Excuse me miss? I would never approach a woman this way, but I couldn't help but notice that you have the eyes of a lady I was once desperately in love with."
"What a shame to love only once," she said, showing her white teeth in a wicked smile. "I've heard some men can manage twice or even more."
I ignored her gibe. "I am a fool only once. Never will I love again."
Her expression turned soft and she laid her hand lightly on my arm. "You poor man! She must have hurt your terribly."
"S'truth, she wounded me more ways than one."
"But such things are to be expected," she said matter-of-factly. "How could a woman help but love a man so striking as yourself?"
"I know not," I said modestly. "But I think she must not, for she caught me with an easy smile, then she stole away without a word. Like dew in dawn's pale light."
"Like a dream upon waking," she added with a smile. "She must have been wondrous indeed, to catch you so entire," she said, looking at me me with some serious eyes.
"She was beyond compare."
"Oh come now." Her manner turned to jovial. "We all know that when the lights are out all women are the same height!" She gave a rough chuckle and ribbed me knowingly with an elbow.
"Not true." I said with firm conviction.
"Well," she said slowly. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it." She looked back up at me. "Perhaps in time you can convince me."
I looked deep into the brown of her eyes. "That has ever been my hope."
She smiled and my heart stepped sideways in my chest. "Maintain it." She slid her arm inside the curve of mine and fell into step beside me. "For without hope what do any of us have?