Chapter 32

We are on our way to the mystery restaurant that Warren has in
store, and it is a gorgeous evening. It is cool but not cold
and it looks like it is going to be a clear night. We
continue our conversation about everything and anything that
comes up, I feel like he is a guy who tells it how it is and
isn’t afraid to hold back much. I was quite surprised with
some of the things that he has already shared with me, I am
beginning to think that he is a lot more like me and is also
one who does indeed wear his heart on his sleeve as he had
told me before. I am fine with that, I will in no way be
hurting this man, I am positive though he will end up hurting
me.
He ends up turning onto a side road that goes to this little
restaurant alongside a local lake. I heard a lot about this
place but was never here, it is a gorgeous wooded area and as
you come closer to the restaurant the driveway opens and you
have a gorgeous view of the lake. I am amazed at the scenery,
I say in awe, “wow, Warren this is beautiful.” He looks over
at me and smiles, “I hope you like it here, I haven’t been
here in a few years and I thought that you maybe would enjoy
this place. I know you told me that you like the Ocean and I
would have liked to take you to Jersey and have dinner along
the beach. But the 3-hour drive was a little too much to fit
into the day so, I figured that I would plan for that outing
on another date.” I blink at that statement as it hits me,
another date, so he is thinking of seeing me again. I am
hoping he means for us, I hope he is thinking about seeing me
again, because I know that I want to see Warren Davenport
again.
He comes around his truck and opens up my door, he takes my
hand and helps me down. I just can’t get used to a man doing
these things, it is so odd. But I like it don’t get me wrong,
he is just so perfect in so many ways and he is with me. We
walk up to the entrance and he checks us in as the gentleman
takes us to our table. This place is as beautiful on the
inside as the outside, it is so romantic. We are seated, and
he orders a bottle of wine for us, and he looks at me and

tells me to order anything I want. I wonder what I am going
to eat, I am now a bit paranoid about eating in front of him.
I knew I wasn’t going to be able to feel comfortable the
entire day and not worry about something. I knew something
would make me nervous and it looks like eating in front of
Warren is going to be the event to make me nervous. I open
the menu and I gasp, oh my goodness this place is expensive, I
look up at him and he smiles and says, “anything you want
Sophie, I mean that.” I smile back and shake my head as in
agreement. I look over the menu for the most non-messy dinner
one that I will not end up wearing. I decide on the roasted
chicken, with mashed potatoes, and mixed steamed vegetables.
Warren orders the prime rib, baked potato and broccoli. They
bring a basket of rolls and he digs in and hands me a roll.
We start talking about food and Warren tells me about his
appetite. I never knew anyone that could eat like he claims
he can. I cannot believe how if he eats as much as he says he
does, how he doesn’t weigh 700 pounds. He soon explains the
answer to my silent question, he explains that he goes to the
gym daily to eat that way. He says that if he wouldn’t go to
the gym he would either not be able to move because he would
be so overweight, or he would have to cut down on his food
intake. He chuckles and says, “but I have a love affair with
food and I do not see breaking off with that anytime soon.”
Dinner is wonderful, and the company is even better. We
finish up our meal and wine and we head outside. The sun is
just starting to go down, so we walk over to the lakes edge
and I am just amazed at this day and at this man. I look at
him and smile as I say, “Warren, I seriously have no idea
where you were hiding or where you came from, but I want to
tell you that I had an amazing day today. I am really
surprised at all the lengths that you have went to today for
our date. I have never met a man like you, you are so kind
and sweet and gorgeous to boot.”
He looks at me as if I said something concerning, “Sophie, you
aren’t going to say you don’t want to see me, again are you?”
I shake my head and now I am the one who is confused, “oh my

God no, I am hoping that we will see each other again Warren,
if that is what you want. I am just at a loss as to how to
thank you for today, no man has ever shown me this much
attention let alone taken me out like you have done today.
You proved to me with the plans you made that you listen to me
when I talk to you, you paid attention to the things I enjoy,
and you planned today around all those things. I feel like I
am stuck in a dream and I don’t want to wake up. I just hope
that this will not end up the way I am afraid it will. I
guess I fear getting hurt again.” He takes my hands and faces
me towards him, and says “you don’t have to wake up, this is
reality and not just a dream. But I am hoping that this is
the start of many wonderful dreams of yours that I can make
come true. I know that you have granted me one of my wishes
that I have been waiting to happen for a long time. I got to
meet a wonderful, smart and attractive woman that is honest
and great to be around.”
He leans over and gives me a kiss, a kiss that sends
electricity throughout my entire body, I feel little waves
through my stomach and in between my legs as he kisses me and
holds me within those strong arms. I am pressed against his
rock-hard chest and I just want to stay here forever. It
feels so safe, warm and it feels like I belong there in his
embrace with his lips meshed with mine. When he finally
releases me I feel faint, I stand a moment with my eyes closed
and savor that kiss and hug.
I open my eyes and I look at him and he immediately
apologizes, I say, “Don’t apologize Warren there is absolutely
nothing to apologize for, I want to thank you. Thank you for
running into me that night at the stop light and thank you for
everything. I just want to ask one favor.” He shakes his
head and says, “yes anything you can ask me anything Sophie.”
I say to him, “Please Warren whatever you do, do not change
the person that you have been today. I don’t want you to play
me as a fool, I am not blind Warren, I see you and I see my
reflection every time I look into the mirror. I know that a
hunk and nice guy like you can have any gorgeous woman out
there, and I know that I am not worthy of a guy like you.
Please Warren, the girl in front of you has had a rough go
with men and I have built a guard that protected me from being

