Frank and Elyse

"What shall we toast?" Elyse asked.

"How about to new beginnings?" Frank suggested.

Her smile was warm as she nodded and raised her glass. They sipped the chilled wine and it was delicious.

"Oh, that's really nice! Very light!" she said and he could tell she meant it. He nodded and tucked into his lunch.

They ate in silence for a bit then she glanced over at her laptop. "Do you think you could show me how the VPN thing works? If I can connect to the office today the IT department will see I was able to connect and that may relieve some of the pressure of getting a connection for Monday."

"Sure, no problem," he said.

"The salad is delicious!"

"Well, it's difficult to make a bad salad if your ingredients are fresh," he stated.

"Did you grill the chicken?" she asked

"Sliced and grilled," he admitted.

"You like to cook?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

He cocked a brow and pinned her with his eyes. "What makes you think I wouldn't?"

It was her turn to blush. "Sorry, I have to admit I got totally the wrong impression of you from day one."

He looked away and nodded. "So did I... of you."

She lifted her glass once more and caught his eye. "To new beginnings?"

He nodded looking into her warm green eyes. "Yes. I'd like to start over."

"Your Jeep, your bicycle, and your muscles all led me to believe you were some kind of jock," she confessed after she swallowed the sip of wine.

He snorted in amusement. "No, I'm no athlete. I got the Jeep to help me get the bicycle to the start of remote trails. It will remain in the garage if my destination is reachable by bike or the stuff I am picking up can fit in my panniers. I love cycling for the exercise it gives me and the peace and grace of the movement. My muscles are just the result of perseverance and hard work. I don't enjoy working out but I know it's good for me so..." He shrugged.

He glanced at her and frowned slightly. "I'm sorry to admit I let your resemblance to my ex set my impression of who you were. As I said she was... difficult... over the past year and I seemed to catch you when you were frowning... or yelling." Elyse put her face in her hands. "It reinforced the impression. I can see you aren't like her at all. I just have to undo what she's done to me. I ask for your patience while I work on that." She nodded to him and they returned to eating.

When they were done Frank collected the dishes and put them by the sink. He'd do them while she was using the Internet.

"Let's work on that VPN connection," he suggested.

She nodded and brought her laptop over and flipped it open and on. Once it reached the desktop she turned it to Frank and he connected her to his wireless network.

"Now whenever you come over with your laptop it will automatically connect," he smiled as he turned the laptop back to her. "This icon loads the VPN software. I've used this one before. Just double click on it."

She did and the application opened. "You see this setting here? Your techs have already configured the connection. All you need to do is click on this and then click on the connect option. Go ahead."

She followed his instructions and a prompt jumped up on the screen asking for her password. He looked away as she typed it in. A few second later the prompt disappeared.

"What happened? Where did it go?" Elyse blurted.

"It's still running. See the little icon at the bottom right? If you see that it means you have a good connection. If you open up your applications that access your office servers you should now be able to get to them."

She opened her office chat client and immediately received a message from the on-duty IT staffer acknowledging her successful connection.

"AH! It's working!" she squeaked with glee and clapped her hands together.

"There you go. Simple, right?" he grinned at her enthusiasm.

"Sure when you explain it. I must have asked the tech who installed it on my laptop to explain how it worked a half dozen times and each time it just sounded more and more technical and complicated!"

"Yeah, that's how techs speak. I picked up enough tech talk to learn how to pick out the important bits," he nodded thoughtfully.

Elyse sent a quick note to the tech indicating she would be connecting the following day. He acknowledged her response.

She looked at Frank once more.

"To disconnect the VPN just right click on the little icon down there and choose disconnect. Then do it again and choose exit."

She did it and the icon disappeared. She grinned and clapped once more. "Oh my god Frank! I can't tell you how nice it is to get help with this stuff from someone who doesn't just drown me in tech jargon."

He just shrugged and grinned. "You still have an Internet connection so you can do your research for Internet providers with a browser. You ok from here? I'm going to go do the dishes."

"Yes, thanks!" She popped open her browser and began.

"Would you like some more wine?"

She looked at him with a happy grin and nodded quickly so he topped up her glass.

