She turned her head to look to the ceiling for a thought or for a sign. Should she take the plunge? Was it time? Were the kids ready? Was she ready? The sign did not come but she decided to do it anyway.

Stephanie had been using an online dating service for last two months with very little success. She had been getting plenty of matches just not any she was interested in. Then last week Derek appeared and everything just seemed to click. He had two daughters and was recently divorced; she had two boys and was recently divorced. He was a special event planner for a meeting planning company; she was a sales manager for a large hotel. He had just transfer in from the West Coast, she had just moved from Florida. He liked beer; she loved beer. He had made her laugh something she had not done in a long time.

Now after a few text messages and a lot of emails, he was asking her out on their first date thus the moment of contemplation. As she typed out yes, she took just a moment to stare at it on her glowing laptop monitor and her heart fluttered just a bit. She moved the mouse to the send button, closed her eyes and clicked. 'Here we go' she thought. She took a moment to look at the ceiling again this time to make a selfish little prayer.

"Oh, please let this go well. Please just this once." she said out loud to no one in particular.

A few moments later Stephanie's computer let her know she had received a new message, a message from Derek. She took a deep breath and once again clicked the button.

He seemed excited. He gave her a time, a place and asked if that was okay with her. Of course, it was. She always wanted to go to the place he had picked - a historic old restuarant in the city. She let him know she approved and that she was also excited about the upcoming date.

On the day of the date Stephanie was a nervous wreck. She woke up at 3am just to see if it was time to get up. She did that twice more before actually getting up at 7am. She forgot to make the kids' lunch which made them look at her a bit funny. She had not told them that she was going on this date. Instead she had lied and said she was going to have to work late. The kids initially did not think anything of it since she regularly worked late so they were used to grandpa watching them a couple nights a week. But now they knew something was up. They could tell she was worked up but could not figure out why. They peppered her with questions the whole way to school only to have her dodge every one with answer about work or a question about their school work. She finally dropped them off with a few more questioning stares.

At work she could not focus on anything. She just kept thinking about that night. She was afraid he would remind her of her ex. She was deathly afraid of her reminding him of his ex. She was giddy that he was going to be just the man she was looking for all her life and scared that he was going to be nothing like that at all. She hoped that he liked her but planning what to do if he did not. She tried to think of what was going to be the right thing to order, she even looked at the menu online, not that she would let him know that. She wondered if he was nervous or if it was just another day for him. She wondered how she or he would end the date. Would there be a passionate kiss or intimate request for coffee at his home? How would she respond to either or both?

At 4pm Stephanie could take it no more and rushed to bathroom to change into the outfit she had brought for the occasion. She stood and looked at herself for a good 5 minutes pysching herself up. She had to admit that while the years had left their marks on her, she still was an attractive woman. She quicked stepped out of the bathroom but not without a couple of questioning looks from her co-workers. "Damn," she thought "everybody is a little too interested in what I am doing." She gave them a little dismissive wave and almost ran for the car.

On the way to the restuarant, she sent Derek a text letting him know she was on her way. To her surprise he was already there. This was surprising because she was going to be there at least 30 minutes earlier than the time they had agreed on. She did not know whether it was a good sign or a bad one but decide that it was good. At the restuarant door she took a deep breath and exhaled as she stepped through. She scanned the bar quickly and saw him sitting with his back to her, talking to a couple of a guys. She knew what he looked like since they had exchanged pictures. She walked up and gave his shirt a little tug.

When he turned around Stephanie lost her breath for a moment. He smiled broadly at her and leaped off his stool. His eyes were stunningly green. He reached around her before she knew what was happening and gave her a big hug.

"Its so good to finally meet you Stephanie." Derek purred into her ear "You look fantastic."

She could feel herself blush. She returned the compliment. He was a lot better looking than she had expected. It was going to be hard for her to turn down a nightcap request if it came from him.

He lead her to their table, seems he had already had one waiting for them. They spent the whole night talking and laughing about anything and everything. Stephanie was having such a great time she lost track of time. By the time she remembered to check her watch it said 1am. She knew she needed to get home but she also desperately wanted to stay. She decided to go. Derek said he would walk her to her car. Her legs were telling her that they wanted to be wrapped around him. She had to tell them that that was for next time; tonight she was going home. 'Always leave them wanting more' she thought with a devious smile. At the car he took her keys and opened her door for her. She thought that maybe she would not get the goodnight kiss that she longed for and thought was a lock she was getting. A moment later Derek leaned in; he put his hand on the back of her neck and gave her the most passionate kiss of her life. So deep and long was this kiss that she thought she may give into temptation right then and there. He pulled away and smiled at her.

"When's our next one?" he said with more than just a little lipstick smeared on his lips.

"I'll call you" she said a little more vixeny than she wanted.

"Soon?"

"Soon" Stephanie smiled at him.

The whole way home Stephanie smiled. She really liked this guy. True he was not everything she had wished for but he was enough; enough for now. Just as she pulled into her driveway, he sent her a text professing how much enjoyed the night and could not wait for the next one.

Stephanie smiled herself to sleep that night and every night thereafter.

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