This is a super famous Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills called "Arpetta," tucked inside the Montage Hotel. It's got a cool backstory too—Sophia Coppola once brought Dunn here, and it left a big impression on him.
As Dunn walked Natalie up to the restaurant, her eyes were totally dazzled by the stunning setup.
Tall arched ceilings, a gorgeous sky garden, Mediterranean-style fountains dotted around—it all oozed that classic Hollywood Golden Age vibe.
"Coming here makes me feel like I'm a huge star!" Natalie whispered to Dunn as she trailed beside him.
Dunn just grinned, cool as ever. "Relax, I promise you—you're gonna be a big star someday, no worse than anyone else out there!"
Natalie's eyes lit up like stars, her pale chin tilting up as she looked at him. "Dunn, I'm holding you to that, okay?"
Dunn chuckled. "You bet!"
After they sat down and ordered, Natalie noticed Dunn looking a little worried. She smirked and teased, "Dunn, your private life's been splashed all over the papers—everybody in America knows. You don't really think I'm clueless, do you?"
"Nat, I'm not trying to hide anything," Dunn said, his face tightening a bit, rare seriousness kicking in. "Some of the tabloid stuff is total nonsense, but some of it's true. Doesn't mean much, though. In my heart, you're different from them!"
"I know," Natalie said with a playful wink and a sly little smile.
"You do?"
She rolled her eyes big-time. "Of course I do. I might not have dated anyone, but I can tell when someone's being real or just trying to pull one over on me."
Dunn's face lit up with joy. "Nat, you mean that?"
"If I didn't, you think I'd be out here with you?" She shot him a look, then grinned mischievously. "I hear couples in love get dumber—you're not proving that wrong, huh?"
"Cough, cough…" Dunn coughed, a little embarrassed, getting roasted by a teenage girl. "Nat, I'm serious, not joking around!"
Natalie threw her hands up. "Okay, okay, my bad! The great Director Walker's too big to argue with a kid like me."
Dunn couldn't help but laugh. "Nat, I never realized how adorable you are."
"Is that a compliment?" she asked, blushing a bit.
Dunn burst out laughing. "Of course it is! Haven't you heard? To lovers, even the biggest flaws are cute."
"You're totally mocking me now!" Natalie gritted her teeth, glaring at him with mock fury.
Her cute, feisty look cracked Dunn up, and he couldn't help feeling a little flustered. Leaning across the table toward her, he went for it.
Natalie froze for a sec, her cheeks turning bright red. Part of her wanted to dodge, but deep down, she was curious about that first-kiss vibe. After a tiny hesitation, she felt his warm breath on her lashes, her heart racing like crazy. She shut her eyes, sat up straight, and braced herself like it was some grand moment.
With Natalie, Dunn wasn't about to be reckless like he might with other Hollywood actresses. He gave her a soft peck on the lips and pulled back.
He gently pressed his lips together, savoring that sweet, tender aftertaste.
Then, by pure chance, he caught Natalie—Natalie Portman—doing the exact same thing across from him, her lips moving slightly like she was lost in the moment too.
Their eyes met for a split second, locked, and then they both burst into smiles.
"I thought it'd be sweet!" Natalie said, shyly dropping her gaze. She took a sip of juice and smacked her lips. "There, *now* it's sweet."
Dunn nearly cracked up. This girl was too cute for words.
"Nat, looking at you… I swear, my heart's melting," Dunn said, totally honest. If anyone else said it, he'd cringe, but right then, it felt perfect.
Natalie blinked at him cheekily. "Bet you've said that to tons of girls, huh?"
"Never!" Dunn shook his head fast, sighing. "Nat, this is Hollywood. Some stuff… you get it, it's not always my fault."
Natalie giggled softly. "So, have you ever been in love?"
"Nope."
"Really?"
"If you don't count right now, then no."
Natalie let out a little sigh. "Guess we're both kinda pitiful, huh?"
Dunn raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
She propped her chin on one hand, twirling the straw in her juice with the other, her voice dreamy. "My classmates—lots of them started dating at 12 or 13. By 14, well… let's not go there. Sometimes I feel like we've missed out on our youth."
"Nah, I think we're the lucky ones," Dunn said with a warm smile. "Nat, think about it—first love's such a beautiful memory. Shouldn't it go to the right person at the right time? Trading our firsts with each other—that's pretty romantic, don't you think?"
"Pfft!" Natalie couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, practically sparkling. "Dunn, I see what you're doing! You're trying to trick me again, but I'm not falling for it!"
Dunn scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Uh… Nat, you've got me all wrong, I swear!"
"Hmph! Don't even try!" She turned away with a little huff, then giggled again.
Just then, a stylish young woman strolled over, all excited. "Nat? Is that you, Nat?"
Natalie looked up, her face lighting up too. "Drew? No way, what a coincidence running into you here!"
Dunn glanced up and his lips twitched. He knew her—Drew Barrymore, the former wild child of Hollywood who'd finally cleaned up her act.
Drew grabbed Natalie's hand, looking her up and down with a grin. "Last time we saw each other was filming *Everyone Says I Love You*. Can't believe it's been three years—you're all grown up now!"
Natalie smiled sweetly. "You're looking prettier than ever, Drew."
Drew beamed, then glanced at Dunn. "This your boyfriend?" Her eyes landed on his face, and she froze.
Dunn Walker!
Who in Hollywood didn't know that name?
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