I would like to thank all who helped me with this, thank you
* * * * *
The noise of children playing filled the air, the screams and shouting of happy children made Eddie smile, as he sat on the park bench reading his newspaper. Putting down his newspaper he sat watching the children playing, looking around at the mothers and nannies who were keeping their eyes on the children. A particularly striking lady caught his attention. Lustrous dark brown hair almost black in colour, long and curling, she was wearing an emerald green dress, willowy looking her back turned to him. 'Fucking hell! Doesn't she look fabulous.'
Mariana was looking after her sisters' child for the day, she had noticed the man looking at her, and looking at him without being obvious she could see he was, at a guess ten years older than she, he'd looked to be slightly overweight with greying hair. She had always been drawn to older men. After a while Mariana decided to sit down and with having the choice to sit next to the man or some old derelict, she chose Eddie.
Once Mariana started to move his way, Eddie quickly looked away, conscious that he'd been caught staring, with a quizzical smile on his face he thought 'I must try to create the right impression here. This woman is simply fucking stunning.' Watching her walk, no flow over the ground, her long dark hair swaying as she moved closer, he'd seen her face wasn't perfect but the entire package was nothing short of truly majestic; when she was close he thought 'Her eyes are maybe a little too large for her face' the same with her nose, there was an old scar by her left eye, about an inch long giving her a distinctly exotic appearance.
Sitting the far end of the bench she glanced over at Eddie. He smiled at her "Hi. I love the sound of happy kids"
Mariana smiled "I do too and hello to you. Do you come here often?"
"Quite often, during the day, 'tis a beautiful park on a summer's day." Taking in her beauty he could feel the lust rising in himself, fearing she would see it in his eyes and scare her off, he drank in her beauty and he couldn't get over just how unutterably striking she was without being a classical beauty.
Listening to his accent, she'd noticed he was English, his voice soft and well spoken, as opposed to her husky American voice with the northern twang, she had thought how alert and confident he looked, it could be seen in his bearing; with his every movement of his eyes seeming to miss nothing. When he looked at her she blushed imagining him reading her every thought.
"I have to go I'm afraid. Will you be here tomorrow? It has been a pleasure to meet you."
After looking into his eyes for a few moments Mariana said "I may well be if the day is bright, it has been nice to meet you too"
With a smile Eddie walked away with his thoughts dwelling on the perfectly lovely lady, wondering if she would show up, hoping the day is fine tomorrow. Trying to think up something witty that would help ingratiate himself to her or as he really thought 'pull her' a large, wide smile plastered on his face.
On the following morning Mariana showed up a little early he'd been on her mind all evening she kept seeing his smile and hearing his voice. She didn't have her nephew with her today as her sister wasn't at work, so she didn't have anything special on today. She strolled to the park, after she had been there for five minutes she saw him standing out, striding toward her, seemingly taller than the crowd around him..
The park was becoming crowded with office workers out to enjoy the day when Eddie arrived. At six foot four inches he was taller than most, which enabled him to look over the heads of the other people to see her sitting on a bench. She looked particularly lovely today with her lustrous brown hair, contrasted by a tan dress, she looked lithe and trim which started him thinking of his stomach 'For fucks sake Eddie suck it in son, you look like a bloater'
He walked up to Mariana who stood. Eddie was pleased to notice she was only approximately four inches smaller than him, he'd said "Forgive me for being rude yesterday my name is Eddie and tis a pleasure to meet you"
"Hello again, I am Mariana and I'm pleased to meet you too"
The afternoon passed quickly with them talking the afternoon through, asking each other questions, searching for knowledge of each other. As the afternoon waned Eddie asked Miranda "Would you be kind enough to join me for dinner tomorrow night at Francisco's?"
"I would be so pleased to have dinner with you Eddie thank you"
On the following evening Eddie dressed in his best and only suit with a maroon tie he'd waited outside Francisco's restaurant; checking his watch to find himself ten minutes early; twenty minutes later still waiting and imagining she had stood him up. Suddenly he'd seen her in the crowd, brown hair bobbing, straining his neck to look at her, he saw a glimpse of blue from her clothes; the crowd parts to show her, his breath catches she is gorgeous, mentally he shook his head not being able to believe that she would even talk to him, let alone date him.
As Mariana walked up to Eddie he'd stepped forward lightly put his hands on her forearms leant forward and lightly kissed her cheek, handed her a bag "This is for you my lady, merely a token, may I say you truly look fabulous"
Blushing furiously "Thank you so much but you shouldn't have. Thank you for your compliment"
"Tis nothing but a token, and it was worth it to see your colour rise". A smile spread over his face, and he watched her every expression.
Walking into the restaurant and being taken to the reserved table in a quiet corner, Eddie had pulled out a chair for her, and seated her. "Thank you sir" Miranda murmured with a smile.
She'd sat there, quite shocked by the fact she had never been treated like that before and by the depth of feelings it gave her 'I have never felt so feminine before' she'd thought to herself; looking at her beau for the night. He was quite a handsome man, more so he was polite.
Miranda opened her bag to find inside a small teddy bear "Thank you very much Eddie.It was so kind of you I love it."
Eddie looking flustered and embarrassed said "Tis nothing, just a small gift say no more of it please"
They'd sat throughout the meal making small talk, just getting to know each other. Eddie had sat there looking at Mariana who it was obvious was intelligent and witty he looked at her with such lust and wanting frightened that she would catch him looking at her so openly. The meal went very well for both of them they had a few glasses of wine together. Once the meal finished they sat with their coffees until they finished. Eddie paid the bill.
Driving Mariana home in his Jaguar was a talkative and happy time. When they arrived at her home, he'd walked her to the door. "Thank you so much for the evening it was great fun." He'd moved towards her, placed his hands on her arms and kissed her on the cheek.
"It was a wonderful evening and I loved it, thank you so much"
Mariana thought 'Do I invite him in as he has been so sweet?"
Eddie held her hand thanked her again asking "Can I see you again tomorrow?"
"I would love to, is there any chance you could pick me up?"
"Of course I shall, again thank you". With that he smiled and walked away looking back and waved at her. Mariana was taken aback, she had never had someone who just left without at least pawing her wanting to spend the night, thinking to herself 'I am stunned at how this finished, surely he isn't gay' flittered across her mind . 'No he can't be'
Next afternoon Mariana was picked up around three in the afternoon, Eddie said "I thought to have a picnic today if you have no objections?"
Never having been on a picnic for a date, she was quite excited at the prospect "That is a great idea, I have never done that before."
The afternoon flew by. Talking to each other. Telling some of their minor secrets. By evening, they had gotten close to knowing each other. Talking and laughing at some little joke or other. Suddenly they stopped laughing and leaned together. Then they were in each others arms. Kissing, his tongue chasing hers in her mouth. Breaking away, she said "Take me to your house please."
Driving to Eddies place Mariana was nervous, thrilled and expectant. He pulled the car into a long driveway that seemed almost a mile long in the distance was a large stately home set in landscaped gardens "What is this place Eddie?"
"This is where I live in a part of the west wing. It was a stately home of a Duke, who fell on hard times, then bought by a builder that converted it to luxury apartments. I bought a first floor apartment five years ago, I love it here looking out over the lake beyond which is a wood all set in three hundred acres of wooded, landscaped gardens. Although a little bleak in winter 'tis a wondrous place to live"