Ireland
Dinner was an incredible experience that made me appreciate…and learn a little about my clients in the restaurant industry. Understanding the behind the scenes of any business, I think, it is always helpful when guiding people to gain exposure needed to make them well-known in the public eye. Another plus besides all of the insight and delicious textures and spices that had my taste buds dancing, I got the pleasure of getting to know another side of my extremely handsome fiancé. Such a fun word to use and it sounded even more real when Jensen pulled out a little red jewelry box.
“I thought this might complete my marriage proposal,” were his words as he flipped open the box to a square cut center diamond with tiny diamonds around the entire band. What truly floored me was that it fit perfectly when he slid it up my finger—like it was meant to be. “I hope you like it.”
“I love it,” I said softly, looking at how it sparkled on my finger.
“You should announce your engagement through that society rag in New York so everyone isn’t surprised when you return married…oh…well…I guess there isn’t really time for that. Those things go out months or, at least, a month ahead of time. Maybe they have an online way of putting it out there. Are either of you girls familiar with those sites and how they work?” Novak had ruined the moment with his ramblings about making a big announcement which I did not want to do without breaking the news to my parents first.
Montana was first to jump in with her opinion and I loved her for it. “Those rags are bullshit! Why anyone bothers to read about so and so marrying some other equally snobbish person is beyond me.” Then she turned to me and lifted my hand, proudly, wearing the dazzling ring. “You my friend are not going to shove your business in anyone’s face.”
“I agree,” Jensen spoke up glaring at his friend. “This night is all about us and no one needs to know our business.” His touch and words put me at ease for the rest of the night. Though some moments were a bit tense, like getting the marriage license and realizing it was official—filed with the court system.
“Mrs. Ireland Callum…will you be taking my friend’s name and everything that—” Novak didn’t finish his sentence thanks to Jensen elbowing him. It had me wondering if he didn’t like me.
Yes, things were moving fast…but it felt right for some reason that I couldn’t explain. Not so much for Novak and Montana it appeared. I couldn’t blame either of them. They were our friends and just looking out for us. They were both forgetting that we were already both in a situation that wasn’t much different than what we were committed to doing. Neither of us wanted to be told who we had to marry and when. It was a perfect arrangement for both of us; our parents wanted us to be married for two different reasons and we were fulfilling their wishes. Seemed like a win-win to me and Jensen agreed, telling me to ignore our friends and suggested we get them drunk.
Alcohol was certainly welcomed when we made our next stop after the courthouse. “A strip club?!” I exclaimed as the car door opened up and a hand was extended to help me out.
“It is a bachelor-bachelorette night out,” Novak was quick to interject.
“Yes, but I think you forgot the bachelorette part of the evening…like naked dancing men?” Montana raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.
“I guarantee you’ll have a good time. It’s more of a burlesque show.” Jensen was quick to tell us what the venue offered and the evening’s lineup along with letting us know that we had a prime spot with bottle service.
“And if we don’t enjoy this place?” Montana asked.
“If you’re not having a good time, we’ll go see guys—” Novak retorted.
Jensen, however cut him off, adding “That is, we’ll drop you girls off and sit outside in the bar waiting for you, but let’s give this a whirl.” I nodded as we walked to the door and he made me laugh as we were about to go in, “I’ll even treat both of you to a lap dance.”
I skipped his offer, but Montana took him up on it and giggled all the way through her special dance as we all looked on. And the guys were right—the place was gorgeous inside with plush sofas, dark wood, mirrors, and a theatre style stage with stairs down the front to allow the entertainers to join the audience. That was how one scantily clad woman made her way onto Montana’s lap and others followed to other recipients. The club was filled with a mix of men and women enjoying the dancing girls who stripped down to G-strings and pasties with tassels.
Though I was having a great time, all of the dancing and alcohol had me wanting to do a little dancing of my own. Montana agreed with me and we begged the guys to leave in favor of the promise of rubbing bodies on a dance floor. What guy could turn that offer down? Luckily, they did not and I have to say that it set the night down an even more exhilarating path to a dark nightclub with music thumping, arms raised in the air swaying to the rhythm, and bodies practically humping in the overcrowded space.
