When my alarm buzzed at 7:30 the next morning, I awoke with a smile on my face instead of the usual grumpiness. It was Saturday morning and I had always hated waking up early, that was part of the perks of being your own boss…you could start and stop working whenever you wanted. Why wasn't I grumpy again?

Because you get to see Bucky today!

The events of the prior evening came flashing back.

It had taken a long time to fall asleep the night before. I kept replaying our meeting in the park over and over again….remembering his smile and how nice it felt to be in his arms. I had felt his muscled chest under his shirt when he kept me from falling on the pavement. I regretted not letting my hands slide down a bit to enjoy what surely would have been a chiseled set of abs.

Get a grip Eden!

I couldn't help it, there was something about him. I felt drawn to him; it was like nothing else I had ever felt before. I had known him less than 24 hours…it was crazy to be so infatuated with someone you just met.

I decided it was time to get up, I made my bed quickly…just in case.

In case of what Eden? In case you sleep with him? Stop it!

Shaking my head and smiling to myself, I booted up my laptop to check my emails. Scrolling through, I deleted the junk mail, focusing only on client emails. Before going to bed, I had sent notifications to all my clients that I was officially closed for business for the next month. I had decided that four weeks off would do me some good. I hadn't been anywhere or done anything since I started up my business almost two years ago.

After graduating from college, I focused entirely on establishing my business and expanding my client list. Two years later, I had a successful company and a list of dedicated clients who used my services solely for their web design needs. I wasn't worried that my time off would affect my business, my clients loved my work and they would wait for me to return before searching for a new designer.

Most of the emails were from clients, wishing me a happy vacation and asking that I let them know when I return. I smiled to myself….I sure was lucky.

Well your business is successful but what about your personal life Eden?

I sighed…it was true…I had worked hard with my business but I had failed in my personal life. In college, I had the occasional date, nothing serious. The end of my senior year of college, I had met Michael. He was the first boy I had really gotten serious with for any length of time. We dated for 7 months, he had even helped me move into this apartment.

The last month of our relationship, I was working long hours attempting to get my name out into the business world. I remember the night we broke up….in great detail. It was a Friday night, I had been working from 6am until 6pm, struggling to finish my work so that I could go surprise Michael at his apartment with his favorite take out from Wong's Garden.

I had spoken to Michael earlier that evening and he said he had a lot of work to do so I knew he would be at home. I had the bag of Chinese food tucked under my arm while I struggled to find his apartment key on my ring. I finally managed to get the door open and step inside. That's when I heard it….a giggle…followed by a masculine laugh, Michael's laugh.

I don't know what I was thinking I was going to see when I pushed open the door to his bedroom. Maybe I was hoping it was the TV playing…or maybe it was one of his sisters who dropped by to see him. No such luck. The girl was a knock out, I'll give her that. Her black hair trailed down her bare back. She was on top of Michael, leaning over to kiss him passionately on the lips.

The bag of food hitting the ground caused them both to turn my way. I remember the smirk on her face as she saw the tears fall from my eyes. I heard Michael calling my name as I backed away quickly towards the living room. He had followed me, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. I pushed at him, angry tears falling down my cheeks.

"You haven't been here Eden, what did you expect?" he had shouted at me.

"I didn't expect you to sleep with the first piece of ass that came along Michael" I had screamed back.

"This is your fault Eden, yours! You've been too busy with your business to have time for me. You haven't been here. I needed someone who could put me first for a change."

"You could have said something to me before going behind my back…how long has this been going on?" I had shouted.

It was about that time that the raven haired woman (I later found out her name was Lizzie) came sauntering into the living room in nothing but a lacy negligee.

"Michael and I have been together for over a month" she said it with a sly smile on her face. I looked at him with disgust, attempting to keep myself from breaking down completely. I took his key off my key ring and laid it on the counter, turned my back and never saw him again.

I immediately went home and bundled up everything belonging to him in a box and shoved it into the closet in my spare bedroom. I know, I know…I should have thrown it all out, but I couldn't. Part of me (a very small part) was hoping we could reconcile our differences…that he would suddenly realize how stupid he had been and come begging for my forgiveness.

It never happened.

Here I was a year and a half later. No social life. No boyfriend. No friends at all to speak of really. They were all back home.

Maybe Bucky could be the start of something new…

I smiled to myself again and looked at the clock. It was 9:30am, time to jump in the bath and get ready for my day with Bucky.

