Disclaimer: I own nothing, nor profit any of Twilight characters/stories.
BETA: MIST
A/N: Just to want to remind you guys that Bella/Jake will be together, I am building up to it. So don't get too frustrated with the Jasper/Bella scenes. It will be worth it when they connect, I promise you! Xoxox August
Irrevocable Chpt 3:
Bella POV:
I stared at my computer screen wondering why I was so preoccupied today? I could not seem to type even one sensible sentence on my computer. The blank screen seem to taunt me that I was unworthy of my position even as a assistant.
I had my usual routine when I woke up this morning. Shower, brush my teeth, fix my hair, apply minimal make up and then drove to work. Got to work, made my coffee, went to my desk and check my emails before starting to research the part of town that Riley and his officer friend deem eerily dangerous of late. Yet I just could not seem to concentrate on even doing the easy research that was necessary in order for us to get our facts right. Nothing worse than to be proved wrong by something as minor as a wrong fact.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes hoping to find my writing muse when a image slips into my brain. A image so seductive, so deep, that it sucks me in so quick. Keeping my eyes closed I watch the scene plays out in my mind.
My stranger, my mystery dancer, Jasper, holding me against his body. The music seems to be sinking into the pores of my skin as his lips brush against my neck. He smelled so sweet. So heavenly. The touch of his lick against my bare skin, cause goose bumps to form all over my body. I wanted him. I wanted him to keep nipping at my ear the way he was. I wanted his hands to slide from my lower back, to my lower half of my body. I wanted him to ravish me in the middle of the dance floor.
"Bella, ….uh Bella." A male voice called to me.
Feeling my breathe catch in my throat as I saw his eyes light up as he stares into my face, my heart hammers against my chest.
"You were meant for me." He whispers in that deep southern twang that makes my toes curl in my shoes.
"Bella! What the hell is wrong with you?" I hear the loud voice intruding on my fantasy as I open one eye to see that there was an actual person at my desk.
It was Riley. He seem to give me a quizzical look before he sits down a pile of folders in front of me.
"Uh?" I cough as I sit up further in my seat. Grabbing my shirt, I shake it a bit, hoping to fan down my over heated body.
"Can you take a look at these? I found these and thought they might help us with our research. You are working on research, right?" Riley's eyes narrow as he look at me with a worried frown.
"I am." I gulp hard hoping like hell he does not come on my side of the desk to see what exactly I was doing. It would look bad on my part. Riley and I have a love hate relationship but I have never lied to him before.
"Good." He nods his head pressing his lips together, then walks away.
Exhaling loud and deep I shake my head back and forth trying to pull myself back together. I had so much work to do, I had to get laid soon or else I feared it might affect my work. I know it sounded lame but when I was not horny, I usually had a better sense of concentration. It helped relax me. It made me feel centered. I know, I sounded like a guy but it was true.
I began to work on the folders, finding some connections between the robberies and the addresses. It seem someone was looking for something in particular. Something they believed that these people had in their possession.
My phone rang, pulling me out of my conspiracy theories when I saw it was Charlie I felt myself yawn. I was suppose to meet him for lunch.
"Hey Charlie." I laugh hoping he did not sense my forgetfulness of our lunch date. I was often forgetting things when it came to my personal life. My father use to feel offended by my lack of memory when we made plans, yet I could ace any test you put in front of me that I studied for all night. He said I had selective memory. I swear I did not do it on purpose, it just happened that way.
"Where are you? You ready for some lunch?" Charlie asks as he yawns as well.
"I am starving. Where do you want to meet?" I have to say the thought of lunch sounded perfect. My eyes were going cross eyed from reading the folders, then back tracking the reports with a little help of my computer research. I wanted to validate everything I read from the police reports and the interviews with witnesses before I jump too far with my conclusions.
"How about Seabay Tavern." He suggested. I knew it was only twenty minutes from my work and would give me more time to spend with him, so I was pleased with his choice.
"Sounds wonderful." I lean down, opening the desk drawer pulling out my purse and keys.
"Okay. See you soon." Charlie hung up.
I quickly made my way out of the office, hoping that no one ask me where I was going. I knew they would give me food orders to bring back to them. I was not in the mood to be errand girl today.
When I step in the congested room where my father already had a table for us, I was pleased to see that he did not look like he had lost much weight since I saw him last. When I went home for the summer for a short vacation he look a little frail to me. He swore it was just the humidity making him lose his appetite but I had feared it was something far worse than that and he was hiding it from me. Since my mother had left him, he had not seem to want to move into a new relationship where he would not live alone. I wished he would find a nice woman to settle down with. Preferably one who could cook and make him eat some healthy foods. He often dined out or called for delivery at the house.
