Chapter 27 - Date

Sarah didn't sleep much. She slept late and woke up early. Just as she finished dressing up, Aiden called her, "Are you ready? I'm downstairs."

She put on her coat and headed out.

In the car she rubbed her eyes, and he noticed, "Do you have a headache?"

"No, just tired", she responded.

"No problem. You can sleep in the plane."

Sarah observed his mysterious smile. "Where are we going?"

"Let me surprise you", his smile widened.

She looked at his handsome profile and that smile which enchanted her. Sarah would usually look at the scenery outside during the car ride, but now her attention was on the young man next to her. She was not able to look away.

They reached the airport and boarded a private jet. It was not her first time in a private jet, but she was surprised that he got one. Biggest benefit of flying with private jets, in her opinion, is that you save a lot of time at the airport. You don't need to arrive hours before departure, and there is no wait to board the plane.

After breakfast on the plane, Sarah slept off. Aiden covered her with a blanket and observed her for a while. 'So careless.' He gently removed a lock of hair from her face and pressed his lips on her forehead. She stirred a bit but didn't wake up.

While she slept, he was working on his laptop, and occasionally looking at her sleeping face.

When Sarah woke up, she could feel that plane is descending.

"How long did I sleep?", she asked.

Aiden checked time, "Just over five hours."

Sarah was cursing herself that she slept through time she could spend with him. She said in a quiet voice, "Sorry. I'm used to sleep on the plane."

He laughed seeing that she is embarrassed for such a thing.

When they landed, it was dark outside. Sarah observed that signs at the airport are first in French, and then in other languages.

They got inside private car, in the back seat. He placed his right arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. Sarah didn't object, and she snuggled next to him.

They passed few signs, on the side of the road when Sarah asked, "Paris?"

He nodded. "Surprised?"

"Yes", she answered, with a shine in her eyes.

Car stopped next to a small dock, on river Seine. They boarded a large boat-restaurant. When they got inside, Sarah observed one table in the middle, with empty space around it. She could tell that this restaurant usually has many tables. She looked at Aiden, "This...". She could not find words, only pointed at the empty area around the table.

He understood, and said with a smile, "I don't want us to be disturbed".

She was speechless. He booked the whole place just for them! She just shook her head helplessly and smiled.

They enjoyed dinner and night view of Paris while boat slowly navigated Seine river. Sarah was happy that he went to such lengths for her, but she didn't have the heart to tell him that she would be equally happy just staying at his apartment for the day. It is not important where she is, what matters is that she is with him. But she touched by the attention he shows towards her.

After dinner they walked through the streets of Paris while holding hands. It was a cold winter night, and it was late, but you could still see people on the streets, as well as various street vendors.

Sarah didn't forget to take a photo. She pulled out her phone and took a picture of two of them. Sarah took into consideration location and position, since in the background you can see the Eiffel Tower.

They stopped at one café to warm up. Sarah ordered hot beverages for both in perfect French, Aiden was observing her with admiration in his eyes. She looked at him and their eyes met. She does not know how long they looked into each other eyes; she could not look away. At this time, she realized that she had fallen for him so hard that there is no going back. People in the café could not help but to throw glances at a pair of equally beautiful young people, staring at each other while holding hands, obviously in love. Older patrons remembered their first love, and they could only sigh, deep in their own memories.

After few hours in Paris, they headed back. Vibrations of the plane and sound of the engines was making her sleepy, but Sarah didn't want to sleep. They had snacks and chatted while holding hands.

At some point he stood up and retied his hair.

Sarah was observing him, "Why do you always keep your hair tied back?"

"I prefer it looking tidy"

"Tidy?", Sarah looked at his black hair, smooth and shiny like satin. Everyone would be jealous of the quality of his hair, it looked like it came out of a shampoo commercial. "It looks just fine. Actually, it's beautiful. Pity to have it tied all the time. But if you don't like it, why don't you cut it short?"

Aiden sat back next to her, "I will think about what you said."

Soon drowsiness took over Sarah, and she slept off. When she woke up, she checked time... she slept for half an hour. Sarah noticed that her seat is fully reclined, and she is covered with a blanket. On the seat next to her, Aiden is sleeping. He is not covered. Sarah folded the armrest, so that there is no obstacle between them. Then she moved blanket that was on top of her and covered him as well.

Sarah thought how she went to Paris several times before, but it never felt this special. She can only conclude that it is because she is with Aiden.

She could look at him all day, and it would not be enough. Sarah observed his handsome face carefully... eyebrows, eyelashes, nose, lips... She could not help herself, but to reach out her hand and gently trace with her fingers starting from his forehead, over temple, and then over cheeks going towards his lips. By the time she realized what she is doing, she was leaning over him, and her face was very close to his. She blushed and went back to her seat. Embarrassed, she pulled blanket over her face. 'The only thing making this bearable is that he is sleeping, and no one saw me', she thought.

She didn't realize that the moment blanket went over her face, Aiden's lips curved into a smile.

Aiden felt her trace with her finger over his face and struggled not to smile. When he felt her breath on his face, he was almost certain that she is going to kiss him. But then he felt that she went back to her seat and pulled blanket over her face. 'Almost… it's getting closer every time.' He smiled.

Aiden could not help himself. He wanted to feel her closer. Aiden wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace.

Sarah pulled blanket off from her face and looked at Aiden in panic. To her relief, she can see that his eyes are closed, and breathing steady. 'Oh, he is still sleeping', she relaxed. Part of her knows that he is not sleeping, but she decided to ignore it.

She shifted her body a bit to face him and rested her head on his shoulder. With her hand resting on his chest, she can feel his heartbeat. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath inhaling the familiar woody-flowery fragrance. Sarah wanted to engrave this moment into her memory, because everything was perfect.