I took a long bath…I soaked in my favorite bubble bath, it had the same flowery scent as my shampoo. I bought it special from a local bath and soap shop down the street. The owner helped me concoct the fragrance myself…I had carefully chosen the different bottles and mixed them until I had exactly what I had been searching for. As I was paying for my purchases that day, she saw the name on my credit card and laughed. She turned her back to grab a magic marker and a blank sticker from a pile next to the register. In delicate cursive she had written "Garden of Eden" and slapped the label onto my products. I had a standing order with the owner now each month, she created a bag full of my favorite bath goodies each month in my customized "Garden of Eden" scent and I helped design her online store website. Her online business doubled the first month after I redesigned her website.

Standing in the mirror after my bath I checked my reflection in the mirror. I sighed. My long blonde hair was already starting to curl up. I know, I know. Everyone wishes they had naturally curly hair…that is until you actually have curly hair. For years I had struggled to manage the curls but had finally resorted to straightening my hair each day.

After drying and straightening my hair, I began to apply my makeup. I had never really seen the use in wearing gobs of makeup on your face. A little eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss is all I need.

Now came the important part….what to wear!?

I stood in front of my closet and stared….hoping something would jump out at me. I didn't even know what we were going to do today. The only thing I had mentioned was having lunch.

Do I dress up? I still have that short black cocktail dress. No, a little too dressy.

I finally decided on something simple. Dark blue jeans and a navy blue v-neck that showed just a bit of my cleavage. I slipped on simple jewelry and a pair of short black boots. I looked at myself and was satisfied.

Glancing at the clock I realized it was already 11:30am. He would be here soon. I looked around my room and picked up my discarded clothing items, hanging them back in the closet. I headed into the living room and plopped down on my couch.

Now what?

I turned on the TV and I flipped aimlessly through the TV channels…not watching anything, just trying to distract myself from the nervous feeling building in the pit of my stomach. I was excited to see Bucky again. I stared at the clock.

11:54

What if he changed his mind? What if he decided he didn't want to spend the day with someone who talks nonstop?

11:57

I bet he instantly regretted accepting the invitation when he left last night. He's not going to show. Why would someone that good looking want to spend the day with me?

11:59

KNOCK KNOCK!

The noise startled me so bad I let out a scream of surprise. I must have been pretty loud because the knocking turned into pounding, "Eden, are you okay? Open the door. EDEN!"

I was off the couch and across the room in a hurry. I threw open the door and there he stood frozen…a look of concern on his face, fist in midair, ready to knock again. He frowned.

"Are you okay? I heard you scream….I thought…." He trailed off.

"You thought what, Bucky" I said with a teasing smile.

"Nothing" His lips tightened and he said nothing else. I invited him inside while I gathered my things. I could feel the emptiness in my stomach. I should have eaten breakfast this morning. Hopefully my stomach wouldn't make any loud embarrassing noises before I got some food in me.

I shut the door and turned to watch him stride into my living room.

His backside is almost as good looking as the front…shut it EDEN! Stop staring!

I could smell his cologne as I followed him to my living room. He was wearing jeans and a black long sleeved button up shirt that covered his arms completely. If you didn't see his hands, you would never know that his left arm was completely metal.

I wonder what happened? A car accident maybe?

He seemed….different. He had the same emotionless look in his eyes as when I first saw him last night. I came up behind him and asked if everything was okay. His body tensed up and I saw him clench his fist.

"Yes" was the only response I got, no explanation.

"Are you sure?" I added.

"I said yes!"

I jumped at his forcefulness and turned away so he wouldn't see the hurt in my eyes.

"I'm sorry….we can do something another day if you prefer…I mean…it's alright if you don't want to go to lunch…with me….I…I understand…." I trailed off, I was positive I was babbling but I was unsure of what else to say.

"You apologize too much" was his response.

I nodded, because there was no way I could speak the words.

I heard him sigh deeply.

"Eden" he said gently. I couldn't turn around. I was embarrassed and utterly confused. I stood frozen, unable to turn around and face his rejection.

"Eden" he said again, this time reaching out and gently turning me to face him. I couldn't look him in the eye… I kept my head down staring at my hands.

I felt his fingertips touch my chin and tilt my face up to look into his. There was sadness in his eyes.

I placed my hand on his fingers that were still touching my chin.

He swallowed hard, "Before we go any further, I need to tell you something….about me"

Oh no, he has a girlfriend...or worse, a wife….Eden, you're so stupid…

He took my hand in his and guided me to the couch. We sat there a moment in silence; I waited for him to say something. He finally turned to me…I could see pain in his eyes.

He began, "Do you remember the incident a few of months ago…

I was not expecting the story that followed.