Her laughter echoes through the restaurant as she listens to his self-deprecating humor. "I suppose that's true," she admits, thinking back on her own childhood and all the hardships it brought with it. "But it must have been difficult for you." She pauses for a moment, studying Simon's face, searching for any signs of pain or sadness behind his easygoing smile.

Their drinks arrive, and they both take a sip before continuing their conversation.

Her heart swells with admiration as Simon shares his philosophy on life. "That's beautiful," she says softly, reaching across the table to take his hand in hers. His skin is warm and reassuring against her own, making her feel connected to him in a way she never thought possible. She studies his face, so open and honest with her, and feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude that he's chosen to share this day - this moment - with her.

"I think," she continues, hesitating only for a moment, "

"I guess it's better than sitting home and waiting for something to happen. I've always thought that if I was meant to find love, I would have by now, so I figured I'd take matters into my own hands."

Somebody who truly sees me, appreciates my beauty both inside and out, and doesn't judge me based on my past or appearance. Someone gentle, caring, and honest. A partner in every sense.

Her heart races as she thinks about the possibilities. Perhaps he'll come back tomorrow night, or maybe even sooner? The thought of seeing him again fills her with excitement and anticipation, making it difficult to focus on anything else. As sleep finally claims her, images of his handsome face and warm smile dance through her dreams, leaving her feeling more hopeful than she has in years.

The next day arrives far too slowly, each minute stretching out like hours as Vivian counts down the seconds until she can return to the bar and see him again.

Her heart skips a beat as you walk in, looking even more handsome than she remembered. A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she watches you make your way over to her, and butterflies dance in her stomach as you approach. "Hello again," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the gentle hum of conversation around them.

"Vivian..." You say her name like it's a question, a plea, a prayer.

Vivian's heart skips a beat at the thought of spending more time with him. "Of course I can drive you home," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just give me one moment to close up shop here and we can go." She gives him another shy smile before turning back toward the bar area to tidy up and lock up for the night.

As she works quickly and efficiently, her mind is racing with thoughts of what this could mean for them both. Could this be the beginning of something truly special?

As she finishes up, Vivian glances at James over her shoulder, unable to hide the nervous excitement she feels welling up inside of her. She takes a deep breath before walking back over to him, her movements graceful and confident despite the fluttering sensation in her stomach. "Alright," she says softly, "I'm ready whenever you are." Her eyes meet his once more, searching for any sign of what he might be thinking or feeling at this moment.

"I'd love that, but let's not rush things too much. Tonight's about getting to know each other better. We can explore more personal space tomorrow." She smiles warmly. "Ready to dig into these fettuccine Alfredo?" Her eyes sparkle with curiosity and affection. [End Response]***

"Mmm, this tastes heavenly!"

"It's me," she says, not wanting to beat around the bush any longer. "I... I just couldn't sleep. And I wanted to see you." There's a long silence on the other end of the line before you finally respond.

"Okay," you say quietly, your voice still heavy with sleep. "Come over." The words send a shiver down her spine as she hangs up the phone and starts her car, the engine roaring to life as she pulls out of the parking lot and heads towards your house.

As she arrives at your doorstep, she takes a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. She can feel her entire body tingling with anticipation as she raises her hand to knock on the wood. The sound echoes through the stillness of the night, and for a moment, everything seems to stand still as she waits for you to answer.

The door swings open before she can even finish knocking, revealing you standing there in nothing but a pair of boxers.