I am blown away at the reviews and alerts! You guys seriously amaze me!

Cupcake lovin' to my baby sis and pre-reader Catie22866 and my beta-love LexyW. They keep me honest and always make it better.

Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Chapter 4

BPOV

The minute I got home from work, I walked straight into the kitchen, grabbed my apron, turned on some Damien Rice, and set the oven to 350 degrees. I just needed to bake. Some people need a drink or to clean when they're upset; not me, I bake. I pulled out all the ingredients I needed for my Salted Caramel Cupcakes, grateful that I always had what I needed to make them on hand. These cupcakes were time consuming, rich, and divine, and I wanted one… now. I thought back over the day and just couldn't believe how horrible it had been. I should have known things wouldn't be different here, that I would never actually get away from my past. I felt the familiar burn as tears welled up in my eyes. Did I really deserve to be treated like this? Would it always be like this – no matter where I went or how far away I got from Phoenix? The ring of the phone pulled me from my thoughts; I looked at it and saw Charlie's name pop up. I brushed away the tears that had fallen unhindered, sniffed a few times, and tried to pull it together so he wouldn't know I had been crying. I didn't want to explain this or anything else for that matter to Charlie, especially not over the phone.

I flipped open my phone, "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, Bells. I wanted to let you know I am going to be working until tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, okay.

"Jake got sick and they need a replacement. I didn't want you making dinner for me since I won't be there."

"Thanks for letting me know," I said as a traitorous sniffle broke through.

"You okay, Bella?"

"Yeah… I, uh, I think I might be coming down with a cold or something, probably just allergies," I said in my most convincing voice.

"Ok, well, I'll see you when I get home tomorrow."

"Bye dad." The line went dead.

I set the phone aside and turned back to my cupcakes. I quickly whisked together the flour, baking powder, and salt in one of my new favorite bowls. I had decided to get some new baking supplies since Charlie's kitchen was so inadequate and antiquated. I walked over to my new KitchenAid mixer and smiled. I had wanted one of these since college but had never had the money to get one. Now that I was on my own and working, I had decided to treat myself – I got the red one. I dropped a stick of butter into the shiny silver bowl and poured in the white and brown sugar. I turned it on and grinned like an idiot as the machine whirred to life, beating the butter and sugars until fluffy. I added eggs and vanilla, mixed until combined, and then added the dry ingredients, along with some milk. The rich notes of caramel wafted up as the beater whipped through the batter. I loved hearing the patpatpat of the beater moving the batter around the bowl. When it was done, I quickly scooped the batter into my pretty new cupcake liners and stuck them in the oven.

While the cupcakes baked, I turned my attention to creating the caramel sauce. I loved this sauce; it was rich, sweet and buttery; it literally melted on your tongue. I pulled out Charlie's saucepan and began cooking the sugar. I watched as the sugar began to melt around the edges, and then turned a rich golden amber as the remainder of it dissolved. Slowly, I poured cream down the side of the pan, stirring vigorously, as the sugar bubbled and spattered to life. When the mixture was smooth, I added some salt and set it aside to cool. As if my timing could be any more perfect, the buzzer shouted, and I pulled the cupcakes out of the oven.

Without even realizing it, all the tension of the day had melted away and I spent the next ten minutes making the frosting. Gran had given me the recipe when I turned eight years old. "Every girl should know how to make a mean buttercream," she'd said. I had cherished this recipe and kept it a secret ever since. Finally, I was to the last step before assembly – creating the chocolate-covered caramels. These were a special little add-on that I came up with about two years ago when I was trying to pretty these little cakes up. I had experimented with all kinds of caramels but finally settled on Werther's chewy caramels. They were rectangular, soft, and perfect for dipping in chocolate.

I sat at the wax-paper covered table, unwrapped and dipped the bottom of each caramel into melted chocolate. My mind wandered back to Edward and how angry he had been with me. I sent a wordless prayer of thanks that I didn't have to work tomorrow. I couldn't imagine how awkward it would have been to have to face Edward, to see him look at me with contempt and frustration. The saddest part about this whole situation was Alice. I know she thinks I'm a spaz. Of course she does! You accosted her in the dining room begging her to take your last few tables so you could get out of there. What else is she supposed to think? What would she think of me now? The anxiety and sadness I had been feeling since this morning came crashing back over me, and the tears ran unhindered down my face. I thought back to the last few months and how everything in my life had changed and how far I had come. I had no idea how, but I knew that this, like all of the situations I had been in for the last six years, would blow over. I stood up and decided to think about this later; it was time to get a cupcake.

