Alice threw herself down on my bed with a groan. "I want nachos."

I smirked at my laptop, lifting my head away from the dizzying array of tendons and ligaments I needed to memorize. "You always want nachos, Alice."

"But today I need them."

"I'm on a budget," I protested, half-heartedly.

"But I have a coupon. You get a nibbler platter and a pitcher of beer for twenty bucks. The food is great! Please?"

I hesitated. I was hungry and I'd been studying for hours. I could take a break and come back to it later. Maybe things would stick more if I wasn't hungry. I could afford a treat, since I got paid for the last couple games the other day.

I shut my laptop. "Fine. But food and then I'm back."

She sat up, almost bouncing. "Great, I'll drive!"

I stood up and she frowned at me. "You are, ah, going to change, right?"

Teasing her, I shook my head. "You don't like my teddy bear pants?"

"They're pajamas, Bella."

"Comfy pants."

"You're not wearing those to a restaurant."

Laughing, I dropped a kiss on her furrowed forehead. "No, I'll change."

She smiled, as always, easily appeased. "Great! Let's go; I'm starving!"

*BR*

We pulled into the driveway, and I looked up from my phone and the quick text I was sending my dad, only to gasp in horror.

"No, Alice. Not here!"

The blazing sign of a bucking steer blinked at me, the words "The Bull Rider" far too bright for my liking.

"I know you've never been. But the food is great."

I hadn't told Alice what happened between me and Edward. I hadn't believed it myself when I thought about it later.

"I don't know why you dislike Edward so much, but he doesn't work on Mondays. Jasper does. He's the one who gave me the coupon."

"Are you sure?"

"Mondays are his day off. I promise."

I relaxed, knowing Edward wouldn't be there. Now that Alice had mentioned it, I was in the mood for nachos.

I slid out of the car, wondering why it felt as though I was headed to a firing squad. Alice wrapped her arm around my waist. "Cheer up, Bella! Some food and beer will make you smile."

*BR*

It did. She was right—the food was good, the beer icy cold, and after scanning the room and not seeing a head of messy bronze hair anywhere, I relaxed. Jasper came over to the table, and it didn't take me long to realize the coupon wasn't the only reason she wanted to come here. Feisty, never-lacking-for-something-to-say Alice disappeared and shy, demure Alice suddenly was born. Her fluttering glances from under her eyelashes, and the way she smiled and giggled at his stories, left me no doubt about her feelings. He seemed to return them, adding dessert and another pitcher of beer with a wink; telling her to use the coupon next time—the tab was on him.

When Alice left to go use the restroom, I nibbled at the deep fried ice cream, enjoying the combination of the hot and sweet dripping with chocolate sauce. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste. Alice slid in the booth beside me and I grinned, keeping my eyes shut. "I'm not sharing this. You're the one who said you didn't want any. Go back to your own side of the table."

Cool fingers on my neck and a low voice had my eyes opening fast. "I bet if I asked…really nice, you'd give me a bite, wouldn't you…Bella?"

My eyes flew open and I gaped at Edward. He was turned toward me, a smirk on his face. He was resting his head on his bent arm, his eyes alive with mischief.

"You…you aren't supposed to be here!"

"I own the place."

"Alice…Alice said it was your night off," I insisted as if by saying so, he'd disappear.

"I live upstairs and I came down to get something from the office. Imagine my delight when I saw my favorite event rep sitting in the corner, so enjoying her dessert." He paused, shaking his head. "Alone. I can never get you alone."

I frowned at him, wondering what he meant.

Why would he want me alone?

"You're the messiest little eater with sweets, aren't you?" he murmured. His finger touched my bottom lip, dragging lightly along the seam. My eyes widened farther as his tongue lapped at the chocolate on his fingertip. "Amazing," he whispered.

"Stop doing that!" I ordered, looking around for Alice. I found her perched on a barstool chatting away at Jasper.

She had deserted me.

He pushed closer, my crowded space becoming even smaller. "Why? Does…it…upset you?"

"It makes me nervous."

