grill out here and enjoy the beach in the day light so you can check it out better. Maybe even find some shells out here tomorrow if we come out early enough. We can make a day of it.” I turned a hopeful look to Courtney and I could see the excitement in her eyes, but there was hesitance there also. “I am not sure. I will have to check with Lil and see if she is okay with it, I mean I don’t want to leave her stranded since this is her birthday trip and all.” “Lillian is invited too. Rob pretty much goes everywhere I go and those two seem to be hitting it off pretty good. The four of us can hang out and enjoy the sun, sand, and waves. If you guys get to hot or Lillian needs a break, you guys can always head into the house for a bit to cool down.” I nodded my head towards the beach house a few feet away. I knew if I wanted her to spend time with me Lillian was the way to go. If Lillian had to be included in our plans just so I could spend as much time as possible with this girl before she went home, then I would be seeing a lot of Lillian too. I just hope I can get her to agree to a date alone as well before she leaves. See what she is like away from her sister. We walked closer to the water and she just stared out over the open ocean letting the calm waves lap at her feet. She looked deep in thought and she also looked calm and serene for the first time since I met her. She seems to really enjoy the water and you don’t have to get to know her to know that the beach is her comfort zone. The place that calms her soul. “So, tell me a little bit about yourself Courtney. I want to get to know you better while we have the chance away from everyone else.” She look over and me and smiled that beautiful smile. “What do you want to know?” She flirts back. “Well I already know where you live, and what you do for work, and about your husband, which I am deeply sorry for by the way. I just want to know more about you. What you do for fun other than collect shells. I really like you Courtney, and I can see this going farther than next Saturday if you will let it. I am all in. I don’t know what it is about you but I can’t get enough of you. You are still here and just the thought of dropping you off later tonight at your hotel room has me missing you already.” I can’t believe I just threw all that out there and opened up my heart to this girl. I just can’t help it she brings out this side of me I have never experienced before. The thought of her leaving Saturday and never talking to her again keeps sending this pain to the center of my chest. “Slow down there Dex. Let’s just take this one day at a time. See what happens this week. I admit that I feel something for you, probably more than I should after just meeting you today. I know this sounds crazy but I feel like I have known you forever. This is the first time I have even been out with someone of the opposite sex since Dave died. I am going to need some time to process all of this. There are some things about me that once you find out you may even change your mind. So can we please just take this slow? Can you do that for me please?” As she looked up at me with the most hopeful expression I knew I couldn’t deny her that. I also seriously doubted whatever she had to tell me about herself would change the way I feel about her either. “I would do anything for you Cor. So if taking this slow is what you need then I am willing to try for you. Just know, no matter what you have to say to me would make me change my mind.” I stated firmly. “Not even the fact that I have three children would change your mind about me? Who wants to be with a widow with children when you can have your pick of beautiful unattached women lined up at the drop of a dime?” Courtney asks with all the seriousness in the world. She couldn’t be for real right now. Children? She has Children? She thinks that’s the big revelation that’s going to turn me against