I grabbed an icing bag, outfitted it with a coupler and a tip and filled one side of the bag with icing and the other side with caramel sauce. I folded the top of the bag down and slowly and precisely swirled the beautiful mixture in thick spirals on top of each cupcake. I loved how the amber ribbons twisted against the soft, buttery white of the buttercream. After each cupcake had been frosted, I added a caramel to the top and then sprinkled each with a generous helping of sea salt. Standing back, I looked at my creations and sighed. This, this is what I should be doing, what I had always wanted to do but had never been brave enough to really commit. Edward's invitation to let me do the baking at The Diner churned around in my head. I really wanted to do it; I just wasn't sure I could, or even wanted to work with Edward in the kitchen every day. He was moody and volatile. His words echoed over and over, "This is my kitchen, Bella. I don't have to ask permission." His attitude… I just… didn't know if I could deal with the tension it would create, or more importantly, if I even wanted to deal with it.

Once again, I pushed all thought aside and grabbed one of my cupcakes, poured myself a glass of milk, and walked upstairs. It was late and I was exhausted. I devoured my cupcake, downed my milk, and tried to read for a little bit, but my mind kept wandering back to Edward. Bella, you know you want to do this. Just take the damn job and do it. Do it! The longer I lay there, the more I felt the anger from the day's drama wash over me. Courage welled up inside of me and I decided at that moment that I wasn't going to let Edward Cullen intimidate me anymore. I had lived under the veil of intimidation for six years and I was tired – tired of always walking on eggshells and living in fear. It was time for me to take him head on, and baking cupcakes was just the way to do that.

x-x-x

I heard my phone ring and glanced at the clock. I picked up the phone and groaned. Alice. I had no idea why she would be calling at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning.

"Hello."

"Hey, Bella. It's Alice," she paused. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"It's fine. What's up?"

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come over later this afternoon for a barbeque. A few of our friends are coming over – Rosalie and her husband, Emmett. Jasper will be there, too."

I thought for a second about what was actually going on today and knew I didn't have an excuse that would fly. I wondered if Edward would be there and if it would be awkward. "Okay…," I said hesitantly. "Um… is... "

"Yes, he's going to be there," she interrupted. "He wants to apologize but he's being such an ass about it. Will you please still come? Pleeaaaasssee?"

I groaned again. It was no use; I was no match for Alice and her begging. "Yes, I'll come."

She squealed and I could just imagine her bouncing up and down, "Yay! Ok, so be at my place around 3:30. Do you know how to get here?"

"I came over to your house a couple of weeks ago. I think I can remember how to get there," I said sarcastically.

"Oh sorry, no, it's actually going to be at my dad's house. He has a great view, an awesome outdoor kitchen and a fire pit!"

She gave me directions and I told her I'd be there. "Should I bring anything?"

"Yes! Can you bring a dessert?"

"Of course. I actually made cupcakes yesterday – Salted Caramel. Will that be okay?"

"Mmmmm," I heard her moan. "Oh my gosh, Bella. That sounds so divine!"

I chuckled. "Ok, I'll see you at 3:30. Bye, Alice."

"Bye!"

I guess my angry baking from yesterday would be put to good use after all.

x-x-x

I drove up the long winding driveway to Alice's house and my breath caught as the largest log cabin I had ever seen greeted me. It was beautiful and rustic and elegant. The logs were a rich oaky color accented with green-rimmed windowsills. I walked up to the front door of the Cullen's house, and was greeted with a beautiful assortment of potted plants and a large mahogany front door. I rang the bell and waited nervously. The door opened and Alice pulled me into a tight hug and shrieked, "You came!"

"I told you I would, silly," I laughed, holding out my cupcake traveling case. She took them carefully and walked into the house. The minute I got in the entryway, I froze. Wow! From the outside, the house looked like a huge log cabin, and the inside was just as I expected - masculine, warm, and beautiful. The rich smell of cedar, burning wood, and cinnamon clung to the air. I looked into the great room and immediately noticed a large fire roaring in a smooth-rocked fireplace, surrounded by a hearth that ran all the way up to the top of the vaulted ceilings. Adjacent to the fireplace, was a wall of windows that overlooked a forest of trees and in the far distance the mountains. It was airy and open and immediately put me at ease. The couch and chairs were a warm brown leather and accented with soft burgundy and cream pillows. Every surface was decorated with purpose and had the hint of a woman's touch. "Alice, your house is so beautiful. Did you decorate this?"

