“Patrick, from the info I received from the Beechwood Hotel, it’s just at the north end of town.  I don’t know north from south, so you’re on your own. I know my way around you; that’s all that’s necessary.”

I turned off Main Street, then onto the road through town.  The Beechwood Hotel was easily accessible.  It was a new seven-story building, but it was built in the Richardson style.  It fit in well.

I pulled up to the front door, and a young man met us.  His name tag said ’Danny’.  He opened Lucia’s door and politely asked for our keys and reservation slip.  He opened the back and took our suitcases.

We followed Danny into the hotel lobby.  Done in good taste but not overly modern.  He handed the slip to Monica, the head clerk.  She pulled up our reservations and looked at Lucia with a smile.

Mr. O’Flynn, your reservations are in order, and your room is ready.”  She winked at me and gave me a knowing smile. “Kevin, would you escort them to their suite, please?”

Kevin caught on immediately. We rode the elevator to the top floor.  Kevin led us down the short hall, which led to the end room.   Lucia almost fainted when she saw it was the Bridal Suite.

“Patrick Michael!  What did you do?  Paddy, my God.”  She threw her arms around me and kissed me.

Kevin was cool. “Here are your room keys. I hope you enjoy your honeymoon, and thank you for choosing the Benchwood Hotel.”  Kevin left.

I picked up my bride and carried her into the room.  Lucia was still in awe, with happy tears trickling down her cheeks.

“Champagne for me, lady?” I asked as I pulled the bottle from the ice.

“Yes, please, Paddy.  Then come over here and look at the view.  The park, the lake, the ducks on the water, it’s like in a dream.”

I handed Lucia a glass, and when she took it from me, she was blushing.

“Why the red cheeks, pet?” I teased her.

“I was thinking about our first time.  When you took me home after we exchanged our vows.  You wanted to take me to the hotel, and I said no.  I wanted to become your wife in your bed; that would be our bed.  And now this.  My God, Patrick, you are a man full of surprises.”

We entwined our arms, then sipped our champagne.  Lucia rubbed her nose and giggled.

“The bubbles tickle my nose.”  She took another sip.  Same results.

“Are ya hungry, luv?  We got in a bit of a hurry with breakfast.”  I gave her a sly look.

“My tummy is talking to me.  Are you ready to eat dinner?  I know you.”  Lucia grinned and kissed me.

“Aye, tis that I am.  Shall we check out the dining room?”

“Absolutely.  I think they have a lounge.  Maybe later we can go and listen to the music.”  Lucia was very excited.

The dining room was huge.  There was a row of tables by the window.  The view was even better than the room.  A young lady escorted us to one of them.  I held Lucia’s chair, then I sat down.

The young lady welcomed us.  She handed the menus to us and said our server would be right over.  It wasn’t five minutes, and a middle-aged man approached our table.

“Good afternoon, my name is Marcus.  I will be your server this afternoon.  What would you like to start your meal with?”  He smiled and waited.

I looked at Lucia, and she smiled.  I knew what she wanted.

“Sir, if ya please, a Chardonnay for me wife, and a scotch with one cube for meself.”

“Excellent, a Chardonnay for the lady.  Now for you, sir.  Would you prefer Tullamore Dew? Bushmills 21-year-old single malt, or our Paddy Whiskey?"

I looked at Lucia, and she was grinning from ear to ear.

“Sir, if I may, the Bushmills for my husband.  Pour two fingers, then add one cube, if you please.”  Lucia sat up straight and proud.

“An excellent choice, Ma’am.  I will see to your drinks and return for your dinner choices.”  Marcus gave a slight bow and left.

I looked at me bride, and proud she was.  “Luv, did I detect a bit of the Irish?” 

“Well, have I been injected with it, mate?” Lucia responded in her best Irish.

“Tis no wonder I luv ya, lass.”

