I don't own these characters. They are the sole property of Stephanie Meyers. I only borrow them. No humans are permanently harmed through my actions, though I do confess to harassing, annoying, torturing, and exasperating them – just because it's fun. I make no money from my little stories, sad day. I only play in the sandbox, I didn't build it.

Chapter 2: Still Unbroken

"I'm not home, I'm not lost
Still holdin' on to what I got
ain't much left
Lord there's so much that's been stolen.
Guess I've lost everything I've had
But I'm not dead, at least not yet
Still alive, still alone, still unbroken
I'm still alone, still alive,
I'm still unbroken." Still Unbroken by Lynyrd Skynyrd "God and Guns" album

Edward's POV

I had seen her walk in. I knew who she was, of course. Everyone had been expecting her, had been talking about her non-stop for days. I was only vaguely curious. We were used to new faces around The Hope. The burn out rate was almost as high among the staff as among the volunteers. It was a rough, demanding way to spend your day…and infinitely rewarding. I wondered if this Ms. Swan would understand that truth – and if she'd be tough enough to last.

Raul had said she was pretty (once I actually got a look at her I knew that Raul obviously needed to get his eyes checked, she was gorgeous), but that she seemed sad beneath the surface. I didn't doubt his assessment. "She's been…I don't know…there's been something bad, dude. Just be nice, okay?" I had rolled my eyes at him. I knew about broken of course. I had a long history with the concept. Still, Raul was a nice guy and if he said to be nice, I'd be on my best, Boy Scout behavior. Besides, Raul had a rare insight and instinct for people. I considered myself lucky that he respected my privacy and had, so far, refrained from pressing for information. He seemed to know that there were some things that were strictly off limits. So, I was going to be every bit the gentleman my mother had raised me to be.

Of course, that had been my intent before I actually saw her.

I saw her in the hallway with Marion and was walking forward to introduce myself. She had that shy, sweet look about her, almost like a kid sister (sure, Cullen – a little sister…keep telling yourself that) I was wondering if she really had what it took to be the shelter's Community Liaison. It was a tough job, and she'd have to learn to never take no for an answer, not a final one anyway. Our people needed all of us to be tough and resilient. We were, for all intents and purposes, their last resort, their safety net – and if we failed, they fell. I tried to never forget that.

I heard her voice for the first time, and it was soft and sweet and just a little bit husky, all right, just as the packaging promised. The words, however… I knew I was in deep shit with this one.

"That's what they tell me," I heard her say. "But actually, I consider myself more of a ball squeezer, they're no good if you bust them to pieces. And if I squeeze just right, then they start opening those tight wallets of theirs."

I couldn't help but give a little bark of laughter. It wasn't her words so much, which were admittedly funny as hell, but the fact that I had been worried she'd be too shy and retiring to do her job. My doubts were laid to rest. She whirled around and her face turned a blistering red. I could almost feel the heat radiating off of her. It was like being on the beach, letting the sun warm me from the outside in.

Then her eyes drifted down. Really down. Well, she had been talking about squeezing balls, so I guess it was only natural that her eyes should go there. What was not expected was that I'd start to feel a stir in that general vicinity in response to her look. Down boy.

I smirked at her and the flames in her face ignited further. I was being a bit of an ass, but I just couldn't help myself. Because I knew… Better to come off as an ass than let her think I was a nice guy. I didn't know much about Bella Swan, but I knew she deserved better than what I had to offer.

"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Swan."

Then I winked at her, almost against my own will, and I thought her jaw was going to drop to the floor. She gulped loudly and was probably trying very hard not to slap me across the face like I deserved. Before I could say or do anything else I'd regret, I turned and walked away.

This was not good. Not good at all.

Houston, we have a problem.

Bella's POV

Marion nudged me. "So…you've met the mysterious and gorgeous Mr. Cullen." She snorted and I wondered if she wanted to do bad things with him too. She might be a grandmother, but the sex god was… Well, even grandmothers couldn't miss the hotness factor. Anyone attracted to males would want to worship at his altar, on their knees and thrilled to be there.

"Uh…yeah," I returned with my usual brilliance.

"Don't worry, dear," she said with a small laugh. "He's got that effect on a lot of us."

I blushed furiously. "Yes, well…" What could I possibly say? That his voice reminded me of silk and smoke and I wanted to offer to have his baby? That he could recite a grocery list to me and I'd be tempted to shed my clothing while he did so? Yeah, to say those things might be a tad less than professional. "So, why is he the mysterious Mr. Cullen?"

Marion winked. "Well, he's gorgeous…obviously." I wanted to snort. Yes, that much was incredibly obvious. "He doesn't work, not for a paycheck anyway. At least not that any of us can figure out. Yet he's always got enough money. At first, I was afraid he was a drug dealer or something, but if he is, he's never conducted business on the premises."

