Miracle Man (19 page)

From behind her, a pair of
hands slid around her waist, sending tingling sensations across her skin
through the black velvet of her evening gown. Warm, soft lips found the
sensitive spot where her neck joined her shoulder, and kissed her lovingly
before moving slowly up to nibble on her ear.

"I thought I'd find you
down here," Marcus’s voice said softly. "Our guests have been asking for
you."

"I'm sure they can wait
a little longer. Especially now that you're here with me." She nestled
back against him and let his lips play across her neckline.

"There's a man from the
Riverbank Gazzette who wants to take our picture, too." He bit her playfully
on the neck. "But if he doesn't do it soon, chances are your hair and
clothes are going to be all messed up."

Lahra felt his arms close
tightly around her middle. "You mess my hair buster and you're going for a
swim in the river!" She turned to him, allowing herself to be encircled by
his arms. "Besides, you look so cute in your bow tie, I think we should
preserve the moment for all time."

They kissed gently, and he
rested his forehead on hers. "So did you enjoy the film tonight?"

Lahra smiled like a little
girl. He knew very well that she enjoyed every minute of the film. She, and the
capacity crowd that had come to see
Dr Zhivago
for the grand, eightieth
birthday re-opening of the fully refurbished Miracle Cinema. "No, didn't
enjoy it at all," she said. "How could I when I had to last three
whole hours sitting next to a man I desperately wanted to make love to?"

"Well if you were so
desperate, perhaps we shouldn't have invited everybody back here
afterwards."

"Too late now,"
she teased. "I guess we'll have to let all of them have their fun before
we can have ours." She imagined the party-goers up at the house. Wally was
there in his brand new tuxedo, the first one he'd ever bought. So too were
Malcolm McGuire, Dave Conigrave, Sally Stefano and Bronwyn Boyle. Even Kurt
Carol had accepted his invitation and brought his latest girlfriend, Raelene,
along. His mother liked Raelene. She was up there partying too.

"I know I've said it
before," Lahra said, "but the Miracle looks just wonderful. You're
very good at what you do. Thank you for all of your hard work."

"Thank you for your
inspiration."

Music floated on the night
air. Somebody in the house had found
Lara's Theme
and thought it was a
good idea to play it. Lahra and Marcus looked at each other and laughed.

"I say, would you care
to dance?" Marcus asked in his best—but rather terrible—Cary Grant voice.

"I'd be
delighted."

They held each other close
and swayed gently to the music. The little wooden footbridge that spanned the
river between their homes made an ideal dance floor.

"Mr and Mrs Dean!"
a voice called suddenly. "There you are. I've been looking for the two of
you everywhere."

Lahra looked up dreamily
from her dance to see a short, happy looking man wielding a very big camera
approaching them.

"I really have to take
your picture before I leave," the man said, "or else it won't make
tomorrow's paper."

"Go right ahead,"
Marcus said. "We won't even notice you're there."

They looked into each
other's eyes, and Lahra honestly couldn't remember a time in her life when
she'd been happier.

"Who said life isn't
like the movies?" Marcus said as he drew closer to her lips.

"It isn't," she
replied. "It's better."

So lost was she in the magic
of the moment, Lahra didn't even notice the flash of the camera.