Kevin came around to the passenger's side of his 4 Runner and opened the door. He gave Kristy his hand to help her down, smiling at the look on her face. It was a combination of happiness, anticipation, and frustration.
"So where are we?" Kristy asked. It wasn't that she wouldn't have known if she'd seen it, it was just that she couldn't see it... Kevin had slipped a makeshift blindfold/necktie over her eyes when they'd first gotten into his truck. "Is this really necessary?" Kristy had asked, wrinkling her nose under the tie.
"It's an evening of surprises," Kevin had chuckled. "And I still have a few more planned, so you'll just have to try and be patient." He'd laughed even more as she stuck her tongue out at him.
Now that they were almost there, Kevin reached behind her head to unknot his necktie. He let his hands linger, enjoying the feel of her silky curls against his skin. As Kevin removed the blindfold, Kristy's eyes met his hazel green ones. She felt like every nerve in her body was aware of Kevin's presence, conscious of how close he was. "Well, what do you think?" he asked huskily as his hands moved to her shoulders.
A few dozen thoughts raced through her head, none of which she was anxious to verbalize. Kevin stepped to the side slightly, allowing her a unobstructed view of where they'd be dining. All his planning was rewarded with the look of delight on Kristy's face as she looked at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.
"We're having dinner here?! How wonderful!" Kristy smiled and hugged Kevin.
"Yeah, I thought we'd grab a burger and hit some of the rides..." Kevin said with a smile as he looked Kristy up and down.
Kristy smiled in return, "As long as you don't think we're underdressed." They entered the park, both laughing at the thought of getting onto the rides in their dress clothes.
Kevin and Kristy strolled down Mainstreet hand-in-hand, pausing to look in the store windows decorated for Christmas, humming along with the holiday songs playing overhead. As they neared the end of the street, Kristy hesitated, unsure which of the themed lands held their final destination. Kevin led the way towards Cinderella's Castle and Fantasy Land. He glanced at his watch. "We have just enough time to make a slight detour," he said as he took a side path around the castle. They paused on one of the bridges and stopped to admire the view. "Are you having a good time?" Kevin held his breath slightly, realizing how important her answer was to him.
Kristy looked up at Kevin, her heart in her eyes. "More than words can say."
They continued on the path to the backside of the castle. Then Kevin stopped, fished something out of his pocket and held it out for Kristy. "For you."
Kristy smiled brightly and took the penny from Kevin's fingers. She stepped over to Snow White's wishing well and closed her eyes, her smile still playing on her lips. After a few quiet moments, she tossed the penny up, opening her eyes after she heard the small splash. She turned to see Kevin standing right next to her. He raised a hand to her cheek and bent his head down, hesitating slightly as his eyes searched hers. Seeing the answer in her beautiful eyes, Kevin gently brushed his lips over hers... once, twice... before claiming them with his own. He caressed her face as they continued the sweet, soft kiss, both savoring the moment.
The kiss ended and they stood, faces close, smiling at each other. "Could I have another penny?" Kristy asked, her eyes twinkling.
Kevin looked at her, a slightly bemused look on his face, "Why?"
"I need to make another wish, since my first one already came true!" Kristy was rewarded, not with another penny, but with another kiss.
"Sorry sweetie," Kevin laughed, "Fairy tale rules: only one wishing-well-wish per day. Guess we'll just have to come back nightly to work on your others."
They strolled down the path, back to the entrance of the castle. Kevin approached the hostess outside the restaurant located in the castle. "Reservation for Richardson."
The woman smiled at the attractive couple, "We have everything ready for you, just as you requested. If you'll follow me." As they followed her through part of the restaurant, Kristy took in her surroundings. Pretty tables filled the room, the soft lighting giving the place a mellow, yet cheery feel. They passed several tables of small families and happy couples before they started to ascend a curved staircase at one end of the room. At the top of the stairs the hostess led them into another room, this one much different than the one below. Candles on the tables and white twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling provided the only light, creating a romantic, magical atmosphere. A handful of small tables and intimate booths were scattered about the large room, separated from each other by distance, room dividers and Christmas decorations. They followed the hostess across the room to an elegant table situated behind several potted evergreens wrapped in white Christmas lights. Poinsettias lined the walls and filled some of the empty spaces between tables in bright red clumps.
Kevin held out Kristy's chair for her and kissed her on the cheek as she sat. When a waiter soon arrived with a bottle of wine and appetizers, Kristy looked at Kevin in surprise.
"I hope you don't mind. I took the liberty of arranging all this ahead of time... less interruptions this way," he said with a seductive look.
"Not at all. You know, you're going to spoil me if you keep this up," Kristy giggled as Kevin poured her wine.
Kevin smiled in return. "But I thought princesses would be used to being spoiled."
"If I'm a princess, that must make you my prince." Kristy leaned forward and gave Kevin a light kiss.
The two enjoyed a leisurely dinner, sharing stories about their families and childhoods, both realizing how much they had in common. Kevin could tell that Kristy was close to her family from the loving look on her face as she talked about them. They laughed together as they exchanged humorous tales about themselves and crazy family members. They talked about their school years, Kevin imagining the woman across from him as a young girl, feisty teenager, and fun-loving co-ed. Kristy asked about his previous experiences in music, wanting to know the real stories, dreams, and emotions behind his success, not the stuff any fan could read about. Kevin listened to Kristy describe the projects she was working on, the committees she sat on for the health plan and, her favorite part of her job, her interaction with the patients. Kevin was impressed by how much she had accomplished at such a young age. She was everything he wanted in a woman as a friend and partner.
Kevin and Kristy watched as an older couple danced in the middle of the room, obviously still very much in love. "That's what I want," Kevin heard himself say.
"Me too. I look at my parents and hope that someday I'll have that kind of love. But I'm starting to wonder if I'm looking for a fantasy," Kristy sighed.
"Well, we are in Fantasy Land," Kevin leaned over and kissed her passionately, wanting her to believe that dreams could come true. He wanted to believe it too. "Would you like to dance?"
Kevin stood and extended his hand to Kristy, leading them onto the dance floor. He glanced at the D.J. and nodded slightly. He pulled Kristy into his arms as "From This Moment On" started to play, and smiled contently as she gave him a little squeeze. Once again, he thought about how well they fit together... physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. As they continued to dance to the song... their song... they held each other close, both letting the words wash over them.
When the song ended, Kristy knew without a doubt what she'd suspected from the moment they'd met. Something inside her warned her that there was a good chance she could get hurt, but it was too late. She was falling in love with Kevin Richardson. And she was falling hard.