"You look great." I cry out cheerfully as I sit down across from him.
"Thanks. You look the same." He smiles warmly at me. His smile doesn't reach his eyes however. I know that this lunch is not going to be all about good news. I remember that he is here investigating Nessie's disappearance. I feel awful for forgetting something as important as this I mean, how often does your only cousin slip off the face of the earth? It had happen here in Seattle. The girl never ceased to amaze me with her constant troublesome reputation.
"Thanks. So, how is it going? The search?" I wonder if I should be posting pictures all over town in search of her, to help out Dad and Uncle Johnny? I should do more. I am a awful person. Here I have been doing all this research and not once did it dawn on me to try and do the same for my missing cousin.
"Not too good. I know she was at a club last. We found a email she and two of the girls missing sent one another. We have tried calling her phone but get no answer. We have an alert out on it, in case someone tries to use it, it will notify us immediately. " Charlie sighs sadly.
The waitress appears to take our orders. I've ate here a million times since I moved here so I knew what I wanted already. Once our orders were taken my father starts back informing me about the situation.
"Johnny fears she has ran off with some boy she met here a few months ago from a shopping trip. He says someone has been sending her gifts. First, it was flowers, then her favorite chocolates. Then she got a pair of earrings that he thought were extremely expensive for a girl her age. When he question her about it she said they were just gifts from a friend." Charlie sat back in the chair, thumping his fingers on the table top.
"A friend, uh? Well, she could be telling the truth. I mean they could be from a crush of sorts. Or even a secret admirer. Did you track the items?" I ask.
I swear I did well in Investigation Journalism course from my many years living with a police chief. I watch and learn over the years how he solve some of the most simple and troubling cases. He was amazing with his sense of logic.
"Yes, the flowers and chocolate were paid with cash. The name was simply signed with initials CC. The jewelry was paid by with a credit card with the same initials. It's not enough to know if it is a man or a woman." Charlie answers.
"A woman?" I am surprised by that idea. Why would he consider a woman kidnapping or luring Nessie to Seattle?
"Don't ever rule out anything until you have enough facts to prove otherwise." He reminds me of his golden rule.
I break into a big smile.
The waitress brings us our food and drinks, while we both dive into our lunches I get him to tell me a little more about everyone back home. After my session of twenty questions has ended it I can see he is contemplating on how to ask something from me. He rarely gets that look on his face, but I know it all too well.
"Nessie went to this club." He hands me the piece of paper he had his pocket. I am shocked. It is the same club we had just gone too a few nights before.
"What's wrong?" He catches the look of surprise on my face.
"I was there just a few nights ago." I admit.
"What did you think of the place?" He asks curiously.
"Have you gone by there?" I bit on the center of my lip, tugging on it, then licking my lips to ease the pain I have caused.
"Well, I got to go in for a whole ten minutes. The manager was not pleased with me interrupting his nap." Charlie answers with a frustrated look.
"It's very loud. Dark. I am surprised it past city codes with the broken windows. Most of it had a Gothic look about it but yet at the same time it was nice in some places." I thought about my dance on the dance floor. That had been my favorite spot all night.
"Did you see anything strange? Anyone strange?" Charlie pushes for information.
"Not really. I mean, I wanted to cover my ears most of the time I was there. I was with friends so I really did not move around too much." I am not sure why I don't feel like telling him about my mystery man. Maybe I fear he will see more into it than it was. I mean, it was weird. How was it possible for me to not hear music while we danced and then suddenly it was loud again once he step away from me? I still feared someone might have drugged me. My father would not want to hear that. He would be livid. He would want to go back and see if someone was guilty of drugging young women. This was not his jurisdiction. Not as a police officer anyways.
"Angela just started working there. You want me to talk to her about what she has seen?" I had nearly forgotten why I had actually gone to the place to begin with. It was not one of my favorite or usual places to haunt.
"Why would a girl with a college education be working in a dive like that?" Charlie exclaims with severe disapproval of my friends latest employment.
"Charlie, she has loans to pay much like me." I remind him how some of us are still feeling the affects of obtaining the much needed college degree.
"I see. Well, you better tell me if you need money. You will not work at a place like that." Charlie scolds me.
