Ugh, she groaned silently. I swear it’s one step forward and a hundred steps back when it comes to that man. It has been how many months, how many missed opportunities. And still, nothing. She walked to her desk, wondering if her relationship with the handsome agent would ever go further than the friendship stage. She flopped down into her desk chair and flipped on the computer screen. If my mother hadn’t raised me that men are supposed to make the first move, I’d kiss him senseless. Maybe then he’d get the picture.

She groaned as she tried to focus on the reports piled on her desk. It was no use to even dream about making the first move. Her mother would have an absolute conniption fit if she made the first move. She smiled slowly as an idea dawned on her. But Mother did always say she had the perfect recipe to win a man’s heart. You know what they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She glanced up as the object of her affections strode into the Bullpen. It’s definitely worth a try. Her eyes danced around the Bullpen, taking in her two best girlfriends. And if it looks like it is working, then I’ll share with them.

She turned her attention to her computer, quickly pulling up her e-mail, she typed furiously. With a satisfied smile, she hit “Send.” With any luck, by the end of the day, her mother’s recipe would be in her hands and Project Man’s Heart would be underway.

Although her mother brought her up that it always has to be the man to make the first move, she had to admit that the thought of going over to the man and before he could say anything, kiss him passionately, filled her with excitement. I would look into his beautiful eyes, stroke his hair and kiss him… No matter how my parents brought me up. Oh, what are you thinking of? – she rebuked herself. What thoughts are you having again? She sighed. But this is what I would like the most… Feel his lips on mine… Being close to him… If only he felt the same way… If only he loved me as much as I love him. She looked at the love of her life again, and her heart started beating faster when the object of her desire smiled at her… As always for three years, when she felt the beautiful brown eyes on her. How can he still have such an effect on me… - she sighed.

She opened the „Sent” folder, and read the email once again.

Dear Mum,
Years ago you said that if I find the man I feel to be The One, and want to win his heart, you have a miracle recipe, and if I feel I need it, I should ask for it. I believe that time has come now. I feel I have found the love of my life, the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. But I don’t know how to win his heart… I have been in love with him for three years, but so far, nothing has happened. Now I feel I really need that recipe… On the basis of what you told me about it, it will definitely help.

I love you,
Little Star

At least I hope it will help… I love him so much… And I would do anything so that he feels the same way.

Great start Averil!

Great start! Looking forward to the next post!!

Averil, I can already tell this is going to be a very good story!!!

Joy

This is going to be great! I can't wait for more!

Em

great start

cath

Great start Averil!!!! This is going to be one awesome story!

Fantatic start! I can't wait to read more!

kav

Love the start Averil, looking forward to more!

Excellent start! Miracle recipe? I think they could make a fortune on that one.

This is just a short one... More soon, when I've translated it.

- Are you coming? – her friend’s voice brought her back to reality.
- Yes… sure. – Lucy closed her email sighing, then stood up from her table. I hope she replies to my email soon… I can’t resist for a long time if the man I love doesn’t return my feelings. Although I know he can never be mine… the man of my dreams loves someone else.

She glanced at the love of her life once again, then left the bullpen following her friend.

Wow, with just that short post you've got me very intrigued. So it's Lucy and she's in love with someone who's in love with someone else?

Looking forward to more!

Your post may have been small, Averil, but there was a lot of information there!! You really have me thinking!!!

Joy

The man found himself again staring at the woman of his dreams. She is so beautiful, as the sunlight is playing with her hair… If my mother didn’t bring me up that immediately attacking the opposite gender isn’t right, I would run over to her and kiss her senseless right here in the office, in front of everyone. But I respect her and don’t want to scare her. I have loved her for so many years… If only I had enough courage to ask her out on a date. But would she agree? Would she say yes to the biggest lady-killer of DC? Although I’m not that for a long time… Exactly from the day I have known her. Since then, I have been thinking of no one else but her… she fills my thoughts, my dreams… I cannot imagine my life with anyone else, just her.

