Heartless Soul Book 2 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 19 - Date of Firsts

Enzo's POV

As we drove to the restaurant, I seemed to not be able to hold a normal conversation with Mel, I've never been lost for words in my whole life and now is the time my mind chooses to go blank. Great, this was not going well. I heard her giggle from the passenger side of the car, and looked her way. "What's so funny?" She laughed again. "You. I've never seen you nervous before." I shook my head, was it that obvious. "You noticed. I don't know what's wrong with me tonight." She took hold of my hand. "Maybe it's because your actually going on a date with a girl who you have admitted to liking." Maybe she's right, I don't date. My last date was back in... I don't know high school, college probably.

She squeezed my hand again, bringing me back to the present. "Sorry, I erm... zoned out there. I was thinking of when I last went on a date and couldn't even think when that was." She laughed again. "Well, this is my first ever date. No pressure or anything." I rolled my eyes, she had to go and make this harder for me. "Yea, no pressure." We laughed together as we pulled into the restaurants car park. The valet opened Mel's door before I could get there and I glared at him. He looked down nervously as she got out of the car and joined me on the curb.

The main doors opened, and we walked up to the 's podium. He was a tall slim man with a sharp maroon suit and patterned black and white cravat around his neck. His defined cheekbones stood prominent on his face under his pale blue eyes. His hair was quaffed perfectly to the left, not a hair out of place. "Reservations for Russo, for two." He smiled politely at us and made a slight nod with his head, inclining for us to follow him. He proudly walked through the dining area too a table just off to the right of the room and pulled a chair out for Mel, she thanked him sweetly and took her seat. Once we were both seated, he told us to enjoy our meal in a thick French accent, before retreating back to his podium by the door. "Man of few words that one." I remarked as I watched him go. "Enzo, erm... where are the menu's?" I looked back at her and looked at the table a little confused myself. "I'm not sure, I'll ask-" I didn't get to finish my sentence before a smartly dressed boy appeared at our table. "Good evening sir, ma'am. Welcome to Apprécier, may I offer you a crisp white wine to delight your taste buds before you eat." I had no idea, so I just nodded. "Sure, why not." He smiled understanding I had no idea what that meant other than the obvious. "So, this is new." She smiled at me. "It would seem were both in for a new experience tonight." Her smile is infectious, and I smiled too as I took her hand. "It would seem so. Mel, I have to admit something I should have a long time ago, well not a long time ago but before now."

"It's okay, I know you know. Now there is no more to say on the subject, so let's enjoy our night." I leaned in and kissed her knuckles and smiled at her. "Tell me about yourself Mel, I seem to only know parts of your life." It was her turn to look nervous as she rolled her red lips under her teeth. "Well, as you know I was in dire straits before Romeo took me in as a maid, I had just lost my brother and I was lost. Now I'm here with you and finally feel I belong." I did know all that, but it still felt like she was hiding something from me, but I guess I would find out in time.

Conversation continued, it flowed well. Not like it was in the car, and as we got more and more comfortable with each other the more we laughed. The date was going well and I felt like I was really starting to like her more, we seemed to like a lot of he same things and wanted to explore the same countries, she was like the female version of me, well not the whole idiot part of me but it was true. As the appetisers were finished and the plates were being taken away, she looked around the room admiring the authentic French décor and glanced over her shoulder. She caught sight of someone across the room that was staring in our general direction, when she turned back to the table, I could tell something was wrong and she quickly excused herself from the table.

I found it odd but didn't question her. The waiter came back to the table as she left and topped up our glasses, I had swapped to water as I was driving, trying to be the sensible one for a change. When I looked up again, I noticed that the guy wasn't there anymore, which was a coincidence, but I shook it off and asked the waiter what the next course was. "Duck a l'Orange." I guessed duck in an orange sauce for main then, sounded pretty good to me.

I looked at my watch twice before Mel returned to me. "Everything alright?" I asked her concerned. "Yea, perfectly fine." Her words didn't match her smile and she took a long pull from her wine glass. "Are you sure?" I pushed not believing her. she looked nervous to answer. "Yea, I just got my period, which is not really what I wanted. It kinda ruins what I had planned for dessert." She winked at me with a seductive look on her face. All my doubts were instantly gone, and thoughts of what dessert could have been, took over my mind. "Tell me more about dessert, I seem not to be in the mood for the main course anymore." She giggled at me and shook her head. "You will have to wait until next time." Her cheeky grin made me optimistic for a second date, as we continued on our first.

The main course was by far the best thing I've tasted in ages and I sent my compliments with the waiter to the chef. Not that the French needed an ego boost about their fine food but in my opinion, he deserved it. The souffle for dessert was good but I'm not a pudding kinda guy, so I offered it Mel as she really seemed to enjoy hers, also to try sober her up a bit as she was fair drunk, and I didn't want her to throw up in my car.

"The night is so beautiful, how far are we from the Empire State Building?" I took her by the waist to steady her. "Not too far. Why?" She threw her arms around my neck and stared into my eyes. "I wanna see the stars." She announced and kissed my lips roughly. "Well my lady, we shall go and see the stars."

We were only a few blocks away from the Empire State building so we walked, the night was clear and crisp but not too cold, although being that high up I could imagine it would be. The escalator ride up to the entrance was short, she bounced excitedly at the side of me before we went in. She wanted to see the views from every window, the lights of the city below made you feel so far away, but never made you feel alone. The first elevator only took us so far and again she looked out of every window, I watched her excitement as she wondered around, I guessed she had never been here before as she guided me to the last elevator with childlike enthusiasm.

The observation deck was mostly empty from the late hour, but that didn't stop her from running outside to see the stars. I followed closely behind her and pulled her close as she looked up to the sky. Not many stars could be seen but that didn't bother her as she relaxed into chest and rested her head back on my chest. "Thank you, for the most wonderful date."

She wanted to capture the moment and took out her phone from her purse. "Say cheese." We posed for the photo and approved the outcome. "May I?" The guide had been watching us and offered to take a proper photo of us with New York as our backdrop, he even offered the best points to get a good photo. "Thank you so much." Mel thanked him as he returned her phone. "Send me that photo." I asked her and she obliged. Mel then began to shiver as the cold night air finally hit her and the 'beer jacket' wore off, I shrugged out of my suit jacket and laid it over her shoulders. She wrapped it more around herself before turning and hugging me tightly around the waist. "Take me home."

We made a quick stop at the gift shop where I picked up a photo frame and a keychain that she was looking at. "What's a date of firsts, if we're not going to memorialise it properly." I said to her as she tried to protest. She giggled at my reply and said no more on the matter as we got to the check out, she also placed a teddy representation of King Kong on the till, I raised my eyebrow at her. "It reminds me of you." My look of confusion amused her. "Why coz I'm Big and strong?" she laughed and looked at the cashier. "No, because you're a big ape." They both laughed as I rolled my eyes before handing over my card to pay.

The ride back was quiet as Mel had drifted off soon after we set off. As she slept, she looked peaceful and very beautiful, but that nagging feeling once again came back as I thought about that man in the restaurant that got her upset and on edge. Who was he? And most importantly who was he to her?