Love At First Sight
Written by Holly Custer
Copyright © 2000

Chelsea walked to a seat halfway down the aisle. She sat down and adjusted her short skirt. She took a moment to look around the classroom and see how many other students there would be. So far, only half the seats were taken.

Chelsea pulled out a notebook and pencil from her backpack. She settled back and watched the other students while she waited for the class to start. Slowly, her green eyes surveyed the room. As she turned, her eyes landed on a very handsome and tall, young man. She was stunned. He must have been well over six feet tall. His hair was blond, short on the sides and the bangs waved back from his face. As he laughed, he must have felt her watching him for he turned and stared at her with an appraising look.

He took in the long, curly, auburn hair and vivid, green eyes. He openly admired her slender body. Chelsea squirmed in her seat and averted her eyes. She crossed and recrossed her legs in embarrassment. She could still feel his eyes on her

"Excuse me, but I noticed you watching me" A pleasant, deep voice said next to her. Chelsea lifted her eyes. They locked with a pair of gorgeous, ice-blue eyes.

"P-please, forgive me for staring." Chelsea answered. She nervously pushed her wire frame glasses up on to her nose. Hmmm, he hadn't even noticed that she was wearing glasses.

"Only if you have dinner with me tonight." Was his answer.

"I'd love to." Chelsea said surprising herself.

"I'll pick you up at your place at seven. Is that all right?"

"That's lovely."

"Could you tell me where you live?" He asked there was laughter in his voice, but he wasn't laughing at her. She noticed that.

"I'm sorry. I live at 200 Maple Street, apartment three." She answered with a shy smile.

"Oh, I know where that is. That's that big, beautiful brownstone on the corner of Maple and Third."

"Yes, it's very nice." Chelsea said.

"By the way, my name is Sheridan Douglas. What's yours?" He sat down in the seat in front of her so she wouldn't have to crane her neck to see his face.

"My name is Chelsea Mathews."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Chelsea Mathews."

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Douglas. Are you of Scottish heritage?" Chelsea asked.

"Yes, I am and, please, call me Danny or Sheridan, which ever you prefer." He said with a stunning smile.

"All right-----Danny." Sheridan gave a broad smile of approval.

"Don't forget, lovely one, tomorrow night at seven." He strode away to the front of the room. Chelsea smiled happily. A date with the most handsome guy on campus! She could hardly believe it. She stared dreamily at her notebook. She wondered if she was falling in love. She started at the sound of the bell ringing for class to begin. She looked up expectantly and was dismayed when she saw Danny bringing the class to order.

Chelsea was the first one out the door when class was over. She heard Sheridan calling her, but she didn't look back. She went to her car, got in and drove, first to the store, then home. At the brownstone, Chelsea parked her car and got out with her groceries. She stopped when she saw Sheridan leaning against the porch rail his hands stuffed in his pockets and his legs crossed nonchalantly.

"What are you doing here?" Chelsea asked quietly. She stood below him on the sidewalk.

"I came to see why you ran away from me after class."

"You're a teacher. I can't date a teacher. It's against the college's policy" She answered candidly.

"Ahhhh, I see the problem now. You think I'm a professor of music and that I crossed the boundaries of good taste and manners when I asked you out. Didn't you hear what I told the class?" He asked walking down the steps to stand in front of her. He also took the bag of groceries from her

"No, I guess I must have missed it." Chelsea answered honestly.

"What I told the class was that I am a senior majoring in computer technology and minoring in music theory. I was running the class for the regular professor who could not be there because his wife had gone into labor." Sheridan stated. He looked down at the lovely, young woman before him.

"Oh, Danny! I'm so embarrassed! Please forgive me-----again." Chelsea couldn't believe what a fool she was being.

"You are forgiven, Chelsea." Danny chuckled.

"Would you like to come in? I can cook a mean steak. My way of apologizing." Chelsea offered walking up the stairs. "I have plenty."

"I'm right behind you!" Danny answered loping up the steps.

Chelsea lived on the first floor. Her apartment was quite large. Entering the door of the apartment brought you into the living area. It was comfortably furnished and made one feel at home. To the left of the door was the dining area than the kitchen next to it. Straight down the hall were several other doors. Danny later learned that the front two led to bedrooms and the last one led to the bathroom.\

"Make yourself at home. It won't take long to get the steaks going."

