"It was so cool. This helicopter lands on the field, right in front of everyone." Rachel laughed between mouthfuls of bite-sized sushi.
"Trust Carter." Susan grinned.
"He gets out in this million dollar suit, looking totally disoriented. I knew he was coming but he had no idea where I'd be."
Susan shook her head, "How long have they been planning this?"
"I've had a lot of time on my hands." Mark had crept up behind her.
She turned to him, grinning and shaking her head incredulously.
He leant in and kissed her lightly then whispered in her ear, "You ready to go?"
"Where are we going?"
Rachel had backed away, headed for the dance floor – a mosaic-like pavement surrounded by fairy lights and accompanied by a three-piece jazz band, a subtle backing track and Haleh's sultry singing voice.
"Well," Mark turned her to face the house, "We have an entire wing of this house to ourselves. But if you'd prefer there's a helicopter on the roof."
"Here is fine." She grinned. He knew all too well about her fear of flying.
"Can I dance with the bride just one more time?"
"One of many more times." She took his offered hand.
"I fell in love with you the first time I looked into them there eyes." Haleh sauntered away, Billy Holiday style as Mark led her to the dance floor. "And you have a certain little cute way of flirtin' with them there eyes."
Doug danced toward them with one of his daughters in his arms. "Congratulations." He looked at Mark then Susan, "You look beautiful."
"I'm fallin', no stallin', in a great big way for you. My heart is jumpin' you started something, with them there eyes."
"Thanks." Mark teased and spun her around, pulling her back to him, watching her eyes sparkle and laugh in the late afternoon sun.
Doug laughed, "Sorry Mark, I've already sang to one man today."
Mark laughed. "Can I dance with my wife?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry mate." He spun away, his daughter laughing at his playfulness.
"Trade you." Carol approached him with their other daughter."
"Sure." Doug passed her the girl on his arm and went to take the one on hers'.
"No, I want to trade with her." Carol put the girls down and took his hands.
"Oh." Doug turned to the girls, "Excuse us." He winked at them and dragged Carol back into the throng of dancers.
Haleh had moved onto 'The Way You Look Tonight'.
"Come on." Susan pulled him to the side and lifted a loose string of fairy lights for them to duck under. They detoured around the party, only vaguely lost in the darkening forest of blossoms.
Susan shivered – it was a summer dress and the promise of spring wasn't that warm yet. "Well, I suppose if we are lost we'll have to keep warm the old-fashioned way." She laughed as he slipped his jacket over her shoulders. "You sure you're not cold?"
"I'm fine. Come on. It's got to be this way." They headed toward a lamp light that rendered every tree in front of them silhouetted. "I hope we get there soon or I won't have enough energy to lift you over the threshold."
"That wasn't the old-fashioned method I had in mind." She stopped as the trees cleared in front of them and the house came into view. "There we go. So which wing is ours?"
"The west one."
"Which is helpful to two people as navigationally challenged as us."
Mark laughed and headed for the only doorway in sight.
She followed after a moment, an immovable smile on her lips.
A few meters down the hall Mark started knocking on doors. No replies. "Now we're lost." He turned to her, a grin gracing his lips as his eyes lingered on hers.
"I don't care." She shrugged and reached up, touching his face lightly, swallowing the emotion welling in her throat.
Mark tore his eyes away, "I wonder what these rooms are?"
She followed his eyes and resolutely walked over to the closest door, opening it boldly. She felt on the wall to her left and found a light switch. Mark looked over her shoulder. They were in a long closet with a door at the far end.
"Huh." Mark looked perplexed, "That's not what I had in mind."
She laughed and headed for the next door. They were in the kitchen.
One of the staff spotted them after a moment, "Did you run out of champagne?"
"Ah, no." Mark cleared his throat, "We're looking for the west wing."
"Oh, well I can show you there, if you like."
"Thanks." Susan smiled and took Mark's hand. This was a ridiculous amount of wealth – house that warranted more than one wing, and she had a feeling that this was the usual number of staff.
After a quick tour they were left alone in a grand bedroom – high ceiling, lavish curtains, a giant four poster bed with screeds of fabric gathered around the top.
"Wow." Susan looked around, almost afraid to touch anything.
"You should see the tub." He opened the door to the en suite. "Oh, and your suitcase is on the window seat. I hope I got everything you need."
She nodded silently, not in the least concerned and walked past him into the bathroom.
He followed her, watching her reactions with pleasure.
"I don't imagine I'm going to need a lot of whatever's in that suitcase." She grinned, "Would you like a bath?"
"Only if you'd like the company." He leaned past her and turned on the spa bath. He stood up again to find her eyes magnetically searching his with an intoxicating adoration verging on desperation.
In a moment he was kissing her, only coming up for air and to relocate his mouth to the back of her neck, following his hands in unfastening the dress.
Sorry folks, family show.