Frank moved to the kitchen sink and began to fill it. His knees were wobbly from all the smiles she was hitting him with. He sipped at his wine hoping it would relax him in her presence.

As he worked he could hear the sound of her talking on her cell as she called the places she found online. He wasn't listening to the words but just the tone and inflection in her voice. She had a very warm and friendly manner and he let that sink into his brain as he held an image of her beautiful smiling face in his mind. He hoped that would help break the link to his memories of Stephanie.

The dishes done he glanced over at Elyse and saw she was deep in conversation with someone so he went out to the garage and grabbed his toolbox. He carried it back inside and pulled a tape measure from the box. He took some measurements of the walls in the living room and entered them into his notes app on his cell. He planned on painting this room and he'd need to know how much paint he'd need. Also drop cloths to protect the beautiful hardwood floors.

He heard footsteps behind him and looked to see Elyse walking into the living room with a frustrated look on her face.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed. "None of the service providers I called can get an installer to my place before Wednesday. I already have an appointment with the original company for Wednesday so I may as well stick with them. They had the best price for what I need anyway."

"If you want you can work from here until you get your connection. I mean, it's probably not as comfortable as your place with all your fancy comfortable chairs and proper height desks and stuff," he said in a teasing tone and drew a smile from her.

"I'd hate to impose on you," she said wincing but he saw she was relieved by his offer.

"It's no bother at all. When does your work day begin and end?"

"I could be over at 8:30AM and leave by 4:30PM if that's ok."

"I'll give you a key. I may be out riding at that time in the morning," he replied.

She blinked in surprise. "You'll give me a key?"

Suddenly Frank worried he may be sending her the wrong message. His face flushed and he back pedaled. "You know, so you can let yourself in tomorrow if I'm out riding. No other reasons. No expectations," he blurted then closed and rubbed his eyes as the words sounded even more damning.

He heard a quiet snort and opened his eyes. She was smiling happily at him so he hadn't offended her. That was a relief!

"You're a very sweet man, Frank. I will borrow a key. Thank you."

Unreasonably warmed by her words, he nodded and walked to his bedroom to get the spare key. He handed it to her when he got back out to the living room.

"What are you measuring?" she asked as she added the key to her keychain.

"I'm going to repaint the living room as the walls are looking a little dingy. Something bright but neutral. Eggshell?" he said looking critically at the room.

Elyse looked shyly at Frank. "May I offer a suggestion?"

He looked pleadingly at her. "Please! I have very little design sense and this is the first home I've had to do by myself." Frank suddenly realized the scope of that task and felt completely inadequate to meet the challenge. "Any help you could give me would be welcome." He saw her eyes light up at his request.

"Ok... well, I think this room needs a little warmth. It's a gathering place for friends and family. It deserves welcoming colors and fabrics. What's your style?" she asked.

Frank blinked at her. "Style?"

"Traditional, Country, Rustic, Casual, Transitional, or Contemporary?" she said tilting her head as she looked at him. She seemed to be trying to get a read from him. "Wait! You bought a bed, right? I need to see it!" With that she hustled down the hall towards his bedroom.

Frank froze in place. Following her into his bedroom just seemed to be a little too intimate. Moments later she returned and nodded to him.

"What made you pick that bed?" she asked.

"It's very well made. Quality work and... I liked how it looked," he admitted.

"Good! You have excellent taste. It's what I would call Transitional. Somewhere between Traditional and Contemporary. Simple and sophisticated."

"That first part sounds like me," he said with a self-deprecating grin.

She gave him a fake stern look and assessed the room once more.

"Linen white."

"What's that?"

"That's the color I'd paint these walls. It's light and warm but has a creaminess to it. I'd take it right from the front door to just outside the kitchen. Down the hallway as well. Not inside the kitchen, dining room, or the bedrooms though," she said as her eyes were focused on the image in her mind.

Frank got his tape measure out and measured the remaining area he'd need to paint. "Well, I know what I'm doing tomorrow," he grinned at her when he was done.

"Do you have dinner plans tonight?" she asked.

"Uh, no."