His gaze met that of the love of his life… and his breathing immediately stopped. The woman still had an effect on him even after all these years. I still have to find out how to capture her heart… I believe time has come to ask for help from Mum. Once she said that there is a secret miracle recipe for love, which always has its effect, and which helps us gain the heart of the love of our life. I hope it will help now as well… He sighed, when his gaze settled on Sue. Her best friend… I hope she will help me win the heart of the woman of my dreams… I can’t resist much longer, if I have to live without the love of my life.

- Sparky, are you gazing at her again? – the voice of his best friend brought him back to reality. – You two make all of us crazy by suffering here, while it is obvious for the whole team how much you love each other. Ask her out on a date and confess your feelings for her at last! It is unbelievable that only the two of you don’t see how crazy you are for one another.

Jack knew that his friend was right. I hope the recipe really does miracles, as Mum says… and that I will have enough courage to make the first move and confess to her what I feel for her.

So, it's Jack....I really wasn't expecting that! Awesome!

Don't worry Jack, you won't need a miracle recipe, though it might help.

Hmmm, very interesting Looking forward to what will happen next!

Ah, Jack, of course Mum is right...turn that turtle gene into a cheetah!

kav

Em

Oh no... no... DID LUCY AND JACK FALL FOR EACH OTHER?? But... but... Continue this soon, please!! I nearly had a heart attack!!

Hello Averil!

Just read the first posts but wow, you've just got me very intrigued...

Hey Kitti, breathe out... We don't want to lose you!!!

I had a shock too, because I didn't expected such a pairing... Very interesting indeed...

O'seam

I'm totally confused now!!!

Joy

Then tell her not to do this... my heart is too weak

- And, what shall we spend the weekend with? – Tara asked, after the three friends sat down at the terrace of the café.
- Since there isn’t a guy in the lives of any of us at the moment, with whom we could plan a weekend together, we could really have an all girls weekend… - Lucy replied. – We could watch a film, go to a party… or just walk.
- Lucy, you and parties… - Sue laughed. – But you know that for me this isn’t exactly the most perfect form of entertainment…

- Well, it’s time you got used to that – her friend replied. – Unbelievable how many good-looking guys one can met at such places…
- Lucy, you can only think of guys… - Tara laughed as well. – But one can have a good time without them as well… Just look at me, I’m perfectly happy even without a guy.
- Yes, I should do that too… - her friend sighed. – But I can’t get him out of my head… I know that he loves someone else and there is no chance of him even looking at me, but I can only think of him… I believe I’ll go crazy if I can’t get my mind away from this.

- Well-well, the famous matchmaker has problems on the field of love? – Tara asked wondering.
- Getting others together is much easier than finding the Mr. Right created for us… - the woman sighed again. – But at least I can live with the thought that I help others find their true love.
- Don’t worry, one day you’ll also find the man whom fate created for you – Sue held her hand.

- But enough of lamenting; we can live perfectly happily without guys, do you remember? – Tara tried to cheer her friend up. – What about going to a trip this weekend, just the three of us?
- Great idea – Lucy agreed. – Thus we can get rid of our troubles and can feel really good, even without guys.
- Right – Sue agreed. – I’m so excited already, can’t wait for Saturday.

- Then we’ve agreed on this… - Tara smiled at the girls. – I believe we’ll have a fantastic weekend – she added, and her friends nodded in agreement.

*

Jack paced up and down in his apartment, unable to calm down. His days had been filled by the same thoughts for a long time… he had been able to think of a single person for years. She is the love of my life… The woman I have waited for all my life. I love her with all my heart… And I feel I’ll go crazy if I can’t tell this to her immediately. Yes… I’ll tell her I have loved her ever since I first saw her... that she is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. He sighed. Lucy, what are you doing to me…

Me thinks this is not as it seems! Very clever!

Averil, I think I've figured this out.........maybe!! And, I like where it's going!!!

Joy

I was confused too, but I think I got it ... I think

Joy, you have made me curious... So, what's your theory? If we can know about that, of course.

Little Sister, would you get close to a heart attack even if I wrote you in the story beside Bobby?

:hmm: I wonder where this going. Great story so far Averil!

