TENDING TO THE STORM

CHAPTER 12

He wrapped his arms around Lizzy which brought a gasp from both the two women's lips.
And he grinned.

"Yes,you're here for her" he said smiling proudly down at the woman in his arms.

From the corner of her eyes,she could see The woman in suit;Shirley scowl at the scene in front of her ,passing Lizzy an accusing glare.

  Happy with Shirley's response,she flashed her a sly smile.

Shirley cleared her throat,breaking the dazed couple apart.

The two woman glared at each other for sometime before Shirley pasted a fake smile on her lips and turned to address her.

"Where do you want us to start ...ma'am?"

When Lizzy turned to look at Blake for support,he raised his hands up in surrender and left the room.

"Anywhere would be just fine" Lizzy admitted.

Shirley turned to professional mode.She nodded and set out in a string of orders.

   In a few hours,her hair and makeup were done.
She stepped in front of the mirror and stood watching the face staring back at her.
 
   Ruby coated rhinestones stained the bodice of the dress,with its slender curve around the waist and the ruffles on the ballgown gave it a sweet ,simple appearance.

  Her makeup was light,and glowy. Her raven hair curled at the edges and the simple stud earrings that adorned her ears gave her the appeal of a simple glamorous woman.

She smiled.She turned gratefully to Shirley,who was smiling proudly at her creation.
The woman had skills, she had to admit.

The night was still young,the moon was shinning brightly,and the time read 9:40pm.

Almost time.

Just then, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs.And all eyes turned to look up at the handsome male descending down the stairs.

His brown curls slicked back with a little bit of shine.His suit looked tailored to fit him perfectly,
With the shoulder hugging his biceps firmly ,the trousers ironed to perfection.

There were sighs and gasps  coming from all over the room.
Her smile wide and her thoughts running on one word

Mine.

                  🌸  🌸  🌸  🌸
As Blake approached the foot of the steps,he froze.

There she was smiling brightly up at him.His heart stopped in his chest.

He felt the constriction of his heart and he swallowed convulsively.
His gaze turning feral,his eyes raked her from her perfectly primed hair to the slender curves of her shoulder with her collar bone accentued ,he drank in her beauty.

He must have stood there for a few minutes,gazing up at her because he jerked from his reverie when someone cleared their throat.

There were giggles around them.
Lizzy blushed.
He finished the journey down the stairs towards her.

And claimed her lips.
The hoots and gasps increased and giggles came.

Breaking the kiss,he gazed down into her eyes, mesmerized.He touched her face with his hands trying to outline the beautiful and slender slope of her face.She seemed ephemeral.

Then the claps and cheers shook them out of their cocoon.
They glanced round the room,realizing only then that they had an audience.

Lizzy couldn't stop blushing,she wiped the lipstick stain from the corners of his lips with the back of her hands.
He gazed down at her.His expression made her feel so self-conscious. She wanted to hide her face .

"You guys make a lovely couple."
Shirley interrupted her thoughts.
They both glanced at each other and smiled.

"Thank you" Lizzy finally said.Holding out her hands gratefully.

Shirley obliged and pulled her in an embrace whispering to her.
"He's a keeper.I wish you well in your relationship"

They broke apart,the woman looked all the more beautiful as she genuinely smiled at her.

"You guys have a wonderful night." She glowered.
"We'll take our leave now" she informed Blake before gesturing towards her staff to get a move on.

Blake nodded.
And after a while,they were alone again.

"You look beautiful" he said.

"You look handsome" she replied.

"I want to kiss you again" he lowered his head to kiss her.

She placed her hand on his chest to still him.

"You better don't or you'll ruin my makeup and then,we won't be able to go."she explained,her breath coming out in gulps.

He massaged the hand on his chest. Taking it to his mouth to place a kiss on the inside of her palm.Her breath hitched.

She gulped.

" Then we don't go."he moved to kiss her again.

Stopping him again,he groaned but she stood her ground.
"It would be a real shame cause Shirley spent a lot of time on it and the dress as well"

But he wasn't listening, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him so fast,it elicited a gasp from her.

"We...we..should go...out of respect for ...for..Shirley" she stammered.Placing both her hands on his chest to push him away gently.

But he tugged her hand free and pulled her closer.

Just when she thought he would kiss her.He pecked her nose and whispered

"Later"

Then they were out the door into the chauffeured limo parked in front of the house.

  With a greeting from Roberto and a set of instructions from Blake,they got into the car and they were on the road.