Danny saw a great difference in Chelsea once they were alone. She was much more self-assured and confident in her own surroundings. He hoped he could help her overcome her shyness out in the world. She seemed to be a lovely woman with beauty and great character.

"Can I help with anything, Chelsea?" Danny called from the living room.

"Um-----my friends call me Shel. You may if you would like." She answered coming out of the kitchen. Danny turned and sucked in his breath. She looked absolutely stunning! She had removed her glasses and had pulled her long hair into a ponytail and had on an apron. Her cheeks were flushed from standing over the hot grill. She had also kicked off her heels and was in stocking feet. She was positively beautiful. "You could come and talk to me while I cook. I don't get company very often."

Danny had an irresistible urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her full, luscious lips. He held himself in check and refrained from doing so.

The steaks were delicious as were the salad and baked potatoes. Danny helped Chelsea with the dishes. It didn't take long and before they knew it, they were sitting in front of the fireplace with sodas and a bowl of popcorn between them.

"Do you have any family around here, Shels?" Danny asked around a mouthful of hot, buttered popcorn.

"No, my parents are dead and my brother who raised me lives in Japan. He's been stationed there with the Air Force for ten years now. I get a card on my birthday and a care package on Christmas" Chelsea said all this as though having your only family living halfway around the world was commonplace. "What about you're family, Danny boy?" Apparently, Chelsea hadn't missed the variation of her nickname that he had incorporated.

"My family is fairly well-to-do. They own several major corporations here in the US and abroad. I guess you could say that I am the heir-apparent to a vast fortune." This was said with out any arrogance at all.

They talked long into the night about their lives and what they wished to do in the future. Amazingly, they had many of the same goals that they wanted to achieve. This pleased both of them. It could mean a positive start to a happy and healthy relationship.

As dawn broke over the horizon, Danny stood to his feet with reluctance. He looked down at Chelsea and smiled. "I really must go, Shels. I do have class today."

"Do you have to go, Danny boy?" Chelsea whispered shyly.

"I'm afraid so, me darlin'." Sheridan said lapsing into a bit of a Scottish brogue.

"Oh, Danny." Chelsea sighed. "I will surely miss you ."

"We'll be together this evening, lassie. We still have a date"

There was a long silence as Danny prepared to leave. He turned to Chelsea and took her hand in his.

"You are a bonnie lass, Shels." He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. She pulled away and looked up into his ice-blue eyes that were so vibrantly warm. She was reassured that Danny's intentions were purely honorable. She reached up and placed her lips on Danny's. He gently embraced her as the kiss deepened. He held her even closer as the kiss grew more and more passionate . Danny pulled away. Chelsea clutched at his arm to keep from falling. Her knees were weak and wobbly. She had never been kissed like that before.

"I'll see you this evening, Shels?"

"I'll be waiting." Chelsea answered breathlessly. She watched as he strode down the steps to the driveway. "Oh, I do love ye, Danny boy." Chelsea had fallen irrevocably in love with the Scottish man who had just left her home.

That evening, Chelsea prepared very carefully for her date with Sheridan. He had told her that it would be a formal evening. Chelsea attired herself appropriately. She was dressed in a black, velvet dress. It was form-fitting, but not immodestly so. The collar was a wide band that was off-the-shoulder. The skirt was straight and was just a couple of inches above her knees.

Chelsea wore black silk hose and black, heeled pumps. Around her throat she wore a single strand of pearls. In her ears, she wore the matching pearl earrings. She applied a very subtle makeup and was ready for her date.

Sheridan arrived precisely at seven. Chelsea opened at his knock and, once again, Sheridan was stunned by her beauty. He couldn't understand why she wasn't dating anyone or already married. Maybe God had kept her beauty a secret so that he, Sheridan Douglas, could be the one to appreciate her beauty and innocence.

"Shels, you are absolutely stunning this evening." Danny complimented her.

"Thank you. You are rather stunning yourself, Danny boy." Chelsea admired the young man in his black tuxedo. She reached up and kissed him lightly on the mouth.

"Thank you, ma'am." Danny smiled. He opened the door for Chelsea and they walked outside.

"Oh goodness!" Chelsea exclaimed at the sight of the white limousine. "Is-is this yours, Danny?"

"Yes, actually, it's my father's, but I have the use of it. I thought it would be fun and we could spend the whole evening enjoying each other. I didn't want to take my eyes off of you, Shels. So, I borrowed the limo, so I wouldn't have to drive." Sheridan looked down at her with worry in his blue eyes.