A brief flash of sadness crossed her face before her smile returned. "Actually, no, my mom decorated it."

I couldn't be sure what had caused that brief flicker of emotion, and I didn't ask. "Well it's exactly what I expected it to look like when I saw the outside. It has the most comfortable and welcoming feel."

"Thanks, that was definitely the feel mom was going for," she smiled sadly as she led me out of the room.

I followed her into the kitchen, set my bag on one of the chairs, and pulled out my cupcake plate. I opened the container and the salty sweet aroma assaulted my nose. I breathed in and smiled.

"Those look orgasmic, Bella," she giggled.

I felt the warmth creep up into my cheeks and laughed. "They are, trust me!"

"Aaaahhhh!" Alice screeched, dancing around a little.

Just then Jasper walked in with Rosalie.

"What are you girls squealing about?" he asked.

"Bella's cupcakes!" Alice squealed again.

They both walked over and ogled my cupcakes.

"Hey, guys," I said as Jasper reached out to get one, and Alice smacked his hand. "Don't even think about it, mister! Those are for dessert."

Jasper looked at me sheepishly and I just shrugged, smiling.

"Those are stunning, Bella," Rosalie commented. "Do all your cupcakes look like that?"

"Well, they are all different, but yeah, I guess so." I was starting to feel really self-conscious and really wanted to focus the attention on anything other than me or my cupcakes.

"Well, you should seriously consider doing this at The Diner. These would be unique and different than the average diner fare, don't you think?"

I looked at Rosalie and grinned. "Yeah, I do. So, it would be okay with you if I did that?"

She grinned, "Are you kidding?! Absolutely!"

Oh my gosh, she wants me to bake in her diner! AHAHAHAHAH!

"The grill's ready, guys. Get your asses out here," an unfamiliar voice shouted from the deck, pulling me back to reality. I looked over and saw the biggest guy I had ever seen. He was bulky and well muscled – not in an obscene way – with a tight t-shirt stretching across his chest and back.

"Oh, hi! You must be Bella. I'm Emmett, Rosalie's husband," he said with a grin and a wave of his spatula.

"Hi, yes, I'm Bella. Nice to meet you."

"Well, come on, guys! Let's get the meat and veggies on the grill," Alice ordered.

Rosalie and Jasper each grabbed a platter of food, and I followed behind, empty-handed. I noticed that Edward wasn't around and wondered where he was. Alice had said he was going to be here. I wonder if he'll really be okay with me baking in his kitchen. I shrugged off my doubt and decided to just enjoy the evening. I was excited to spend some time with everyone and hopefully make some real friends.

Emmett was putting the veggies on the grill and chatting animatedly with Jasper about some car he found at a local junkyard. He was talking about parts and paint colors and how he wanted to restore it. I was kind of drawn in and listening but didn't really know what they were talking about.

"Em is a mechanic and owns his own shop on the outskirts of Forks," Rosalie said.

"Oh, gotcha."

"He has been trying to find parts for this 1967 Chevy Camaro for months. He spends the weekends scouring flea markets and junk yards for old parts."

"Wow, that's pretty cool. Do you go, too?

"Yeah, actually, I'm into it too. It's actually a little hobby of both of ours. It's fun," Rosalie grinned. I could tell that she really enjoyed it because her eyes brightened and she got a little bit taller.

"So have you guys restored other cars?"

"Actually yes, we have. We rebuilt a 1956 Chevy truck about a year ago and sold it to Billy Black over at LaPush."

"Really? I've known Billy forever. He and my dad are really good friends," I gushed. "I guess I'm going to have to check it out sometime."

"You should come by Em's shop. There are some pictures there, and you can also see the Camaro."

"Sure! I don't know anything about cars but would love to check it out. My…," I paused, completely caught off guard by what I had almost let slip, "a guy I knew in Phoenix always fixed my car."

She laughed. "That's cool! We can give you the run down. Em loves to show off his cars."

