Sean led Stephanie into the posh Spanish restaurant, his hand gently pressed against the small of her back. She smiled and followed the maitre-de to the table. The man held a chair out for her, and she gratefully took it, thanking him.
O'Haire took a seat across, marveling at how beautiful she looked that night. She was wearing a lovely black silk dress, her brown hair slightly curled. Her makeup was done to perfection in all neutral colors, and she wore a few pieces of silver jewelry. It was perhaps the most beautiful he had ever seen her.
It was their first official date, and he wanted everything to be perfect. Well, he could be as casual, as himself as he wanted, since he knew the brunette so well due to their years of friendship. At the same time, he was just slightly nervous. He knew Stephanie adored him as a friend, but what about as a boyfriend? After all, they'd merely had a one-night stand years prior, right before he'd left the company.
He decided he was overanalyzing things. Clearly, Stephanie had feelings for him. She'd gone above and beyond anything to get him back with the WWE, and had helped him, believing in him every step of the way. And she did little things for him that told him she did truly love him.
As she picked up her menu and opened it, the brunette couldn't quite focus. She gave a little laugh, which drew Sean's attention on her in an instant - not that she hadn't already been holding him captive in that sense.
"What?" he asked, worry suddenly coursing right back to him.
Stephanie shook her head, averting her eyes a bit.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that I'm a little nervous, that's all."
"Nervous?" O'Haire echoed that single word, dumbfounded. How in the world could a gorgeous, brilliant and successful woman like her ever be nervous? And because she was on a date with him, of all things? He just couldn't conceive of that.
The brunette raised her gaze again, meeting his blue eyes. She smiled shyly, and a slight blush tinted her cheeks.
"Yeah," she admitted. "I know it's silly, since we've been friends for so long." She shrugged, running her hand up the spine of the menu she was holding. "But this is a whole new ballgame, you know?"
"Yeah," he said. He reached across the table to grasp her small, dainty hand in his much larger one. He smiled easily as he continued. "And if it's any consolation, Steph... well, I'm feeling the exact way you are."
The young woman's face showed some surprise.
"You are? Really?"
O'Haire nodded.
"Definitely... I guess I just want everything to be great tonight." he gave her soft hand a gentle squeeze before allowing the pad of his thumb to caress lightly over the meaty part of the appendage. "I mean, it's you."
Stephanie beamed, and she felt a rush of warmth and tenderness inside. God, this man made her feel all sorts of giddy. It was something neither Paul nor anyone else she'd ever dated had been able to achieve. She knew right at that moment that Sean O'Haire was for keeps.
"Sean... you're so sweet," she said, marveling at his handsomeness as well as his non-physical qualities. "And tonight will be great, I have no doubts about that."
A waiter came by and smiled down at them.
"Good evening. Would you care for a drink from the bar?" The man eyed Stephanie first.
The brunette glanced back at Sean, her blue eyes sparkling.
"Merlot would be wonderful."
The dark-haired man nodded in agreement.
"I'll have the same," he said.
"Very good, sir, madam... I'll be back with your drinks and take your orders in a minute." With that, the waiter walked away to the bar across the establishment.
Sean was smiling as he met Stephanie's brilliant eyes again. He was definitely feeling a lot more confident since he'd admitted being nervous. And he was actually happy to know that she felt the same way. It meant they were not only in the same boat but two perfectly normal people.
"I have a feeling that tonight is going to be magical," he confessed. However, as soon as those words left his lips, he found himself chuckling. "Not to sound cheesy or anything," he quickly added before the brunette could question him.
A moment later, the waiter returned with their Merlot. He took their orders and cordially assured them they wouldn't have too long of a wait for their meals.
Stephanie raised her glass to clink it with O'Haire's.
"A toast," she insisted with a smile.
"Yes... to us."
"Tonight," the pretty brunette added, a mischievous look playing on her face.