Little Bit of Everything

<SFTC: Little Bit of Everything by Keith Urban>

Chapter 36

The gardens were beautiful, even despite the lack of light. It was dark now but the overhead strings of lights gave it the nessesary light needed to let the flowers burst. We headed through toward the lake after going over to thank and take a picture with the little family who was kind enough to send us that $12 appetizer. They were a sweet family, but obviously not as interested as their little girl, Gracie, was. She was adorably excited about meeting me in her brand new white dress, which made the issue of meeting her five times more of a pleasure.

We finally reach the clearing where the garden slopes down a set of stairs to a dancefloor right next to the lake. A little DJ station sits at a curve in the dancefloor, a few seperate tables set up around the floor. It's a relatively serene scene down there, more slow songs seem to be playing rather than faster ones. Not that it looks very much like a amped up party scene, as it is.

Tanner grabs my hand and pulls me to the beginning of the stairs. "Race?"

"What? N-" I start.

"Ready, go!" He yells, already racing down the stairs.

"Tanner, I'm in heels!" I whine as I attempt to keep up with him but end up trying to waddle down the stairs in my high heels and tight dress.

He turns back halfway through and looks at me shortly before stumbling back to where I am and hoisting me up bridal style shouting something like, "Don't worry, baby, I'll save you."

Which obviously would, for any girl really, make my heartbeat pick up. That, and the fact he's hurdling several stairs at a time with me in this arms.

Finally, we reach the bottom where several people now are staring at us. Tanner seems oblivious though and carries me to a close table before lowering me to the ground.

"I need a drink, want anything?" Tanner sighs, pecking me softly on the cheek. He's breathing pretty heavily which, of course, makes me feel just a little self concious that it was my fault. Just an old habit, I mean, anyone would be out of breath after carrying someone down a flight of stairs. Heck, I was out of breath from the small amount I did.

"Waters good," I say and he hurries off to a small cabana.

Most of the people dancing are the younger half of the rich population at this place. Sons and daughters of tycoons and record labels, most likely.

"Here you go," Tanner says, collapsing back onto the cushion booth along the hills' wall. He hands me my water bottle as he drinks on his own, turning his head to look at me. "How was dinner, fiancé?" He wiggles his eyebrows at the last part.

"Magical," I smile, scooting closer so I can place a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. "Thank you for a wonderful night."

"You're acting like it's over. It's only just getting started." The sentence doesn't surprise me that much. I had suspected him to do so much.

Little Bit of Everything begins to play from the back, as if on queue. I raise an eyebrow. "Okay, that was not planned on."

"I don't believe you." I murmur against his lips. "But lets dance."

I pull him out onto the dance floor, giving us enough space away from the others to talk without anyone listening in. He gives me a slight spin on the way other, something I've only dreamt of a guy doing with no hint. You never know what people may happen to hear and twist, especially people like this.

I wrap my arms up around his neck and press my lips against his shoulder, letting us sway to the song rhymatically. We stay that way for awhile, just in silence, letting the song create a backdrop to our thoughts.

When he finally speaks up, his voice is huskier than before. "Can you believe we're getting married?"

"Regretting it?" I tease half-heartedly. I sigh. "It's a lot to swallow, T. Everything that's gone on in my life has led up to the moment I give my heart to someone and now that's it's going to happen, I'm scared. I'm not afraid to admit that, mostly because being scared means youre human."

"And that's what I love most about you," he kisses the top of my head.

"What?" I push myself back just enough to look at him. His eyes are glimmering slightly in the light. He's..crying.

"You're honest, and you're an actual human under all those cover brands and fancy awards. You're still you, and I love you." He says softly. I raise up on my tiptoes, using my grip around his neck, and press my lips to his. It isn't a rushed kiss, or desperately heated, it's slow and gentle. Never growing too fast or rough, just a passionate kiss.

"How am I so lucky?" I murmur in the interim moment between kisses. He chuckles and connects with my lips again, dipping me by the small of my back.

"I don't know, you have a pretty great boyfriend.." He exaggerates a wink.

"Fiancé." I correct. He looks so great in the lighting. Every feature is brightened, especially his eyes. They look almost as bright as the lights overhead, but better, closer. Like stars that are in reach.

"How could I forget?" And then we're kissing again, not taking notice of the people looking on.