Free Save Me From Myself by Stacey Mosteller Page A

this man who makes me feel for the first time in a very long time.
    Before Anna and I leave, David kisses me deeply again, and I swear my knees almost buckle. When he finally lets me go, Anna’s giggling. I don’t remember getting in the car, or walking into my apartment. I don’t even wash off my makeup before falling into bed with a huge smile on my face.

David texted directions to his house earlier this afternoon, and I’ve spent most of the day talking myself into and back out of showing up for dinner at his house. Yes, I like him, a lot, but I didn’t come to Nashville to get right back into a relationship. I came to start over, to concentrate on me, and he’s messing up all my plans. When I told Anna this, she told me that “the best things in life are unexpected” which didn’t exactly make everything okay. She told me to put my big girl panties on, and deal with it. So, here I am, in a gated community on the outskirts of Nashville. How on earth does a bar owner own a house here ?  
    When I pull up outside of the house, I’m very intimidated. The house is all brick, with ivory trim around the windows. The roof looks almost blue in the setting sun, and the lawn is beautifully manicured. It looks like the kind of house you’d see in landscaping or architecture magazines.  
    There’s a circular driveway, passing a walkway to the front door that has three steps up from the actual driveway. In the distance, to the left side of the house, I can see a two-story three car garage which is separate from the house. I stop my car in front of the house, and just sit. I’m trying to convince myself to get out. It’s not that I think David is too good for me, because my family isn’t exactly in the poor house, but I really didn’t think he was this well off. He definitely doesn’t act like the wealthy guys I know back in New York. He’s friendly, outgoing, and down to earth.
    I continue to sit and stare at the yard around me, when all of a sudden, there’s a knock on my window that startles me so much a small scream escapes my mouth. I place my hand on my chest, and look towards the door. David’s standing there with a half-smile on his face, and that one eyebrow raised, like he’s daring me to get out of the car. I unlock the door, and he pulls it open. “Hey darlin',” he greets me warmly, his smile widening.  
    “Hi,” I respond softly. The butterflies are back, and I’m not sure how to act with him now that we’re completely alone. David doesn’t let me wonder long though, and holds his hand out for mine. When I place my hand in his, he pulls me out of the car and into his embrace. He smells wonderful! I don’t what cologne he wears, but he smells clean, and a little woodsy. I just want to burrow further into his chest when he hugs me. He pulls away all too soon, and lays a soft kiss on my cheek.
    “Were you planning to stay out here in your car all night? Or were you going to come in for dinner?” He asks me.
    “Of course I was coming in, I was just admiring the view.” I reply indignantly. Jeez, you’d think I’d been out there for hours, instead of just a few minutes. Laughing, he pulls me into his side and leads me into the house.
    ***
    When we enter the foyer, I see a table with fresh flowers, and a staircase leading up to the second floor. The floor looks like old wood, and there’s a small rug just inside the door. Looking down the hallway, I can see two doorways on each side leading into rooms and the hallway stretches the entire width of the house.
    David’s leading me towards the end of the hallway, and when he turns to look at me, he smiles and uses his finger to push my chin up, closing my mouth. “You’re going to catch flies if you’re not careful,” he says with a wink. I can’t help it. This house is amazing. I must be looking at him funny, because he stops, and gesturing at the house, tells me, “This was my parent’s house. When they died, it became mine. SB was