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she nodded her agreement, she said, “I live at the apartments near Cherry Grove Park. Number three-seventeen. I’ll see you then.”
    Kissing her hand again as he assisted her into her car, he watched her as she pulled out of the parking space. Oh, you’ll see me before then, angel.
    Driving away Carol looked into her rear view mirror, seeing him standing in the parking lot staring after her. Could he possibly be interested in me? Smiling, she drove home, thinking of the Vikings in her romance novels. Maybe, just maybe, there is a little truth to them after all .
    Tom stood in the parking lot, watching her drive away, still feeling the jolt from kissing her hand. That girl is going to be mine.

Chapter 4
    T hat afternoon, Carol awoke refreshed from her long sleep. Stretching her body, working the kinks out from her long shift and then sleep, she felt the guilt of eating so much at breakfast. A run. That will make me feel better and work some calories off. Not too many. Just a few.
    Minutes later she left her apartment, jogging toward the running path of the park next to her building. She began her stretching, sitting on the grass in the warm sun. Loving the feeling of the sun on her face, she leaned back, soaking it in. Her hair, pulled into a ponytail, hung down her back. Never worrying about her appearance when running, her baggy shorts and top were worn for comfort. Standing and finishing her stretching, she began down the trail.
    Tom sat in his truck across the street, watching her disappear into the trees, knowing he would catch a glimpse of her again as she came out near the pond. God, I feel like a stalker. All he knew was that he just wanted to see her again. Looking down at his own running apparel, he wondered what she would think when she saw him. Excited to see him. Or scared of the creepy stalker.
    Never one to hold back, he jumped out of his truck and started jogging down the trail.
    After a couple of minutes, she could hear the sounds of a runner behind her. Moving over to the right side of the trail so that the next runner could pass easily, she was startled when they pulled up beside her keeping pace. Looking over quickly, she stumbled as she recognized Tom.
    Reaching his arm out to steady her, he smiled down at her face hoping she was as glad to see him as he was to be back in her presence.
    “Tom,” she exclaimed, confusion evident on her face. “What are you doing here?”
    They continued to jog as he pondered his answer for just a moment. Deciding that she wouldn’t appreciate a pithy response, he stuck to honesty. “I just wanted to see you again as soon as possible. This just seemed like a good way to spend some time with you. Plus I need the exercise.” He noticed the smile that barely turned up the corners of her mouth as she stared straight ahead while they ran.
    After several laps around the pond and through the woods in the park he began to see that thankfully she was slowing. He knew he was in excellent shape, but the pace they were keeping was beginning to wear on him. “You ready to rest a bit?” he asked hopefully, wanting to sit for a while and talk before she had to get ready for work.
    A look of concern glimmered in her eyes as she looked at her watch. “I usually run a little more.”
    “Angel, you’re in great shape and you don’t wanna overdo it.”
    Glancing up at his face, searching for sincerity, she focused instead on the way his biceps were bulging under his t-shirt. And the t-shirt. The sweat had the thin cotton material plastered to his sculpted chest and abs. As her eyes slid downwards she couldn’t help but focus on his tree-trunk thighs as he pounded the jogging trail. Fighting the urge to reach out and touch all of that masculine perfection she just turned back to the trail, more determined than ever to keep running.
    “Angel, slow down,” Tom pleaded, noticing the perspiration and redness on her face.
    Shaking her head, she just mumbled, “Ate too much at