Chapter 24

Each week that passed me and Sean were trying to make as much time as possible to be with each other. It was hard given our busy schedules, but we made it work as well as we could, wanting to make the most of every second we could with the time frame.

As November got underway, wedding preparations were in full swing. It was becoming harder and harder to avoid the fact that the wedding was getting nearer and Sean was still going through with it.

I sat at my desk looking over the music options for an upcoming, large birthday party, just as my phone rang.

"Roxy Parks."

"When do you get out of there tonight?" Sean's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Hello to you too." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

I heard his responding laugh, and could practically hear him shaking his head.

"Hello Rox, so when do you get out?" He repeated.

I looked at the diary in front of me, my final meeting was at four o'clock.

"I should be done by quarter to five, why?"

"Because I'm picking you up, taking you back to yours to change, and then we are going out to dinner."

I couldn't stop the grin taking over my face, not that I wanted to. Sean and I had been on a few dates since the night at my parents, and every single one of them had been amazing. Different locations, different ideas, from lunchtime picnics and candlelit dinners at the aquarium, to old style dance clubs and catered for midnight swims in a heated pool under the stars.

"I can't wait." I replied.

It was true, my heart was already leaping with joy and anticipation at the idea.

"Same here, I best get back to work though, but I'll be outside to pick you up later."

He hung up and I dove back into work, eager to get it done and out of the way, but struggling not to contemplate what tonight might bring.

When I left work that afternoon, I made it out onto the pavement, and there he was. Leaning against his black BMW, waiting for me. The moment he saw me, he pushed away from the car taking a couple of steps as I drew nearer, closing the gap between us. Once I was in reach, he pulled me in and kissed me on the lips.

"Let's get going." He smiled, opening the car door, and closing it after me, then making his way to his own, joining me inside.

After stopping for me to change, we continued driving further into the city. Evening had fallen now, and the sky was turning an inkier shade of black with every passing minute. Windows glowed with light, and the stars began to pop into existence above the city. He pulled into a parking structure, and then lead me to a nearby elevator, we rode it higher the numbers going up past the twentieth floor. Once it reached the twenty-third, the lift came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal a beautiful open plan restaurant. The dim lighting created a romantic mood, candles were placed on tables and soft music played in the background. A young blonde woman manned a solitary podium, a screen in front of her, and a phone at her side. She looked up on our approach.

"Hello, welcome to Rivers, do you have a reservation?" She asked politely.

"Hi, yes, table for two under Campbell." Sean replied.

She checked her computer, then picked up two menus.

"Of course, follow me this way, please"

She lead us through the room, past the long illuminated bar and towards the windows. As we neared them, I was wowed by the view. It was spectacular. The whole city was laid out beneath us. The lights glimmering within buildings, created a sparkling web across the ground, and the Thames shone with the silver of the moonlight and the blanket of stars above. We took our seats at the table she stopped at. She handed us each our menu, then turned and walked back towards her station.

"This is breathtaking." I said, still staring out of the floor to ceiling windows.

"It's certainly something, but I still think I have it beat."

I turned back to face him, disbelief at what he was about to say, and that's when I saw it. He was looking at me. Nothing else. He was talking about me being the thing that beat this gorgeous view. It may have been a cliche and a half, but those words were genuine. He meant them, and it warmed my heart and caught my breath to feel so adored, and so special to him. I felt myself blush under his gaze, and he reached for my hand, turning it to link his fingers with my own.

"You're the most beautiful thing I will ever see." He said softly.

If the waiter hadn't interrupted at that very moment, I'd have leapt up to kiss him. Probably wise not to have done, as it would have been hard to end it there.

"Good evening, my name is Andrew, may I get you something to drink from the bar?"

"I'll take a Manhattan, and a glass of sparkling water for the table, please." Sean asked, barely taking his eyes off me.

It took me a moment to find my voice, realising then that I hadn't even had a chance to look at the menu. I would usually enjoy a Manhattan, but I was craving something a little more refreshing to cool off.

"A Mojito please."

Andrew nodded and disappeared in the direction of the bar, coming back a short time later with the drinks and taking the order for our food.

"So, what brought this on tonight?" I asked, taking a sip of my cocktail, and looking up at him over the rim.

"Does there need to be a reason? Other than that I missed you, and wanted to see you?" He smirked and sipped his own cocktail.

"Smooth."

He smirked at me, lifting his glass in a mini toast.

We sat and talked, looking out over the glittering city scene. It was so high that it felt like I was floating. The whole scene looked almost like a different world from where we sat. Our dinner was soon served and we tucked into the exquisite food. Each dish was presented beautifully and delicately, clearly by talented chefs.

"You're spoiling me." I said as I savoured another bite.

"You're worth it, besides, in spoiling you, I'm spoiling myself."

"I suppose that's true," I teased, "You don't have to do all of these extravagant dates though, you know, I just want to see you. Even if that's in pyjamas with a frozen pizza and a DVD."

"Maybe we can do that next time, for tonight, there was something special I had in mind. So just enjoy it."

His lighthearted and playful attitude and smile made it impossible not to enjoy it.

Once we finished our meals Sean glanced at his watch.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, we have somewhere to be, let me go settle up, then we'll leave."

I nodded as he stood up and walked towards the bar. He returned a short time later, taking my hand and leading me from the room.

We didn't go back to the car, instead we took the lift to the first floor, and walked out onto the street. The cool night air was a change from the warm bar, it was refreshing, even with the chill. I pulled my coat tighter around myself, still holding hands with Sean.

"Where are we going?"

"Not far, in fact, we're nearly there."

We rounded a corner and right ahead was the river, several pop up stalls were stationed in a clear section of pavement around a few benches. A small cluster of people were drifting around taking seats.

"Fancy some dessert?" Sean asked, gesturing to the stalls.

"Definitely."

Stopping by at one that was selling gelato, we ordered a double serving of vanilla, then walked to a nearby bench, a short distance from everyone else.

"Okay, enough mystery, what are we doing here?" I asked, taking a spoonful of ice cream.

"Just wait, one minute."

Sean glanced at his watch again, but refused to say anything else. More people were arriving, standing further back or taking seats on the ground. Sean wrapped his arm around the back of my shoulders, holding me closer to him as we shared our dessert. I turned to face him, I was about to kiss him, when a bright red glow over the river, caught my attention. I turned in surprise as, with a loud bang, the fireworks began bursting into showers of sparks above the river.

"Surprise." Sean smiled. His eyes reflected the different colours that were now raining down from the sky.

"It's beautiful."

I nuzzled closer to him, planting a kiss on his lips, then turning my attention to the green and gold display now exploding next to the stars.

"Roxy, I can't marry her, I'm calling it off."