Love really knows no age, nor time, nor place. It just is, Serena thought with a smile as she waved at the latest couple who had found their match in her shop Wednesday afternoon. Both parties had lost their first spouses to cancer but now, the widowed Harriet Spencer found love again at the beautiful age of sixty-five with seventy-two year old Gregory West.

And Serena couldn't help but feel extremely pleased that she had been able to help in putting those wonderful smiles on those wonderful people.

Both Mrs. Spencer and Mr. West had visited Serena's shop a month ago for the first time. Now matched up successfully, they had just stopped by to invite Serena to their wedding which was to be held the following weekend.

"When you're as old as we are, you don't want to waste any time," Mr. West had joked while casting a loving gaze at his bride-to-be.

Serena couldn't stop smiling as she carefully opened the envelope with a finger and pulled out the lavender invitation. It was simple yet elegant and there was a picture of the smiling couple inserted inside the card with a special note of thanks for Serena .

She could feel the joy and pure love, the energy from the photo and couldn't help but think back to her conversation with Shauna on finding a man for herself. Not that she wasn't happy. No, she hadn't lied to Shauna when she said she was perfectly fine with the way things were.

But she would wait her turn and for now continuing helping others.

As she turned to pin the photo to her Wall of Love Fame, her shop phone rang.

"Serena's Matchmaking Service, Serena speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hi Serena . It's Melody!"

Serena placed the photo on the counter anxiously. Was she calling to say Alvin wasn't working out? Meaning that despicable man would be back to cause her unwanted confusion?

"How are you doing Melody?" Serena said realizing she had left her client hanging in silence. "How are things with Alvin?"

"That's why I'm calling actually," Melody responded.

Oh dear. This is it, Serena thought and her heart raced a little faster. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"I was wondering, when do we move on to the next step?"

Serena let out the breath she was holding. "Excuse me?"

"Well we've been talking quite often the past few days, Alvin and I. During lunch breaks, in the evenings and sometimes before bed. Just getting to know each other like you said. So I was thinking, maybe it's time for a face-to-face meeting?"

"I – uh..." Get a grip Serena, the matchmaker told herself. "Right. Well, I think that's an excellent idea. Does Mr. Ketter feel the same?"

"I mentioned it to him last night and he said if that's what you suggest."

"Ah yes, well a face-to-face meeting is the next step," Serena slowly said, knowing she wasn't sounding too professional at the moment. What on earth was wrong with her? One little notion from Shauna that she might be attracted to Alvin and suddenly her mind went dysfunctional at the mere mentioning of him!?

Serena continued speaking, "I think a date is a good idea. Usually I suggest keeping the first one a bit casual like a simple lunch or coffee date. You and the other party make the final plans based on my suggestions and guidelines and then if that works out, a second date is set up, this time something a little fancier and more intimate like dinner or a movie."

"Wonderful! I can't wait. Alvin has been extremely attentive and responsive during our talks. Usually men either go on about themselves or just don't really pay attention to you when you're talking, especially on the phone," Melody said in a excited pitch. "I have one more question."

"Yes?"

"Do I let Alvin know that we are to have a date or do you?"

Just then, the familiar front door bells jingled

"I can let him know," Serena said, fighting hard to keep her eyes trained away from the grinning man as he came towards the counter.

"Okay thank you so much Serena! I'll call you after the date."

"Please do," Serena replied. The two women said their good-byes and Serena replaced the phone on the receiver, still keeping her eyes away from Alvin who now stood on the opposite side of the counter.

Again, her heart began to beat uncontrollably, in a inexplicable rate and she could feel the blush rising to her cheeks.
Drat! The AC must not be working. The weather outside had been getting increasingly warmer over the days after all.

"Good afternoon Miss Serena !"

"Hello," Serena replied, finally meeting his eyes. "I'm glad you're here."

"Oh really?" An eyebrow went up. "Glad to be here."

"Not like that," Serena replied, turning her gaze away and towards her computer. She clicked open a random file, anything to keep her distracted from those brown eyes that bore into her and that dark hair that was currently in a messy yet annoyingly attractive manner.

I am not attracted to you. I am not affected by you. Never in a million years.

Aloud she said, "Melody just called and it seems you two are ready to move onto step two which is a casual date."

