She couldn't help it. Knowing what was coming as soon as the challenge had been aired, she had determined to play it cool, a quick kiss then a smile for the audience. No big deal. She could carry it off. After all it wasn't like the earlier kiss. She had had no warning then, no chance to steel herself against the onslaught. This time though… Ethan claimed his kiss and Maggie couldn't help it. She simply melted, opened her mouth and let him in.
The passion evident in the kiss hushed the crowd causing quite a few men mild discomfort and a desire to go home with their ladies…now. Older couples sighed for their past while singles could only dream.
'Er… Ethan.' David, the MC for the night, coughed and politely tapped Ethan on the shoulder rousing his boss from his sensual haze. This time he was as affected by the kiss as Maggie was. Sheepishly he again looked at their now hushed audience and for another first, blushed. Maggie just clung to his lapels and buried her fiery face into his shirt front.
At that moment the clock began to strike twelve and the spell was broken. Guests cheered and hooted, glasses were refilled and 'For he's a jolly good fellow' went several rounds.
Ethan bent over the figure trying to crawl into his jacket and asked. 'Who are you now my lovely?'
'Anyone you want me to be.' Came the muffled response.
'Just yourself is fine by me. Do you have a name picked out for N or are you going to allow Chloe to call you Nemo?'
Nemo bubbled. 'I really couldn't find one that I fancied and likewise O got the flick. How about Petria?'
'Petria it is then. Can I call you Pet?'
'Call me anything you like, just so long as you keep calling.'
Ethan supposed he should call her Zoe but couldn't bring himself to attach that name to his love, a name that evoked the investigators report, its contents, her past life. A life where he might not belong.
'I will.' He avowed. 'So long as you keep answering.'
From about 2 am guests began to leave in the fleet of taxis waiting out front, some even paying the driver extra to transport them all the way home, preferring to collect their cars in the morning when there was no chance of being over the limit. Many declared that they hadn't had such a good time in years and endorsed the idea of including Ethan's birthday in the round of parties that filled their annual social calendar.