While standing next to Lea, Brian turned to her and said, "What exactly are you looking for in a man? I mean, what are you hoping to find?"

Lea looked at Brian and said, "You know Brian, I used to want the best possible man—the one who was the most attractive, strongest, smartest, richest. I wanted a prince. Nothing but perfection would do. And you know what? I never found that man. Now that I’m approaching thirty, I realize something; I don’t need the best man in the world."

Brian said, "What kind of a man do you want?"

"I want a man that is good looking, smart, and successful. But that man has to love me for who I am—not for my money or societal standing. I’m looking for someone who is honest and sincere; a man with integrity who means what he says. Do you know anyone like that?" Lea said.

Brian turned toward the ocean. He remained quiet for awhile. Then he said, "Yes, I do."

"Who?" asked Lea.

"Your boyfriend." Brian said monotonously.

"While he’s handsome and successful, he’s not intellectually deep. I need to be intellectually stimulated daily or I feel like I’m falling behind." Lea said.

"Really?" asked Brian.

"Sure. I thrive on intellectual thought that expands my awareness." Lea said.

"Hey, that’s interesting," replied Brian.

"Why?" asked Lea.

"Because I’m the same way." Brian said.

"Are you an intellectual? Do you enjoy thinking?" asked Lea.

"My work requires that I think because my work is incredibly complex. Even so, I enjoy thinking and acquiring knowledge to expand my awareness." Brian said.

All of a sudden Brian felt Lea’s body close to him. He felt the warmness of her breath on his face. She was right next to him, closely looking at him in the moonlight. Brian’s heartbeat increased as he straightened his posture.

Lea said, "Tell me about your work."

"Later, this is not the right time…" Brian began to say when he was interrupted.

Lea pulled him closer and said, "Tell me now."

Brian was directly against this beautiful young lady. She was staring at him intently; her eyes emitted rays of power. Brian began to feel sexually aroused even though they were in a public place. He said, "I need to know more about you before I reveal the details of my work."

Lea’s face grew frustrated. She said, "Why?"

"Because I’m engaged in a top-secret assignment. Only a few people know exactly what I’m doing and it has to stay like that for several months." Brian said.

"Well I can’t wait months to find out what you do. You’re going to have to tell me right now." Lea demanded while holding Brian close to her.

Brian pushed the young girl back and turned away to peer into the water. This time he said, "Go to your computer and look up my last name in your database. Think about my name and the news. You should be able to make the connection. Remember I told you that I extend people’s life. That should be enough to put the pieces together. However, I must know more about you before I reveal the details of my work. Those details are highly confidential."

Lea strained her brain to recall Brian’s last name. She said, "Stevens? Stern? Stone? What the heck is your last name?"

"Look it up." Brian said while staring at the moonlight shining on the water. Suddenly he thought of the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. He heard the lively third movement playing in his head. Brian turned to Lea and saw the moon as the backdrop of her beauty. He thought to himself, "This is a perfect moment." Then he noticed Lea was about to say something.

Lea said, "You think you’re special but I see right through you. I can outperform you in anything."

Brian started cracking up. He reached for the railing to keep from falling over. He said, "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Come on! You’re so secretive, you say you extend people’s life, you took the path less traveled in life. You really think you’re something special. Well, I’m calling your bluff. I’ll show you that you’re nothing special!" Lea said in a fit of aggravation because Brian would not disclose the details of his work.

Still laughing, Brian said, "Listen girl, I never said I was special. All I said was…"

"You didn’t have to say it; I know what you meant. I can read between the lines," asserted Lea. Then she said, "And stop laughing; this isn’t funny."

Brian could not hold back his laughter. He said, "Oh, you’re asserting things I never said. Okay, you can think whatever you want about me; I know who I am and what I can do."

"Arrogant, too!" Lea asserted.

"You’re drawing the wrong conclusions Lea." Brian said.

"Prove me wrong!" answered Lea.

Brian began laughing again and said, "It’s your job to prove that I think I’m special. I never said it; you did."

Lea grinned and asked, "Do you run?"

"What?"

