A cool breeze pushes between wooden shutters. Dead flowers litter the decked terrace. Chimes from the town chapel bell ring out seven times, a reminder that the light will soon slip behind the rocky mountain tops.

My chilled fingers pull at a thread on the top button of my shirt, heart beat quickening with excitement.

What will I say? I tug fingers through my long blonde hair, the metallic aroma of the cold air coating the strands.  

The decision to come had been a rash one, clothes were the last consideration. I stand in black trousers and black army boots, a thick black hoody and long coat to combat the chill of the autumn nights.

A meaty diesel engine growls. Turning I see a large white land rover crunch its way up the gravelled driveway towards me. The headlights pierce my skull with their brightness. I blink several times attempting to shift the uncomfortable twinge to no avail.

I move further into the shadows. My excitement is almost too much to bare.

The car doors open. She (Victoria_29loveme) steps from the driver side, a pair of Christian Louboutin high heeled shoes are dropped gently onto the gravel drive and her stockinged feet slide expertly into the soft leather.

Within seconds, she is visible, wearing a cream tailored suit that is melded to her every curve - this is why I have come, why I have paid the £400 pounds to travel up the country to see her on New Year's Eve.

Her picture had been brighter, a slightly more colourful portrayal; she had come across as a little thinner, but I don't mind the wider hips - this is real.

My hand fumbles with the buttons of my coat. What should I do now? I thought of the ribbon in my pocket. I had picked it specifically. A luxurious red satin ribbon.

I hear her laughing as she teeters on her heels around to the boot of the car.

"Come on you two, it's late." She shouts.

I stand frozen to the spot, my hand gripping the cool metal of the drain pipe beside me as I watch two children disembark from the car left and right.

Her "About me" page hadn't mentioned children - 'Shy, single, looking for friendship and maybe more' - that was how it read. I push my hand into my pocket and fiddle with the ribbon twisting it around my index finger, pulling it tight with frustration.

It is getting cold and the outside lights flick on and off with her movements in front of the motion sensor. My decision to announce myself is forced when I hear one of the children squeel with delight as the other child, a young boy, chases her. So focussed on my muse Victoria, I neglect to avoid the charging children.

"Mommy." The little girl who could be no more then six years old is backing away from me. "A woman." Her finger juts out to point.

"It's rude to point." I hiss. She squeels and runs towards my Victoria, her thumb in her mouth. The boy watches me, a frown at his brow. He may be a problem.

"Uh...Sorry." I utter the apology while stalking in the families direction, a smile at my peach painted lips. She smiles back and in that one moment I know I have made the right decision.

Everyone has a past, children aren't unsurpassable - I can make this work.

"Hi." I give a lazy smile. It feels good to be here with Victoria, her head cocks to one side, shiny black hair shimmering in the light of the sunset. "Uh sorry to intrude. I'm staying in the area, went for a walk and managed to lock myself out of my accommodation." My hands raise apologetically. Victoria's smile grows wider and her green eyes twinkle.

She is beautiful!

"It's no problem, it's like a rabbit warren around here. Took me years to remember all the nooks and crannies. It's freezing, do you want a cup of tea? You can make any calls you need to from my house?"

She is lovely, I know she is the right one, everything feels just right.

She moves back to the car and begins unloading shopping bags with various food items.

"Do you want a hand?" I move towards her, wanting to be useful.

"No thanks, that's why I have these two. Milly, Arthur, come on - give your Mum a hand."

Mum - I shiver at the word. She didn't notice, too busy closing the boot and locking the car.

We walk to the house, discarding our shoes at the door. My boots look out of place on the cream tiled floor of the utility room.

"I apologise we're not coming through the front door." She speaks the comment over her shoulder as she uses her hip to push open the glass door into the largest kitchen I have ever seen. This will be the place - it is perfect. Chrome glints under the spotlights in the ceiling.

The children have instantly run out of the room leaving the bags strewn on the floor. Victoria has her back to me, placing tins and packets on cupboard shelves.

Her trousers are cinched at the waist, emphasising its slenderness, the material pulled tight over her buttocks and culminating in a breathtaking figure, black hair cascading down her back.

"What brings you to this little town then?" She turns and brushes my arm with her hand as she moves to the bags of shopping. She knows who I am, I can sense it.

"Family." My mind was on her body, but I was able to keep up the pretence.

I move to sit at the breakfast bar, the black leather high stool hugging my arse.

She is facing me now, bending down to retrieve more tins from the shopping bags. I watch her cleavage through the shadowed v-neckline of her beige mohair top. My hands want to cup her breasts so badly, they ache.

I pull hard at the ribbon in my pocket and it cuts into the flesh of my finger.

Victoria moved to the kettle. "Did you fancy a cuppa?" She offers as she brings down two mugs from a cupboard.

"Yes thanks." I move to stand next to her, breathing in her perfume.

I had emailed so often and she had ignored me, we had been friends, but she had blocked me. She would know how it felt. The powerlessness.

"This town is so lovely, I am thinking of staying a little longer in the area." I continue with insipid conversation. My frustration and need building. Victoria smiles broadly, here eyes twinkling as the overhead pendant lights swing above us, caught by a small breeze.

"I'm sure you would love it here." She answers in a light enthusiastic tone. She wants me here. 

"I'm sure I will."  

I sip my tea in quiet expectation.

***