A/N: You are all so damn sweet! Thank you for your reviews/follows/favorites. I'm always amazed at the loyalty I have from you wonderful people. I hope you stick with me. Like I said, things aren't always going to be rosey for our couple, but don't run. You've read my other stories…you know me.

Regarding a posting schedule – I'm shooting for daily unless RL gets in the way. As I said, this story is finished, and as I read the reviews (which I read each and every one and am grateful), if something needs to be clarified or a fantastic idea comes, I edit or do an outtake, so no worries.

Regarding whether this story is posted anywhere else – Nope. If you'd desire, I could pull it to Fictionpad, where you can actually find all of my stories from this site if you'd like to load them onto an e-reader. (BTW – if anyone can explain how to do that to me, I'd be forever in your debt. I'm so un-tech savvy, it's abhorrent.)

Disclaimer – Smeyer owns. I only borrow. No infringement.

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2. Shortcake

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his cell phone rang. He stepped back and pulled it from his back pocket. "Shit. I need to take this, if you don't mind."

"Sure, I'll go…" I offered so as to give him privacy.

He hit the button to accept the call and placed his hand on my leg to keep me from going anywhere. "Hi, Shortcake. How's school?" I could hear high-pitched chatter, and that, accompanied by the easy smile on his face, led me to believe he was talking to his daughter who he obviously loved very much.

So, if I was reading him right, he was more than a little interested in me, and I had the distinct impression it was for more than just a roll in the sack. I was definitely interested in him for more than a one-night stand, but I was kicking my own ass for letting my heart get ahead of my common sense.

I didn't know the man at all, and his comments regarding he doesn't play games and the like could very well have been a finely crafted pick-up line. I was sure any woman would be defenseless against it, not just me. Plus, he worked in a damn bar so he had ample opportunity to use it on a nightly basis.

"Hang on a minute, Vanessa." I felt a squeeze to my leg and looked up from my blank gaze.

"Sorry, what?" I didn't know if he'd asked a question or not.

He put his hand over the mouthpiece and chuckled. "Is it appropriate for a thirteen year-old girl to get her ears pierced?"

I giggled a bit at his insecurity. "Um, that's when I got mine pierced. It was kind of a 'welcome to being a teenager' rite of passage. Does that help?"

He leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. "Immensely."

"Ness, let me talk to Mom, will you?" I was still surprised at the openness of the man, and even the chaste kiss had me panting.

"Hey, Katie, how are you? How's Garrett? Oh…wow, congratulations. I knew you guys were trying. How'd Ness take the news?" He then laughed heartily and winked at me.

"Well, that's not a surprise. Look, about the ear piercing, I don't care if you don't. A lady friend of mine told me it was like a rite of passage, so if you're up for it, that's fine. It'll give me something certain I can get her for Christmas, at least. So, when's the dance?" He continued to catch up with his ex-wife and daughter, and I was actually happy to hear he had an amenable relationship with her. I could only imagine how difficult it would be living across the country from his daughter. If he didn't have a good relationship with the mother, that would make it more unbearable, I was sure.

"Okay, I'll call her later in the week. Tell Garrett I said congratulations, and take care of yourself. Vanessa's old enough she can help out around the house. If she gives you any shit, call me. I'll threaten her about that little bastard who's sniffing around. I'm not overreacting. Pardon me if I don't think it's cute that some boy kissed my daughter on your front porch after school. My friend already told me not to threaten her regarding seeing the boy because it will just push her to keep him around. Yes, she is very smart. That's cute, Kate. Yes, she's beautiful. Well, if you'd stop giving me the third-degree maybe I could get off the phone and find out. She is. Good-bye, Kathleen." He laughed. I could still hear the woman chattering away before he ended the call.

He slid his phone in his back pocket and sat on the table next to me, turning to face me as he hitched his left leg up. I couldn't exactly mirror his position because I was wearing a dress and didn't want to flash the guy…well, not yet anyway.

"So, um, that was my daughter and my ex, Kate, in case it wasn't painfully obvious. She just found out she and her husband are expecting," he explained.

"Oh, that's great. How does your daughter feel about that?" I'd heard him ask, and I was curious.

