Stalking or just flirting?

Working in a specialty running store presents me with the opportunity to meet at least 50 people a day with whom I have at least one interest in common - running. Most of the time, I enjoy the encounter, provide excellent service, fit them with the right shoe and send them on their way.

Occasionally, as someone walks out the door, I want to follow behind, tugging on their shirt hem and beg them to take me with them. Either they're simply gorgeous and I could care less what they have to say just so long as I can stare at them for a little longer, or they've impressed me enough with their personality that I want to learn more. Of course, I will try to engage them in conversation as I'm helping with whatever it is they came in for - but there's just so much small talk you can make about wicking fabric, non-cotton socks, and custom vs. over the counter orthotics.

I worked for another store over the winter and they had clearly expressed prohibitions against "fraternizing" with customers or other employees. I have to admit it was much less distracting that way.

Recently this handsome, fit and distinguished doctor came into the store. At first we didn't have his shoe and had to order it for him. He came back yesterday to pick it up and I was secretly hoping it would be defective, or to find some other reason to draw him back again. He's leaving shortly for a year of public service in another country and I so badly want to send an email wishing him well on his trip and trying to lure him into having coffee before he leaves.

I imagine that he'd be charmed by my flirtation and would readily accept my invite. Then I come back to reality and realize that I'd appear like a stalker and would give him nightmares of being followed to South America by the running store weirdo!

I've was tracked down by in the past when I worked for a large state agency. I was charmed that the person had put so much energy into contacting me and it led to a four-year relationship. That's the positive, romantic side of the story. The ugly side is that she left for another woman and yet, every six months or so, she still tries to track me down to tell me she still loves me and hasn't forgotten about me. It's been five years and a number of email addresses later and recently she resorted to leaving flowers and a note on my doorstep. The woman is crazy and I should have seen that when she tracked me down at work nine years ago!

So, I won't email this guy, or anyone else that I cross paths with at the store - but that doesn't mean I can't fantasize about it. Maybe one day someone will be charmed enough by me to come back and ask for my # or my email address............one can only hope.