[Harvest Moon: A New Beginning] Rio to the Rescue

Innocent Kisses

When the couple reached the diner, Neil opened the door allowing Rio to enter first, "Thank you, kind gentlemen."

Neil rolled his eyes, but played along, "You're welcome, m'lady."

Rio crinkled her nose, "On second thought, let's not use those terms. They're too stuffy!"

"Haha, okay Rio. Whatever you want."

Once they were seated, Felicity came by immediately to take their drink order, "What can I get the happy couple started with?"

Rio blushed and looked down at her menu. She mumbled, "I'll take a shirley temple."

Neil smirked at her reaction and looked up at Felicity, "I'll just have an iced tea, no sugar please."

Felicity grinned down at them and wrote down their orders, "Coming right up!"

Once she left, Neil turned his attention to an embarrassed Rio, "Not used to being called a couple yet?"

She looked up from the table and gave him a shy smile, "No, not really. It'll happen with time though."

"You're adorable with your cheeks so pink." He loved teasing her, and making her face turn even more red.

"Oh no...please don't start that already. I'm terrible with compliments, they just make me flustered." She nervously twisted a few strands of hair around her fingers, hoping Neil would change the subject.

"Well you'll get used to it in time, because I can't possibly stop complimenting you."

She threw a hand over her face in an attempt to hide, "Ugh, I'm not good at this dating thing anymore. I don't even know what to do about this situation!" She lowered her hand and placed it on the table, "Sorry you have to put up with this, I just don't know how to act anymore."

He reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Don't worry about it, just act like you always do. You've already impressed me, you don't need to do anything different."

Rio seemed pleased with the comment and squeezed his hand back, "Thank you, Neil. That's very sweet of you to say."

Neil looked around the restaurant before putting a finger up to his lips to say, "Shhh! Don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold."

"Right, that rocker image needs to stay intact." She rolled her eyes and smiled at the man, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!"

Just then Felicity returned with their drinks and set them on the table. "Do you guys know what you'd like to eat?"

Rio looked at Neil and shrugged. Neil asked, "Can we just have your special tonight?"

Felicity smiled and replied, "Of course," and left the two alone once again.

"Neil, what is the special exactly?"

"Good question, I guess we'll find out!"

She crinkled her nose at his answer; she wasn't very good at being spontaneous with her meals. "Well, hopefully it's something we both like."

"I'm sure it will be!"

------

The two chatted amiably until Felicity returned with their orders. Rio's lips turned up in distaste at the seafood dish that was set in front of Neil. She was about to complain until a plate of curry rice was set in front of her.

She looked up at Felicity who winked and said, "I know you detest fish, so I told Clem to make you something else." She folded her hands together and beamed at the couple, "Let me know if you two need anything else!"