Strings Attached

Part 2.4: Moonlit Whispers

"That sounds wonderful," he said smiling. "You're so talented, Belle. I've seen some of your work, and it's really impressive."

"Thank you, Edmund. That means a lot to me. I love creating things that bring joy to others." Belle blushed slightly over the praise.

As they talked, their food arrived. The aroma of the Bucatini all'Amatriciana was intoxicating, with the rich scent of tomatoes, pancetta, and spices wafting up from the plate. Edmund took a bite, savouring the flavours.

"Wow," he said, closing his eyes for a moment. "This is really good!"

"You look like you're in heaven." Belle watched him with amusement.

"I might be," Edmund said with a chuckle. "Here, try a bite."

He twirled some of the bucatini onto his fork and offered it to Belle. She leaned forward, her lips closing around the fork. As she tasted the dish, her eyes widened in delight.

"That's incredible," she said after swallowing. "The flavours are so rich and perfectly balanced!"

"Told you!" He said with a grin. "Italian cuisine is hard to beat."

They continued their meal, sharing bites of each other's dishes and enjoying the comfortable, intimate atmosphere. The conversation flowed effortlessly, touching on a variety of topics - from their favourite books and movies to their most embarrassing moments.

"Okay, spill," Belle said, her eyes filled with mischief. "What's your most embarrassing moment on the tennis court?"

"There are so many to choose from." Edmund laughed, shaking his head. "But one that stands out was during a major tournament. I was about to serve, and just as I tossed the ball, a bee flew right into my face. I freaked out, lost my balance, and fell flat on my back in front of a packed stadium. The crowd went silent for a moment, then burst into laughter. I was mortified."

"That's hilarious! Poor bee, though. It didn't know what it was getting into." Belle laughed along with him.

"Yeah, I like to think it was trying to give me a pep talk," he said, grinning. "What about you? Any embarrassing crochet moments?"

Belle nodded, still smiling. "Oh, definitely. Once, I was at a big craft fair, showing off some of my pieces. A customer asked me about a specific stitch pattern, and as I was demonstrating it, I somehow managed to unravel an entire row of a finished blanket. I was so flustered, but the customer thought it was hilarious. We ended up laughing about it together. I don't even know how I could do something like that!" She said in joking disbelief.

As they enjoyed their dessert – a decadent chocolate lava cake – Belle looked around the bistro, taking in the cosy ambience.

"This place is perfect, Edmund. Thank you for bringing me here."

"I'm glad you like it," Edmund replied, his eyes softening. "I wanted today to be special."

Belle reached across the table, her hand resting on his.

"It already is." She looked up at him, with only love in her eyes.

They lingered at the table long after their plates were cleared, neither wanting the moment to end. The connection between them felt effortless and profound, and they both knew that this was just the beginning of something wonderful.

After lunch, Edmund took Belle to a quaint, old-fashioned movie theatre. The marquee outside advertised a classic romantic film, and Belle's eyes lit up in delight.

"I love this movie," she said, squeezing Edmund's hand. "It's one of my favourites."

"I thought you might like it," Edmund replied, leading her inside. "There's something timeless about these old films."