hurt and for some reason today you were able to lower that
wall, and I am scared. Whatever you do, please don’t shatter
me anymore than what I already am.” I quickly say, “If you
were just doing this as some sort of game, or you just needed
to find a girl to hold you over until the knockout comes
along, let me know now. Please don’t put on an act to be
someone you’re not and then walk away from the girl that lies
there in pieces, shattered, hurt and alone.”
He is shocked I can tell by his face as he grabs both my hands
again and looks me deep into my eyes and says, “Sophie, I
promise you I am not going to hurt you, I knew on the day of
the accident that there was something special about you
something different it is like you drew me to you. I am the
man you have seen today, I am in no way planning on hurting
you Sophie. Please believe me when I tell you that I am not a
guy to play games and to hurt women, I hardly ever go out on
dates. I have been looking for a woman that I can date and
have fun with and maybe even end up having a future with.
Sophie, this was not a one-night thing, I really do want us to
see each other again. I don’t know what you mean by you are
not worthy of me, Sophie apparently you are blinded from what
you have been through to not notice the beauty you have and
the beauty you obviously possess inside of you as well” I
look at him and smile at him, I shake my head but do not
speak, I am barely holding back the tears that threaten to
fall.
We walk to his truck hand in hand, I just hope he can’t see
the tears in my eyes as he shuts the truck door. He gets in
and shuts his door and looks over at me, I keep my head
straight looking out the windshield. He reaches over and
touches my chin to turn my face to him. He says “Sophie,
please if just one thing comes from today, let that be your
trust in me. I will not hurt you, and I don’t like to see the
concern in your eyes and face, I want you to feel safe with me
and to be happy.”
A tear escapes from my eyes as I say, “Warren I will try but
my heart and who I was have been shattered time and time again

by men who couldn’t hold a light to you. I want this, I want
us to see each other I really like you, a lot. Just know that
what I am feeling and fearing right now is not something you
did wrong, I just want you to come clean and be honest with
me. It is hard for me to believe that you are truly
interested in me.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek and as he says, “we will
work through this Sophie, you will see all you have to do is
trust in me. Forget about all those fuckheads that did what
they did to you, obviously they were not very fucking bright.
I am not a dumb man, I know when I see something good, and you
Sophie are good. We have a lot in common, more than you know
and we had a great time together today. I don’t want it to
end on a bad note, please Sophie trust me.”
I shake my head as he pulls out of the parking spot, I watch
the lake disappear as we drive off into the wooded area. I
think to myself I just hope that I am not going to regret my
choices. I pray that you are truly the gentleman, and nice
guy that you showed me today. I think to myself about how
much effort he put into today and I wonder if he really would
have gone through all this trouble just to fuck me over or to
just have a girl in his life for the moment.
As we pull up to my apartment he puts the truck in park, I
think ok now he is going to want payment for the money that he
spent today. I am shocked when he leaves the truck running
and gets out to come over to open my door. He takes my hand
and helps me out of the truck. He holds my gaze with his and
says, “Sophie, you are a great person, I can see us seeing
each other and having a lot more fun dates. I just don’t like
to see the pain and fear in your eyes that I can see. I do
not want to make you uncomfortable, or pressure you in any
way. We will take this slow so that you can see that I am the
man you seen today. This was only the first date, I will
prove to you that you can trust me and not fear anything when
it comes to me.”

I can’t find my voice, as tears begin to fill my eyes again,
he looks at me puts his arms around me and squeezes. I don’t
know if it is just me hoping or if I really can feel the
honesty in his hug. He looks down into my face and leans
forward for another kiss, this one has more passion in it, and
again I feel it all the way down to the tips of my toes. He
tells me goodnight and asks that I say good night to Brandi
and says he will give me a call tomorrow if that is ok. I
shake my head and thank him again for the wonderful date and
tell him to have sweet dreams.
I unlock my front door go in and close it, I lean against the
door as the tears start to fall from my eyes as I say out
loud, “I hope my choice in trusting you is right and that I
will not be hurt yet again.” I am not sure why I am crying
all I know is that for me Warren Davenport feels like he can
put my heart back together again or will destroy it for good.
I just pray that he is willing to take the time and patience
with me and help me in the search of finding the Sophie that
was at one time whole.”