"To thank you I'd like to take you out to dinner. I saw a lovely place on my drive up the coast. I made a reservation for 7PM, a table inside by the window so we'll get to enjoy the sunset." Elyse was looking at him hopefully and he couldn't help but smile and nod.

"Great! I'll pick you up at 6:30PM," she grinned and he returned it.

She looked at his tool box then back to him with another hopeful look. "Could I borrow some tools so I can assemble my bed frame?"

"Sure, as long as I get them back," he teased.

She flashed him another bright smile and he felt its impact through his body. When she turned to pick out the tools she needed he leaned back against the wall to brace himself.

Elyse turned to show him the tools she had in her hands. Just a few screwdrivers and a couple of adjustable wrenches. He nodded. "Oh! My laptop." She turned back to walk to the kitchen.

"There's a plastic bag on the counter you can use to carry the tools," he suggested.

She stopped and put the tools in the bag then grabbed her laptop.

He walked her to the front door. "What's the dress code for dinner?"

"How did Beverly put it? Ah yes, dressy casual," she smiled as she shook her head. She looked back at Frank. "Thank you so much for your help with the VPN, for loaning me the tools, and for that delicious lunch!" she said beaming her lovely smile at him.

"You're most welcome!" he replied as his cheeks burned. His brain was spinning but he did his best to remain calm. She hesitated then she was out the door.

He sighed as he closed the door. Aside from the shakes he hadn't felt this good... in a very long time.

As he returned to taking measurements he looked forward to dinner.

Chapter 10

She made quick work of assembling her bed frame now that she had tools to do it. After she lifted her mattress up onto the frame she sighed with relief as she hoped this would allow her to wake peacefully. This morning had been a repeat of the previous one. She woke disoriented and gasping in fright. Not a happy way to start the day.

She put Frank's tools back into the plastic bag and sat on the edge of the bed smiling to herself. While she could drive over to the hardware store to get her own tools, not having them gave her an excuse to visit her new neighbor. She caught herself grinning and gave her head a firm shake. It was a little too soon after her divorce to be having romantic thoughts. It was certainly too early for Frank who was going through some rather severe post-divorce trauma.

She frowned as she remembered his almost panicked look when he saw her standing in his driveway this morning. When she walked over to apologize she saw him lifting his bike up on the hooks in the garage and found herself admiring his physique in the skin tight cycling clothes. When he exited the garage he locked up when he saw her. Her guilt for yelling at him the previous night had come pouring back.

He'd been very gracious to accept her apology which surprised her as she'd expected him to be far more gruff and uptight about it. Michael was always resentful after being scolded.

She hadn't prepared for what to do after she apologized so when he invited her in to see the house she was delighted. She hadn't expected the house to be mostly empty. In her mind she'd pictured a lot of big and heavy furniture.

Thinking about it she was most surprised by how he kept her off balance with each new insight into his true character. Sure he looked strong and masculine like Michael, a man's man, but in reality he was a quiet, thoughtful man, comfortable with who he was. There'd been so much bullshit machismo with her ex-husbands she'd just come to expect it. Frank was... refreshingly different.

She stopped to think about that. He certainly wasn't as tall as her ex-husbands. He was a little shorter than her but she could tell he wasn't the least bit uptight about that.

He was clearly older than Derrick and Michael. Older than she was though she wasn't exactly sure of his age and she'd feel odd asking. Was it his age that made him seem... mature? Derrick took offence to every perceived slight and Michael was a sullen pouter when he didn't get his way.

Frank seemed stable as a rock compared to her two exes.

Then she recalled his reaction to her asking him why he wouldn't look at her. When he'd explained she felt awful! To travel that far to free himself of reminders only to be confronted with a look-alike living right across the road! And he'd obviously suffered some kind of abuse as his behavior with her indicated. When she'd gone home she didn't know what to do. The thought of being a source of torment for him was almost too much. She knew she had to be prepared to stay away from him to let him heal.

But he'd come looking for her.

He was facing his demons, so to speak, and getting on with his life the best he could. She was very impressed with his inner strength. She hoped she was dealing with her own as well as he was.