Because for the moment I'm just a little confused.
I feel that there is not what it seems to be...
But I'm not able to figure out where it's going...
And the more I think, the less I figure out.

Nah... I think I'll stop thinking until your next chapter Averil...

O'seam (switched off)

I'm still like this Can't wait to see what you do!

Em

Oh, I think I've had a moment!

kav

The woman sat at her laptop excited. She couldn’t wait for the evening, and now she opened her laptop with her heart racing. Her friend went to walk Levi, and she was grateful for the calmness which took over the apartment. I hope Mum replied to my email… That she sends me the recipe which helps win the beloved man’s heart. She sighed. If only he loved me back… If only he loved me as much as I love him. I hope the recipe indeed does miracles, as Mum says and will help… I can’t endure much longer if I have to live without the love of my life.

She signed in to her email account, and held her breath back while waiting for her emails to appear. But then she felt soft hair on her hand, and by the time she would have recovered from the surprise, she felt the dog licking her face.

- Hi Levi! Are you already back from walking? – she asked, stroking the dog’s fur, while her friend also entered the room.
- I see running didn’t tire him completely… - the woman stated. – Although I tried my best…
- Hi Luce! I see you had a great time – Sue smiled at her friend.
- Yes, Levi is great company – Lucy ruffled the dog’s fur. – Walking was great, right buddy? – she asked, and the dog barked in approval.

- Thank you for taking him to walk this evening…
- Oh, I should have done this a long time ago – her flatmate replied. – We both felt so good that we have to repeat this, right buddy? – she looked at the dog, who barked again. – And, what did you do until we were walking?
- I’m expecting an email from my Mum… I was about to check my emails when you got back.

- Email? Why? – Lucy sat beside her. – Is it about a guy? – she asked grinning.
- Lucy, you know me too well… - Sue sighed. – I asked her for a recipe… A miracle recipe, about which she says always helps win the heart of the man of our dreams.
- Are you talking about Jack? – her friend asked smiling. – See, I have always known you are in love with him, you just don’t dare to confess it, perhaps not even to yourself.

- But all this is in vain, if he doesn’t love me… - Sue sighed.
- Love hurts if it is unrequited… - Lucy uttered the eternal truth. – But I know that he loves you, just as much as you love him. I see it in the way he looks at you… as he often forgets his gaze on you… as he touches you whenever possible, pretending it was just coincidence… Believe me Sue, you are the woman he loves… and I’m a real expert on the field of guys.

- I wish you were right… - the woman said, fighting her tears. – If only he also loved me…
- You can only think of him, can’t you? – Lucy held her friend’s hand. – Love is just like this… - she sighed. – I also love someone, which has lasted for years… But he definitely loves someone else.
- What makes you think that? – Sue asked. – He told you, or you saw the girl?

- I know that when we last met, he had a girlfriend… And it has no chance that he ever falls in love with me. But I can’t get him out of my head… Today from the bullpen I wrote to a friend of mine, who is also friends with him, hopefully she can help… So now I’m waiting for her reply.
- Did we both ask for the recipe of love today? – Sue laughed. – No wonder that we are best friends… And sometimes a professional matchmaker needs help too – she smiled at her friend.

- Yes… Amazing how much I can help others getting together with the love of their lives, while I can’t do so in my own life… - she stated. – But I have to do something, otherwise I’ll surely go crazy. I think of him all day…
- So this is why his photo is on your office desk… - Sue smiled.
- Yes… If he cannot be near me in person, at least I can see him every day.

- You will surely meet soon, and then he’ll also realize how much he loves you – Sue said, and Lucy wished her friend was right. – I can’t wait to be maid of honour at your wedding.
- I can tell the same about myself – Lucy laughed. – But now check whether your Mum’s miracle recipe has arrived.

Sue nodded and opened her mailbox. Her heart started beating faster when she saw her mother’s email in the „Inbox” folder. She opened the email… and was surprised by what she read there.

Great post! Sue finally admitted that she's in love with Jack

I wonder who Lucy's mystery man is.

Averil, you are so clever in the way you are writing this!! I thought we might be reading about two different "loves", but I wasn't sure if I was right until your last post!!!

Good Job!!!