I simply laugh at him. I was twenty-three years old and he was still trying to dictate my life. We both knew it would do him no good. I was my own person. Much like him. I did what I wanted when I wanted. We had that in common as well.
"Okay Charlie." I agree while laughing at the parental face he holds until I check my watch.
"Shoot. I need to go Charlie." I stand up, trying to pickup the bill but he beats me to it.
"I got it." He rolls his eyes at me. I step over to his side, leaning over kissing him chastely on the forehead.
"Love you." I state openly.
"You too." Charlie looks slightly embarrassed by my public display of affection.
"Are you staying in town for awhile or going back?" I ask curiously.
"Going back. Today was my only free day." He sighs.
"Well, if you ever need a place to stay, I have a cushy little couch with your name on it." I tease him.
"Good to know." He teases back.
"Bye." I wave at him before turning to walk away.
It's not like every night I get the chance to just sit on my couch and stare at the television set. Normally, I have a pile of papers and my lap top on top of me while I work at home. Tonight, I wanted to take a break. After my lunch with Charlie I went back to work and went through a ton of folders before I feared I would need glasses.
I even had enough energy to write down a few facts I found suspicious and even a little alarming and sent them to Riley in an email. He had left he office at five o'clock while I stayed until seven before I call it a day.
Sitting on the couch wrapped in my old white robe I wondered if there was more I should be doing to help my family out with the investigation of Nessie. It seem awful odd to me that someone had been sending her gifts right before she went missing. Was it possible that someone had kidnapped her? She was not just out with some friends on a week of partying? If she was gone and I could never see her again, I felt my heart ache. As much as she drove me crazy she was still my only cousin. She deserved my help in finding her even if she was a little liar, trouble maker and down right nasty at times.
Running my hands through my messy hair, I realized that I had not check my messages. Pulling out my phone from my purse on the table, I saw I had a few missed calls, mainly from Lauren and Angela. Then I saw a missed text message that was from a number I did not recognize.
Hope I am not being too forward but wanted to tell you what a lovely dance I shared with you.
I dropped the phone, it landed with a loud thud on the floor. How was it possible? How did the stranger get my personal cell number? I never gave it out. I know I did not give it to him that night. He gave me his card, told me to call him. I had not called him back. I was not sure if it was wise to call a guy who scream sex appeal like he had. Especially since my raging hormones wanted to dry hump the guy the second he came near me. Then there was the strange fantasies I was having about him. I was not the head in the clouds kind of girl. So what was it about him that made me twist and turn in my seat when I thought about his hand holding mine?
I brought myself back to the message. How did he get this number? It was a mystery? It was also scary as shit.
Should I text back? Should I ignore it?
Chewing on the corner of my lip, I walk to the kitchen opening a bottle of wine. Pouring myself a small glass full I went back to the couch. Sipping on it, I pick the phone up off the floor and stared at the message.
Yeah, I could not simply not reply back. I had to know how this guy manage to get such a private number without my consent?
How did you get this number?
I rub my finger over the send button a few minutes before I got the courage to hit it.
Exhaling I took a few long sips before sitting the glass on the table. Then the phone began to buzz on my lap. I nearly jump off of the couch. I knew I was acting silly.
Picking the phone up I read the message.
You gave it to me. Do you not remember?
I choked on the air in my lungs. There was no way in hell I gave him my number. How much had I drank that night? Maybe my theory about being drug was right all along.
No. I do not recall that.
I sent back. Chewing on my nails as I waited anxiously for his response.
Did you not like the dance with me?
How in the hell was I suppose to answer that question? Of course I had liked it. I had enjoyed the hell out of it. It had been stuck in my head for days now.
Yes.
I can't think of anything else to say. I'm sure I seem like a moron since I can't even remember giving the guy my number.
Good. Let's have dinner. I would like to get to know you better.
I take a long drink as I suck on the rim of the glass staring at the phone in my trembling hand. Should I say yes? What do I know about this guy? Nothing except he appears to have a very wide range career. The card could be a fake. It could be a scam of sorts. He could give those out like a candy to starving children.
Geez, I just wish I knew more before I said yes or no. The guy definitely had some sexual prowess about him. It has been a long time since I last had sex or any other type of male relationship. Could I just be feeling paranoid due to the lack of male attention that I have received of late? Could it just be jitters?
Whatever it was that kept sending warning signals to my brain to let him go, to let this boat pass my body was screaming to ignore it. To jump without looking below. Take a chance. How long had it been since I allowed myself to have a adventure in my personal life? Weeks, months, yeah so long I could not even remember.
