Some said Marc and I were still in that honeymoon phase, and by all accounts we were. I mean you know your still "in love" when you can turn a dark and dreary day into love and laughter.
The day started out cool and breezy. Forecasters called for rain, but were not expecting it to hit till late afternoon. So the picnic Marc and I had planned on having for lunch today at a nearby park would still be a go. But even if it did rain earlier, that would not stop me from carrying out the real plan I had been working on for so long.
I smiled as I just laid there next to Marc's sexy frame listening to his soft, rhythmic breathing. Marc and I may have discussed this picnic a few days ago, but in reality I had been planning this for about a month. It took me so long because there were things I wanted to buy, and I needed to save up the money so he wouldn't suspect anything. I wanted this to be perfect.
I rolled on my right side and kissed his shoulder before getting out of bed. I always got up about 30 minutes before Marc to get the coffee and bacon going before he got up. As I was slipping on my robe and tied the sash, I must have laughed too loud because I heard Marc stir.
"Go back to sleep sweetie, you still have time," I said, leaning over to kiss him once again before heading into the kitchen. Once the coffee and bacon were started, I poured some orange juice and stared at the clouds outside. To be able to look out my window and see the water was awesome.
I often saw myself on a boat or raft drifting on the water. It was such a romantic feeling. As my attention focused a little closer to home, I noticed the trees were swaying and the wind was picking up. After several hot days, it felt good to have the breeze kiss my skin rather than the sun bake its rays into it.
Soon the sound of sizzling brought me back to life, and I redirected my attention to breakfast.
Cooking breakfast always brought back memories of my childhood. Because that's how my grandmother woke us each morning when I was a kid. Now I get to relive those memories once again as a grownup with Marc.
Before long it was time to get Marc up so our day could begin. When I turned to head into the bedroom, I jumped because he was leaning against the door silently watching me.
"Marc! You startled me," I said, playfully slapping his arm and laughing. He laughed with me as he placed his arms around my waist, pulling me close.
"Good morning, beautiful," he said, smiling down at me before kissing my forehead.
"MMMM," I purred smiling, as I felt his arms around me holding me tight. "Good morning darling, did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did. I always sleep well when you're next to me," he added as we separated. He poured the coffee as I got our breakfast.
"It looks like we may have to have our picnic another day and do something else for lunch," he said, as he began eating.
"Oh, I hope not. They said it really wasn't supposed to hit till later this afternoon." Then I shrugged. "But if we have to reschedule our picnic then we have to reschedule." I looked down at my plate, trying to keep a straight face. I did not want to ruin the surprise, not after the four of us, me and the three ladies at his job, worked so hard at getting this together.
I would definitely have to get them something as a token of my thanks, I said to myself, as my thoughts drifted away from the present.
But Marc had to have known something was up because I was just too happy for that early in the morning. I usually do not wake up this early, and if I do, I would not be this cheerful. However, if he did suspect something, he didn't say anything, and I wasn't about to volunteer. And if he did ask, I would just tell him I was in a good mood because I woke up this morning in love.
As I watched him get ready for work, I was thinking of all the times he had surprised me. This time the shoe was going to be on the other foot.
Finally, we were kissing goodbye as Marc was about to leave, and I stood there as always, waving good bye to him as he drove out of sight.
Once I knew he was on his way to the office, I dashed inside and phoned the office, reaching Janet, one of his two secretaries. I let her know he was on his way and that the plan was still a go. She giggled and hung up. This had to work. There were too many people involved, I thought, for it not to work. With growing excitement, I began to get myself ready for my own trip to his office.
Somewhat later, just before leaving home, I phoned Marc at the time I had prearranged with Susan, his assistant. Marc and I were on the phone when Susan interrupted the call right on time. She informed him that his three o'clock appointment had called to reschedule for eleven o'clock so that he could get an early start on his vacation. After hearing this, Marc thanked Susan and came back to me on the phone. He informed me of what I had already known, and after a few more minutes on the phone we hung up.
When Marc finally left the office for his appointment, Susan watched as he drove off the lot and down the street before the three of them scurried to his office to start getting things ready for my arrival.
When I got there, the leather couch, two chairs, and coffee table that had been in the center of his office had been moved to one side. Even the desk and hand-made rug were moved back to make room for our picnic area.
The three women helped me set the mood for our office picnic. We had thought of everything, right down to the patch of Astroturf and picnic blanket.
As I smoothed out the soft, dark red, and pink velvet blanket, my mind drifted back to when I made it. It was before we wed, and although I knew he would never use it, it could decorate the bed and be a visual reminder of what he meant to me, my source of softness and warmth. While I was doing that, Janet set up the two cassette players with two different tapes: one tape was nature sounds, you know, birds, water falls, that sort of thing, while the other had romantic saxophone ballets on it.