"I said do you run; you know—for exercise?" asked Lea.

"Yes," replied Brian.

"Good, so do I. Tomorrow morning we’ll run together and I’ll show you that you’re nothing. I’ll run circles around you!" Lea said.

"Tomorrow at 9:00 am I’ll meet you in the hotel lobby. We’ll go running then." Brian said.

___________________

The next morning Brian went down to the lobby where he met Lea. They walked out of the hotel and began running down the sidewalk.

They ran side by side for a mile when Lea started to pull away from Brian. She started to pour on the speed, leaving Brian behind. He saw her attractive figure in front of him, with her gorgeous hair bouncing. He felt an animal urge well up inside him as he effortlessly began running faster to catch up to her. But she was running even faster, making it hard for Brian to stay close.

Brian was surprised this girl was able to stay ahead of him. He knew she would badger him if he did not catch up. So he began mustering strength. She turned around and saw Brian fifty feet behind her. She continued running at full speed.

Then Lea turned a corner and Brian could no longer see her. He did not know his way around West Palm Beach, so he knew he had to catch up to her quickly. Brian took in a few deep breaths and shook the sleep out him. Then he changed his stride from short steps to long steps. He straightened out his posture and began increasing his speed from 9-minute miles to 8-minute miles to 7-minute miles.

Soon Brian turned the corner and saw Lea running down a long straight road. The sun was shinning on them, and the day was just heating up. Brian began closing the gap. He got within twenty feet of her when he changed his direction and stride. He moved to the left of her and switched from a long stride to a short, fast stride. Now he was running a 6-minute-per-mile pace. He rocketed past Lea like she was standing still. Brian crossed over to her right side and continued soaring down the open road.

He heard Lea gasp, "Wait!"

Brian switched to a slower, relaxed pace. She caught up with him and said to turn at the next traffic light. Lea and Brian ran next to each other for the rest of the run.

Upon completing their run, they walked through a park to cool down. Both were physically exhausted. Lea said, "Okay tough guy, what do you want from me?"

Brian was winded and could not reply. He motioned that they go to a park bench and sit. They walked over to one and sat down. After calming down he said, "Storm."

"What?"

"My name is Brian Storm."

Lea thought for a moment and said, "You mean you’re the guy who…didn’t someone try to kill you? Are you really the man behind the immortality pill? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I told you yesterday that I’m very secretive about my work. I generally don’t tell people about it. If I told everyone I meet, my life could be endangered." Brian said.

"I was fascinated by the whole immortality pill episode." Lea said.

"You were?" asked Brian.

"Yeah! I figured those creeps would eventually attack you. Those people attack anything that has genuine value. Your work on immortality is probably the greatest thing ever created in history, so I wasn’t surprised to hear that you were dragged into court and shot. Sometimes I wonder about our world; it’s awfully crazy." Lea said.

Brian thought to himself, "Whew! This girl understands and she’s on my side, not theirs. With her combination of beauty and brains, I’m grateful." Then Brian looked at his watch and said, "Let’s go."

Lea and Brian walked back to the hotel and Brian went up to his room to clean up. While he was dressing, someone knocked on the door. He opened it and saw breakfast on a cart. Brian told the bellhop that he did not order breakfast. The bellhop handed Brian a note and pushed the cart into the room. Brian read the note. It said:

Brian laughed and dropped the note on the cart. After eating breakfast, he went down to the lobby and saw Lea at the service desk. She looked more beautiful then ever. He walked over to her and said, "You get prettier every time I see you."

Lea smiled and said, "Thank you sweetheart. Did you get my note?"

"Yeah, I’d like to talk with you about it." Brian said.

"Can you really do it; can you make me immortal?" asked Lea.

"Only if you’re real good to me." Brian said smiling.

"Oh that can be arranged." Lea said seriously.

"Let’s meet when you get out of work." Brian said.

"I finish at 6:30 tonight. Where would you like to meet?" asked Lea.

"My room at 7:00." Brian said.

Lea nodded yes and then Brian left the hotel. The morning sunshine greeted him warmly.