Sounds great. When and where?
Giggling hysterically at my spontaneous actions I pour myself another glass full of wine while I crawl up on the couch staring at the phone, willing it to respond faster.
Lovely. Pier 21 tomorrow evening at 8pm. Is that acceptable?
I love how he texts the way he speaks. So elegant. So refine.
Sounds brilliant.
I count to a hundred before hitting the send button. I do not want to seem too anxious about our dinner date.
Wonderful. Until then.
I cover my mouth with my hands as a burst of laughter erupts. I feel like a silly teenager as it occurs to me that I have nothing to wear. Jumping off the couch I rush to my room, to tear up my closest for a ideal outfit for a first dinner date with a guy whom I know nothing at all about but can not seem to forget.
Jake POV:
Jake stood outside of the circle as they honored Makayla as the new Alpha of Edward Cullen's pack. Well, it wasn't exactly his pack. It was now Makayla's pack. Edward just owned them. He was responsible for them. If they broke the law then Edward would be called out to deal with the consequences or see that the rules were upheld with the pack.
Jake hated it. Hated the way the others seem to be so excited at the prospect of having the first female Alpha in a century. He knew that female Alphas were rare. He also knew they could be unpredictable. So why would Edward deem a female to fulfill her role as the Alpha of his pack? What did he gain from this? There was no way that Edward had given Makayla here rightful role without a cost to her. He knew how sick and twisted Edward could be. He did nothing without gaining something in return.
It was one of the reasons he and Sam often had conflicts. Sam was a big believer in doing what was right. He was loyal to Edward. He did things he hated and knew in his heart were wrong and probably against the laws of their society. However, he knew his place in this world. He would do what ever it took to keep his pack safe and to keep his Master alive.
So when it was told that Sam had betrayed the security of their world by revealing to a mortal about their existence, he had a hard time believing that lie. You had to be gullible or down right a fool to believe it. There as now way Sam would endanger his pack or anyone else in this dark world by exposing the truth of them.
They said he told a female. A woman whom he believed he was in love with. He was going to ask Edward for permission to change her at the next full month. First of all, to create a wolf was difficult and the success rate was slim. Extremely slim. So, if he loved this woman as much as they say he did, why would he risk her life in hopes of her becoming one of them? None of them wanted this life. Why would anyone force it on another? Especially if that mortal was not even his true imprint?
Yeah, it did not add up in his book. Someone concocted a bullshit story and fabricated evidence so the Vampire Council would find him guilty. The punishment was death. There was no other form of punishment for a wolf who reveal any secret of their world. None. No second chances for their people. Only the vampires got away with that bullshit. Not them. They were expected to uphold all the laws regardless of the situation.
I watch as the other Alpha's and Beta's gave Makayla the traditional hug and kiss on each check as a sign of accepting her in her new prestige position among them. I clench my jaws together as she came to stand in front of me.
I knew she wanted me to accept her and touch her far more than the others. She had made it clear awhile back that she held me worthy enough to be a life mate with her. I refused her. I found her sexually appealing. I even found her beautiful. I just could not put my finger on it exactly but I did not trust her.
Slipping my arms around her, making as little physical contact as possible I gave her the hug that was expected of me while our peers watch. Then quickly I gave her two chaste kisses on the cheek then took a big step away from her.
Her eyes widen with mischief. She surprised me. I figured she would be offended by my abruptness.
"You know it has always intrigued me the way you keep me at arms distance Jacob. I think I scare you." She purred as she flip a long black lock of hair over her shoulder.
"I am not scared of you or anyone else." I reply with a deep voice. I was not scared of the Alpha before me, nor was I scared of the wolf in her but the woman, well, the female species were tricky. Trickier and manipulative creatures.
"I bet you tell yourself that each day before you fall asleep." Her eyes sparkled as she lick her dark rosy lips. I had to admit she had a pair of beautiful lips. Lips that would make my cock look great in that warm velvety mouth of hers.
"I rarely sleep. As a Alpha you will learn that there is not much personal time." I warn her as I glance around the room watching the others as they study are private conversation with keen eyes.
"I know about my duties. I have been training for a very long time." Her voice purrs as she glances back at the others before she nods her head at me then makes her way around for more congratulations.
I take out my phone to check for a update from my guys. We had picked up a lead or two on the possible locations James had this girl that Carlisle wanted so badly. My guys were out watching the places for any sign of her or James.
"All work and no play, uh?" Dakota states as he steps up by my side, watching his new Alpha make her way around the room with a regal stature like a Queen.
