We went back to my apartment and I asked him to stay for dinner. Of course, he agreed. So I walked into the kitchen to see what I could find to make for dinner. I found the steaks that I had laid out in the fridge a couple of days before but hadn't gotten around to making them yet.

As I reached into the cabinet to grab a skillet, Jean-Paul walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He placed a gentle kiss on the nape of my neck, sending pleasant chills down my spine. I spun to look at him, my heart fluttering when he gave me a dazzling smile.

"Let me help." He pleaded. His eyes gave such a look. I couldn't say no.

"Of course," I said as I placed the skillet on the stove and placed the steaks in the skillet.

I grabbed the potatoes out of the potato bin and handed him a few. I instructed him on how to wash and poke holes in the spuds, then wrapped them in foil and placed them in the oven to bake.

I gave Jean-Paul a knife and asked him to cut up some vegetables for a salad. As he chops the cucumbers with his back to me, I admire him-the way he holds the knife with his bicep rippling with each cut, and just his presence in the kitchen. I couldn't help but stare at him. It was odd having a man help me cook-Max refused to ever touch a knife-but it was something I could get used to.

He turns to look at me while I'm staring at him which causes a heat to creep upon my cheeks. I quickly look away and stub my toe on the cabinet.

Jean-Paul turned back to the vegetables, pretending he didn't notice, but I can see the hint of a smile on his lips.

After half an hour, our entire dinner was finished. I began plating our food, while Jean-Paul placed the salad on the table, along with the French salad dressing.

We sat at the table around the table as I poured us a glass of red wine.

Jean-Paul suggested that we pray together before our meal. This made my eyes widen with surprise. I nodded my head in agreeance. Jean-Paul reached up and gave my hand a gentle squeeze as a smile spread across his face.

We bowed our heads to pray as Jean-Paul lead the prayer.

As we sat and ate our meal, Jean-Paul broke the silence.

"I have to ask" he started, "I think your name is beautiful. How did your parents come up with it?"

I looked at him and a little bit of sadness mixed and pride before explaining the meaning behind my name.

"I'm named after my uncle, Blake Wesley. He was my mother's twin brother and her best friend, before he died at only sixteen years old." I said, my heart aching for my mother and her loss.

"My uncle was a varsity football player and my mother was a cheerleader. Blake had to stay late after a game one night. Rather than having to wait on him, my mother caught a ride home with a friend, unsure how late Blake would be.

Later that night, a police officer arrived at my grandparents' house to deliver the news. Blake had been on his way home from the game when he was hit by a drunk driver. He died on impact," I said, biting back tears thinking about the uncle I never got to meet.

"My mother's life was altered forever. Not only did she lose a sibling, she lost her other half, the brother she'd experienced everything with since their birth, her very best friend. She blamed herself for a long time, convinced that if she had stayed with her brother a little longer, things would have turned out differently.

"To honor her brother, my mother gave me his name. I'm proud to be named after Blake Wesley, and I can only hope that one day, I will bring the name justice," I said, unable to fight the tears any longer.

Tears started to stream down my face. I hadn't even realized I was crying until Jean-Paul reached up and wiped them away. I may not have known my uncle, but he was so special to my mom. Even talking about him breaks my heart for her and for my grandparents.

Without a second thought, Jean-Paul took hold of my arm and pulled me close to him and sat me down on his lap.

"I think it's a perfect name. It's beautiful and fits you well," he whispered. "And I have no doubt that you will wear your uncle's name well."

He took my cheeks into his hands and wiped the remaining tears from my eyes before leaning in to touch his lips to mine. No matter what I could be going through this man knows a way to make everything better just by showing that he cares so much about me. The warmth of his lips felt right against mine. When our lips departed, he looked up at me with such compassion and love in his eyes. He held my hand, before giving it a small squeeze and letting go so we could finish our meal.

After we finished dinner, he helped me get everything cleaned up in the kitchen before taking my hand and leading me into the living room. He turned on some music and placed one hand on my waist and cupped his other hand around mine. We slow danced around the living room as he twirled me in one direction and dipped me in the other. I wasn't a very good dancer, but with Jean-Paul's lead, I learned quickly. The man never ceased to amaze me. Every day I learned something new about him.

Soon it was starting to get dark, and though I didn't want it to, I knew that our wonderful night had to come to an end.

