This is L.o.v.e. like it should be

LXIII. Here in my arms

“Not this one, neither this one… Come on, just pick one,” Ava was muttering to herself in front of her closet. She just needed a dress for the next date with the charming Mister E, but it was so hard to pick a one when she didn’t even know where they were going.

“Just relax… Why are you so nervous? It’s just a second date…”

It might just be a second date, but Ava couldn’t be prouder of herself. Lately, Julien had become a less and less frequent thought in her mind. And now, every time he popped up in her thoughts, it was in the form of an unpleasant memory, a remnant of a bad period of her life, but nothing else.

Ava kept smiling widely; It was liberating to be worried about something so trivial as picking a dress for a date. And most important, feeling all the anxiety caused by the breakup fade away!

“Ava?” her mom called her.

“Yes?”

“There’s a car waiting by the driveway!”

“It must be my ride.” Ava said to herself.
She was still holding a dress in her hands. She had no more time to lose; it wouldn’t be polite to make the driver wait for long. So, Ava gazed at the dress in her hands, turned it and made up her mind: “This will do!”

Ava put on the dress and stared at the mirror for a brief moment. The discrete blue dress wouldn’t fail her. It would fit at any place, be it casual or fancy. Now, all she was missing was a coat and maybe a necklace that matched her round earrings.

All dressed up, she ran downstairs to say goodbye to her mom and then left the house, striding towards the uber waiting for her.

“Good evening!” said the driver, helping her get in the car.

“Thank you, sir,” Ava politely said.

“My pleasure!” he got in the driver seat and started the engine.

“Where are we going?” Ava wondered out loud.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I have instructions to not tell you.”

“Oh, you do, do you?”

“Yes, the guy that called me made it clear. I think he wants to surprise you.”

“I’m sure he does.” she muttered between a smile, watching the sunset through the window.

They kept in silence until they reached the marina.

The driver got out to open the door for Ava.

“You didn’t have to…” Ava said.

“Yes, I had. He also asked me to treat you like a princess,” the driver smiled.

“Did he?” Ava smirked at him.

“Yes, my lady. You must be very special to him.”

Ava grabbed his outstretched hand and said: “Thank you.”

Although she wasn’t quite ready to accept it yet, Ava already knew, she was starting to fall in love again. Even though she felt it, she was still fighting the scars left by Julien, since he was also like a prince charming in the first months.
“I hope he doesn’t change…” she wished lost in her thoughts, facing the shy moonlight coming from the sky. The night had arrived, and with it a sky full of stars.

The driver left, and Ava looked around. There were so many boats and yachts in those docks. Mister E could be at anywhere...

Her worry quickly faded when she saw an older gentleman in a perfectly pristine suit made his way towards her.

“Miss Ava?” He asked in a gentle tone.

“Yes, I’m Ava.”

“Will you please accompany me to the yacht, someone is waiting for you there.” He said, especially bemused at the word “someone”, and started walking towards the steps of an enormous yacht called Adams M.

Ava quickly followed the man she assumed was a butler, who after helping her board the ship, lead her to the main deck are. There, a man in an elegant black suit awaited a glass of champagne.
“It’s him…” she whispered.

Their eyes crossed each other and he smiled.

“He awaits you, miss Ava,” said the butler, excusing himself and leaving.

“Good evening,” Mister E was approaching, still holding the glass of champagne, and after a signal from him, a servant came to Ava with a glass of champagne too.

“I was not expecting this surprise…” Ava said and, after picking the glass and politely thanking the servant.

“I know, that’s what makes it a good surprise” he said smiling. “Shall we go somewhere else?”

“Somewhere else?”

“Yes, anywhere you’d like.”

Ava moved to the side of the yacht and faced the sea. “What are my options?” she asked amazed by the dark waters under the moonlight.

“It’s Friday night and you only have to be back to work on Monday, so I would say there are many options.”

“You want to spend the whole weekend with me?”

“If you let me, yes.”

“How do you feel about the Caribbean islands?”

He smiled and raised his hand. A servant quickly approached them.

“Can you please ask the Capitan to take us to the Caribbean Sea? We’ll decide where to make port on the way.”, Mister E asked.

“Of course, sir!” the servant left and went to the cabin.

“So, a fully staffed yacht… I’m surprised,” Ava told him.

“But you don’t sound pleased,” Mister E replied taking a place at her side to watch the view.

“I…” Ava stumbled on her words, trying to think about something she could tell him without ruining the moment. “I just didn’t expect you to have all of this.”

“I know, that’s why I’m showing it to you.”

“And can you be so sure about me and my good intentions?"

“I am sure, miss Ava. I’ve learned a lot about you in our short time together.”

“Are you a psychologist?” Ava giggled, nervously.

“Don’t worry,” he replied, amused at her nervousness.

“But are you?” Ava insisted.

“Do psychologists scare you?”

“A bit…” Ava said, gazing into his eyes.

“You enjoy being a mystery, don’t you?” He asked.

“As much as you do,” they stared into each other’s eyes.

The yacht started moving and Ava lost balance, almost falling. He instantly caught her by the waist and held her close.

Ava gasped and put her arms around him.

“Thank you!” she hurriedly said, with an embarrassed smile. “I’m so clumsy.”

“You are just not used to yachts”, he smiled, still holding on to her.

His body was getting warmer and his strong arms gripped her in a reassuring but gentle way. Ava felt hypnotized, as if she couldn’t move, not that she’d ever want to leave this embrace.

“I’m liking this too much…” she thought, and using her mouth, which was the only part of her body one not being kept as a prisoner by the rising lust, she said: “We should have dinner…”

“Yes…” he agreed, freeing her. “We should get to the Caribbean Sea by tomorrow morning.”