So lost to kissing and grinding against Jensen—who appeared to have a healthy package pushing into me—surrounded by the masses, I had almost forgotten about the wedding portion of our evening. I was reminded about our pending nuptials when the DJ announced congratulations to a couple that had just bounced in married. Instantly, my groom-to-be pulled me from the dance floor, through the crowd to the door.
“Where are we going?” I shouted as we were having our hands stamped and a different plastic wristband wrapped around our wrists.
“You’ll see,” was all I could hear until we moved out the door into the midst of casino noises which were much quieter in comparison. “Down here.” We moved toward a variety of specialty shops.
“You need clothes?” I asked as we entered a men’s suit shop.
“A tie…although I’m not sure about tying it…I’m a little nervous.” I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that, but I understood. However, we only needed to be married in name—he didn’t need to follow through with all of the promises he made.
“You know…we don’t have to do this…just…” He turned and immediately put a finger gently to my lips, but I removed it and continued before he could say anything. “I really hope you will go through with the marriage part, but I have a place to stay. I could just keep a few things that I won’t need at your place for appearance sakes and we may have to go a few places to make things look real.” I was rambling on and praying that he wanted more as crazy as that sounded.
“Are you done?” he asked as I took a couple of deep breaths and nodded my head. “Good. Let me start by saying or rephrasing my nervous statement. I meant it in a good way. Excited may have been a better word.” I nodded again, looking up into his beautiful dark eyes. “I want to marry you and I want to live together like a real married couple. I know it sounds crazy and probably like a cheesy thing to say, but something keeps telling me that we are meant to be with each other for a lifetime.”
I smiled, not saying a word against what he had just said as I felt something similar. “Well then, let’s find you a tie—point the way.”
That was the last time we ever second-guessed our decision to get married. We just went with the flow and had fun sifting through ties which I learned were not his favorite accessory. He told me that he had very few of them and broke them out only when absolutely forced to wear one. I have to say that I love a man in a suit and tie, but Jensen would look good in anything or nothing at all. Not that I knew the last details of his body, but from what I did see at the pool—his body was very impressive. Broad shoulders, hard chest, hints of divined abs and those nice v-thingies heading south into his trunks. And while I did not see his family jewels, I did feel his length against my body on the dance floor, and it worried me a bit with my virgin status.
“What are you biting your lip about? You don’t like any of these ties? Or…are you thinking about seeing me out of these clothes?” He smirked at me and I stiffened thinking that he was reading my mind.
“I like this one here,” I said calmly, lifting a beautiful red shantung tie—I liked its unique irregularities. Then without getting his approval, I removed the price tag. “Raise your collar.” He didn’t deny my request and allowed me to slip the tie around his neck—not so easy to do with his height, but I managed on my tippy-toes.
“Wow! You know how to tie a tie…perfectly!” he exclaimed, watching my fingers work their magic until I was done and patted it on his strong chest. “I could get used to wearing one of these horrible things with you dressing me.” Then he properly or improperly thanked me by capturing my lips and dancing our tongues together.
If not for a salesman, we would’ve continued. “I hope you’re not trying to steal that, we have cameras and I saw you come in without a tie.”
“Of course not, but when a woman wants to pamper you and get you all lined up…” Jensen said while fiddling with the tie, “…you can’t resist.”
“That is a very nice Pratt knot,” the gentleman said with a smile in my direction as I handed him the price tag. “Not many women I know are skilled at tying knots. She’s a real keeper.”
“Don’t I know it?!” Jensen moved his arm around my waist as we followed the man to the register. “And if you hurry up with that credit charge, I’m whisking her into the first chapel we find and marrying her.”
That statement earned me another kiss that was not quite as heated before we said thank you and moved on to one last shop to pick out wedding bands. Then we would be ready…after we found our witnesses.