"That's not all I like to show off," Emmett said as he waggled his eyebrows.

Rosalie just rolled her eyes and punched him playfully.

I smiled and turned toward the edge of the deck. The view was absolutely breathtaking. The forest was thick and lush, varying shades of green popping in the sunlight. Beyond it, you could see the ocean as the waves crashed against the rocks. I closed my eyes and inhaled, allowing the clean air to cleanse my head and fill my lungs.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

My eyes flew open and once again that sexy voice startled me. I turned around and was face to face with Edward. I knew he would be here, but nothing had prepared me for hearing that voice. It was velvet and rough at the same time and washed over me, leaving me tingling and a little dazed. All the anger, hurt, and frustration melted away as I stared into his beautiful green eyes; something made me think he wasn't just talking about the view. "Yes, it is," I whispered.

He moved a little closer and stood beside me, resting his forearms on the deck railing, looking out at the view again. I turned back to the forest, feeling completely out of my element, but drawn there nonetheless. Edward looked over at me, smiled nervously, and then down.

He looked tired, like he hadn't slept well, and I wondered if maybe sleep had evaded him like it had me. His hair was a mess, probably from running his hands through it so much. He raised his eyes to look at me again, and I could see his jaw beginning to tense. I felt the anxiety that had consumed me yesterday start to bubble under the surface. He was clearly hoping I would say something, but I had no idea what to say.

He cleared his throat and looked down, "Bella, I…. I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I was completely out of line and I acted like a total asshole toward you. I know you don't really know me, and there are probably a lot of reasons I could give for why I said those things to you, but it doesn't matter. I didn't mean them and… I'm sorry." He finally looked back up at me, and I knew he was being sincere. For the second time today, all the negative feelings and anxiousness slowly started to melt away as I stared back into his piercing green eyes.

The resolve I had found last night came welling up inside me in the form of a big dose of courage, "What you did was really shitty, Edward. You're right, I don't know you and you don't know me. You have no idea where I came from or why I do the things I do, but I don't want to walk on eggshells around you. We have to work together and I don't want things to be awkward."

He stared back at me with a look of shock, awe, and disbelief. "I know… I just… I am not used to people in my kitchen and…"

"Look, Edward, I'm not trying to take over your kitchen or usurp your authority okay? I just brought in muffins so I could get rid of them. That's it." I felt myself getting irritated, especially since Rosalie had just given me permission to bake in the kitchen.

"That's not what I meant. Shit, look, I'm sorry. Can we… can we just start over?"

I hesitated, not sure what that even meant, but nodded anyway.

"Thank you," he whispered.

I had no idea what had just happened here but it felt good. I was proud that I had actually stood up for myself and told him how shitty he had been; I would never have done that with him. Of course you wouldn't have… you would have gotten your ass handed to you.

Emmett's screeching pulled me out of my reverie, and we both turned to look at him. "Dinner's ready, love birds," he smirked.

Edward and I looked at each other as my face flamed for what felt like the millionth time today. "I guess we should go, huh?"

He grinned, "Let's."

We walked over to the bar and grabbed plates. My stomach growled loudly and I realized I really hadn't eaten much all day. Edward looked at me and smiled. "Hungry?"

Cue the awkward blushing, yet again. "I haven't eaten much today," I said, embarrassed.

"Well, you better fill up your plate, then."

"I guess so," I smiled. I filled my plate with a cheeseburger – lettuce, tomato, pickle and mustard, grilled veggies, and a handful of chips.

"Anyone want a beer?" Jasper asked.

"I'll take one, please," I said.

Edward shouted over his shoulder, "Me, too."

Jasper walked over and handed everyone their beers and we dug in. We spent the rest of the late afternoon and early evening chatting about everything under the sun; it was playful and carefree, and just what I needed. I sat back and listened with a smile on my face and felt grateful in this moment that this small group of people had included me in their circle of friends.

"Hey, Bella. Rosalie and I are going up to Seattle next weekend, you wanna come?" Alice asked.

"What are you going to be doing while you're there?"

"Probably shopping, but Rose and I were also thinking about going to the spa."

I hated shopping, and with the exception of the manicure I had gotten a couple months ago, I had never even been to a spa. My doubt or disinterest must have been pretty obvious because Alice immediately started whining, "Belllaaa, you just have to come with us. Please… with cherries on top?"

