Disclaimer: don't own nething
5) Getting ready
"Max hurry up!"
"I'm coming! Jeez, just because all you need to do is shower and dress does not make it the same for me!"
Logan sighed and leaned back in his chair. He looked over at Josef who was grinning.
"She is a feisty one, isn't she?" Josef said, humor interlaced with his every word.
Logan had to smile back. Josef was so easy going - you didn't feel the need to entertain him and he didn't push conversation. Instead, he enjoyed just sitting back and taking in the moment. Logan sat comfortably in his tuxedo and played with his bow tie absent-mindedly. He hated wearing them and always left putting on his tie until the last moment.
"So what are you doing tonight, Josef?"
"Ah. well. I'm actually meeting up with a very nice woman called Teresa. She is here on holiday and was looking for someone to show her the sights. And you know me, the perfect gentleman!"
Logan laughed. "You haven't changed a bit Josef. And what sights might she be seeing tonight?"
"Well there is the grand tour of the Colosseum, the Opera House and finishing off with my bedroom. Any way, what's wrong with being predictable?"
"Nothing. It is excellent - you always know what to expect from you. But you do know that variety is the spice of life, right?"
"I have great variety. Last night is was Lisa and the night before that it was Paula."
Logan burst out laughing. "Like I said before, you haven't changed a bit"
"Unlike you. I like this Max - she has changed you back into the old Logan"
"The old Logan?"
"Yeah, you know. My old buddy from college who I used to play Dare with at bars and used to share the more-than-occasional weed with in my dorm and used to then laugh myself stupid with"
Logan smiled at the memory. "Sorry to break this to you, but I haven't smoked since college. Anyway, why does this all have to do with Max?"
"I saw you last three years ago Logan and you have changed since then. Now, unless you have made some drastic changes in your life, I'd say it has to do with Max"
"What has to do with Max?"
She was wearing three-quarter length satin gown, which was simple in design. Thin straps covered her shoulders before flowing down and concealing while revealing a small cleavage. The dress clung to every curve until it reached her knees, where is spun gently out, making it seem as if the dress has floating at this height. The dress was the palest of greens, which shimmered slightly and contrasting with her dark skin, eyes and hair. Her make-up was simple and her hair was the same as it was every day, but she had never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment.
Josef was the first to speak. "Max, you look marvelous! I knew it would be the perfect dress for you. Didn't I tell you Logan?"
Logan shook his head slightly, still getting over the chock of how Max looked. "You look amazing Max," he said smiling.
Max grinned back. She had loved the dress the moment she had taken it out of the dress bag. It was simple yet elegant - exactly the way Max had wanted to look. She would feel comfortable in this dress and to Max, that was the most important thing. Actually, the most important thing was how Logan thought she looked and judging by the look on his face, she could tell the dress was perfect. "Should we go?" Max asked, looking from Logan to Josef.
"Yes! Jesus, look at the time!" Logan cried standing up quickly.
"Logan, this is Europe. Fashionably late is very cool"
"At this rate, we will be arriving as everyone else is leaving. The limo has been sitting downstairs for a while now"
"A limo!" Max cried.
Logan smiled at her excitement. "Of course. We can't have you looking like that and not have a limousine, can we?" Logan teased.
Max shot him a look. "I better get my bag and shawl" she said before disappearing into the next room. Josef looked at Logan and smiled. "I think your gonna have to put your tie on now" Josef burst out laughing at the disappointed look on Logan's face
******
Max and Logan walked through the lobby, their arms entwined and Logan had never been so happy to be seen with a woman. Max walked gracefully in her thin heeled shoes, her thicker beaded matching shawl hung about her shoulders elegantly and she held her head high as people stopped to watch the handsome man and beautiful woman breeze through the lobby.
Max climbed into the limo as if she had been doing it her whole life and Logan climbed in quickly behind her. Max could believe the opulence of the limousine. It wasn't a stretch limo, but black leather seats and soft lighting gave the area with a peaceful glow and a sense of class. Classical music was playing softly in the background and Max sat quietly, as if to avoid disturbing the mood. "I have a present for you" Logan whispered to Max
Max turned her head to look at him quickly. "Logan, you really gotta stop buying be things"
"Why? I saw this, thought of you and bought it for you. It's a gift - you can't refuse a gift" And with that, Logan reached into the pocket on the inside of his tux and pulled out two jewelry boxes.
Max looked at him puzzled. "I thought when you said gift, you meant singular, not plural"
"The first one I bought for you and the second is something I'm lending to you. Open them"
Max reached for the first box and opened it. Inside was a pair of silver drop earrings, each with a number of diamonds on them. Max looked at his with her eyes opened wide. "Logan, I cant accept this"
"Yes you can. You can't wear a dress like that and not have the perfect earrings to wear with it. Please put them on Max" Logan said smiling gently.
Slowly and gently, as if they would break, Max put on the earrings. She then turned her head to Logan. They were perfect - a necklace would have taken away attention form the simplicity of the dress, while the earrings added that extra touch. Max reached to the other box and opened it. Inside were three rings - one large wedding band, one smaller one and a large diamond ring.