The drinks came, and Marcus asked about our dinner order.  He suggested the prime rib, with roasted potatoes, and a choice of carrots, green beans, or summer vegetables.  Lucia looked at the menu, then at me.

“Paddy, I... I don’t know what to order.  Everything looks delicious, but I mean...”

I looked at Marcus; his wink said it all.  I reached for my luv’s hand, and she reached for mine.

“Lucia.  You are a magnificent woman and a marvelous wife.  You deserve the very best.  I think Marcus is well-versed in the menu, and his knowledge of his patrons is unmatched.  I suggest we let him decide, and I’m certain he will do the best for us.”  I smiled and squeezed her hand.

“You flatter me, Mr. O’Flynn, but I promise, I will make certain you and your lovely wife will receive only the best from our Chef, and I will personally pair your wine.  So, with your permission, sir, I will place an order for the prime rib, medium rare; only the best.  And the wine, I assure you, will tease your palate with the flavor and your senses with the fragrance.  Shall I place your orders?”  Marcus smiled and waited.

“Yes, please.  Oh, and Marcus.  Thank ya so much for your patience and understanding.”

Marcus bowed slightly, then left.

Moments later, a young man followed Marcus. He was pushing a small wagon.  On it were two glasses, a wine chiller, and a bottle of red wine buried in the crushed ice.  He placed the glasses in front of us and poured a taste for me.  It was all he said it would be.

I nodded, and he skillfully poured Lucia’s glass, then mine.  He pushed the bottle back into the ice.  The young man left, but he left the cart.

“Was I not right?” Marcus said with pride.

“Aye, it is all ya said it would be.  It’s marvelous.”  Lucia nodded and gave Marcus her million-dollar smile.

Marcus and his assistant repeated the routine with our meal.  He waited until I cut into it.  Oh, my Lord, the deep red meat, the juices gently flowing down to the plate.  I looked at Lucia.  Her eyes were as big as her steak.

“Simply perfect, kind sir.”

Marcus and his assistant left us to our meal.

Lucia and I casually enjoyed our meal.  There was a hint of music in the dining room, and the view of the park was amazing as the sun began to set.

We finished our meal.  There was nothing left on me plate, but Lucia... she gave it her best; there was a to-go container in her future.  When Marcus came by to check on us, he smiled.

“I take it, m’lady enjoyed her meal.”  He always looked at us with a kind expression.

“Oh, my, Marcus.  I have never seen a steak that was bigger than me.  It was wonderful, but I have no more room.  I admit defeat.”

“I’ll have it set up for you to pick up when you leave.  Just give the maître d’ your room number.

"Thank you for allowing me to serve you this evening.  I hope you will join us once more before your departure. If I may suggest, a lady is entertaining our guests in the lounge.  She plays a very romantic piano.  And thank you again.”  He bowed and left.

“I’d like to go to the lounge, Paddy, but I don’t think I can stand up.  I’ve never been so full in my life.”  Lucia exhaled sharply.

“Aye, luv.  Me legs are going to get a workout just getting to the lounge.”

We waddled our way to the lounge.  The lady was playing “Some Enchanted Evening”; it set the mood for our night.

Only eight other people were in the lounge, so it wasn’t long before a waitress arrived.  She was dressed in a white shirt with a black bow tie, a short black skirt that covered what needed to be covered, and a black cummerbund. 

A perfect uniform for the lounge.  Lucia checked to make sure I didn’t spend too much time looking at her legs.  The lady asked if there were any requests.  Lucia looked at me.

“Pet, we should have a tune for us.  I know there would be a million others that luv the tune, but one for us.  Our love song.”  The look on Lucia’s face said everything.  She had a song in her mind, but more importantly, in her heart.

Lucia called for the waitress.  She had her bend over as she whispered something in her ear.  The waitress stood up, looked at me, then smiled at Lucia.

“If I may say, Ma’am, I think it’s perfect.”  She winked at Lucia and walked over to the lady at the piano.