"Pretty much." I grunt forcing my eyes to stray from Makayla's lovely backside to lock eyes with Sam's Beta. No, Makayla's beta now. I was trying to keep my brain functioning and my hormones under control. It was hard to do when Makayla was wearing something so damn tight and short to reveal her lean muscular legs. Her long dark black hair fell down her backside, tempting a man to wonder what it would look like wrap around your fist while you yank like hell on it.
"I heard you are on a hunt for James." Dakota's eyes darkened as he look for a answer from me. I could not reveal what I was doing. We might both be wolves but we did not work for the same vampire master.
"Who told you that?" I pretended to look bored with the question not as curious as I really was.
"My master is aware of the "girl". He knows she is important to Carlisle. Trust me Edward needs to suck up to him, big time. Sam's death really infuriated Carlisle. He liked Sam." Dakota reveals. We both know he should not be discussing his coven's business with me. I do not correct him however. I figure if he is willing to blab to me he either trusts me or is as pissed as I am about the death of his leader.
"So is he sending you guys out to look for her as well?" I figure he already knows as much as I do about it.
"Yep. Makayla's first assignment is to beat you at finding the girl." He whispers.
I suck in my bottom lip as I watch Makayla turn to look at me with big dark brown eyes. She had that look in her face that revealed to me that she was aware of my assignment and was hoping to beat me in order to prove her worth to her master. Fool. She would not win this game. I was the best at tracking. Well, I was second best to Sam but now that he had been eliminated I was the best there was.
Winking at her I walk away from Dakota leaving him with no new information. I wonder if Makayla hoped I might reveal more to him, with him being a male and all. I laugh inwardly. So the new little vixen wanted to play with the big boys. I would show her. I would show her that I was the big dog. And no one, not even someone who I could see myself fucking, would beat me.
Jasper POV:
The sun was going down as I made my way into the kitchen. I knew no one would be around at this hour. The wolves always ate early in the afternoon so they could take off to do their work. I was lucky to have such committed wolves underneath me. I also knew that as long as I treated them well, they would be loyal to my causes.
Unlike my brother, Edward who seem to think that all wolves were beneath our species. He used them for his own comforts and did not give a rat's ass about their lives if he should put them in direct harm. It irk the hell out of me how our father, our Master, Carlisle did not punish him for some of his horrid behavior toward our safe keepers.
I was looking forward to tonight's dinner with Bella Swan. After I left the club I made sure to learn as much as I could about my new mystery girl. She was easy to locate. Her mind was the problem. I could not seem to get into her head like other humans. However, her friends were quite easy.
I knew Jake hated when I went on these outings, cause I usually needed one or two of his guys to chaperon. It was just a precaution in case we were attacked or I screw up and kill the girl. I would need help hiding the body from the police and the council.
I open a bottle of wine, pouring myself a large glass full. Then took some of the O positive blood and mix it with the red wine. I knew it was easier on the guys to think I was drinking pure wine rather than blood in their presences. They were lucky. Although they had animal instincts and turn into a damn creature of the night, they did not however get cursed with the desire to kill humans in order to exist in this world.
Unfortunately they were deemed to follow underneath the Vampires. They were expected to do as we ask and to protect us with their own lives. I never understood the concept, not really. However, I did know we had gone to war with them and with our victory came their lives. The lives they lived were managed and controlled by us. Their once mortal enemy,.
"I see your up early." Embry slips in the room wearing a nice suit that I had ask Max to pick up from the cleaners today. I always like my wolves to dress in ordinary refined clothing. Especially when they were on body guard duty. It would be too odd and suspicious to the humans if they dressed like a bouncer.
"I am anxious." I reply dryly as I sip on my mix beverage.
"Oh." Embry grabs a soda out of the fridge and stands on the opposite side of the room from me as he drinks his own cold drink.
"How is the hunt going?" I know that Embry works closely with Jake on big projects. He has his few select wolves that he takes with him when he feels the need to have back up.
"Good. We have located a few spots, keeping a close eye on them before we go in for the kill. Jake doesn't want to spook them if we are wrong." Embry replies honestly.
"Good. The sooner we get the girl, the better." I remind him as I take another long sip. The blood oozes down my throat. Tingling my lungs and stomach as the heat of the blood causes little flutters in my once dead heart.
"I agree." Embry nods his head.
