Chapter 1: Opening Image
Joseph was always optimistic when it came to meeting women. So what if his last girlfriend shacked up with his college buddy? How was he supposed to foresee that? They had played video games together, for Christ's sake!
He had always liked the supermarket. It felt like an aquarium of people, but without the fish's doomy knowledge of being trapped. You saw people, their whole behavior, and you could hear their emotions in their voice as they spoke on their cell phones or discussed the freshness of produce with the pimply, bored teenagers stocking the shelves.
Joseph, a man in his mid-30s with the rugged good looks of a movie star and the heart of an easygoing bachelor, made his way down the mustard aisle, wearing his efficient scent of Old Spice. He was on a mission to find the right mustard for his weekly barbecue - a task that seemed impossible given the number of brands fighting for shelf space.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud, deep chuckle that echoed through the crowded aisles.
Joseph turned to see the source and found a mammoth of a figure: a woman so tall that she blocked out the sight of the wheat thins on the shelf behind her. She had curves in all the right places, making it impossible to look away. Her short, spiky blonde hair topped off her striking features, reminding him of a German Shepherd with a model's figure. Without meaning to, he found himself captivated by her natural grace and easygoing demeanor as she searched for an organic brand of Greek yogurt.
Joseph decided to strike up a conversation, hoping to hide his earlier fascination.
"You know, if you're looking for that Greek yogurt, it's right on the top shelf," he said with a self-effacing smile, pointing at the far end of the aisle.
Startled, she looked down at him and laughed warmly. Her voice was deep and filled the small space with a comforting ambiance. "Ah, thank you! I guess I'm too tall to see over half the things in here."
A sense of warmth washed over him.
Joseph savored that sound and felt himself drawn to the way she had laughed. It was such a genuine, amused sound that brought a smile to his face.
"No problem! I remember when I didn't have to worry about things being out of reach," he remarked, almost forgetting the mustard his mission had taken him there for.
Britt, as she introduced herself as, looked into his eyes and grinned, displaying sparkling dimples.