The trip to the restaurant was very pleasant consisting of light conversation between Patrick and Robin. The limousine pulled up to the restaurant, Casa La Femme, on 1st Avenue, in New York, which promised a romantic Mediterranean atmosphere right in the heart of NYC.
Robin looked at Patrick in surprise, "How did you find out about this place?" she asked in wondrous delight.
"My Dad used to come here with my mom when she was alive. "He always bragged about how it was the most romantic restaurant in New York City," he said with a smile. "And that's what I want tonight to be about for us, pure romance," he said, taking her hand and kissing her fingers one by one, as Robin savored the tingling feelings that ran down her spine at his touch.
Robin smiled at him in delight and was startled a bit as her door opened and the driver motioned for her to get out. She gave Patrick a parting smile and quickly got out as he opened his own door and came around the side of the car so they could grab hands before going into the restaurant. Robin loved the feel of Patrick right beside her. She knew she was the luckiest girl alive because Patrick was certainly the handsomest man there ever was.
They both walked into the restaurant and went up to the maitre 'd whom Patrick told that they had a reservation under Drake. The maitre 'd checked her list and said to come right this way and they followed obediently as Robin looked around in awe at the Mediterranean setting. All of the tables were very low to the floor and the patrons of the restaurant either sat on pillows laid next to the tables or just on the plush carpet of the floor itself. Each table was partitioned off by gauzy curtains, just as if it was out of an Egyptian harem. The candles on the tables gave off a soft romantic glow and Robin was truly captivated by her surroundings. She felt Patrick squeeze her hand when he noticed the pleasure on her face while she looked around.
Robin was surprised when instead of taking Patrick and her to a table around the room, they were instead led to a hallway, where the maitre 'd opened a door and they were led into a private room. It was truly luxurious and had the same accents as the main dining room, but was more spacious with more gauzy curtains to give the entire place a hazy effect. Robin gasped in pleasure as the maitre 'd handed them a menu and took her leave. "Patrick, wow, just, wow!" said Robin in wonder. "This place is truly beautiful."
"I was hoping you would think so, Adventure Girl," he said, happy to see her so awestruck by this restaurant. It truly was a place of girlish fantasies, he thought. It was just so Casablanca like. He was very glad that he had asked his Dad about the best place to go to in New York. Yet again, that was another thing he was thankful to Robin for, that he even had his Dad with him. And they were talking, which was a miracle in itself. Each time he talked with his father, he realized a little more what he had truly missed those ten years they had been separated and for the first time in a long time, he thought they really may be able to get past the pain. And a large part of that was due to this beautiful young woman sitting right next to him, he thought, as he reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
They checked out the menu and Robin ordered a grilled fish dish, while Patrick ordered a steak dish. They looked at each other and gave a quiet laugh. "This is really beautiful, Patrick," said Robin.
"I'm really glad you are enjoying it," he said. Patrick reached out his hand and asked, "Would you like to have this dance with me?" Robin looked up in surprise and realized that there was soft music playing over the sound system and that part of the room had been set up for a small dance floor.
Robin rose, gave him her hand, and said, "Definitely." Patrick pulled her to him and they slow danced until their meal came. He gave her a tender, languishing kiss after the waiter had departed and they sat back at the table to eat their meal.
The small talk was plentiful as their meals quickly disappeared from their plates and they were both very content to just enjoy each other's company. When they were finished with their plates and the waiter had left, Patrick pulled Robin to her feet again, pulling her close for another slow dance. "So, Scorpio, are you enjoying your evening?" he asked seductively.
"Oh, my goodness, yes," she answered, batting her eyelashes at him in response. His only reply was to pull him to her and as they locked lips they shared a kiss to curl their toes. After many minutes had gone by, Robin pulled back and said, "Patrick, if you're going to kiss me like that we need to go back to the hotel room because it's going to turn into something else and while this is a private room, it's not that private."
Patrick chuckled at her and said, "I guess you're right. That part will have wait until later. He guided her back over to the low lying table and piled two of the cushions together and gently pushed her down upon them. This gave her a slightly elevated effect as he knelt down on one knee before her and looked up at her. He took her hand in his and brought out a small rectangular ring box opening it up to show her the beautiful marquis cut diamond ring sitting in the box.
"Robin, before I met you, I was lost. Sure, I was living, but there just wasn't any passion to it. You and I both know what I used to be like with other women, but that all changed when I met you. I fell completely and helplessly in love with your passion, zest for life, and fiery personality. You completely captivated me and I can't say that I miss my former life for one minute. I cannot even begin to comprehend my life without you in it. I have to have you in it or my very soul will be empty." Patrick paused as he looked searchingly into her face. "Robin, will you please do me the honor of marrying you?"
Robin looked down at the man she loved, who was now proposing to her, and she gave a small smile as she saw his nervousness. His hands were even slightly shaking, she noticed. This man, who was a brilliant neurosurgeon and could never afford to have shaking hands, had hands that were gripping hers and slightly shaking. She smiled at the thought as she gripped his hands tightly.
