Dinner

Ariana's eyes sparkled with excitement; tonight was going to go perfect, she just knew it. It had been a year since she and David had started dating, and she was planning something special for the occasion.

Carefully placing the finishing touches on the dessert for the night, Ariana stepped back to admire the effect. A small swirl of sweetened whip cream topped a sweet basil cream panna cotta with a passion fruit gelee; a delicate tuille cookie resting on the very top. Displayed in a martini glass the pale green and the bright orange complimented each other perfectly. Ariana smiled as she checked on the roast lamb in the oven, the scent of rosemary and garlic billowing into the air as she opened the door. It would be ready just as David arrived she decided. Ariana closed the oven door and checked the table to make sure that everything was right before going to get ready. She looked at the table with a critical eye, twitched one of the candles a fraction to the left, and adjusted the napkin at one of the settings. Soft guitar music played in the background.

Ariana was finishing her make-up when she heard the doorbell. She quickly walked down the stairs, pulled open the front door, and froze in wonder. David stood on the doorstep, deliciously handsome in black slacks and a black dress shirt. The only spots of color were his dark green tie and his bright blue eyes. David seemed just as speechless as she was. Ariana was draped in a flowing midnight blue dress; her hair pulled away from her face and tamed into curls.

David held out a single red rose to her. Ariana took the rose and blushed, holding open the door for him. "Happy Anniversary," Ariana said, and kissed him before leading him through to dinner.