Joy

Okay, my heart attack is over... but my heart is still so weak
More soon, please!!

This is great!

Em

Loving this. loving this, loving this!!!!!

Yes I knew it!!!
It was not how as it appeared at first time...

And I love the way you entertain us, Averil. You put a hint of mystery... a pinch of suspense (but not too much for Kitti's heart)... and you let it simmer between each post. You're a chef!

O'seam

And now another mystery - why is Sue surprised by her mothers recipe? It is the recipe, right?

Great post!

I'm glad she's admitted her love for Jack...now why is she surprised?

kav

What did she read?

Sorry for the delay... I had two urgent translations to do for work at the weekend and as a result of this, I had a headache almost all day yesterday... Not even writing STFBEye stories could help much. But I'm here again and will try to post regularly.

- Hi! What are you doing so late? – Bobby asked surprised, when he opened the door to his best friend.
- Hi! Sorry for disturbing you so late, but I have to talk to someone – Jack replied, as Bobby stepped further to let his friend inside the apartment.

- It’s her again, right? – Bobby looked at him, but there wasn’t a need for a reply to know that he was right about the reason for the man’s arrival. He knew his best friend too well.
- Yes – Jack sighed, sitting on the couch. – Who else… I can only think of her, ever since she stormed into my life… She fills my nights and days...

- Mate, this is serious… - Bobby sat opposite him. – The only thing I can’t understand is that why don’t you talk about your feelings to her…
- It makes no sense… She would definitely reject me… - Jack sighed.
- Reject you??!! Are you all right, mate? Do you have any idea how crazy she is about you?

- Impossible… - Jack replied. – With a past I have with women, it is completely impossible that she feels anything for me.
- Well Jack, then you are either blind or an idiot… - his friend shook his head. – Everyone sees how crazy you two are for each other, except for the two people involved. And you, instead of running over to her and confessing your love for her, you are lamenting that you have no chance at her. If I wasn’t a man myself, I would honestly ask „who understands guys”…

- I’m glad too that you are a man… -Jack smiled. – Somehow I couldn’t imagine you as a woman…
- Somehow I wouldn’t feel myself good as a woman either – his friend also smiled. – But let’s not talk about this too much, especially when Lucy is in earshot… As I know her, she would certainly kill me for this.
- Lucy… - Jack groaned. – She completely drives me crazy… I always feel her curious gaze on me and her unique smile which is only characteristic of her… and those remarks… As if she had nothing else to do than getting Sue and me together.

- You have to admit that at present, this is the most interesting task of the team… - Bobby grinned. – And I’m sure that Lucy terribly enjoys the greatest challenge of her career as a matchmaker.
- How great that you don’t have anything else to do than getting us together… - Jack shook his head.
- Well, if you are not willing to realize that you were made for each other, and keep dancing around each other, we have to do something, otherwise you’ll drive the whole team crazy.

- I think you are right… - Jack replied. – I have to admit to her that I love her… But if she rejects me, I don’t know how I’ll be able to work together with her in the future… Knowing that she’s close to me, but she still cannot be mine… I couldn’t bear that.
- Don’t worry about this… It is so obvious she is crazily in love with you, that it’s a miracle you haven’t realized this yet… - Bobby said. – Of course, if I think about this more, it is understandable, you can hardly see from love after all – he grinned. – Go and confess to the love of your life at last what you feel for her… And don’t come back until you aren’t a couple – he added smiling.

- OK, I’ll do just that – Jack replied. – I think I know how to start it.
- I’m really happy about this – his friend replied. – I hope it won’t take centuries until you really make the first step.
- I’ll do my best – Jack smiled, and headed home with new determination in his heart. Yes… I’ll tell her I love her… That she is the woman in whose arms I want to fall asleep every night, and beside whom I want to wake up every morning. Yes… I’ll tell her that she is the woman for whom I have been waiting all my life. And I already know what the first step will be.

I'm glad Bobby was there for Jack to talk things out with.

Now.......if Jack can just keep moving forward!!!

Joy

if he doesn't make a move i think i'll whack him

cath

Can I be next in line to whack him?