I chuckle softly. Knowing that Embry is not as pleased about this search as the others. Embry worries about what I might do to this girl once we find her. The thing is, I don't give a rat's ass about her. Carlisle does. Not me. I am only following orders, the same way they do when I request their help.
"So who else is joining us tonight?" I know that Jake will not let me leave the house with only one protector. It is his job to keep me safe. I leave it up to him most of the time to choose who goes with me. I know that he will keep me safe. Our partnership has work out for the past hundred years now. Why question his decisions now?
"Jared is our driver tonight and Seth will accompany me." Embry replies with a solemn look. I suspect that there is a reason that Embry does not feel content about Seth joining us. I know that Seth is still young in our years. He is barely thirty. We found him when he was sixteen. We took him in, trained him, and showed him his options. He finally agreed to the full change when he turned eighteen. His family was not pleased with his sudden disappearance in their lives.
Normally, we would make it look like he died somehow so the family would let go of the new member much sooner but in Seth's case we agreed to wait awhile. He explain his father had passed away and his mother was alone, while his sister stay behind, taking care of her mother despite the fact that she also carried the wolf gene in her body. She refused us when we had approached her. She told us that her life was complicated enough without adding supernatural bullshit to it.
I was intrigued by her. She was full of fire and venom. I knew she would make a wonderful member to my pack but Jake had seen things differently. He said she would only cause him more grief with the guys. I understood things from his perspective but I have to admit I was thinking more about how she would look in my bed. I knew that most vampires bedded their wolves when they wanted too but I never took any female without her consent rather a wolf, vampire or human. I was raised in a era where a man showed women respect and provided them with protection.
I knew that I no longer lived in a society where women were looked upon as weak porcelain dolls. I still try to show them the same respect none the less. I could see into most women's minds. I knew that deep down they still long to be charmed, worshiped and most of all adored by the men they gave their hearts too.
"I think Seth will make a great asset tonight. He is young looking and humans seem to enjoy his charm." I teased knowing that Embry was slightly jealous at how easy it was for Seth to pick up the ladies. He was what the women found as irresistible. He still had that youth like appeal to him.
"If you say so." Embry shrug his shoulders.
"Remember we are dining alone tonight outside underneath the stars. I want everything to be as normal as possible. This girl is no fool. I sense something different about her. When I tried to read her mind it was like a big brick wall was in place." I began to confess what intrigued me the most about her. The fact that I could not pick up thoughts or even memories from her brain was not only a challenge for me but refreshing as hell. Most women had so much going on in their minds it nearly made me dizzy when I was in their presences.
"Are you sure she is human?" Embry frowns at me.
"I'm sure. She smells heavenly." I lick my lips as my fangs protrude thinking of how her blood sang to me when we dance closely together.
"Cool." Embry gulp hard as he threw away his soda can.
I laugh inwardly. I know my fangs are something of a reminder to the wolves that we are different and how I use them on humans disturb them despite the fact that they have swore their allegiance to me.
"Let's go." I sit my empty glass in the sink. Pulling out a few mints I slip them in my mouth. I am hoping to get a kiss from my mystery Bella tonight and the last thing I want is to have foul breath.
Embry calls out to Seth a few seconds later a young man runs in wearing an identical suit as Embry but his hair is shorter and spiked like Jake's. I chuckle. The boy is trying so hard to look like his Alpha. I can't blame him really. Jake is after all a very attractive man. He is also a damn good leader. He was one of the main reasons I never had any rogue wolves on my hands. He broke them in right and weeded out the ones he felt were a risk to our family.
"Remember normalcy is the goal tonight." I wink at them as I walk out in front of them.
BPOV:
I stand in front of the mirror wondering if the dark red dress is too much for tonight's dinner? I normally wear more earth tone colors for at work but today at lunch while shopping I found myself drawn to the red dress. It seem to beckon me to buy it. Looking at the cleavage exposed I blush to my roots. Normally, I also have everything covered unless going clubbing.
However, the saleswoman swore it was one of her best buys and very popular this season. Twirling I catch a glimpse of my black open toe heels in the mirror too. I smile. I look all girly tonight. I hope like hell no one from work sees me. They would talk for days. Laughing out loud I pick up the black onyx earrings that I had inherited from my mother placing them quickly in my ears. Then running the brush through my long curled locks I decided to keep it down.
The door knocks making me jump. Gulping hard I pick up my small black clutch purse and walk to the living room. Taking a few deep breathes as another soft knock warns me someone is outside the door. Chewing on my freshly painted red lips I tell myself it is now or never. Opening the door with a big grin on my face I am please to see Jasper wearing a expensive suit with a dozen red roses in his hands.
