This is L.o.v.e. like it should be

LIX. Mr. Moonlight

It seemed like nowadays, Ava took her time getting ready. Choosing the perfect outfit was harder than ever, especially after this week’s shopping spree. She never thought it’d be possible to get satisfaction from shopping, after all she used to be a shy and introvert girl who tried hard to remain in the shadows.

Ava arrived at the place they had set for their date; she never had been in this particular Italian restaurant. Ava had no idea what to expect, it was a completely new experience and that made her smile. There was something about this whole new adventure that she was enjoying, probably was the fact she was on a date in a different place with someone whose name was a completely mystery. And that’s exactly what Ava started calling him, Mister E.

Ava handed over her coat to the receptionist at the entrance, and then the restaurant’s host promptly accompanied her to the table, where E was already waiting for her.

He was wearing a white dress shirt and black trousers, which Ava could assume as his most casual outfit.

“Am I late?” she asked before sitting in the empty chair next to his. They sat on a small round table near the window, with a fantastic view to an amazing garden, full of wisterias and red roses.

“A lady is never late,” he replied, getting up to pull her chair and help her sit like a real gentleman should.

“Thank you,” Ava said blushing.

“My pleasure,” he replied sitting back on his chair.

“So, how do you like it?”

“You mean this place?”

“Yes,” he smiled, amused by Ava’s blushed cheeks.

“It’s perfect!” She answered, still blushing.

It was indeed. The restaurant was casual, yet elegant. There was something romantic about it, the view of the moonlight bathing the garden, the intimate round tables covered in red table cloths, the whispers of couples and the soft sound of violins was rather inspiring.

“Now all that’s missing is the food,” he said, raising his hand in to ask for the menus. “Let’s see if you will approve of it too.”

“I’m sure I will.” Ava thought, but she didn’t want it to show: “Let’s see.” She said between a smirk.

She was stared at him while he talked to the maître d, getting his recommendations.

“You care for everyone’s opinions and thoughts, don’t you?” Ava asked once the maître d gave them time to think about their orders.

“Perhaps,” he replied. “Don’t you?”

“Probably,” Ava said, hiding her face behind her menu.

He smiled, like always, amused by Ava’s behavior.

Ava didn’t take look to set down the menu, she had already made a choice.

“I think I’ll go with his first recommendation,” he finally said.

Ava smiled.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Me too.”

It was his turn to smile.

“And for drinks?”

“A red wine maybe? What do you think?”

“My thoughts exactly! Red wine!” E picked up the wine chart and browsed it for a while.

“You don’t know much about wine, do you?” she asked, looking bemused.

“Just the enough to not get drunk.” He confessed, looking a bit embarrassed.

“That’s a first.”

“How so?”

“Well, I find it kind of sexy, a man who knows how to drink. One who knows his limits.”

“So, you think I am sexy?” he asked, looking confident.

“And funny too!” Ava replied, entertained by his confidence.

He took both menus and set them at the border of the table, this caught the waiter’s attention immediately. He joined them faster than Ava expected, the service in this restaurant was amazing. And it became quite exceptional when they got their meals in less than ten minutes.

“I’m impressed,” Ava stated, trying the pasta. It was seasoned to perfection and tasted just how she liked it, delicate but with a brief intense burst of flavor here and there. “You really know how to pick a restaurant.”

“You told me Italian was your favorite food.”

“Yet, you keep telling me you don’t have a favorite food. How is that possible?”

“I think I have a favorite dessert. Does that count?”

“What dessert are we talking about?”

He smiled, then pursed his lips slightly.

“I only had a small taste; I can’t say for sure yet. Perhaps, in a near future, I’ll be able to tell you.”

Ava knew he was teasing her. It was obvious he was not just looking for a fun night out with her. This place he had picked for their date, with the romantic mood, the perfect food and amazing view, he was trying to impress her.

She smiled. She had a clear vision of the person she had in front of her. Ava was finally feeling confident enough to make assumptions with a man. It was a miracle, since she thought she had lost all of her confidence with Julien.

“Why are you smiling?” E asked.

“Thank you,” Ava replied.

“For what?”

“For not telling me your name just yet.”