"Shelagh?" Patrick called from the bottom of the stairs. He was becoming rather impatient.
Still, no answer.
"Shelagh, darling?"
"Oh! What is it Patrick?" She exasperatedly rushed to the top of the stairs, attempting to simultaneously insert her left earring.
She stopped. He stopped. She was struggling to put on her earring, too busy to notice the look on his face - the look of a child in a chocolate shop - as she came into his view.
"Patrick?" She felt she was wasting time.
"Oh," snapped back to reality, Patrick shook his head and straightened his back. "I wanted to ask if you might need anything. We stand the chance of being late if we do not leave soon."
"Patrick, if you do not allow me to dress in peace, we will never be on time."
She prepared to walk away until he began to make his way up the few stairs. She decided she would wait for him. After all, in his charcoal grey suit, white shirt, and navy paisley tie, Patrick was a pleasure to watch. She wondered if he had felt the same way when she appeared in her rather fitted gown. The neckline was not low, but elegantly wide, and her new black belt emphasized her waist in her navy blue dress. She observed that as soon as his eyes lost contact with hers, they flitted between her collarbone and her waist. She chuckled at the thought, and turned away towards their room as he reached the top.
"Shelagh, we are always on time. Your punctuality has no rival."
"Well, let us keep it that way, shall we?" she attempted to suppress the budding smile on her face as he tore his eyes away from her and attempted to approach the mirror.
"Wait! Patrick?" He quickly spun around. "I can't manage to get this earring in. Would you help me?"
Thrilled to be needed and helpful, Patrick took the earring she held out to him and successfully placed it in her piercing. He could never handle the small pieces and left that part to Shelagh.
"Thank you, dear" she finished, effectively dismissing him as she put the finishing touches on her outfit.
"Anything for you, Shelagh," He asserted. "Is there anything else I can do?"
His eyes held a glint of mischief that Shelagh quickly detected, so she dismissed him with a firm "No, Patrick."
He saw the glint in her eyes too, but decided not to tease her any longer. They were going to be late, after all.
After straightening his tie in the mirror, he caught a glimpse of her applying mascara over his shoulder. His eye caught hers, and wider smiles have never existed than those that were plastered on their faces.
"Now then, before I put my lipstick on…"
She did not even need to finish her sentence, for he caught her meaning. She did not need to tell him twice. They both turned. He put his arms around her and she placed her hands around his head, careful not to disturb his hair as their lips met.
Seconds passed in embrace, until Shelagh, through her closed eyelids, felt the light change in the room. This prompted her eyes open and she stepped away from a lost Patrick to check her watch.
"Patrick! We should have left 10 minutes ago. We cannot be late for this!"
"Are you ready to go?" He breathed, eyes closed, still lost in their embrace.
"Yes." She smiled with a touch of nervousness. Her excitement permeated the air between them.
"Well then, after you, milady." They both laughed as she grabbed her purse, which included her compact and lipstick, and grabbed his hand.
I hope you liked the first piece! The next few will follow soon :)