While she did that, I set out the flowers and candles. The candles had a vanilla scent to them. Before long everything was ready but me.
So I hurried to the bathroom, changed, and went back to his office and waited...but not before showing the ladies what I had on under the trench coat. Marc would not question the trench coat because it was cool and raining.
After about an hour, Claire spotted his car and alerted me. I lit the candles, started the music, and took my place by the still-open blind in the room.
Before long he was in the building and on his way back to his office.
When the elevator doors opened, I heard voices and my heart skipped a beat or two. I knew Marc had a romantic side but was not sure how he would react to all of us being in on setting up a romantic picnic.
Then, without warning, I saw the door knob slowly turn, and my breath caught as my heart fluttered. I was as nervous then as I was on our first date.
Then the door opened and Marc stepped inside. Our eyes met and I smiled as I watched him walk in, closing the door behind him.
He was speechless as he looked at me.
"Hello, Sexy," I said, smiling. I stood there and slowly turned the blind controller, plunging us into a more dimly lit room.
He smiled as I moved closer to him, still in my trench coat.
When I reached him, he pulled me into his arms and kissed my warm, wet lips for the first time that afternoon.
"What's all this?" Marc asked, pulling back and looking around. Then he looked at the trench coat.
"Well, first, this is our picnic, silly, did you forget?"
"Um, no, but it's raining," he said, now looking around at all the details that went into this. Then he looked at the trench coat. "And a trench coat? Are you cold?"
"No, not at all. But I wanted to see your face when you saw this." I pulled away. "Besides," I continued, "you would never let me outside wearing this." I began to slowly pull the coat ties letting them fall open.
The more the garment came into view, the more his eyes lit up. I just continued to slowly open the coat, pulling it over my shoulders and letting it fall to the ground.
Just to watch his jaw drop was worth everything. I was wearing my silky, baby-blue, floor-length negligee with lace stitched in its very low cut neck line. I had worn this gown on our wedding night. I had put it away, saving it to wear again on a special occasion.
"You look beautiful!" he said, Then he pulled me into his arms and kissed me again.
After a very long embrace and sensual kiss, we pulled apart. He took my hands in his and helped me to the floor. It was at that moment I think he began noticing the rest of the room.
He was still looking at all the decor as I began to reveal our meal. The first silver lid I opened displayed sauteed mushrooms, dripping in melted butter. These were his favorite.
As I moved to the second, tray he sampled one of the mushrooms before feeding me one.
The next tray was sweet-and-sour chicken, smothered with sweet-and-sour sauce, pineapples, onions, and green peppers.
As I served our meal, he opened the cider and poured two glasses, handing me one.
"Wow! You have been busy."
"You have absolutely no idea what the power of a woman in love can do," I said, taking the silver lid off the serving tray.
"And I suppose those three," he said, pointing to the door, "had a hand in helping you, am I right?" he asked, as he began nibbling his lunch.
All I could do was smile, shrug, and look like I didn't have a clue what he was talking about.
Suddenly he kissed me once more, sharing a mushroom.
While we had lunch, we talked about going away for our anniversary. But he was not sure where. So when we finished eating and straightening up everything, I knew it was time for champaign and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
It was also time to share the second part of my surprise.
"Umm Marc," I began, as I sat back up wiping my lip. "I have something I want to tell you."
"Ok, what is it?" he asked, not really sure what else I had up my sleeve.
"Marc remember two years ago when we traveled the country side and you saw the cute little bed and breakfast?
"Yes."
"Well, I was able to get us in for our vacation next month." I paused for a bit. "If you want, that is."
"Are you serious?" He had a definite gleam in his eyes.
"Yes, very."
He reached for the bottle of champaign to refill our glasses.
"Well, then, I have a toast to make."
"Ok what?" I asked, following his lead and lifting my glass.
Suddenly he moved to one knee and pulled a small box out of his pocket.
"I was going to do this on the weekend, but I can't think of a better time then now." He set his glass down to open the box. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I want to be with you forever and a day. Will you marry me again, Mrs. Taylor?"
No matter how hard I tried to surprise this wonderful man, he always manages to match my surprises with one of his own.
He just stayed there on one knee as tears started rolling down my cheeks.
"Yes! Yes! I will marry you," I cried as we hugged. Without missing a beat, he put the ring on my finger as a symbol of our continued love.
Needless to say, we never made it home for a very long time as we made love on his office floor.
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