Chapter Nine
Belle stood outside of the library, tugging on the hem of her knee length golden yellow dress. She had done her make up so that it made her beautiful blue eyes seem to glow, while her hazel brown hair cascaded around her angel-like face.
Rumford Gold had told her he would pick her up at the library around sixish, and it was currently six O one.
Belle nervously started playing with the ends of her hair, hoping that Rumford hadn't gotten cold feet at the last moment, after all the man was still quite skittish.
But then to her relief, his car pulled up to the curb, and he stepped out, once again wearing his leg brace, that freed his hands.
His chocolate brown eyes drank in the sight of her, and Belle smiled, knowing she'd made a good choice of clothing for their first date.
He rested his hand on the small of her back and led her around to the side of the car, and opened the passanger door for her. Belle smiled at him, "You're such a gentleman".
He smiled back at her, "I aim to impress," he said before he walked swiftly around the front of his car and hopped into the driver's side.
Once they were on the road, Belle asked, "So where are we going?"
Rumple looked over at her shyly, "I thought we'd have dinner at my house," he told her, as he turned the corner and drove down the street that where the richer neighborhood was located.
Soon they pulled up into the driveway of a large pink house that in Belle's opinion looked far more like a mansion than a house.
"You live here?" Belle said in surprise, smiling as she took in the pink color of it despite the dark.
"Mm-hm, you like it?" Rumford said a little absent mindedly as he shut the engine off and hopped out of the car.
"It's beautiful," Belle gushed.
Rumford smiled at her words. Looking pleased he placed his hand at the small of her back and led her inside.
"Wow," Belle breathed as she set foot into his living room.
Off to the left side of the room was an old bookcase, placed against the wall and just beyond that a couch facing the door, and a Flat screen TV hanging on the wall on the other side of the room, that faced the couch.
On the bookshelf, besides a few dozen books that were there, were many little odd but interesting and pretty trinkets that surely must've come from his shop at some point.
Rumford, proving to be ever the gentleman, took her coat from her and hung it up on a hook that rested on the back of the front door.
Then he led her out of the living room and into the dining room, which was just past the living room.
The dining room it seemed was just as elegant and beautiful as the man's living room. There was a large maple wood table in the middle of the space, with eight chairs around it, while a silver and sparkling chandelier hung above it, lighting the space.
Rumford pulled a chair out for her and then hurried into the kitchen, which was separate from the dining room only be half of a wall, and just as Belle sat down, came out of the kitchen, miraculously carrying a wine bottle, two glasses, and two plates of spaghetti and meatballs.
He sat across from her, and the two of them ate in a companionable silence. After they were finished eating, Rumford looked up at her and asked, "So . . . How was it?"
"Mm, you cook be a chef," Belle told him, her belly comfortably full with delicious spaghetti.
She helped him clean up, and after they had put the last of the dishes away, he asked, "Do you want to watch a movie?"
She nodded, and he led her back into the living room where she picked out a movie he had bought recently called Pixels and he popped it in for her.
They sat down on the couch, and Belle, feeling brave from the wine, curled up against hi side, and was extremely pleased when he put his arm around her, her head resting against his chest.
"Mm," Belle sighed contently as the movie started to play; Rum smelled like paper, both old and new, but there was a piney scent as well, Belle figured it was his cologne.
"Are you an only child?" Rumford rumbled; clearly as content as Belle. She turned her head to look up at him, and nodded.
"Yeah; it's just me and my dad. My mom divorced my dad when I was little and moved back to Australia," Belle replied, "What about you? My dad mentioned that you have a son to me once".
"Yes, he's name's Neal." He said, "He moved to New York after he was finished with high school about a year ago to become a reporter, but now he's coming home and is going is to work for Mr. Glass. You'll get to meet him tomorrow hopefully".
"He's sounds wonderful," Belle murmured, before a yawn overtook her, "I can't wait to meet him".
"Me too," Rumford agreed.
A couple moments later, they fell asleep in each other's arms, still cuddling.