I walked Jean-Paul to the front door as he gave me one last goodbye kiss and whispered "I'll see you Saturday," before he slipped out of the front door and out of the hallway.

I shut the door softly behind me and felt my heart flutter like I had never felt it before. If I didn't know any better I would think that I was in love with Jean-Paul. I wasn't even sure I wanted to admit it to myself. The last time I thought I was in love with someone, he gave me an ultimatum that ended up with him moving across the country and leaving me behind like I never meant anything to him. Now I was falling for someone who wasn't just moving halfway across the country, but whose home was halfway across the world! If I couldn't justify a long-distance relationship with Max, how could I do so with Jean-Paul?

But deep down, I knew that things were different with Jean-Paul. Even though I hadn't known him long, my bond with him seemed to go deeper than anything I had with Max. It was like we were both halves of one soul, connected to each other before we'd even met.

I would never admit it to him though. I definitely wouldn't want to scare him off.

I walked back into my bedroom and slipped into my pajamas before lying down in bed. I stared up at the ceiling and thought back to Jean-Paul. I closed my eyes, but I couldn't rest. My mind was overactive thinking about Jean-Paul and I tossed and turned all night.

After what felt like hours, I felt my eyes grow heavy as I finally succumbed to sleep.

Jean-Paul and I were swimming in the ocean. He picked me up and I wrapped my arms around him, laughing as drops of water fell from his wet hair and onto my face. He picked me up as I wrapped my arms around his waist. He placed his lips ever so gently on mine as he started spinning around. The world seemed to stay still. The look in his eyes was telling me that he never wanted the moment to end. He loved every second of us being together.

He drew me closer to him, pressing against one another until we were only inches apart. His heart thumped harder against my chest. I raced him back to our condo before slipping into some dry clothes and cuddling next to him on the bed. With his muscular arms wrapped around me, I felt safe. I felt cared for. I felt loved.

I turned to face Jean-Paul as he brushed a single strand of hair out of my face and tilted my chin up to look into his eyes.

"For as long as I live I will take care of you, I will protect you, and I will love you. I will never go anywhere. You are stuck with me forever."

I smiled and I kissed him before he had the chance to kiss me.

"Jean-Paul I promise to be the best wife that I can be for you, to take care of your needs, and to love you for all of eternity."

He pulled me into a close hug as he rubbed my back and laid his head upon mine. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent, thinking about how lucky I was and how perfectly things had worked out.

I was awoken by the alarm reminding me that it was time to get up and get ready for work. I looked around and once again Jean-Paul wasn't there. A tear fell down my cheek when I realized Jean-Paul wasn't there. I desperately wished that the dream was real.

I sighed as I wiped the tear from my eye. I walked into the bathroom and turned the water on for a quick shower before work. I toweled off and tied my hair into a bun.

I brushed and flossed my teeth before slipping into a pair of scrubs.

I grabbed my keys and headed for the car. The ride to the office seemed to take longer than usual. When I finally arrived I walked inside and saw everyone gathering around in the back as Doctor Lynch was talking.

"As you all know, once a year, we close the office down for a week to allow everyone to enjoy a paid vacation. I'm sure everyone is aware that next week is our paid vacation, which begins Monday. Does anyone want to share what plans they have for their time off?

Everyone started throwing out places that they would be visiting for the week, but I just stood there, dumbfounded.

I had completely forgotten that next week was the vacation week at the office. My mind had been so caught up on everything that has happened in my life over the past couple of months that it had slipped my mind.

The idea of getting away for a little while and enjoying time away from work and the joys of adulthood was beginning to sound wonderful. As my colleagues continued sharing their plans for the time off, I racked my brain for vacation ideas. A part of me dreaded going anywhere because I knew that would be time spent away from Jean-Paul. But then an exciting notion popped into my mind-what if I invited Jean-Paul to go with me? He said he wanted to see as much of the United States as he could; this was the perfect time to do so.

I went about my workday with seeing patients but I couldn't seem to get my mind off of Jean-Paul or even about where to go on vacation. I was excited at the prospect of enjoying a trip together, but a part of me was worried that Jean-Paul would decline the offer.

I tried to shake the idea from my mind...at least until I could talk to Jean-Paul and see if he would want to go with me. I knew I had to go home immediately after work and put some ideas down on paper.

I was so excited that I could hardly contain my excitement.

Worry-free vacation here I come!