"She said she's not changing dirty diapers, but she's happy about it. They've been trying for a while, so I'm happy for them. Kate always wanted more kids, but when things weren't going so well with us, we decided not to bring another child into the mix. It was hard enough when we separated and had to tell Ness. If there were more kids involved, we'd have probably stayed together and made each other miserable losing the respect we have for each other in the process. So, she asked me a very interesting question before I hung up on her."

"Oh, um, what's that?" I was surprised at the mature approach he and his ex-wife had taken in raising their daughter. It was quite unusual from what I'd heard from acquaintances who shared custody of their children. There didn't seem to be any animosity between them whatsoever, which I was guessing was good for their daughter.

"She asked if we were dating. Since I haven't actually had the opportunity to ask you for a date, I couldn't answer her. So, are you busy Wednesday night?"

I giggled. He was most certainly unlike any man I'd ever met. "I'm not, actually. I asked you a question before your daughter called. Remember?"

"Will my answer affect your willingness to let me take you to dinner?" He had a very mischievous smile on his face that was quite charming.

"Maybe."

"Then I reserve the right to answer until after our first date." I laughed and nodded in agreement just as the timer went off on the oven. He hopped down from the table, pulling out two pans of chocolate cupcakes. He flipped them onto a cooling rack and got busy making what I assumed was frosting.

He stopped and turned to look at me. "Do you like chocolate mousse?"

"Um, yeah, but the cupcakes…" I was about to tell him he didn't need to make another dessert, but he merely smiled and went to work.

"Would you mind seeing if anyone needs anything out there?" He motioned toward the door with his head.

"Sure." I hopped down from the table and walked into the bar to see everyone laughing and having a good time. Doctor Emmett was behind the bar making drinks, so I walked over to where Rosalie was seated talking to Alice and Jasper, and I pecked her on the shoulder.

"You, um, you guys don't have to hang around for me. I'll get a cab home in a little while." I knew I sounded nervous, but I really wanted them to get lost. The gorgeous man was making me cupcakes, and I was pretty sure I wanted to ring in my birthday with just the two of us eating mousse and chocolate cupcakes, hopefully off each other while naked.

"Sorry, Bella, we've already decided we're hanging around to help you ring in your birthday properly. I'm just off a very long day, and I don't work tomorrow, so I'm more than happy to hang around, drink Edward's liquor for free, and eat whatever he's making back there," Doctor Emmett informed as he handed me two beers with a smile on his face.

"Oh, he's making me birthday cupcakes. He's a bit flighty, isn't he?" Seemed his best friend should be able to answer a couple of the million questions roaming around my head about the adorable man making chocolate mousse in the kitchen.

"Actually, Ed's the least flighty person I've ever met in my life. This is seriously never how these events go…well, I've never met a great woman at one of them, so that's two things that are new," Musician Jasper responded as he gazed at Alice.

Rosalie winked in my direction, seeing what I was trying to get…information. "Does he always make cupcakes for the women he picks up here?" God love her little black heart.

Emmett, Ben, and Jasper looked at each other and laughed heartily. "Uh, no. Edward never hits on the customers at any of his…" Ben began before Emmett cut him off.

"Let's just say this is atypical behavior for Mr. Masen. Now, anybody need a refill?" With that, all discussion of Edward ceased, leaving me with more questions than answers.

I took the two beers and walked back into the kitchen, seeing him with a piping bag holding a cupcake. He had the metal tip inserted into the middle of it, and he was squeezing something that looked delicious inside. I walked over to where the bowl of chocolate goodness rested and swiped a finger through it, tasting the best fucking chocolate mousse I'd ever had in my life.

"Oh, my god," I moaned as I closed my eyes, enjoying the taste on my tongue. It was absolutely perfect.

"You like?" I like? No, I love…almost as much as I believe I could love the man who concocted such perfection.

"I've never tasted anything so perfect in my life. Is it on your regular menu?" Seemed a waste if it wasn't.