“I have a request from the lady at table thirteen.  This is your song.”

She played a short introduction, then she began to play, “I Only Have Eyes For You”.

I looked at Lucia.  Her expression carried more love than I had ever seen on her face.  She had a little tear in her eye, which I carefully kissed away.  We held hands and hugged.  Then I kissed her passionately.  Lucia blushed.

When the song was finished, everyone applauded and looked back at table thirteen.  I nodded, and Lucia got redder. 

After three rounds of drinks and two dances on the stamp-sized dance floor, we called it a night.  Lucia was excited and nervous.  She said she hoped her bridal party liked her.  I tried to ease her worry, but when me girl got it in her head, well, we’d just have to wait for the outcome.

In our suite, Lucia said she would put something on the bed for me to wear.  I could feel the romance coming from her like a whirlwind.  Her face was aglow, and she was humming “our song.”

“Patrick, would you please put on your surprise and pour our champagne?  I looked, and there’s another bottle in the little fridge.  Then wait for me by the table by the window.”

“Absolutely, Aisling.  I’ll be waiting but take yer time.”

She ran to the suitcase and looked at me.  That look said, ‘don’t look’, so I poured the champagne.

She had a black robe and boxers for me.  They were either satin or silk; I don’t know.  I’d never worn either, and I luv me wife, but I wouldn’t want me mates to see me.  So I took our glasses of bubbly and the cooler with the bottle to the table by the window.

After a while, Lucia came out of the bathroom and approached me.  I could swear by all that is Holy, an Angel was walking toward me.  Lucia was wearing a pure white satin robe that tied in the front.  She had tied it so that her bodice of the gown was visible. 

It had a deep cut that exposed just a bit of her breasts.  Her shoes were like white slippers, but they gave enough of a clue that her nylons were white as well.  I stood there looking at the woman I adored.  But I couldn’t say anything.

I approached her and embraced her.  Softly, our lips met, and we held each other gently, but the passion was there.  I didn’t want to crease her gown, but I wanted to hold her as tight as possible.

I stepped back but held her hands.  Her jet-black hair against the white gown was a contrast of black and white beauty.  Her dark makeup made her even more irresistible.  I had never known what sensuality meant, but now I did; I was holding her hands.

“Lucia, I... I don’t know, my God, you look like an Angel sent to me.  You’re more than beautiful, or ravishing.  I’ve not the word for ya.”

We walked to the table, and I handed her a glass of champagne.  We touched the rims of the glasses and took our first sips.  As she raised her glass, the white satin separated enough to expose more of her breast. 

When she realized what I was looking at, she hid behind her glass, and her cheeks turned bright red.

“I wanted to look special for tonight.  I was so proud the night you made me your wife, Patrick.  You always make love to me by what you say and what you do.  When you love me, I know it’s always me first. 

"When you know I’m completely satisfied, you give your love to me.  I can’t explain the wonderful sensations I get when I feel your warm love flowing into me. 

"I adore the many ways you love me, Patrick Michael O’Flynn.  I wanted to say I love you.  This is how I chose to tell you, oh God, Patrick, how much I love you."

“You’re the most beautiful woman ever allowed to enter this world.  What I’ve done to deserve ya, I don’t know.  But I do know, Lucia, I will luv ya long after my last breath on this earth."

We sat at the little table.  After our first glass, I poured another for us.  Lucia removed her robe and draped it on the back of the chair.  She loosened the gown, not to tease, but to entice me.

Lucia got up and reached for me hand.  I took it and followed her to the bedside.  She untied me robe and draped it over a chair.  She untied her gown and let it hang open.  I put me arms around her waist and pressed our bodies together

“And what be your intentions, lass?”  I whispered the question.

“To lure my handsome man into my bed and surrender myself to him.”  Her voice, so soft and sensual, went straight to me heart.

Our lips met, and the world around us ceased to exist.  There was only Lucia with her heart wrapped around mine. 

To be continued...