A simple walk in the park turned out to be a great day for Darlene. She met a handsome man who shared much of what she loved, Mr. Daniel Higgins. He was about six foot two, great physical shape, and a smile that pulled her in instantly.
Darlene had sat down on a bench to rest for a minute when Daniel jogged up to her.
“Do you mind if I sit here for a few minutes?” Daniel asked.
“No, go right ahead,” Darlene moved about a foot to the right.
“Thank you.”
Darlene sat looking straight ahead at the lake. While Daniel, with a small towel wiped the sweat from his forehead. Darlene tried not to look at him but glanced at him anyways. His beautiful dark head of hair glistened in the sunlight. Then a few drops of sweat ran down his arm as he lowered it.
“It sure is hot today,” he said.
“Yes, yes it is,” Darlene smiled.
“I’m fairly new to this area, do you know of a place close by where someone can get a drink?”
“Oh yes, there is a coffee shop and a gas station about a mile up the main road,” Darlene said.
“Oh, the main road that brought me here?”
“Yes, uh huh.”
“I guess I didn’t see them, thank you, I’m Daniel Higgins by the way,” he held out his hand to shake hers.
“Hi, I’m Darlene.”
It’s a pleasure to meet you Darlene. How long have you lived here?” Daniel tucked his towel into his hip pocket.
“About ten years now,” She said.
“Oh, nice. So far this is a beautiful park, but I haven’t had the chance to check out anything else in the area.”
“Oh, well, if it interests you, there is a wonderful art museum down town,” Darlene said.
“Oh really, I love art. Where about is it?” Daniel asked.
This simple suggestion led to a full conversation of his and her likes and dislikes with art and other things in life. Darlene felt a instant connection with Daniel once she started sharing her thoughts and opinions with him. The two of them exchanged phone numbers and planned to have dinner that evening. Darlene hadn’t felt such a connection with someone in a long time. If she wants anything to come out of this date though, she needs to settle down and not share too much more of herself.
Later on, when Daniel called Darlene to set up their evening, Darlene told him that she will meet him at the park entrance and they can go from there. Daniel understood her not wanting him to know where she lives yet. It was good that she was being cautious since they only met six hours ago. A nice young woman such as herself has to be careful this day and age, he thought.
At the park, Daniel pulled into the parking lot and saw Darlene get out of her car. Her brown hair hung straight down just past her shoulder’s and she was wearing a short black spaghetti strap dress and silver pumps. She also had a small red clutch purse in her hand. It was quite a transformation from who he met earlier that afternoon.
“Good evening Darlene, you look stunning,” Daniel said as he got out of his car.
“Thank you Daniel, you look very handsome as well.”
“Thank you. So, you pick the place to dine and tell me how to get there.”
“Okay, do you like Italian?”
“Yes, I do,”
“Okay, there’s a very nice Italian restaurant about four miles from here,” she said.
“Okay, let’s eat,” Daniel walked around to the passenger side of his car and opened the door for her.
Darlene smiled at him and then ducked inside. She put on her seatbelt while Daniel walked back to the driver door. The drive to the restaurant was a pleasant one. Daniel told Darlene that he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He said that he had never met a woman who had so many similar interests as he does.
Darlene smiled, “I know what you mean.”
Darlene directed Daniel down a couple of different streets that he hadn’t been on yet and found the restaurant. It was a pretty big place and had elegant lighting outside as well as inside.
As they entered the establishment, Darlene looked at Daniel, “is this place alright?”
“Yes, it’s great.”
Darlene smiled and then told the hostess a table for two. As they walked to the table, the owner of the restaurant saw Darlene and walked over to them.
“Miss Darlene, it’s always such a pleasure to see you,” the owner said.
“Thank you Lorenzo. This is Daniel, my guest for the evening.”
“Mr. Daniel, it’s a pleasure. Maggy,” Lorenzo snapped his fingers, “a bottle of wine on the house for them please.”
“Why thank you sir,” Daniel said.
“My pleasure. Please enjoy your evening,” Lorenzo gestured toward the table and then walked away.
Daniel helped Darlene with her chair and then sat down across from her. He glanced around at the architecture of the place and also the artwork near them.
“This place is beautiful. Do you come here often?” Daniel asked.
“Not as often as I would like but enough for Lorenzo to remember me,” Darlene smiled.
“Well if it works out between us, we will come here often,” Daniel smiled.
“Let’s hope that it does,” Darlene smiled back at him.