"No. I save this for special people. Now, are you allergic to nuts?" I shook my head, seeing him go to a shelf and grab a container of pecans. He whisked some egg whites and dumped in two handfuls of the nuts, straining them out and spreading them on a cookie sheet. He sprinkled something over them and popped them in the oven, leaving me mesmerized by his graceful movement around the kitchen. It was like watching a ballet.

"Is everything okay out there?"

"Emmett's being liberal with your liquor, but I think everyone's having a good time. You can tell your brother the event will get a very good write-up in the 'City Paper'. Maybe more guys will sign up next time?" I watched him pour a carton of heavy cream into a glass bowl he'd pulled out of the cooler. He added some superfine sugar, a cap of vanilla, and then walked out to the bar, coming back with the Bailey's Irish Crème. He added a bit, and began whisking furiously. I was completely impressed.

"So, is baking a hobby? You seem to be very comfortable in the kitchen," I commented as I watched him.

"Do you cook?" he asked without answering me.

"Um, nothing this fancy, I can tell you. I can keep myself and my roommates alive. Do you cook as well as bake?" He filled another piping bag with the cream and began piping it on the cooled cupcakes, creating an intricate swirl with a little loop on top.

"Let's just say I can do more than just sling drinks. Will you grab that silver pedestal stand?" He was pointing to a wall where there were a lot of serving dishes. I found what he'd requested and carried it back. He looked at it and smiled.

"Maybe grab one just a size smaller as well." I walked over and found one a bit smaller, carrying it over.

He began arranging the delicious looking cupcakes, which had shaved chocolate and crushed candied pecans on top of them I hadn't notice previously. When he was finished, it was a cupcake tower. He went to a drawer, pulled out a long pink stick, and picked up the tower. "Bring our beers, Birthday Girl." With that, he was out the door.

I grabbed the two untouched Buds and followed him out, hearing "oohs" and "ahhs" from our friends in the bar. I walked in, just in time to see Emmett reach for one and receive a crack on the knuckles from Edward.

"It's not the 13th yet, you rude bastard. So, I think we have time for a little dancing. Rosalie Hale, don't let him sneak a cupcake." Edward walked over to me, took the two beers from me and plunged them into ice before leading me around the end of the bar to the middle of the room. He moved a few tables around, and then pulled me into his arms and began slowly moving me around the room to a song I didn't recognize. It was definitely an Irish tune, but it was too fast for the type of dancing he seemed to want to do.

"Whit! Change it to twenty-three," he called out. I saw Jasper get up from his stool and go back into the kitchen. Suddenly, the music changed to Elvis Presley. "Falling in Love with You" played over the speakers, and Edward, the most enigmatic man I'd ever met, pulled me closer and took my right hand, holding it over his heart.

"This is much better," he whispered in my ear. I agreed with him completely. I saw the other couples, except Ben and Angela who were engrossed in a conversation, move to join us on the small patch of floor.

Edward sang quietly into my ear as we swayed to the music. After a minute, I felt his warm lips on my neck and deemed it the best birthday eve of my life. I had no idea when I begrudgingly agreed to go to that stupid speed dating event it would end up being something I was certain I'd never forget.

"Hey, it's midnight, dude," Emmett shouted as he pulled Rosalie over to the bar with him where the cupcakes were sitting.

"Do not touch those," Edward ordered. He took my hand and led me over to the bar, placing me on a stool in the middle and shoving the pink stick, which was a candle, into the center cupcake on the top tier. He lit it with a big grin on his gorgeously sculpted face.

They all began singing the birthday song to me, and I felt my face grow hot instantly, not used to anyone making a big deal out of my birthday. When they were finished singing, Edward smiled. "Make a wish." I stood on the brass rail at the bottom of the bar, closed my eyes, and made my wish. I blew out the candle amidst a round of applause.

Edward handed me the one with the candle, kissing my lips before he pulled out the candle. "You taste sweeter than any baked good I could concoct. Happy Birthday, Beautiful Bella."

I peeled away the wrapper and took a bite, moaning along with everyone else in the bar. The most incredible taste that had ever crossed my tongue had been made especially for me by the most gorgeous, wonderful man I'd ever met in my fucking life. It was truly a fantastic birthday.

