A Naughty Little Boy At Heart

''I want you to get all dressed up for the occasion'', he texts her.

''And by getting dressed up, 
I don't mean anything that involves a tutu!''

She laughs.
''OK, no tutus. I promise.''

''He 's planning on showing me off'', she tells herself.
Let's give him something to be really proud of.''

They are getting ready to leave. 
He ,impeccably groomed in black,
is now inspecting her chosen outfit.

Velvet two-piece,
in the colour of fine milk chocolate
short, fitted jacket and cropped trousers
matched with a pink top and leather brown knee-high boots
her long hair streightened to sleek perfection,
the upper layers in light blonde,
the under streaks caramel brown.

''Turn around'', he is taking a better look.
''Perfect, now off we go!''

Their venue, downtown in the city
at the heart of its historical center
looks not-too-promising for finding a parking space.
But he has it all arranged.
People right in front of the premises
barricading a parking space for him
with upholstered, old-fashioned chairs.

''Now, that's what I call giving us the VIP treatment,''
 she jokes.

''Let's go grab a cup of coffee
at that nice cafe
before they get me ready'', he suggests.

Then she is sitting in the front row
 he is up there
on stage
doing his thing
and she tries not to look him in the eye
trying hard not to lock eyes with him.

Of course he noticed, 
being the observant kind he is
and he commented, afterwards 
''You kept avoiding eye contact''
''Didn't want to stress you out'',
she repied and he laughs
''I am never stressed out''!

Then, at one moment 
he manages to catch her eye 
at last
her looking up at him, smiling, clapping
and he looks down at her from up there
winking at her
grinning
a joyous, 
mischievous,
conspiratory smile
that she'll never forget
for as long as she lives,
making her smile too
each and every time she recalls it.

That's one of the perks you get
for loving a playful man
behind the serious facade
a naughty little boy at heart.