"Ah."

"My suggestion would be to meet for lunch or grab some coffee for your first meeting. You can either choose the location yourself or I have a list of very nice places in the area if you'd like," Serena continued and slid a sheet of paper across the counter which listed several date venues.

Alvin ignored it and leaned forward. "I think I'd rather have a date with a certain fiery matchmaker."

Despicable man, Serena thought turning away to hide the creeping blush.
She took a deep breath and fixing her features to look stern, she whirled back around. "I believe we already had this discussion. You cannot hit on the matchmaker."

"I'm not hitting on the matchmaker. That makes it sound like I'm some sort of sleaze ball just trying to pick up any random girl from the street corner. I'm not. What I am, however, is interested in the matchmaker," Alvin said, looking directly into her sea-blue eyes.

Oh my.

Her pulse quickened but Serena would not lose her resolve. She was a professional and was a headstrong young independent woman. She would not let this man best her.

"Please take this list and set up a face-to-face meeting with Melody," she said firmly, aiming her gaze more towards his ears than into his eyes.

"Face-to-face meeting huh?" Alvin said, his voice taking on a deeper tone.

Serena slowly nodded and slid her eyes towards his when she noticed he was moving. Towards her!? Alvin stretched his body over the counter, closing the distance between them until their noses were only an inch apart and the entire time, brown eyes never strayed from blue.

Oh my.

Serena's breathing came out shallow and she could feel her heart desperately thumping against her ribcage. Surely her ribs would break. Surely her lungs would collapse. Surely this was not happening to her.

"Face-to-face?" Alvin whispered, his warm breath tickling Serena's face just the slightest and causing her internal body temperature to rise more than she ever suspected possible.

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.

"Like this?" he finished. He continued leaning in, millimeter by millimeter and Serena felt trapped; those incredible sexy chocolate eyes had her in a mystifying and bewitching hold.

She could do nothing to stop this.

She should stop this.

Did she want to stop this?

Alvin Ketter's face had crossed past the line of dangerously close and if she wanted to, she could count each of his amazingly long individual eyelashes. Somewhere in between her heart threatening to burst through her chest and the intense curiosity and desire for him to just go ahead and do what he must, a section of Serena's clouded mind managed to process the thought, Wow I am so jealous of his lashes. A player like him doesn't deserve them!

Player...

Ohmygosh.

"Get away!" Serena shrieked, raising her hand just in time to prevent Alvin's lips from landing on her own. Instead she felt his semi-wet mouth land on her palm.

Alvin jumped away, eyes circles of surprise.
She dropped her own gaze to the countertop, wishing she could stop the coming tide of embarrassment from flooding her cheeks visibly.

What had she been thinking? What was he thinking? Were they really about to – Serena didn't want to think about it.

Before Alvin could stutter out some lame excuse for an apology, Serena cleared her throat, snatched the sheet of paper up and literally thrust it in Alvin's face saying, "Sir. I will say this once more. Melody is a nice young woman. If you are not serious, then I suggest you quit this service now before causing any further damage."

If I pretend I'm talking to the counter, it's not so bad, she tried to convince herself.

With a sigh, Alvin picked up the sheet and scanned it. "She is a nice girl. And I already agreed to a date with her when we spoke yesterday so I can't say no," he finally said. "I guess as the man, I should officially ask her out, huh?"

The dratted man! He really was a playboy! How could he act so calm after what almost happened?
Serena raised half an eye upwards and noticed that he wasn't even blushing!

Keeping her tone even, she said "That would be entirely up to you sir."

Alvin made a noncommittal noise. He held Serena's gaze for a few seconds before bidding the matchmaker farewell and with a final wink, he was out the door once more.

Serena sank back into her chair heavily and groaned. Suddenly felt the urge to go on a rampage through town and break things like she-hulk, while simultaneously collapse in a fit of tears. And she wasn't even due for her monthly cycle for another two weeks.

It's not because of that man. No way. I am not attracted to him! I am not attracted to him! I am not attracted to him!, Serena chanted in her mind. But no matter how many times she repeated that phrase both aloud and mentally, her heart wouldn't let her deny what had almost transpired and that it wasn't just the weather outside making her blush when she looked down at her burning palm.

"I'm I...in Love?"