He laughed; the sound low and sexy in his chest. "I like you nervous. You blush when you're nervous." He ran his thumb over my hot cheek. "It's quite lovely."

I shook my head. "Don't. Don't say things you don't mean."

"Why do you think I don't mean it?"

"Look, Edward. I get it. You're a flirt—you use your good looks and sexy swagger to get girls into your bar...and probably your bed. But I'm not like them."

"I know that."

"No—I mean I'm really not like them. I don't do the bar scene. I rarely drink or go out. I'm here to study and work—that's it. Not see how many sexy guys I can get laid by before the school year ends." I dropped my spoon, the metal echoing against the wooden table, having lost my appetite, and sighed. "Just move on to your next conquest. I'm not what you're looking for."

"Hey."

I looked up, not prepared for the glimmer of anger on his eyes. "What I do to promote the bar—the smiles and the teasing—it's an act. I want this place to succeed. If flashing my teeth and flirting with a bunch of empty-headed university girls is what I have to do, then I will. I also fist pump guys almost half my age and call them dude. It's what I have to do to be 'in' with them. I'm not going to apologize for doing that—it's PR for my business, nothing else." His fingers drummed rapidly on the wood in front of him. "But understand something. I don't lump you in with them. I never have. Maybe I've gone about this the wrong way, but I hoped you would relax around me a little and see I wasn't such a bad guy. I already have a couple checkmarks against me, but I guess I had more than I thought." He stood up; his posture stiff. "I'm sorry I bothered you, Isabella. It won't happen again."

He walked away; stopping to speak with Jasper, then leaned over, kissed Alice on the cheek and disappeared down the hall. Even from where I was sitting, I heard the slam of the door.

Alice slid in across from me, her eyes wide. "What just happened?"

"I have no idea. I think…I think I insulted him."

"Bella! He's my best sponsor!"

"I know. I didn't mean to—I was just letting him know I wasn't available. Not the way he wants, anyway."

Her eyes widened even farther. "Available? I think you need to start talking. Tell me everything."

Over more beer, I did. Even what occurred in the tunnel. When I finished, she was gaping at me, her mouth a wide O. She shook her head, sadly. "Bella, when will you see yourself clearly? You're not like most of those girls. You're smart, funny and intelligent. I can see that—so can your teachers and the people at the clinic. Edward can obviously see that. Why can't you?"

I shrugged.

"I know you don't know Edward, but I'm telling you: he's a great guy. He donates so much stuff, behind the scenes, to help the department. He sponsors a little league baseball team and volunteer coaches them in the summer. He participated in the 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event to raise money for cancer last year. He wore high heels, Bella. And the whole time, his eyes were on you and you didn't even notice him."

"I saw him there, I just avoided him. He makes me anxious and puts me on edge."

"He likes you—even I can see that. Maybe the reason you're fighting this so hard, is you like him a little more than you think?"

I remained silent.

She clasped my hand across the table. "I asked Edward once if the events were one of his favorite things about the bar—they do it other places as well, you know—and he told me then, he actually disliked it, but he knew it was needed. Jasper doesn't like it either." She chuckled. "They drew straws to see who had to do all the games this year and Edward lost. Jasper has to do them next year."

"You like him."

She nodded and sighed. "I do. He's a sweet guy. And as much as I'll hate seeing him flirt and smile at other girls, if we're together at that point, I'll have to put on my big girl panties and deal with it—and to trust him." She grinned and winked. "As long as he comes home to me at the end of the night and I'm the one riding his bull, that's all that matters."

I giggled, my glance straying down the hall.

"Jasper says Edward's office is back there. Why don't you go talk to him?"

I drained my beer, wrinkling my nose. I rarely drank the stuff and I'd had a few tonight. I could feel my toes, but my nose was questionable. Still, it was enough liquid courage to face Edward again.

The fact he was upset with me bothered me far more than I wanted to admit.

I stood up and took a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

She winked. "Go get him, tiger."

Well, that should be interesting, don't ya think? Update on Wednesday.

And for those of you who expressed disappointed Edward wasn't a real bullrider? The story is just starting...lots to discover about Edward...that is all I will say.