He had excellent taste in wine and the lunch he'd made was very yummy. He was an excellent teacher, when it came to technology at least, and wasn't afraid to ask for help when he needed it. Best of all the help he'd asked for was to decorate that lovely home. She'd dreamed of what she would do with it when she bought it, cried when she discovered she wouldn't get to live out that dream, and now he was giving her the opportunity to do it after all.

She was so looking forward to dinner. She leapt to her feet to go look for a nice dress to wear. Not that it was a date!

Hours later she'd finally settled on her off the shoulder knitted, ribbed grey dress which hugged her curves and ended slightly above mid-thigh. To tone down the amount of skin and cleavage she was showing up top she threw on a burgundy lace shawl. To complete the outfit she slipped her feet into some burgundy high heel pumps. Since he didn't seem to be offended by her height she'd enjoy the benefits it gave her. She quickly touched up her hair and make-up and realized it was almost 6:30PM.

She rushed to the front door and collected her clutch purse with her wallet and car keys. She stepped outside, locked up, pulled her car out of the garage, locked that and pulled out of her driveway and into Frank's.

She was already finding her garage door to be a nuisance. Adding a motorized opener would be number one on her list of home improvements!

Before she could undo her seatbelt Frank was standing next to the passenger door. She popped the lock and he let himself in, falling the last few inches to the seat with a thump.

"Geez!" he exclaimed. He looked at her in surprise. "This car is really low to the ground!"

"It's a sports car, silly! Of course it is!" she grinned. "Buckle up!"

He did and they got underway. He sat with his hands folded in his lap and his eyes a little wider than normal as she worked the gears smoothly to navigate their way quickly through the light traffic. Soon they were zipping along on the coastal highway.

"The car handles really well and it has excellent pickup!" he said. "I think I left my stomach back there on that last curve."

"Are you dissing my driving?" she teased.

He held up his hands in surrender. "No, no! You're an excellent driver!"

She nodded with a hint of a smile on her lips, mollified by his praise.

They reached the restaurant minutes before their reservation and slipped into a spot someone was just vacating.

Frank heaved himself up to his feet and out of the car. Closing his door he quickly walked around the car to open her door for her.

She smiled up at him and took his offered hand. Long toned legs stepped out onto the parking lot and he helped her rise from the seat. He suddenly found himself looking up into her eyes as her heels placed them a good four inches above his own.

She smiled cautiously at him, waiting for his reaction. He stepped back to take in her ensemble and she saw he was more than a little awestruck. She felt butterflies in her stomach and chided herself for reacting like this for just a dinner between friends. Neighbors.

"You- you look... exceptionally lovely!" he managed to get out at last. Her eyes flashed with happiness at his words and she dipped her head in thanks as she scoped out his outfit.

He was wearing a navy blue sports jacket over a white, long sleeve dress shirt, open at the collar, tight black jeans and black leather shoes. She was thrilled with how powerful his chest, shoulders, and arms looked in the jacket.

"And you look very handsome," she replied drawing a smile from him.

He turned and offered his elbow and she blinked at him.

His face fell and he looked at her in embarrassment. "Sorry, old habits die hard."

"No, you just took me by surprise. It's a really nice habit." Michael and Derrick never showed any understanding of proper etiquette. Michael would typically rest his hand on her hip or more often, her ass. She slipped her hand around his arm and rested it on his forearm, enjoying the feel of the strength there.

They made their way inside and more than a few eyes turned in their direction as the host led them through the dining area to their reserved table by the window. Elyse could almost hear their thoughts. Who was this powerful looking man with the statuesque blond on his arm? She chuckled to herself but just shook her head at Frank's curious gaze.

He held her chair out for her and she enjoyed his gentlemanly attentions. He sat across from her and made a visible effort to pull his eyes away from her to look at their view.

"You weren't kidding about the view this restaurant would have. Sunset should look pretty amazing from here," he blurted as he kept his eyes on the view.

Suddenly Elyse felt distressed. Maybe she was reminding him of his wife again. Maybe he was hurting because of her!

"Am I causing you anxiety? Am I making it worse, you know, looking like your ex?" she said, worried.