"They were my parents' wedding rings. They are white gold," Logan added quietly. "They are for us to wear while we are here. We can't be married with no rings, can we?"
Max looked deep into Logan's eyes and saw something she could not decipher. Logan's parents' wedding rings. Max lifted the smaller white gold band and looked at it closely. Inside, Max could see the word 'Forever' inscribed in flowing writing. She could believe Logan was giving her his mother's wedding rings. He could just as easily have bought or borrowed other rings, but he chose his parent's wedding rings.
Logan reached over and picked up the engagement ring and inspected the large diamond. "He proposed to her here in Rome" Logan began quietly. "They were in a piazza. They were walking to go to dinner and but stopped at the fountain in this piazza. My father told me he had planned to propose at the restaurant - he had planned a whole romantic scene and speech for it. But standing in the moonlight, he looked at my mother and couldn't wait another moment." Logan fell quiet again and Max sat back, staring and taking in this new, more vulnerable side of Logan which she had never seen before. Logan began again. "I'll take you to the piazza while we are here. We came here as a family when I was about nine and they took me to the piazza and told me the story. I went for a quick walk and came back, finding my mother and father in each other's, just smiling at each other. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and the most prominent memory I have of them both. That's what I wanted with Val, that sort of love. But I guess my parents were special" Logan fell silent again and continued to inspect the diamond.
Max leaned over and placed her hand on his thigh gently. He looked up at her. His angel. She really did look like and angel. Her pale gown, her gentle curls. He smiled and picked up her hand and squeezed it. He then gently took her finger and placed the ring on it silently. It fit perfectly. He then reached over and took the wedding band and placed it on the top of the other ring. They were perfect together, as if that was the way they were made. Max then placed the larger band on Logan's finger and their fingers laced the others and they sat there, palm to palm, for several moments until the limo driver interrupted the peace.
"Sir? We are approaching the house" he called back with a heavy Italian accent.
Logan and Max smiled at each other and Max leaned forward to wrap her shawl back around her shoulders.
"Max?"
"Yeah?"
"Now about the whole us-being-newly-married thing."
"Ah, I was wondering when we would get to that"
"Yeah, well we will have to act a bit."
"Lovey-dovey?"
"I was going to say affectionate, but your word is better"
Max smiled. "We are playing a part Logan, and we may have to do some things which are."
"Lovey-dovey?"
"Exactly. I think we are adult enough to deal with that when it occurs, right?"
"Right"
Neither looked as if they had believed what they had just said.
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5) Getting ready
"Max hurry up!"
"I'm coming! Jeez, just because all you need to do is shower and dress does not make it the same for me!"
Logan sighed and leaned back in his chair. He looked over at Josef who was grinning.
"She is a feisty one, isn't she?" Josef said, humor interlaced with his every word.
Logan had to smile back. Josef was so easy going - you didn't feel the need to entertain him and he didn't push conversation. Instead, he enjoyed just sitting back and taking in the moment. Logan sat comfortably in his tuxedo and played with his bow tie absent-mindedly. He hated wearing them and always left putting on his tie until the last moment.
"So what are you doing tonight, Josef?"
"Ah. well. I'm actually meeting up with a very nice woman called Teresa. She is here on holiday and was looking for someone to show her the sights. And you know me, the perfect gentleman!"
Logan laughed. "You haven't changed a bit Josef. And what sights might she be seeing tonight?"
"Well there is the grand tour of the Colosseum, the Opera House and finishing off with my bedroom. Any way, what's wrong with being predictable?"
"Nothing. It is excellent - you always know what to expect from you. But you do know that variety is the spice of life, right?"
"I have great variety. Last night is was Lisa and the night before that it was Paula."
Logan burst out laughing. "Like I said before, you haven't changed a bit"
"Unlike you. I like this Max - she has changed you back into the old Logan"
"The old Logan?"
"Yeah, you know. My old buddy from college who I used to play Dare with at bars and used to share the more-than-occasional weed with in my dorm and used to then laugh myself stupid with"
Logan smiled at the memory. "Sorry to break this to you, but I haven't smoked since college. Anyway, why does this all have to do with Max?"
"I saw you last three years ago Logan and you have changed since then. Now, unless you have made some drastic changes in your life, I'd say it has to do with Max"
"What has to do with Max?"
She was wearing three-quarter length satin gown, which was simple in design. Thin straps covered her shoulders before flowing down and concealing while revealing a small cleavage. The dress clung to every curve until it reached her knees, where is spun gently out, making it seem as if the dress has floating at this height. The dress was the palest of greens, which shimmered slightly and contrasting with her dark skin, eyes and hair. Her make-up was simple and her hair was the same as it was every day, but she had never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment.
Josef was the first to speak. "Max, you look marvelous! I knew it would be the perfect dress for you. Didn't I tell you Logan?"
Logan shook his head slightly, still getting over the chock of how Max looked. "You look amazing Max," he said smiling.
