AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her amber eyes shine and the light of the waterfall refracts across her shoulders.
It’s a prix fixe dinner with six courses and wine, although toward the end, she can barely finish. Still, she makes sure to taste each one, and she savors it.
“I think there’s only one dish we’ve had that I’ve actually tasted before.”
I forget that even though she’s also a physician, she hasn’t been exposed to the same things that I have. It’s exciting to show her things she’s never experienced before.
“Wow. And what’s the verdict?”
“Oh my God, it’s amazing.” She puts a hand on her abdomen. “I wish I had another stomach. Caviar, roast duck, venison, fiddleheads, octopus. I thought it would be disgusting… but…”
“I know. It’s amazing how something that seems so weird can taste so incredible.” I reach my palm out and touch the top of her hand. “Well, you better get used to this lifestyle if you’re going to be my wife.”
She doesn’t move her hand, but she pauses and purses her lips seriously. “About that. Should we discuss the details of the contract?”
I wave my other hand. “Not tonight. Tonight is just about you and me. Getting to know each other and having a great time. That said… What do you do for fun? What are your passions?”
“I don’t really have time for that, honestly. But I guess when it’s time to unwind, nothing beats sitting under a blanket with a good book. Or, if I’m exhausted, I’ll just watch something on TV.”
“What sorts of things do you enjoy?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Something I don’t have to think about. A lot of documentaries.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Documentaries seem like something you have to think about.”
She laughs, then puts her hand over her mouth, an act that’s completely endearing. “Not the kinds I watch. Weird phenomena… That show where people get drunk and talk about history…”
“Yeah, my watching can be a little simplistic. Although I don’t have much time for it, either. You know what a guilty pleasure of mine is?”
“Tell me.” She puts her chin on her palms in amusement.
“Those dancing competitions. Believe it or not, my mother and I took dance classes when I was little, and it was something we bonded over. How about you, do you like dancing?”
“Sure, like, at a club or something?”
“I guess that counts.”
“I don’t know the last time I went out like that, but when I’ve been, I’ve liked it.”
I point to the stage behind her, where a full band is set up.
“Good. Because we have a live band. Care to dance?”
“You really had everything figured out tonight, huh?” she asks with a coy smile.
“I like to be prepared.” I take her hand, and we walk over to the dance floor in front of the band. They greet us, and we introduce ourselves.
They play some light jazz, and I invite her to dance. She gives a skeptical look.
“Hmm? Something wrong?”
“No, no. Not exactly. Just… we’re already getting married. Why all this?” She raises her arms and spins around, and it makes me want to glide on the dance floor with her in my arms even more.
I pause for a moment. “Sure, we’re marrying for reasons other than love. But why have it be just a sterile legal transaction?”
“I guess so.” She’s stopped fidgeting with her hands, calming down a little.
“We’re joining our lives, getting to know each other. We may as well have fun while we do it.”