"Wow. You look stunning." Jasper replies as he lets out a long breath making my cheeks turn pink from the compliment.
"Thank you. You look nice as well." I bite on the tip of my tongue as I look into his eyes. They seem to sparkle. My stomach flutters with a million butterflies.
"These are for you." he hands me the lovely roses as I take a whiff of the flowers. The smell is so rich that I can not help but close my eyes for a moment enjoying it. Sitting them on the counter I walk back to him.
"They are gorgeous." I watch as he puts out the crook of his arm for me. I grab his arm and let him lead me out.
When we walk to the driveway I was a bit blown away to see a limo in my driveway. I had not rode in in a limo since my Senior prom. It was a brief ten minute ride to the school and another ten minutes home.
"I hope it's not too much." Jasper looks worried as my eyes widen with uncertainty at the large vehicle.
"It's fine. I was ….well…it was just that I have not rode in one since my prom." I fear I sound like a country bumpkin rather than a refined city woman.
"Prom, uh. Yeah, well I hope you enjoy this ride much more." Jasper chuckles as the driver jumps out of the car, opening the door for us.
Slipping in I am completely impressed with the interior. Looking at the sparkling crystal glasses and the black expensive leather seats I wonder if I am going to manage tonight's dinner without making a complete ass of myself. First of all it had been so long since I dated, secondly, I could not remember the last time I had dated a guy as prestigious with as much as apparent class as Jasper seem to wear like one would breathe oxygen.
"I hope I am not being too forward but you put my roses to shame. Your skin is softer than the petals." Jasper runs the back of his hand up my bare arm as I feel the muscles in my stomach clench and my pulse race. I look at him with pleasure as I try to find something impressive to say in return.
"Thanks." Yeah, I am doing well tonight with the verbal foreplay.
"I wonder if your lips are as soft?" His eyes lock with mine as my tongue instinctively darts out to run across my upper and then my lower lip.
The car comes to a stop just in the nick of time as I feel him leaning toward me. Blinking my eyes I take a sharp breath inward as the door opens and I follow Jasper out. Taking my hand to help me out so I do not make one of my famous falls. He has no idea yet of my natural clumsy ass. I pray that tonight he does not learn about it.
"Are you famished? I know I am." His voice is thick like velvet as he smiles at me. A smile that is so alarming I literally gasp.
"Yeesss…" I suck in my lip as I feel the coolness of his hand over mine.
"Good. Let's feast." He states softly as I walk by his side into the restaurant that I know is one of Seattle's elite restaurants. I knew the cost of a dinner here would equal half of my weekly paycheck. To say I was immensely impressed was the least I could say.
The waiter takes us to a outside table where we are the only customers as we sit at the table where candles are lit and roses are decorated in the center. The air is cool but not too cool that I can not enjoy the atmosphere. Looking up I enjoy the sparkling star filled sky. Most nights it is so cloudy it is hard to see any stars.
"Red or white wine?" The waiter asks with a big smile on his face. I know he is excited that he has big spender tonight. He knows he will receive a nice little tip for his ass kissing service.
"White please." I look over at Jasper. He is staring at me as if he is studying me.
"I will take red." He tells the waiter whose name I notice is Bryan.
The waiter pulls the small rolling table from behind him and pours us both fresh glass of wine.
I wait until Jasper takes a taste of his for approval before I follow him.
"I already spoke to the chef today about our dinner. Is everything going as I requested." He whispers to the waiter who nods his head eagerly.
"I hope you do not mind but I thought it would be fun to have my favorite dinner served for me tonight. I hate to dine where the chef's are so damn picky about what they cook." he explains as the waiter takes off back into the restaurant.
"I do not mind in the least." I assure him. I am curious what could possibly be his favorite dish that a chef would be pissy about preparing.
"So tell me about yourself Bella." Jasper licks his lips as he leans back in his chair placing his hands on his lap.
"Ummm….well I graduated at the top of my class in High School. Went to Washington State college and graduated with honors there as well. I am working full time at the moment trying to pay off all my school loans. I like to read and watch old movies in my spare time." I feel stupid as I tell him the last part. I sound like someone's grandmother.
"Do you have much spare time?" He asks as the waiter returns with two salads.
"Lately, no." I admit with a rough laugh.
"How did I get so lucky to have you to myself tonight?" His smile is so charming that I find myself giggling like a teenage girl instead of the woman I am suppose to act like.
