"Why thank you Mr. Calhoun" Bella nodded.
"My pleasure," Scout said extending his hand.
The pair began walking down the painted sidewalk until they came to a sign. Bella read the sign out loud.
"Welcome Scout & Beautiful Girl, uhhh..." she begin to blush, Scout was just about to come up with an explanation when out of the corner of his eye he spotted Marcus.
"Hey Scout buddy, you made it," Marcus shouted cheerfully walking over to greet him.
"Yes Sir..." Scout said.
"Oh please no Sir, you'll make me feel old," he laughed, then glanced in Bella's direction.
"So this must be the beau.."
"Bella, Marc this is Bella, Bella meet Marcus or Marc for short, him and his friend Kevin are chefs here."
"Hi." Bella smiled shaking his hand, "Nice place you got here, but where are all your customers?" she asked a little confused.
"Oh, see we arent actually opened yet for business," Marcus started.
"Nicee Scout, you found us a restaurant where we cant eat," Bella patted him on the shoulder.
"Oh no no see Scout here ran into me earlier this afternoon, I promised him a free private dinner with his girl...friend...his friend and I'm a man of my word...and can i just say you definitely live up to his description." Marcus finished removing his Yankees cap and adjusting his hair.
"And what description might that be?" Bella asked looking directly at Scout.
"Uhhh, shall we sit down," Scout piped up quickly changing the subject. Bella playfully rolled her eyes and nodded in agreement.
"Right this way..." Marcus motioned to the pair. Scout and Bella continued down the path and around the side of the open patio, turning the corner their eyes widened. A table for two sat in the middle of the patio surronded by lights and the fountain lightly trickeling with water, the table included two maroon candles which were lit, a bottle of fine red wine and a silk white tablecloth.
"This is...wow." Scout cut himself off, he was indeed speechless. He never thought someone he just met, almost a total stranger would be able to create the perfect date setting complete with all the trimmings.
"Marcus this is lovely." Bella said turning towards him. Marcus simply winked and seated the two at their table. He then removed the wine from its chilled ice and popped the cork, gently pouring into the glasses.
"I hope you are hungry, Kev and I have everything prepared, manichottis and chicken parm coming right up, be back in a minute or two," Marcus winked again walking back into the restaurant.
"Bella, I-I," Scout shuddered a bit. "You do like manchottis and chicken parm, i hope."
"No I hate it!" she said seriously. Scout's stomache sunk lower than he could've imagined.
"Oh.."
"Scout." Bella said.
"Yeah?" he gulped.
"I completely just nailed you into the wood," she bursted out laughing. Scout sighed and laughed along with her. She could always make him fall for things, including her.