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Tari: A Part Time Love Adventure

I fell for him even before I met him. I had taken a part-time position at a local gym and fitness center and I was the first smile members saw when they walked through the door. I was a front desk clerk, and my job was to take guest fees and to register members for classes. It was an easy part-time job, filled with a bit of friendly and perfectly built pieces of eye candy. But as much as I enjoyed the well oiled machines that walked through the door, and as attracted as I was to just about every male there, I was most drawn to an employee that I had yet to meet. For some reason, fellow co-workers kept bringing up his name.

“Wait till you meet Matt, wait till you meet Matt,” they would say. They, were a young bunch. Most making their way through college. I was older and college was already years behind me, but this part-time job helped to pay the bills, because my full time salaried position just wasn’t cutting it.

So the first couple of days of this new gig, I had heard a lot about this guy named Matt. Matt was funny, Matt was cool. But Matt was away for a short time of play in Vegas, and not only that, instead of flying back, he and his buddy decided to rent a car at the last minute and drive across country, back home to South Carolina. And with that little bit of info, I was ready for love. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been dreaming of doing just that. Not the Vegas bit, but the driving from one end of the country to the other. This dream was probably ignited after reading On The Road by Jack Kerouac, required reading in one of my literature classes during my college days. I’ve kept that adventure close to me ever since. So anyone that can live that spontaneously for the road is a man after my own heart.

Apparently Matt had heard about me too, the new girl. On his first day back to the gym, he made his way to me with hand extended across the counter.

“Hey, I’m Matthew, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” he smiled.

I returned his smile and leaned over and took his hand, “Hi, I’m Tari, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you too. I’ve heard some crazy stories about you.”

“Really,” still holding my hand, “What have you heard?”

And I looked into those sparkling blue eyes on a six foot slim frame with short blonde hair, and my heart skipped a beat, “Oh, just some things... So you just got back from Vegas?” I asked, taking him in.

“Yeah, me and my boy drove back.” Finally he let go of my hand, but sill not taking his eyes off me, measuring my short hour glass figure, and reddish brown skin, and short curly hair.

“Was it a long drive?” I asked.

“Oh, it was fun.”

“Really, I would love to hear about it.”

“What time are you outa here?” he sheepishly inquired.

“Nine,” and I blushed.

As dark as my skin is, it always frustrates me that my emotions show so easily when my cheeks flush red. And as of late, when ever I see a man that I want, that’s exactly what comes through. I knew I was older, this guy was still in college, but he was just so darn good looking, that I just had to have him.

“What are you doing after work?” he suggested.

“Hanging out with you,” I flirted back.

“I’ll meet you in the lobby,” and he grinned and started walking away.

“Cool,” I replied.

“Cool,” he laughed and then turned the corner towards the weight room.

I smiled and walked towards the register, grateful that no one had walked through the door to spoil our little fun.

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