S
tella Evans, well known for making the relatively unknown writer, to one praised by famous and respected millions all over the globe. When she was through promoting them their books were often signed for movie deals. But the latest story she was hailing hit a little close to home for comfort. Much like the lead character of the book, Stella’s life was barren and had been now for 12 years. Since she had taken this job and decided to make it a career. She had not allowed time out to give her own personal life flourish and be fulfilling. Why this little fact decided to present itself at a time when she was so fully booked with promotional issues, and meetings with screenwriters to approve the use of the latest book for a movie, Stella didn’t know. What seems of more importance at the moment was that the tears that want so desperately to flow were threatening to burst from her eyes right here in front of everyone. With so much on her mind Stella had to excuse herself from the crowd and get a fresh breath of air so that she could regain her composure.
As Stella steps through the door a tear trickles down her cheek. The night breeze gently catches a wisp of her golden blonde hair and streams it across her face. But the scant lock of hair could not hide the tears that were beginning to silently flow from her eyes. Unaware of the small group standing at the corner of the deck Stella walks to the edge of the balcony and clenching the rail, she allows her tears to fall over the balcony into the emptiness below. With each tear that spills from her eyes, Stella’s wounded heart aches a little more. How did she allow herself to alienate herself from Love for so long, she weeps? She had met plenty of men in the name of business and one or two for a friendly date or two but none had sparked the stirring of feelings within her that would cause her to take a deeper look.
Stella suddenly shakes her head and nonchalantly wipes the tears from her eyes when from the peripherals of her vision she catches the motion of a masculine figure strolling her way. She stares out at the tree line hoping he would just pass her by.
But as the footsteps approached her they slow and a very strong, masculine hand reaches forward before her, a low, soothing, voice discretely whispers in her ear. “Take this please, Stella, you seem to need it more than I.” It held no undertone of amusement or impatience, but a note of sincerity and concern for her turbulent emotions. Embarrassed, Stella takes the handkerchief and turns to thank the man with the healing voice, but he had already moved on. Her eyes run frantically through the darkness, searching for the man with the voice that could soothe her soul so completely. Feeling like a blanket of comfort wrapping around her vulnerable heart and calming her waivering nerves then just vanishing into the night air. ‘His voice with its rich deep tones was one she would never forget,’ she vows. She only had the brief, faint glimpse of the male figure, which strolled from the darkness beside her just as quickly as he had vanished back into it, away from her. Returning her attention to the kerchief she held in her hand. “Did it hold his scent? What cologne did he wear?” she wondered. Stella raises the cloth to her nose closing her eyes and breathing in deep. Yes, she whispers when the lingering warm aroma of the virile man mixed with fine cologne wafts through her nostrils and embeds itself in her memory. His scent was distinct in character and unlike any she had experienced before. Then Stella pulls her shawl over her shoulders, and she walks back to rejoin the event inside.
Back in the fray of the bustling Promotional party, the first of many yet to take place, Stella, as she had done outside only moments ago, surveys the room looking for the man of mystery that peaked her interest. Why she thinks she can find him by sight, she did not know, but what else was she to do, sniff every man in the room she chuckles lowly. “What’s so funny Stella?” her associate Linda asks. Oh, nothing Linda, I was just laughing at how silly I can be sometimes. “Well let me in on this humor, PLEASE! I could use a good laugh right about now, I hate theses things,” Linda laughs. “Weeell,” blushing, Stella draws the word out trying to decide if she should tell Linda the real reason for her laughter or if she should concoct a wild story that would surely make her laugh. Deciding that Linda usually watched her every move when they attended these parties, Stella suddenly just blurts out the question, “Linda, Did you see a man walk in from the balcony just before I came back inside?” Linda stunned at the abruptness of Stella’s question just pointed toward the bar mumbling, “I think he was heading to the bar.” Then Linda’s face brightens and she interjects, “Man was he Ever Handsome.” As Stella turns to head to the bar, Linda stops and looks at Stella strangely and asks shaking her head, “What was so funny about that?” she shrugs and carries on with talking to other guests.
Walking swiftly through the crowd, Stella slows her pace as she nears the bar. Smiling and nodding to guests that she recognizes from previous promotions and shaking hands with the major critics from the literary community as she passes them. Stella stands at the bar and looks back out into the crowd. A slow gentle breeze flows through carrying unmistakable scent that made her stomach flutter with excitement. She looks down to make sure she wasn’t carrying the purse that she had slipped the handkerchief into. No, she had left it with Linda. Stella closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. And turns to the bar to order a Sea Breeze. As she opens her mouth, the bartender hands her a drink. But I haven’t even… The bartender explains, A Sea Breeze Miss Evans, Compliments of Mr. Daniels. He starts to motion to him but he wasn’t there. Oh well, I guess he had to leave, but he said you would know him, the bartender shrugs.” Stella Thanks him and taking the drink, numbly walks back to her table. Who WAS this man? She asked herself as she animatedly sits down.
Looking down at her drink, she notices a napkin there and moves her drink to rest it upon it. Just as she is about to set it down she looks more closely at the napkin, this couldn’t be, she marvels, picks it up and sets her drink on the tablecloth. Stella brushes her finger softly over the initials. “ED,” she whispers. Could it be? She brings the napkin to her nose with trembling hands, halfway scared to smell his scent again. He was playing a game with her and she didn’t know whether to just enjoy it or to be wary. Deciding that she would enjoy it and hope for the best, Stella brings the cloth to her nose and breathes in deeply again. Yes… It was his. She rests her cheek on the back of her hand and notices a note that had been left on the table where the napkin had set. Stella began reading.