After they ordered their food and the waitress poured them some wine, Daniel made a toast. He held up his glass, looked at Darlene, and said, to many more dates with such a lovely lady. Darlene smiled and then clinked her glass to his. Darlene then started the conversation by asking Daniel why he moved to Springdale. He told Darlene that he needed a fresh start. He said that because he runs his business from home, he can live almost anywhere. Daniel told her that he picked Springdale because he enjoys the small town feel and also wanted to be close to nature.
“It is very lovely here, and everyone is very friendly. I might even show you the mountains sometime,” Darlene said.
“Oh, that would be great. I could get some nice pictures from up there.”
Darlene and Daniel enjoyed their meal together and shared some stories from their past. Daniel felt so comfortable with Darlene that he told her about some abuse that he suffered as a young boy. He believed that because of that, he never found true happiness or knew where he belonged. This had a mental connection with Darlene and she felt very sympathetic. She listened intently to him and in her mind, she changed her original intentions for him.
As the night progressed and they left the restaurant, Daniel told Darlene that he didn’t want the night to end. Darlene smiled and suggested a late night stroll in the mountains.
“Is there access with a car, because you especially are not dressed for a mountain hike,” Daniel said.
“We’ll stop by the park so I can change first. I always keep a change of clothes in my car. Besides, we aren’t going on a full hike, just a walk,” Darlene smiled.
“Okay, you know these mountains better than I do,” Daniel smiled.
So, after she changed her clothes, Daniel took his dinner jacket off and laid it on the back seat of his car. Darlene told him about a gravel access road that they could drive on that will take them about half way up the mountain. It was about a mile in the other direction down the dead end road.
“I think I met the perfect tour guide today,” Daniel looked at her and chuckled.
Darlene smiled as they headed down the road to get to the gravel road. When Darlene told Daniel where to turn, Daniel slowly turned onto the gravel road. He was very cautious with his 2022 Toyota GR though. They carefully drove up what seamed like five miles on this dark road. Darlene told him that he should see the start of a driveway soon and to pull in there. It wasn’t yet a full driveway to anywhere but made maybe for a ranger to park.
When Daniel spotted the driveway, he pulled off and parked. Darlene got out of the car and took a deep breath.
“I love it up here,” she said and closed the door.
The sky was brightly lit by a full moon and very few clouds hung around. The scent of the air even smelled clean and crisp as Daniel noticed when he took a deep breath. It even felt a little cooler at that altitude.
“Come on, follow me,” Darlene said as she entered the woods.
“Okay, wait up.”
Darlene did have a small flashlight that she brought along. This was needed especially inside the dark woods.
“It’s so dark in here, even with that flashlight,” Daniel said.
Daniel followed Darlene though as they walked up and up the mountain.
“We’re almost to the point that I want you to see,” Darlene said.
“I sure hope so, this is a workout even for me.”
Darlene suddenly stopped and took Daniel’s hand, “okay, do you trust me?”
“Um, I guess so.”
Darlene smiled, “okay, close your eyes and let me guide you.”
Daniel was hesitant but closed his eyes. Darlene guided him through a bunch of bushes and stopped.
“Okay, open your eyes,” she said.
When Daniel opened his eyes, he saw the lights of the small community where he now lived. It was nothing like big city lights but it was still pretty.
“This is great. Is that the lights of the hospital over there?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, I think so.”
“Well, I think I live over that way then,” he said.
Daniel accepted the pleasure of what he was seeing and said that he was happy that he moved there. He turned and looked at Darlene and thanked her for a great day.
“I still don’t want this day to end,” he said.
“It doesn’t have to,” she said.
Darlene moved in close to his face and kissed his lips softly. Daniel then pulled her in for a close embrace. He kissed her passionately.
After he released her, he apologized for doing that. Darlene smiled and asked him again if he trusts her.
“Yes. I think we were meant to find each other,” he said.
Darlene looked into his eyes and said, “I’m glad you said that.”
Darlene tilted her head and went in for a bite. Daniel stiffened but then relaxed. The feeling of ecstasy rushed through his body as the blood ran down his neck. Darlene drank and then helped him to the ground. He gazed at her face and saw her bloody fangs but he wasn’t scared. Daniel was at ease and felt that he knew now where he would be happy and belong.
The End
I hope that you enjoyed this bit of romance like I promised. I know it’s probably not what you wanted, but I can’t help myself. They do live happily ever and ever after though.
This story was great ! I loved that unexpected ending !