"You don't really think he's a drug dealer, do you?" Of course that would make sense. No man was that perfect. He had to be a drug dealer, or perhaps a pimp, or maybe he – My overactive imagination was going to be the death of me. I put a brake on the more bizarre fantasies. But not before I felt my cheeks flush. Oh naughty fantasies…

"Oh no," Marion said. "Not anymore. Once you get to know Edward you'll see. He's friendly enough, but not…chummy. He's been one of our most consistent volunteers for two years now. You'll be seeing a lot of him."

I wasn't sure if that made me want to throw up or dance the happy dance. Probably both. Then Marion was saying something else, but I got distracted by wondering if, when you knelt before the sex god, you could unbutton that button fly and see what was waiting behind door #1. Wait, what was Marion saying? It was probably important.

Luckily, she laughed and patted me on the arm. "Again, he has that effect on most women." She leaned in close. "We call it the shock and awe campaign of Edward Cullen."

Of course I knew what she meant. I was shocked at the way I imagined kneeling at his feet. Those buttons… I'd make quick work of them. I closed my eyes briefly. I was in awe over what I imagined hiding behind those buttons. My libido was in overdrive, which probably was not surprising since it had been well over a year since I had let my libido out to play. At all. Even solitary play had been called on account of… Well, it had been called on account of life being shitty and the fact that I was a terrible person and a danger to those who were stupid enough to love me.

The white came back to me in a flash, that blinding burst of nothingness and suddenly my overactive sex drive was tucked back where it belonged, in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind. I had no right to those kinds of feelings. No right at all.

I opened my eyes to see Marion studying me with concern. "Are you all right, dear?"

I forced a convincing smile on my face. I had gotten really good at it over the past year. I was a pro at faking serenity by now. "I'm fine," I said. "It's just a lot to take in all at once and I'm scared to death that I'm going to forget something vitally important at exactly the wrong moment."

Marion winked. "That's why we're a team, Bella. Someone is always there to pick up the slack."

Edward's POV

I hid in the bathroom. Then I hid in the kitchen pantry. I pretended I was doing an inventory of the food. I avoided anywhere that Isabella Swan was. I was a chicken shit. I was all right with that, because there was something about her that made me want to press her up against a wall and show her that she was mine.

What the hell was wrong with me and why was I suddenly channeling my inner caveman?

Bella's POV

The rest of the day went more smoothly. I wasn't sure if the sex god was avoiding me, or I was avoiding him, but the result was the same. I was grateful, of course, that I did not have to acclimate myself to a new job, a new life for that matter, while trying to ignore the tingle in my girly parts. No, what really bothered me was that the tingle was there at all. I had been quite certain that was a part of my life that I had left behind forever. I had been arrogantly sure of that for several reasons, not the least of which was the knowledge that I no longer deserved to feel such things. No one knew that better than me. Well, perhaps one person did…

Still, I knew, and that was enough.

I also knew that the only way I would survive working here, in such close proximity to the sex god with the long, sexy, coppery hair was to ignore him and the tingle. It just didn't seem fair, though, that the sex god would be packaged in such a way as to ensure my attention. First, there was the hair. I'd always had a thing for guys with long hair. And his was just the right length, brushing his shoulders, with a lovely wave to it (and just a hint of the curl it would have if it was cut shorter). It looked soft and tuggable. Stop. Do bad things with you… God, I was a perv. Then the jaw. Fuck me, the jaw. It looked like something a Renaissance master might have carved. But even next to the jaw, those lips were divine. Perfectly sculpted… Apparently, the sex god brought out my inner art enthusiast.

Even beyond the angel's face, there was the body. Oh fuck me, the body. Long and lean, the lines of his arms and abs had been perfectly outlined by the tight fit of the Henley. The few buttons left undone on the shirt had revealed a smattering of light brown chest hair. He wasn't a Wookiee by any means, but had just enough hair to be masculine. Edward Cullen was no pretty boy. He was rugged and masculine. He was also tanned, a light golden color that seemed natural to him, though I imagined living in Florida meant a lot of time in the sun. I imagined how nicely his lean, hard, golden body would contrast against my softer, paler flesh.

Focus, Bella…

Budget reports, contributor lists, upcoming charity functions, happy trail…

Danger! Danger Will Robinson!

I sighed and forced my attention to the reports on my desk. Then I heard "the voice" of smoke and silk and I wondered if I should start bringing a change of underwear to work. I looked up to see him calling out a farewell to Marion. Then his eyes slid toward my office.

And I'm pretty sure he cupped his balls protectively on purpose. I swear I saw a smirk. I wanted to smack it off his face. Or maybe kiss it off. Or bite it. Oh yes, that had possibilities... Still, that smirk really pissed me off.

Ass.