Do not be afraid I assure you I mean no harm to you. Stella, I believe that there is a time and place for all things special and in a crowded room is not the place for us to meet for the first time. You’ll find me soon, but as for now I must leave, duty calls. Know this though; I am always with you in thought.
“E.D.”
Stella’s heart was pounding, the blood tingling in her feet. There was no moment when she had felt gladder of the fact that she was sitting down than right now. From the first breath of his scent, the first sound of his seductively deep voice and the first glimpse of his ability with words, Stella knew he had her heart. She gathers her things and instructs Linda as to how to handle the rest of the evening then takes her leave and heads for the door.
As Stella approaches the door to leave, a tall, handsome, broad shouldered, firm bodied man smiles lazily at her and as she nods returning the smile she walks on. She hears him whisper, “Have a good evening Stella” as she passes him. She stops and turns to look at the man again and thank him, she stops. It was that voice again and once again he had disappeared. Shaking her head she looks around to find him again to no avail. Pulling her wrap tighter around her shoulders, she heads into the night air and heads for home.
At home once again, Stella takes the handkerchief from her purse and holds it before her smiling. She smells it as she had before and sits it on the bureau opens her purse again and takes out the note he had left her. ED she wonders as to what they stood for. The bartender had said Mr. Daniels had bought her the drink. So she had the D part of the ED but what did the E stand for she wondered. Never the less, Stella was tired and she change into her nightgown and snuggles into the bed, Handkerchief beside her. She smiles, nuzzles into the pillow, and falls asleep with his aroma to usher her into her dreams of him.
When the morning sun rises, peaking through the windows of Stella’s French doors, she stretches feeling deliciously refreshed. She smiles and rushes to get ready for work. Her mystery man put a smile on her face that refused to leave her. She feels more refreshed than she ever has before. The though of the handsome man of the night before who had given her more reason to glow from the depths of her soul had visited her while she dreamed. She sits at her desk and checks her agenda for the day and opens her mail. When she gets to the last piece of mail, her secretary walks through the door with a large bouquet of fresh red roses. Stella’s jaw drops and her eyes holding a question as she asks her, “Who is this from Dana?”
She holds her breath as she waits for her reply. “Doesn’t say Miss Evans just a note with the initials ED on it.” Stella just Smiles a smile that comes from deep excitement, and thanks her pointing for Dana to put them on her desk. When Dana leaves the room, Stella stands and breathes in deeply smelling the fragrant roses. Grinning, she sits down and opens the last letter. She reads it and as she does, she starts to laugh. This guy is just too good to be real she whispers. How like you my roses Stella their beauty and sweet scent could never express the reality of one so rare. I’ll be waiting for our first meeting. And he ends it SOON, ED. She could barely contain her excitement and checks her agenda again. Nothing scheduled after 11:00 she smiles. Then Stella hurries to ready herself for her first meeting. After her last meeting Stella returns to her office, collects her things, and tells her secretary that she will be back for her flowers after she picks up a few things from the market. She snips a bud from the roses he sent her and pins it to her lapel. Then smelling the rose she smiles and locks her door, then heads out to the market and home.
In the market Stella tests and makes a careful selection of fresh fruit to go with what is to be her French style dinner. She moves to the bread, squeezing each loaf, testing for its freshness. She walks to the cheese section and tests the Brie for its quality of softness as well. Upon testing the last wedge, Stella reaches to pick up the cheese, when a hand closes over hers and she freezes in place. A rather tall body standing only millimeters behind her leans close in to her ear. Every sense she possesses tells her that it is he, but it is the moment he speaks that she knows it for sure. His deep voice flows tauntingly in her ear, sending those familiar sensations running through her body. His scent, Mmm that scent she was coming to know so well was tickling her nose, then the words he spoke cut in to her reveling moment of pleasure. “Hello Stella.” She slowly turns to face the Handsome man that she saw last night and smiles. “So finally we meet,” she smiles shyly. “Yes finally,” he smiles confidently. “I see you received the roses,” his eyes darting to her lapel. “Yes,” she smiles. “Thank You Very Much, she says. “You seem to know my name, but I have yet to learn your full name, she smiles. Mister Daniels I believe it is, but is there a first name to go with it,” she laughs. “Ethan Daniels is the full name,” he laughs lowly smiling charmingly. “Well then, I am glad to make your acquaintance Ethan Daniels,” she smiles warmly. “You were quite elusive last night, why all the mystery,” Stella asks. “Because I have find that a little mystery builds anticipation dear Stella,” he admits. “That it did Mister Daniels, that it did,” she smiles looking down at his hand still upon hers. Ethan slips his hand from hers and into his pocket. She takes the wedge and places it in her basket and turns to face him. “You seem to know a lot about me and what I do, now please tell me of yourself so that I do not feel left in the dark where you are concerned,” she laughs nervously. “Ahh, about me,” he says, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Hmm, I am a producer of the books you promote Stella. I admire your ability to choose prize-winning material to promote, always attune to good writing, good editing and captivating storylines. So I started researching the lady who possessed this ability and it was you,” he says with a low-lidded look of pleasure crossing his face. “The more I learned, the more you intrigued me,” he adds. “And here we are,” Stella finishes. “Now what,” she laughs. “How about lunch,” he questions. “But,” she starts to object looking down at her basket. Without another word, Ethan takes the basket from her, sets it on the counter and asks the grocery boy to send the goods to her condominium. “Shall we,” he smiles. “I’d love to Ethan,” she says a hint of nervousness showing in her voice. “Excellent,” he says, “Then shall we,” he motions her out of the market and to the café for lunch.
