The moment I looked at Ella's picture, I was lost.
She's stunning with thick blonde hair that falls in gentle waves to her shoulders. Her smile is warm and inviting. But it's her chestnut eyes that sparkle with flecks of gold that caught me. It's as if she's looking directly at me. Like she can see me.Reallysee me. Even through the distance and computer screen and...
Before I knew it, I was writing her a message. And then another one and now...
Well, we're in completely uncharted territory.
Nothing in her profile gives me any indication that Ella would do well in the mountains at all. Quite the opposite. Her profile doesn't mention any outdoor hobbies at all.
Still, she's asking about them. I don't want to scare her off, and the mountains can be kind of off-putting in the winter if you're not used to them. Not for me, I love being on the mountain in the snow and ice. There's something magical and mysterious about the colder temperatures.
Jamie:
It's quiet and cold here at this time of year, but winter is one of my favorite times in the mountains. So much to do. Have you ever been? You're a city girl, I see.
Outside, the snow has started to fall and I'm glad for the extra firewood I chopped. The weather can be unpredictable up this high. A little dusting of snow can turn into a blizzard in the blink of an eye.
I brew a cup of coffee while I wait for Ella's reply, but I don't have to wait that long before my phone chimes with the incoming message.
Ella:
I've never been. But I'd like to see them someday.
Someday, huh? It's a short, simple message, but it says so much. She's not just looking for a man, but something bigger. Is that why she's on the site in the first place? I want to ask, but it doesn't feel like the right time, and I don't want to get caught up in explaining why I'm on the site.
If she wants to see the mountains, she should.
I've never been the type of man to tiptoe around things. When I see something I want, I go after it. When I make a decision, there's no turning back.
Strong. Decisive. No games.
Maybe there is something to this matching thing, or maybe there's not.
But there's only one way to find out.
I type my response.
Ella
Istare at his message. My heart is racing so fast, I can't catch my breath.
Jamie:
If you're willing to give it a shot, I'll make it worth your while.
I read the words again. And then again as if the message will turn into something safer and less...loadedif I keep reading.
It doesn't.
The words sit on the screen in bold letters, daring me to reply.
Can I really do this? Can I really pack up everything I know and go thousands of miles away to a place I've never been to live with a man I've never met?
No.Marrya man I've never met.
Before I can reply, another message comes in.
Jamie:
