CARA

I step out in a thin strap dark green silk dress.

“I’m not sure I want us to go out for this date anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want anyone looking at you. You look breathe taken. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe after setting my eyes on you. You are an epitome of beauty. You, the dress, the heels. I might just end up one knee’s tonight.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone in this estate can hear my heartbeat. The dress is doing exactly what I want it to do. The see-through beaded heels is gorgeous. Liam handed it over to me earlier today with a few other items I’m yet to know the content. He suggested I wear the heels tonight. I like how he mentioned he wasn’t insisting I wear it and that I can always go with any other option. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes I am.” I say flushed.

“Thought I lost you there.”

“You look clean as always and very handsome.”

He places his hand on his chest feigning shock and then bows in appreciation.

“For a complement you get every second, everyday, every hour, every…”

“So long as it’s not from you, I really don’t care. Let’s go before I change my mind.”

“You better not.” I say as I swat my purse on his hand. 

“Give me a few seconds.” He says walking to a corner of the room with his phone on his ear.

As discreet as he tried to be, I still could pick a few words from his conversation. He did not just book the whole roof top. 

“Let’s go.” He says as he opens the door of my apartment and wait’s for me to step out. 

This is beautiful. No one needs to tell you this is a five star restaurant. I love the ambiance coupled with how the building seats on water, a masterpiece I must confess. 

“I love this.”

“I’m happy you do. Wait till you see the rooftop.” He says as we enter.

All the staff starts to greet him and everyone of them’s eyes lingers on me till I make it into the elevator.

“You are attracting too much attention. I’m starting to get jealous.” He says

“That’s not true. Stop being dramatic.”

“Can you stop ogling my woman right in front of me?”

I turn to the guy who’s escorting us to the rooftop and see he’s totally embarrassed. I noticed he was taking side peeks but Liam shouldn’t have called him out like that. The elevator dings saving the poor man from further awkwardness.

“This is a very beautiful view. I might as well just pitch my tent here.” I say admiring the view of the sea.

“I told you. Thanks you may leave us now.” Liam responds turning to the man. 

Once he’s out of sight, I nudge Liam.

“Why did you embarrass the poor man.”

“Because he was shamelessly taking side peeks at you while he was standing right in front of me. That’s insulting and disrespectful.”

“Still you shouldn’t have confronted him like that.”

“Ok. I’ll be on my best behaviour next time.”

A waitress strolls in handing us our menu.

“We’ll ring you once we’ve decided.” Liam responds.

 Once we are done choosing our appetiser, main course and desert, we call the attention of the waitress. I ignore her deliberate touch of Liam’s hand while trying to get the menu. Talk about who’s getting the attention. 

“The food, the view, everything about this place  is perfect.” I comment the moment my taste bud processed the main course. 

Stir fry Basmati rice served in a pineapple with hot sauce and lamb chops.

“A perfect place for a perfect woman. We can always come here as much as we want.”

“I love the sound of that.”

“I care about you so much and the last thing I want is to let another man take you away from me. Even if it means I have to give up everything for you, I will. You know I love you and I will always do. These past weeks, I’ve come to realize that I can’t do without you. I’m on a business flight and the next thing I’m thinking about is how to return back to Dublin as soon as possible. You must have noticed how  broken I was when you first came. No matter how I try to hide it from the world, I can’t hide it from you. You read me like a book. You’ve always had. 

You make Laura and I happy which we haven’t been in a long time. When I’m around you, I can be vulnerable which is something I’m not used to doing around anyone. The other day I watched you bake with Laura, I couldn’t help but see things going further with you. I hated myself for trying to fight these feelings when you just came. 

I don’t want us to be just friends. I want us to be more than friends., Cara Bloom, please be my girlfriend.”

“Liam, yes I will be your girlfriend. I thought you would never ask. You’ve been my only love since forever.”

“You don’t know how happy you’ve made me. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“ Let’s not waste this melodious sound. Care to dance?” He says as he stretches he stands up to pull out my chair. 

“Who would say no to a fine and sweet gentleman like you.”

When it came to romantic gestures and swooning ladies off their feet, Liam was still the boss. We danced away the night and when the song ended, he paid and we headed out. Once we get to the front of the restaurant to wait for our chauffeur, I notice a man taking a picture of us. I check to see if Liam noticed the man only to find him staring at him looking unbothered.

“You don’t look bothered Liam?”

“Should I ? When has taking your girlfriend to have a nice time out become something to be worried about? So long as there’s no crowd full of paparazzi trying to come after us. I’m good. In fact, I want the world to know you are my woman. You might as well smile so you can look even prettier when it makes it to the newspaper or whatever magazine.”

And smile I did. 

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Yet another one?”

“If I could surprise you every second I will. For this, I have to blindfold you.”

“It’s dark.”

“Trust me you won’t trip.”

He gently navigates me to the direction the surprise is. I hear a beep and then the sound of a garage door open. 

“Surprise.” He says removing my blindfold. 

“No way!”

“Yes way baby.” 

My dream car was right in front of me. I have always talked about how I wanted a white Maserati.

“I love you Liam Johnson.” I give him a tight hug and he reciprocates. What a glamorous gift to end the night.