Sealed with a Kiss

"I can't believe we're actually in London again!" Ellie squealed. "God, it's been 10 years!" "Mmmhmmm." Liam hummed into his coffee. "It feels different though." "Well, we're 10 years older, for one." She replied, smiling at her fiancé. "Remember when we got caught in the rain in Charing Cross? I can't believe I planned a whole trip to England and didn't even bring an umbrella, I was such an idiot." Dark clouds hung low in the London sky, threatening to duplicate the conditions of their last visit "You still kinda are." He replied flatly, swirling his cup. "You forgot our phone chargers this time." "I already said I was sorry for that. And we would have needed adaptors to use them here anyhow. This way we don't need to buy adaptors!" "My phone died on the plane." Liam was still sour about the hours of lost work and entertainment on their 10 hours of flights and layovers. Ellie pouted. "I don't want to argue about this again. This is supposed to be our engagement trip!" She took his hand and held it across the table. "We're supposed to be madly in love and screwing like bunnies." "Not so loud!" Liam hissed and pulled his hand away. He glanced around at the other patrons of the coffee shop. "The whole cafe doesn't need to know about that." She sat back in her chair. "Fine, be that way... I just want this cruise to be memorable. I wanna kiss you under the mistletoe in Marseille, ring in the new year in your arms in Rome, and celebrate our 7th Valentines together in Athens." In only a couple days, Ellie and Liam would be boarding the couples holiday cruise. She had begged him for months to book it as a wedding gift to her since it stopped at many of the locations they had visited in their backpacking days. "It's the perfect way to celebrate our time together before we officially tie the knot!" she had pleaded. Ellie had never asked him for much. She knew he out-earned her by a sickening amount, and she was paranoid about seeming like a gold-digger. But she'd never wanted something so badly as this cruise. It spanned over 2 months and took them around the Mediterranean, with special celebrations on Christmas, New Years, and Valentines Day. It was the most romantic thing she could imagine, especially since he could afford a luxurious suite on the ship with a sitting room and private balcony. "I'm just tired." Liam mumbled and patted her hand. "It was a long flight" She sipped her latte and admired the diamond ring on her finger. The stone glittered in the dim lights of the little coffee shop. He'd wanted to get her a ring with a bigger diamond, as befit the fiancée of a multi-millionaire, but she insisted that she wanted something more modest. Giant diamonds just seeemed gaudy to the working-class Ellie. So he'd proposed with simple, but elegant half-carat soliatire. Around them, busy patrons chatted over old-fashioned teacups and tiered platters of finger sandwiches and scones. Ellie had wanted to do high tea as well, but Liam had refused because they had a dinner reservation. The sight of the delicate white bread triangle enclosing fresh green cucumber slices or creamy orange smoked salmon made her mouth water and stomach rumble. "I'm starving. Can I at least get a cookie or croissant?" "Are you sure?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be on a diet?" She deflated and forced her gaze away from the rich tea cakes and colourful tarts. "Nevermind." She slid a hand to her rumbling belly. Since moving in with Liam, she'd put on a few pounds. Having a personal chef was a thrilling experence for someone who had cooked their own meals their whole life. It was only one pants size, but Liam didn't like it. She must have been the very picture of dismay, because no sooner had she torn her eyes from the high tea goodies around her, but a nearby patron leaned over in his chair, napkin in hand. On it, a small triangle with a flash of bright green. "Pardon my intrusion, but I simply cannot enjoy my tea knowing a lass is withering away beside me." He lowered his voice consipratorially and winked. "I could hear your poor tum from here." Ellie beamed at the stranger and took the offered sandwich. "Are you sure?" "Absolutely! You'd be doing me a favour by helping me finish this service that was clearly meant for two." He gestured to the tiered serving tray loaded with goodies. She glanced to Liam, who shugged and picked up his phone. "Who don't you join me?" The man asked. Ellie took a good look at him before accepting his invitation. She couldn't guess his age, but he couldn't have been too much older than she was. He was handsome in an old-world kind of way: dark auburn slicked back hair, strong chiseled jaw that was clean shaven, but hinted at 5 o'clock shadow. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary guy, maybe waiting for a date, but Ellie quickly noticed the fine tweed vest, perfectly tailored shirt, and gold cufflinks. He sat back easily in the cushioned chair with the confidence of a CEO in his own office. there was more to this man than met the eye. "As long as it's okay with my fi- my fiancé." The word caught in her throat as if it didn't want to be said aloud. "Fiancé? Ah, well surely the gentleman would allow his lady love to keep a lonely stranger company for a few moments." His dark green eyes twinkled mischievously. "Uh sure, knock yourselves out. But don't blame me when you're too full to finish your dinner tonight." Liam was mildly suspicious, but ultimately, happy to be rid of the object of his current annoyance. Ellie scooted over to the next table, suddenly feeling underdressed in the presence of the stately man. "I'm Ellie by the way." She held out her hand. Instead of shaking her hand, though, he leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on the back of it. "Charmed, Ellie. I'm Ciaran." An excited chill ran up her spine at his touch, but she quickly shook it off and plucked a salmon sandwich from the tray.