Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to the brilliant Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 3

I step back from him, giving his strong muscled chest a gentle push in the process. This man is clearly in shape and not from lifting weights in a gym either. It's obvious that it's from pure manual labor. Gah!

I really need to clear my head and he seems to be the ultimate of distractions, which in a way is a good thing, as for all of two minutes, I seem to have forgotten about my lying cheating ex and whore of a best friend.

He gives me an easy smile and nods his head towards my vehicle as he speaks. "You need me to take a look at that?"

No, what I really need is for you to wrap me up in those strong arms again and let me forget about the mess of a life I just left behind in Phoenix.

I've lived there my whole life with my mother and her husband Phil. They just moved to Jacksonville, Florida a few years ago and I stayed behind to make a life with him, he was my life in fact. How foolish I was to shap my entire life plan around him. I know now that I'll never make that mistake again. It seems that Jacksonville is the only place for me to go, which is where I was heading when my car broke down.

It's then that I realize I've been lost in my head a little too long and this kind, gorgeous man is patiently waiting on me to speak. I must look like a complete mess with mascara smeared under my eyes, my hair in a sloppy ponytail, my tattered jeans and ratty old t-shirt matched with a pair of red high heels, because I couldn't be bothered this morning with digging through my bags for a pair of flats. I had to stay overnight in some cheap hotel in some random town in Texas and got up early to continue the long drive.

I shake my head to focus back on this kind stranger. "Yes, actually that would be great. I think it just overheated, but I don't have any water on me and everything seems to be closed down in this town, so I can't get any tonight." I'm rambling a bit, but it doesn't seem to bother him, he just continues to grin at me and my eyes once again focus on that strong stubbled jaw of his. I've never seen a man that looked so rugged and sexy.

He starts to walk towards my SUV and chats with me over his shoulder as I follow behind. "Yeah, you're right about that darling. This town is pretty dead by eight at night. I was just driving back from the city when I saw you parked here and couldn't' help but stop and see if I could help. My momma would've slapped me backwards if I didn't."

Seriously the cutest thing on earth. I'm dying that the word momma just came out of this rough and tough guy's mouth.

I think a giggle escapes me, because he turns around and offers me a smirk so dazzling that I nearly stumble again, this time without a pot hole being the cause. He chuckles at my lack of coordination. I'm not normally a clumsy person, but something about this man has my equilibrium off so much that I feel like I have vertigo.

We make it to my car and I hand him the flashlight. While he's looking under the hood, I continue the conversation. "Yes, well, I'm so thankful that you stopped. I don't know what I would've done. Probably just camped out in my Pilot all night."

He quickly takes his eyes off of the engine and looks straight into mine with a fierce concern. "Well thank goodness I came along then. We couldn't allow a pretty thing like you to camp out here all alone." Yes, well why don't you stay out here with me, then I wouldn't be, now would I?

I obviously said that out loud, again, because his green eyes go wide and the smirk even wider as he responds.

"Well, this here's a roomy vehicle and all, but I much prefer the comfort of my own home, since I'm this close and all. I'd be happy to let you stay there for tonight and we can call for a tow truck in the morning though." Oh my gosh! Please just let one of these giant pot holes swallow me up.

The smirk has left and a full fledge blinding smile is now overtaking his face, causing that gorgeous bronze stubble to shift around as well.

Oh he is just too much, I tell you. But, should I really go and stay with a complete stranger? I quickly think about the alternative, staying out here and possibly meet more of the locals who might not be as kind or attractive as this man. Then I realize I don't even know his name.

While I'm thinking over his offer, he closes the hood with a loud slam and dusts off his hands on his nice tight jeans. My eyes shift to that shiny buckle again and for once in my life, I want to be careless and throw caution to the wind. Something led me here to this town and to this man. Now, was I brave enough to take a leap and see where this leads me?

He notices my reluctance and quickly throws this in, "My sister stays in the house literally right next door to mine. If you're worried about being alone with me that is."

I give him a slightly uneasy smile, because the cautious and meticulous Bella would say no and just take my chances out here all alone, but maybe it's the hurt and anger that pushes me to respond.

I walk over to my driver side door, grab my purse and a random bag of clothes, then shut the door with a beep of the lock, before turning around and saying, "Okay, thank you-" I wait for him to supply his name. I think I at least need to know the name of my sexy mysterious hero.

"Edward, Edward Cullen. And you're very welcome, Ms. -"

I respond immediately with a polite smile, "Bella, Bella Swan."

We stare at each other for a moment, both with flirtatious smiles, before he breaks the trance and leads me to his old rusty truck and away from this dark and creepy night.

A/N: Thanks again so much for all of the alerts, faves and reviews. So glad you are enjoying this Edward.