For weeks now Sarah and James had been courting. His job was taking a lot of his energy, but when he saw Sarah, he felt like a brand new man. He took her around the city she had not explored yet. She held on to his arm as they walked the streets and he was proud of having her by his side. Her company was easy-going; she would listen and discuss any topic. Her intellectual curiosity had no limit and she was eager to learn.
On a late Thursday afternoon, James was focusing in a particularly complicated case a citizen of Pembroke submitted to him for his counsel. He heard a hesitant knock on the door.
"I asked not to be disturbed," he said through the door.
As the knob turned and the door opened, he sighed and stood up, ready to turn around his co-worker. He was happily surprise to see Sarah enter his office.
"Am I interrupting?" she asked.
"Not at all," his face softened as he replied
"You are still working? We could always reschedule if you prefer."
"Reschedule?"
"My parents invited you to dinner tonight. Father said there will be news to celebrate. I am pretty sure my sister Elizabeth will announce her engagement."
"I forgot, but let me just finish one thing and we'll be ready to go," he said as he looked at his pocket watch.
He sat down and tried at least to write small notes of what not to forget for tomorrow. Sarah walked toward the window and looked outside. His office was in a busy street and she got lost looking at the people passing by. She heard him stood up and walked to her. She turned around and he was standing only inches away. She felt her breath shorten; they had never been this close before. It was already improper for her to stay alone inside his office, but this distance was definitely wrong. But felt so right at the same time. He put his hands on her shoulders, sliding them to her elbows. She shivered. There was a tension between them she never experience anything like that. She tilted her head up to look at him in the eyes. Then he wrapped his arms behind her back, holding her close to his body. She was taken aback, but her arms found there place behind his back, her cheek resting on his chest.
He pulled away when he realised what he had done. He was tired from a hard day of work, and felt this hug would comfort him. And it did. This more intimate contact confirmed him she was the one. He looked back at her, and saw the question in her gaze.
"I am sorry, I should not…" he started to say
"No, you do not need to apologize."
"Could I do it again?"
"Yes, and you do not need to ask before," she said smiling shyly.
He smiled; she enjoyed his touch. This made his heart jumped in his chest. He took a risk; his hand cupped her chin as he leaned down for a soft kiss. He had not quite reached her lips when his paralegal assistant knocked loudly on the door.
"Sir, the coach driver is asking me if you will be leaving soon."
The couple stepped apart quickly, as James replied they would be on their way in a minute. He looked at Sarah; her cheek had turn in a rose color. He closed the door, and walked the few steps keeping them apart. She was surprised by his daring behavior, but did not stop him. When his lips touched hers, his arms wrapped around her back, she did not want this moment to stop. She felt like their courtship had taken a new step. Perhaps he would ask for her hand, she wondered.
"We should go," he said as he stepped back. "Although I would much rather spend time with you than with your sister Elizabeth."
"Me too, but I am sure she will stop fantasising about you if she gets engage."
He held out his arm, showing her the way out of his office. In the coach to her manor, he felt his hands sweating, his heart beat so fast. Sarah had no doubt the news was not her sister engagement, but hers. He had spoken to her father that morning, and he granted him her hand. He still had to ask her directly, but he planned to stop on the way by the ocean. He patted his pocket and felt the ring.
"Why are we stopping here?" she asked.
"Come outside for a second, the sun is setting down and I want you to see it."
She reached the railing near the ocean walk. She took a deep breath; the view was spectacular. His hand landed on hers and she quickly looked at him. He had been bold in his office, but taking her hand like this on the street, it was not a behavior he had before. As she turned to face him, he took both of her hands in his.
"Are you okay, James?"
"I will be in a minute. Sarah, since the first day I met you, you captured my heart. Every minute I spend in your company confirms me than I want no one else by my side. So Sarah, I am asking you if would do me the honor of becoming my wife."
She looked at him, in complete shock. She was expecting his demand to happen but not today, and not by the sunset on the ocean.
"Yes! Of course, my dear," she said, tears of joy in her eyes.
He took the ring out of his pocket and slid it on her finger. He leaned down for a deep kiss, which was broken by the coach driver coughing. It was time to go.