The sign outside the love guru's shop mocks me silently as I stand there, sipping my dark roast. I'm an idiot for driving over here, but for some reason, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the shop since the other night.

The door's bell signals my entrance. The shop is small and smells like incense, and has a deep purple curtain that cuts the space in half.

"Why, hello there," a sweet voice chirps from behind me.

Startled, I shuffle around and find a middle-aged woman sipping tea behind a desk. She looks at me for a moment before speaking again. "I can sense you're seeking some love advice, love," she says.

"I-" I start, wondering why I am about to elaborate on my failing love-life to a total stranger.

"Come with me," she says, standing from her seat and guiding me behind the violet curtain.

I sit down at a table across from her and wait for further instruction.

"Alright, let's see," she says, taking my hands in her own, softly rubbing the tendons.

I look at the woman cautiously, wondering how the hell she can read anything by examining the crevasses on my hands.

"You've had some trouble, I see."

"I have," I say questionably.

"And multiple disappointments."

"I, uh-"

"It's okay, dear. This is nothing out of the ordinary."

I look at her, confused. Is she for real? I'm not paying sixty dollars for this.

"I can sense that something good is in the cards for you," she says after a moment.

Her words perk my interest. "Can you elaborate?" I ask.

"I sense a dangerous event occurring," she begins.

Wait. What?

"And it is in that dangerous event that you will find love."

"What do you mean by a dangerous event? Is my life in danger?"

"Oh, dear, that's not how this works."

I retreat my hands in disbelief. I was right the other night; this is ridiculous. I grab my purse and walk through the purple curtain.

"Wait, miss!" The woman calls.

I don't stop. I keep walking out of the shop, heading for my car across the street. I can't stop thinking about the ridiculousness of the reading. Has that women completely lost her mind? What sort of dangerous event could she be talking about? I'm not in danger, am I? I'm so distracted by my thoughts that I don't realize a delivery truck's horn is blaring at me. When I realize it's proximity, I freeze and clamp my eyes shut. The next thing I sense is the feeling of someone's arms wrapped around my body.

I open my eyes slowly and take in my surroundings. My body is suspended just above the pavement, and the whispers of the crowd around me raise in volume.

I tilt my head back to take note of who is holding onto me. The sun obscures my vision, but it doesn't keep me from taking note of the beautiful face hovering above mine. The kind man offers me a smile as his deep brown eyes explore my facial features. I'm so in awe that I don't speak.

"Are you alright, miss?" he asks me.

"I...," I stutter, still looking into him. "Erin, my name is Erin."

"Hi, Erin, I'm Matthew," he says calmingly.

"Hi," I whisper, before attempting to look at my surroundings. "How many people are watching us?"

Matthew glances up and takes a quick look around. "Not many." He looks into my eyes again as my focus switches to another feature: his mouth. His perfectly plump lips part slightly as he sighs beneath my weight.

Great, now I'm thinking about my weight.

I strain my body in an attempt to get up until Matthew's arms support my movements. "Hold on there, you took quite a tumble," he says as he helps lift my body to a standing position.

I grab hold of his arms to support me, but even after I'm standing, I don't let go. Instead, I glance around at the people circling us with worried looks on their faces.

"I'm fine," I announce to the crowd, "you can all continue with your day." After a few murmurs, the crowd dissipates, leaving Matthew and me alone. "Thank you," I say, releasing his arms from my grasp, "for saving my life."

"It's not a problem," he smiles. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, thankfully," I say, returning his smile.

"How did you not see or hear that truck coming towards you?"

"Let's just say I was... distracted."

"Well, maybe you should be less distracted when crossing the street," he jokes, grinning.

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Well, if you're okay, I'll get going."

"Wait! At least let me buy you a coffee. You did save my life, after all," I say, nodding my head in the direction of the Starbucks.

Matthew looks at me for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Okay, sure. I have some time before my shift," he says, following my lead into the deserted street.

"So," I start once we're sitting with our coffees, "what do you do, work-wise?"

"I'm a firefighter."

"Oh, locally?"

"Yeah, just a couple blocks from here, actually."

"That's amazing. You'll have a story to tell when you go in today, I guess," I say with an embarrassed tone as I bring my coffee cup to my lips.

"Yeah, I guess I will," he says, grinning at me.

Oh, great, how embarrassing.

"What about you? Where do you work?" he asks after a moment.

"I work at a local P.R. firm downtown, but when I'm not doing that, I volunteer with animals. I love animals, especially dogs." Matthew smiles at me before taking a sip of his blonde roast. "Sorry, I don't know why I'm rambling," I apologize.

"Don't be, it's quite cute, actually," he flirts.

I break into a nervous smile and push a strand of loose hair behind my ear. Why am I acting like this? I'm never this nervous in front of men. Although, I've never interacted with a man as beautiful as this one.

Matthew's attention is drawn from me when his phone rings in his pocket. When he reads whatever is on the screen, his smile fades. "I'm so sorry to cut this short, but I have to get to work," he announces.

"Oh, of course," I say, starting to stand.

He stands and begins walking with me, holding the door open as I pass. "It was nice to meet you, Erin."

"You too, Matthew," I smile before I turn away from him.

"Erin!" he calls. I turn around and find him in the same place I left him a moment ago. "I'd like to see you again," he says, taking a step toward me.

My eyes widen, and my feet take me in his direction until we are a couple of feet from one another. "I'd like that," I smile up at him.

He returns my smile, taking his phone from his back pocket. "Can I have your number?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, of course! It's 604-555-2898."

Mathew smiles as he adds my number to his phone. This is the first time I've felt entirely confident in giving my number to a man at our first meeting. I'm not sure what it is, but there is something about Matthew that is reassuring, trusting even. I really do want to see where that feeling will lead.

"Alright, I'll call you," Matthew says, glancing up at me.

"I'm looking forward to it," I grin.

Matthew chuckles as he turns to walk away, giving me a subtle goodbye-wink over his shoulder before continuing on his way.

I smile to myself as I make my way to my car. I sit there for a moment in the silence, waiting for reality to hit me. Did I really just see a love guru? Did a gorgeous man really just save me from being hit by a truck? Did that same man accompany me for coffee and then ask for my number? I can't get caught up on what that love-guru lady said about my love life. Maybe Becky's right, perhaps I need to find a man the old-fashion way.