"Can't explain it but tonight I was free." I take a drink before diving into my salad.
"What about you?" I ask as I finish chewing a bite.
"I work in business dealings mostly. I own some real estate here and around the world. I like to play golf in my free time." He informs me with a teasing look.
"Golf?" I look disappointedly at him.
"Yeah, golf. Do you not like it?" He asks curiously.
"Not really. I find it boring to be honest. I have no patience so spending hours hitting a ball around green grass all day doesn't really interest me." I explain.
"I could see how that would sound boring." He chuckles as he takes a bite.
"Exactly." I chuckle as I continue to eat the salad.
I notice how as the rest of the meal is served to us, he keeps me busy talking. Talking about my childhood, about my likes and dislikes and all the while I don't get much information about his past. About who he is today. How is it that he has become so wealthy for someone who looks to be in his late twenties perhaps early thirties at the most.
Dessert was served when I spotted one of the gentlemen who had step out of the car shortly after we had approaching our table with a worried look on his face.
"Sir, sorry to bother you but you have a call. A important call." The adorable looking man in a tailored suit announces with a sheepish grin toward me.
"Sorry Bella. One moment." He apologizes before leaving the table. I noticed that he asks the guy to remain close to me.
Now I am deeply intrigued. Why would he need a body guard? Or was this guy a body guard? He look rather young to be a lethal protector.
I wipe my mouth from the ice cream that had slipped out of the corner of my mouth. Sitting back I start to feel the affects of the four glasses of wine he lavish on me while we ate and conversed.
"Thank you Seth. We will be leaving shortly." He informs the young man who simply nods his head and steps away with the phone in his hand.
"Some important deal going down?" I ask with a curious laugh.
"Actually there is. It seems I am needed to be present in order for it to be completed. I am afraid I will need to take you home now. I am so sorry." He look irritated.
I felt good knowing that like me he did not want this evening to end so soon. Looking at my watch I realized we had spent nearly three hours together just eating and talking. It was weird cause once again time seem to fly by with him. Was that a sign of being relaxed around him or was it something else?
The car ride home was rather quiet after our time spent talking to one another so much. I wondered if he was thinking about the deal or if he was considering rather or not to ask me out again. When we arrived back at my place I was thrilled that he offer to walk me to my door.
"Bella, I am sorry we have to end our time together so soon. You are very interesting." He states as he stares into my eyes.
"You make me sound like a book you might read someday." I reply with a snort.
I know it is rude of me to snort but damn it, I don't want him to see me as interesting. I want him to see me as beautiful, amazing, or hell even desirable.
"Oh, trust me I want to snatch you up off the shelf and read every page of you. But time is not on my side tonight. Perhaps we can plan another night with hopefully more time." He suggests as he lifts my hand and places tender kisses on each of my knuckles.
My knees nearly buckle underneath me.
"I would love that." My voice cracks as I stare at his soft cool lips against my flesh.
"I would too." Then just as I think he will step away and leave me wondering yet again what his lips would feel like on my own he surprises me by cupping my face between his hands and pressing his lips softly against mine.
"Call me. I mean it." He growls in a sexual way before releasing my face then walks away.
I cover my lips with my hand as I step into my home. Locking the door behind me I bounce up and down with excitement. For once, my life was starting to look up.
Skipping to my kitchen I see the red light on my answering machine flashing. Rolling my eyes in despair I hit the button knowing deep in my gut that the message will not come with great news.
"Bella it's your father. I discovered that the last name on the credit card is Cullen. Not sure about the first name at the moment. So far I have found several businesses that have the name Cullen and Hale attach to the ownership. Can you do some of that magic of yours and research each of them for me? I will email you what I have found. Love you. Hope you are well." Then the beep follow it.
Throwing my hands up in defeat I know that the rest of my weekend will be filled with research the way my week days are.
Throwing off my heels and unclipping my earrings I am hit with a realization. Hale. Why do I know that name? Walking into my room I pick up the business card that I had left laying on my night stand. Jasper's last name was Whitlock but he had a partner by the name of Hale. Was it possible that it was the same Hale who had a partnership with Cullen as well? What are the odds of that? In my case probably high.
Sitting the card down I cuss at my cousin as I throw on my pajamas and sit on my bed with my laptop in my lap, knowing somehow that this mystery Cullen guy is going to be connected to Nessie's disappearance and that my new rich date would also be connected as well through his partnership. Why me? Why could I not have a simpler life? Why did fate always seem to take a dump on me?