"It will be fun, Danny. My first ride in a limo." She smiled up at him and he relaxed and smiled back. "Where are we going?" She asked once they were settled in the limo.

"First, I have to make an appearance at a dinner party that my parents are having, then I am taking you to a fancy restaurant and a walk on the beach." He answered picking up her small hand and holding it in his larger one.

"It sounds like a lovely evening." Chelsea sat back and enjoyed the ride.

At Sheridan's parents' home, Chelsea was in awe of the beautiful house that Danny had grown up in. Danny hugged her close very aware of her silent fears.

"It will be fine, me bonnie lass. My parents will love ye." He whispered lapsing into his charming Scottish brogue. "Good evening, Mother, Dad."

"Sheridan! My boy! So good to see you!" Mr. Douglas slapped his son on the back and gave him a hug. "Who is this lovely creature with you?"

"Dad, Mother, this is Chelsea Mathews. the beautiful, young lady I've fallen deeply in love with." Chelsea turned startled eyes to Danny who was looking at her with warmth and, yes, love, in his blue eyes.

"Chelsea, it is very nice to meet you." She shook hands with both of Sheridan's parents. She could hardly believe what Danny had said. He had fallen in love with her! She could hardly wait to get him alone.

After making the rounds of the guests, Chelsea and Sheridan left. Once in the limousine, Chelsea reached over and pulled Danny to her. She stared into his blue eyes for a long moment then covered his mouth with hers. The kiss was full of passion. Danny pulled her on to his lap and held her close. Chelsea's arms slid up around his neck. Danny's arms encircled her slender waist.

"You love me, Danny boy?" Chelsea whispered their faces close, their lips touching, but not kissing.

"Aye, lass. I love ye with me whole heart." He whispered back cradling her in his arms.

"Oh, Danny boy!" Chelsea murmured.

"Do ye love me, lassie?" Danny asked his lips brushing her cheek and moving to her slender neck.

"Aye, Danny, m'love." Chelsea sighed her head falling back as new sensations assailed her.

"Wed wi' me, bonnie lass. Make me yours. I want you and need you, Chelsea Mathews." Sheridan looked into her face as he asked her to marry him. He wanted to see the expression in her green eyes.

"Oh, Sheridan Douglas. I will marry you whenever you say. I am yours and always have been." She whispered in complete awareness of what she was saying and how she was committing herself.

Sheridan tapped on the window and spoke to the driver for a long moment, then sat back with a satisfied grin on his handsome face. Chelsea nestled close to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Sheridan smiled down at her.

"I want to make love to you, Shels."

"I want to make love to you, too, Danny boy." Chelsea answered back shyly.

Soon, Chelsea realized they had pulled up in front of a large, brick house. Danny got out and assisted Chelsea out. They walked up to the door and Danny rang the bell. The door opened and a distinguished older man stood there.

"Good evening, Sheridan, come on in." He ushered them into a lovely room. "Is this your lovely bride-to-be?"

"She sure is, Reverend Winfield." The reverend smiled, then excused himself and left the room. Chelsea turned to Danny with a smile

"Kiss me, Sheridan Douglas, because I have a feeling this will be our last kiss as single people." Danny laughed and pulled her into his arms. His mouth covered hers in an ardent, loving kiss.

They quickly pulled apart when the reverend came back into the room. He had them sit down on the couch and he sat in a chair opposite them.

"Now, Sheridan, how long have you known Chelsea?"

"I have known her all my life." Sheridan answered not able to take his eyes off of her. He held her hand firmly in his.

"I mean, how many days, years or months?" The reverend clarified.

"Sorry, Reverend. We've known each other for two days."

"Only two days? How can you know that you love each other?"

"Have you never heard of love at first sight?" For the first time since they sat down, Sheridan turned his eyes away from Chelsea.

"Yes, Sheridan, I have. In fact, my wife and I fell in love at first sight. We were also married two days later." The reverend paused for a long moment. "Are you ready to be married?"

Both Sheridan and Chelsea smiled and nodded. The reverend stood them before him and called his wife as a witness. He proceeded with the wedding ceremony. The young couple responded at the right moments. Chelsea gasped at the beautiful ring that Danny slipped on to her finger.

"------You may now kiss the bride." Sheridan turned to face his new bride. He lowered his head and their lips met. Chelsea's arms slid up around his neck and Sheridan drew her slender body tight against his. Their love was for real even with love at first sight.

THE END