She looked up at him and heard him whisper his name with his adorable grin in place. Finn, a good, old fashion Irish name. It made her feel safe. How can a man she doesn't even know, a man she just kissed with everything she had, make her feel safe? Was this why she just needed to sit on that bench and wait, something she never would do? Looking into his whisky eyes, she felt warm, just like drinking whisky made her feel.
His large hands around her waist made her feel even smaller, but she didn't care. A shiver or tingle, since that was the best she could describe it, seemed to flow from his fingertips through her to her brain, making her feel like she was floating. How could that be? She was such a practical person, and here she was doing such an impractical thing.
He grinned at her when she said she was Rachel. It just seemed to fit her. Rachel with the deep brown eyes. He was a spontaneous type of person, but this was the most spontaneous thing he had ever done, kissing a complete stranger in the middle of the park, but it felt so right. When she kissed him, it was like a fire was lit in his belly and is slowly moved through his veins, making him hot all over. Her hands playing with the hair on the back of his neck sent electricity through him that made him feel alive and sensitive all at once. It was an awesome feeling, one that he had never felt before. A feeling he didn't want to lose.
Taking Rachel's hand, he led her back to the bench she had been at and sat down, guiding her to his lap. She fit perfectly. Sitting there they mumbled about themselves. He learned that she was a Broadway star and had a record deal. She had worked all her life to be on Broadway and she was. He could picture her, standing up on stage, her eyes shining with excitement. The applause making her work harder. Throwing kisses to the audience as bouquets of flowers are brought out to her.
He also learned that she had sacrificed a lot to have this success and really didn't do anything outside of work, having few friends. He frowned picturing her changing her clothes, surrounded by flowers from admirers, but going home to a dark, lonely apartment, not having any fun in her life. That wasn't the way to live. No matter what, you had to have some fun, or nothing was worth it. He held her tightly, trying to signal to her that she wouldn't be alone anymore. Something in him told him he would never leave her alone.
Sitting on Finn's lap, she realized how warm he was, how comfortable he was. He was a firefighter. He was from the Midwest and he was still in awe of the city. He worked hard and enjoyed his life, but he wasn't living it. She pictured him at the firehouse, working, joking around, saving lives. She saw him grabbing a few beers with friends at the local bar, smiling and laughing, but she also pictured him walking into a dark, sparsely furnished apartment, sitting in the dark and absentmindedly flipping through channels. The very thought of him being like that brought a tear to her eye. Caressing his cheek and looking into his warm eyes, she smiled knowing that he would never have to sit in the dark by himself again.
She also realized that they led two very different lives, and had two very different backgrounds, but she just felt so compelled to be part of him. There was no place she wanted to be, but sitting on his large lap, curled up into this chest like a child. She wanted to be taken care of; she was tired of taking care of everyone else because they wanted her money or fame. The way he held her on his lap, rubbing circles on her back and nuzzling her neck, made her feel taken care of, made her safe. This was something she had been looking for, wanting for a long time.
He didn't know how long they had been sitting on that bench in the park, but the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping. He wasn't about to let her go, now that he had found her, so he picked her up bridal style and walked her back to his apartment. The entire time he was walking with her in his arms, he kept getting stares from passersby, but he didn't care. This was the woman for him, and he was never letting her go. Opening the door, he laid her on his couch, missing the feel of her in his arms almost immediately. He heard her moan a little at the removal of contact, and he smiled, because he felt the same.
She laid on his couch, looking around, and smiling, because it was almost exactly how she pictured it. It was sparsely furnished, with just what was needed. Nothing extra. It was very masculine, just like he was. Looking at the side table, there was a family picture of him, a smaller man, and a couple who she assumed was his mother and father. It was a high school picture, because he was in a letterman's jacket. The only thing that was extra in the apartment was a drum set. That had piqued her interest.
Listening to him, she had to laugh, because she heard him cuss a few times as pans clattered and what sounded like a boil over on the stove. She had never had a man make her dinner before, and she was extremely honored and impressed by him. Not wanting to seem nosy, but curious as what was happening, she got up and walked to the kitchen. She spied him trying to make a pasta dinner. As she continued watching him, she smiled seeing him cuss at something he did wrong. He must have heard her laugh, because he looked up and saw her and smiled his hypnotizing.
Walking in, she started helping him, like it was a common occurrence for the two of them. Whenever they bumped into each, which was often in the small kitchen, they would place a kiss on that spot. They laughed and talked and learned more about each other. She learned that he was raised by his mother, since his father was killed during the war when he was a baby. When she asked about the picture, he told her about his step-dad and brother. She told him about being an only child and having two dads. How they spoiled her and did everything for her so she could attain her dream.
He sat down with her on his couch and they started eating the pasta. Eating was an experience. They laughed and fed each other, and ended up forgetting about the food and started making out on the couch. He could feel her body relax under his even more, as he explored her body with his mouth, kissing any exposed skin he could find. But more than anything, when he looked right into her eyes, he felt a connection that was electric and strong. This was a connection that couldn't be broken.
Pulling her into a sitting position on his lap, he looked into her deep brown eyes. He knew, almost from the moment he saw her, he was going to do this. It was so right, so them. Looking into her eyes, he smiled and said in an almost whisper, "Marry me?"
Looking into his clear brown eyes, she saw her future. She saw what she had always wanted, and when he whispered, "Marry me?" Her only answer was, "Yes!" Kissing him with all the love she felt. and
