I pick you up tonight at 7:30 and we can spend the evening doing anything you want at my place."

"That sounds good. I'll be ready."

He takes a breath, "Okay, so, I'll see you tonight."

"Okay, I'll see you around 7:30." We say our goodbyes and hang up the phone as Charity comes in the room.

"Who called and why were they calling so early?" She asks as she sits on the foot of the bed.

"That was Brian. He's picking me up at 7:30 for dinner and an evening at his place," I smile.

"Well, sounds like somebody might get lucky tonight....speaking of, that means Howie will be over tonight. You know, he, Howie and Kevin share an apartment, don't you?" She looks at me.

"Yeah, he told me last night that he and Howie share a place, that Kevin was looking for his own place," I say as I get out of bed and go into the bathroom.

"Well," Charity says, "right now, he still lives there. I hope you have fun. Let's go shopping!"

We spend the day shopping for new outfits so we can look good for Howie and Brian.

When 7:30 rolls around, I am sitting the living room, looking in the mirror at my make-up, doing last minute touch ups, when there is a knock at the door.

When I open the door, Brian is standing there, with a bouquet of red roses, in a suit and tie....looking good. I decided to wear a blue pin-striped pant suit with a jacket that came to my thighs. I invite him in.

"Charity, Brian is here, so we are going."

Charity comes out of the bedroom in a white sundress, fixing her hair.

"Okay, just have fun, and no need to hurry home," she smiles and winks at me.

"Funny," I look at Brian, "was Howie coming over here?"

"Yeah, he was leaving as I was, so I guess he may be a few minutes late....you know, his hair has to be perfect." He smiles at Charity.

"I'll be back later, don't wait up," I smile at her.

"I won't," Charity says.

When we arrive at Brian's, we meet Howie coming out the door, asking me if Charity was mad at him for being late.

"No, she is probably just getting finished fixing her hair, too," Brian says, laughing.

We go in, and the first thing I see is the lights are turned dim, and there are three candles on a table in the kitchen. I can smell dinner, and I am starting to get hungry.

"It smells good, I hope it is as good as it smells," I say smiling at him.

"Funny, don't be surprised if it isn't," he says pointing to the couch.

During dinner, he had soft piano music playing, the candles lit, and the dinner was delicious. After dinner, we danced in the sitting room to Boyz II Men. He was singing in my ear as he held me tight.

When the song "End Of The Road" went off, we stopped dancing, and looked at each other. The next natural move was he kissed me, softly on the lips. It sent chills up my body. We stood there for a few minutes kissing, while another Boyz II Men song started playing.

We then sat on the couch, talking. We found out a lot about each other. It was a nice time. I am getting to like him more and more. That was when he told me about his career.

"Did Charity or Howie tell you about the group?"

"Well, Charity had mentioned when I first got here about a month ago, but nothing in detail. Why?" I ask, sipping a glass of strawberry wine.

"Well, we are a group, and I must tell you, that I have never imagined the impact we have had. I mean, when we do concerts, I just look at all the people, crying and screaming, and wonder, what they see when they look at us. They must think we are larger than life, when really, we have people we look at the same way. I don't think they see us as human, I really don't."

"Well, maybe it is the same as it was with Elvis, these people, his fans, got to know him so well, like they think they know you. They think they know the real you, when they don't. It must be amazing, to see that many people who really want to just get near you like that." I say, as I just stare into his steel blue eyes.

"Well," he sits up, "that is the thing, they think they know us and they don't. They only know what they read in magazines, and most of that isn't true. I just wish we had the opportunity for the fans to get to know the REAL us, you know? What about you? Are you a fan?" He asks looking at me.

"Well, to be honest with you, Charity has played me your cd, but I only listen to country music, so I wouldn't consider myself a fan. Wait, that came out wrong, I mean, I love to hear you guys sing, you are very talented. But, I guess it is because I am a country girl at heart and always will be."

"Don't worry, we come across a lot of that. You know, people that have heard the music, and like it, but they aren't fans. Really, that is better for me. Now, I know we can get along since you aren't a fan. I can't see myself sitting here or eating dinner with a girl that only sits and cries, you know, 'I can't believe I am here with you!!'" He says, imitating a crying fan.

"I can understand. You would not enjoy yourself. Brian, I like you. You are a great person, with a wonderful personality. You are so sweet, perfect, and you are a beautiful person, inside and out..."

He cuts me off, "But.." he says looking at me.

"But, nothing. I want to get to know you. I know I haven't known you long, but what little time I have known you, I like you a lot. I know that may sound a little strange, but it is true."

We get up and start dancing to the soft music coming from the stereo. We begin to kiss, and this time, I don't want to stop. He stops kissing me, rubs my face, and asks me if I really want to spend the night with him. I can't speak, all I can do is nod my head. He leads me upstairs to his room, sitting beside me on the bed, and we begin to slowly undress each other. We can still hear the music from downstairs, and it just adds to the perfection of being together.

As we lay back on the bed, Brian is singing a song that says, 'You are my fire, my one desire. Believe when I say, I want it that way.' We begin to make love, but I am not sure if it is love at the time, but before long, I realize that this is the man I have waited my whole life for.