Max grinned back. She had loved the dress the moment she had taken it out of the dress bag. It was simple yet elegant - exactly the way Max had wanted to look. She would feel comfortable in this dress and to Max, that was the most important thing. Actually, the most important thing was how Logan thought she looked and judging by the look on his face, she could tell the dress was perfect. "Should we go?" Max asked, looking from Logan to Josef.
"Yes! Jesus, look at the time!" Logan cried standing up quickly.
"Logan, this is Europe. Fashionably late is very cool"
"At this rate, we will be arriving as everyone else is leaving. The limo has been sitting downstairs for a while now"
"A limo!" Max cried.
Logan smiled at her excitement. "Of course. We can't have you looking like that and not have a limousine, can we?" Logan teased.
Max shot him a look. "I better get my bag and shawl" she said before disappearing into the next room. Josef looked at Logan and smiled. "I think your gonna have to put your tie on now" Josef burst out laughing at the disappointed look on Logan's face
******
Max and Logan walked through the lobby, their arms entwined and Logan had never been so happy to be seen with a woman. Max walked gracefully in her thin heeled shoes, her thicker beaded matching shawl hung about her shoulders elegantly and she held her head high as people stopped to watch the handsome man and beautiful woman breeze through the lobby.
Max climbed into the limo as if she had been doing it her whole life and Logan climbed in quickly behind her. Max could believe the opulence of the limousine. It wasn't a stretch limo, but black leather seats and soft lighting gave the area with a peaceful glow and a sense of class. Classical music was playing softly in the background and Max sat quietly, as if to avoid disturbing the mood. "I have a present for you" Logan whispered to Max
Max turned her head to look at him quickly. "Logan, you really gotta stop buying be things"
"Why? I saw this, thought of you and bought it for you. It's a gift - you can't refuse a gift" And with that, Logan reached into the pocket on the inside of his tux and pulled out two jewelry boxes.
Max looked at him puzzled. "I thought when you said gift, you meant singular, not plural"
"The first one I bought for you and the second is something I'm lending to you. Open them"
Max reached for the first box and opened it. Inside was a pair of silver drop earrings, each with a number of diamonds on them. Max looked at his with her eyes opened wide. "Logan, I cant accept this"
"Yes you can. You can't wear a dress like that and not have the perfect earrings to wear with it. Please put them on Max" Logan said smiling gently.
Slowly and gently, as if they would break, Max put on the earrings. She then turned her head to Logan. They were perfect - a necklace would have taken away attention form the simplicity of the dress, while the earrings added that extra touch. Max reached to the other box and opened it. Inside were three rings - one large wedding band, one smaller one and a large diamond ring.
"They were my parents' wedding rings. They are white gold," Logan added quietly. "They are for us to wear while we are here. We can't be married with no rings, can we?"
Max looked deep into Logan's eyes and saw something she could not decipher. Logan's parents' wedding rings. Max lifted the smaller white gold band and looked at it closely. Inside, Max could see the word 'Forever' inscribed in flowing writing. She could believe Logan was giving her his mother's wedding rings. He could just as easily have bought or borrowed other rings, but he chose his parent's wedding rings.
Logan reached over and picked up the engagement ring and inspected the large diamond. "He proposed to her here in Rome" Logan began quietly. "They were in a piazza. They were walking to go to dinner and but stopped at the fountain in this piazza. My father told me he had planned to propose at the restaurant - he had planned a whole romantic scene and speech for it. But standing in the moonlight, he looked at my mother and couldn't wait another moment." Logan fell quiet again and Max sat back, staring and taking in this new, more vulnerable side of Logan which she had never seen before. Logan began again. "I'll take you to the piazza while we are here. We came here as a family when I was about nine and they took me to the piazza and told me the story. I went for a quick walk and came back, finding my mother and father in each other's, just smiling at each other. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and the most prominent memory I have of them both. That's what I wanted with Val, that sort of love. But I guess my parents were special" Logan fell silent again and continued to inspect the diamond.
Max leaned over and placed her hand on his thigh gently. He looked up at her. His angel. She really did look like and angel. Her pale gown, her gentle curls. He smiled and picked up her hand and squeezed it. He then gently took her finger and placed the ring on it silently. It fit perfectly. He then reached over and took the wedding band and placed it on the top of the other ring. They were perfect together, as if that was the way they were made. Max then placed the larger band on Logan's finger and their fingers laced the others and they sat there, palm to palm, for several moments until the limo driver interrupted the peace.
"Sir? We are approaching the house" he called back with a heavy Italian accent.
Logan and Max smiled at each other and Max leaned forward to wrap her shawl back around her shoulders.
"Max?"
"Yeah?"
"Now about the whole us-being-newly-married thing."
"Ah, I was wondering when we would get to that"
"Yeah, well we will have to act a bit."
"Lovey-dovey?"
"I was going to say affectionate, but your word is better"
Max smiled. "We are playing a part Logan, and we may have to do some things which are."
"Lovey-dovey?"
"Exactly. I think we are adult enough to deal with that when it occurs, right?"
"Right"
Neither looked as if they had believed what they had just said.
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