"Patrick, I love you more than I could even begin to tell you. My life, so very much like your own, was hopelessly empty before we met. Sure, I had two great loves in my life, one who I lost to death, and the other whom I just lost, but they were both long gone before I met you. I knew what it felt like to truly love and then feel lost, but since I've found you, I feel like I've found hope, and love, again. We found each other at a time I truly thought I would never find love again, but suddenly there it was, with, of course, the most unlikely of people." Robin gave a slight laugh, and continued, "but I wanted that love more than I could even imagine and as we got closer, I, too, needed it, or I felt like my very soul would die. So, yes, Patrick, yes, I would be honored to be your wife," finished Robin with her heartfelt acceptance.
Patrick jumped up with joy and guided Robin to a standing position with him as he grabbed her around the waist and twirled her around the room, whooping in joyous abandon. He took the ring box, took out the ring, and while tenderly holding her left hand, placed the ring on her ring finger.
"Oh, Patrick," said Robin as she breathlessly looked at her new ring, "it is truly beautiful. How did you know I liked the marquis cut so much?" she asked, wondering how he knew so much about her when they had not even talked about this particular subject.
"Oh, I have my ways," said Patrick, thinking about what a wonderful friend to Robin Brenda was. "I have little birdies in the know," he said, with a twinkle in his eyes and showcasing his heartstopping dimple.
"I see," said Robin, watching him carefully to see if he would give up his informant. "Don't worry, I will figure out who your little birdies are," she said with a smirk as she brought her hand up to check out the new rock on her finger. "Patrick," she said, looking at him with a brilliant smile, "thank you for making me the happiest person on this earth right now."
Patrick cupped her chin with his hand and pulled her head to look up at him. "No, that would be me," he said, flashing his dimple at her. "You said yes and that makes me the happiest person on this earth," he said, challenging her with a smile to refute him.
Robin returned his smile and said, "Ok, then I'm the happiest woman on the face of the planet now. Can't refute that one, can you, buddy?" she asked, enjoying the light teasing banter that they always shared.
Patrick laughed, "Ok, you got me there. I can't argue with you on that one," he said. "Here, let's sit down and enjoy a bit of wine and then we can get out of here and back to that beautiful hotel room we have," Patrick said, bringing her back over to the pillows they had vacated just a few minutes before.
"Sounds like a plan," she said. They shared a few more intimate moments while they toasted to each other for a long and happy marriage. After the maitre 'd brought the check and Patrick took care of the bill, they rose to leave, holding hands all the way through the restaurant. As they exited the restaurant, Robin was pleased to find the beautiful limousine still waiting for them and Patrick opened the door for her, effortlessly being the perfect gentleman she always knew he could be. She entered the car and Patrick joined her from the other side. She smiled in delight as she curled up next to him, enjoying the ride back with the man she loved by her side.
Patrick enjoyed the leisurely ride back to the hotel as he ran his hand suggestively up and down Robin's back while he held her. He could feel the shivers running through her at his touch and he marveled over the hold each other had upon the other. He thought back to what he had told Robin about him not being able to think of his life without her and he knew that what he had said was completely and utterly true. He knew, deep down, he was deathly scared that the disease she had inside her would take her away from him someday, but he also knew that he couldn't live with that overwhelming fear everyday. He had to treasure each and every moment he was given with her and he was determined not to waste any of them, starting with their engagement night, he thought with a smile.
The limousine arrived back at the hotel and Patrick, being the gentleman, got out first and held her door open she could embark. They grabbed hands and rushed into the hotel, wanting to get to their room as fast as they could. It was time to get to the really fun part of the evening, the icing on the cake, so to speak. They rushed up to their room and Patrick hurriedly used the key card to get in. He pushed the door open and picked Robin up, carrying her across the threshold. Robin giddily giggled when he picked her up and didn't stop giggling until he put her down. "Patrick, you didn't have to do that," she said laughing.
"Oh, I did," he said, grinning at her with a big Cheshire cat grin. "It was too much fun to watch your face light up in surprise," he admitted sheephisly.
Patrick gasped in awe when Robin reached up to him and pulled his head down for a searing kiss that sent the warmth all the way down to their toes. Patrick turned his head to one side and began nuzzling her neck. "Have you thought about when you might want to get this marriage started?" he asked her lazily, hoping against hope that she would say sooner than later. All he really wanted to do was to make her his bride and the sooner that was done, the happier he would be. He wanted the whole world to know that she was his and would be forever.
"Hmm… how about month? Would that be too soon?" asked Robin, thinking to surprise him with the suddenness of the date. She was shocked when he paused in his nuzzling.
"That would suit me just fine, Scorpio," he said, pausing when he felt Robin stiffen. "You wanted it soon, right?" he asked, puzzled by her reaction. "You were the one that said in a month and I'm just agreeing," he said reasonably.
"Are you serious?" Robin asked. "A month is fine with you?" she asked with obvious puzzlement.
"Baby, I just want to be married to you, the sooner the better in my mind. Hey, if you wanted to go off and elope right now, I would do it. I want everyone to know that you and I are together forever," he said, sealing his promise with a kiss.
"Ok," laughed Robin. "How about March 21st, the first day of spring? It will be a new beginning for all of us," she said with a sigh, as Patrick started using his tongue in places that sent shivers down her spine.
He paused long enough to say, "Sounds good to me. Now, how about the rest of our evening?" he asked with a growl.
Robin laughed, "Let's take it to the bedroom, darling," as Patrick picked her up and carried her to their bed.
The employer answered his phone. "You saw the rock on her finger? So they are engaged. Excellent. My plan will work out perfectly then. Good work," he said as he snapped the phone shut and leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers and considering his next step.