##

I woke at noon on Tuesday. Rosalie and Alice were at work, though God knows how they were able to go because we didn't get home until nearly five o'clock in the morning. After the cupcakes, we danced a bit more…split up into quiet corners in the bar and made out a little, and Edward, Jasper, and Emmett put us into a cab after ten minutes of making the driver wait as we made out at the curb. Ben and Angela had left around one in the morning.

I had the remaining four cupcakes in a box in my fridge, and I was looking forward to having one for breakfast…or lunch, as it were. Edward and I had a date on Wednesday night. I'd given him my address, which was risky, but when I considered the fact I'd have gone right upstairs with him that night and fucked him without a second thought, I decided it was the least slutty thing I could do.

I took a quick shower and attended to morning business before I walked out into our living room, seeing a huge bouquet of roses and the room was nearly filled with balloons of every color conceivable. I pulled the card from the flowers and was surprised by the sentiment.

Isabella Marie Swan, Twenty-Six,
This was the best I could do on short notice.
Happy Birthday!
I look forward to tomorrow night.
Edward

I smiled as I read the card. I quickly called Alice because she worked for an haute couturier in the garment district, and I was sure she'd answer her cell because she wasn't too busy since her boss was in Paris. "Hello, my dear girl." She loved all holidays of any kind, and I was sure she and Rose were behind the balloons.

"Hello, sweetie. So, really? All these balloons?" I was laughing as I looked around. It looked like a carnival.

"Oh, we had nothing to do with those. Seems Edward Masen was quite taken with you. They came with the twenty-six roses. Three guys delivered them just before I left for work. Rose was already gone, but I'd suggest you pull them into your room before she gets home from work. You know how bitchy she can be." Alice and I laughed, knowing Rosalie's demeanor and anal-retentive neatness.

"I will, but there are like a hundred of them. I don't think they'll all fit into my room." I was trying to count them, but as I walked through them, the streamers tied to them kept shifting, making me lose count.

"Put some in my room if you need to. Bella, what do you know about Edward Masen?" I didn't know a whole lot about him. I knew the important things, though. He was a wonderful human being. He was warm and friendly. He adored his daughter. He had an easy smile and a contagious laugh. He was a hell of a baker and kisser, and he'd given me a magical night. He was abso-fucking-lutely gorgeous. Anything else? I was content to learn over time.

"He's hot as hell, and the best kisser I've ever met. Everything else…except his skills in the sack…is secondary. Why? Is he a serial killer or something? Frankly, I'd still go to dinner with him tomorrow night even if he is. I am over the damn moon about him, Alice. No other guy I've ever met can hold a candle." I was gushing like an insipid teenager, but oh, brother…he was dreamy.

"Bella, he's…"

"Stop right there. Anything else I need to know about him I want him to tell me. I'm not interested in regurgitated gossip, Alice. I actually want to give the guy a chance, which is more than I've ever wanted to do in the past. He's older? I know that. He was completely upfront about it, and he told me about his daughter and ex-wife who he has a good relationship with, amazingly. Kate, the ex, told him last night she's expecting, and he was genuinely happy for her. He's like no man I've ever met, Al, and I want to give him the opportunity to confess his sins to me if we go out on more than one date, okay? Keep whatever you know to yourself," I demanded as I began moving the balloons to my room, laughing the whole time that something as silly as primary-colored balloons could make me so giddy.

"Okay, okay. I get it. I'll keep my mouth shut. It sounds as if you're completely infatuated with him, so I'll allow you the opportunity to learn about the man at your own pace. You know, Rose and I are here for you." I thanked her, feeling a bit worried about her comment.

I determined I wasn't about to let her taint him for me, so I put her comments out of my mind and called my parents. After a twenty minute conversation with the two of them, I hung up and smiled, beginning to count the hours until my date with the mysterious Edward Masen the next night.

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I know it was short, but it needed to end there. No worries… Don't start fretting. I love how this part plays out. Lemme hear from ya!

Till tomorrow night…xoxo

(I'm not on Twitter because my daughter told me my life is too boring to tweet, but if you like the story and are on Twitter, feel free to tweet about me! SK)