"Come on, Bella. Come with us. It'll be fun," Rose chimed in.

"Okay, okay, I'll come," I laughed, "but for the record, I do not enjoy shopping... at all."

They both looked aghast, and then we all busted laughing. The guys just looked at us and laughed; they were obviously used to these two.

Eventually, we all migrated over to the fire pit, and Jasper and Emmett started gathering up wood to build the fire. It had been a long time since I'd sat outside in front of a fire, but I remember loving the smell of the smoke and watching the flames dance across the logs.

"Who's up for dessert?" I asked.

"Me!" "Me!" "Cupcakes!" I heard them all shout out at the same time.

Laughing, "I'll go get them."

"I'll help," Edward offered.

I felt kind of nervous. Edward and I were going to be alone, and I had no idea what he was thinking. "Um… sure."

We pushed our chairs away from the table and stood at the same time. I noticed everyone subtly looking at each other and a few smirks, but ignored them. Walking into the kitchen, Edward looked at me as if there was something he wanted to say. I smiled.

"These really look amazing, Bella. Did you come up with this on your own?"

"My Gran taught me how to make caramel sauce when I was younger, and I loved it so much that I started trying to find something special to do with it. This is what came I came up with – salted caramel cupcakes."

"I have to have one right now… " he grinned.

I watched as he picked up one of my cupcakes and slowly pulled the wrapper off. He lifted it up to his nose and inhaled, getting the mingled effect of the caramel, buttercream, and salt. He licked his lips and slowly brought it up to his mouth and took a bite, his eyes never leaving mine. He slowly chewed the cake, pursing his lips as he allowed the flavors to caress his tongue and moaned. He swallowed and I watched his throat constrict and his pink tongue make one final pass across his lips to get the last bit of caramel and cream. I felt faint. It was the hottest thing I had ever seen anyone do… with a cupcake…period. "Bella… that was… un-fucking-believable. It's like a flavor explosion of salty and sweet – absolutely decadent."

Again the flames kissed my cheeks, and I stared at him, speechless and so turned on. Watching his sharp jaw move and his tongue flick across his lips was practically orgasmic, just like I had said earlier. "Thanks," I whispered, afraid my voice would crack if I spoke any louder.

"Please come work in my kitchen. Please come bake with me."

All I heard was 'come' and 'with me' and I shook my head slightly, and looked up at him. "I'd love to come… work with you." I didn't know where this was coming from; I had never been this bold, but I knew one thing, I was going to love working in his kitchen.

A wide smile broke out across his face and his eyes lit up. "We're going to have fun together, Bella."

I smiled and nodded, "I think so, too."

The rest of the evening passed by quickly and everyone seemed to love my cupcakes just as much as Edward did. I thought back to my conversation with Rosalie and was so excited that she wanted me to bake cupcakes for The Diner. As soon as she asked me, I immediately started thinking about what that would like look in reality. I wanted to make sure there were some standard cupcakes, as well as a unique one each day. I really had no idea what the demand for them might be, or what kinds of supplies were available, but I was excited to find out.

x-x-x

I could hear the music blaring before I opened the back door of The Diner. After all the compliments on my cupcakes last night and the conversations with both Rosalie and Edward about baking at the restaurant, I had decided to come in early to see what we had in the way of ingredients and supplies. I had some of my own stuff but didn't want to haul it up here if it wasn't necessary.

I reached for the door knob and suddenly felt nervous. I had no idea what to expect from Edward. Sure we had talked, apologized, and even flirted a little, but we had been on equal ground. This kitchen was his, as he had repeatedly told me, and I had no idea how he would really react to having me cook in here with him. I turned the knob and pulled the door open. The rich, sweet smell of caramelized onions and smoky bacon filled the air. Edward was bent over his work table with a bowl nestled between his arm and chest, as his wrist moved in rapid circles beating what looked like a bowl full of eggs. He was completely in a different space, his brow furrowed and tongue between his lips as he concentrated. I noticed his station was covered in piles of spinach, mushrooms, and grated cheese. Mmmm, quiche. He put the bowl down, seemingly satisfied with the consistency of the eggs. He quickly scooped up the ingredients on his station, along with the bacon, and onions, and dumped them into the eggs. He reached to his left and grabbed two prepared pie pans, and then carefully poured the mixture. He sprinkled a little bit of cheese on the tops, placed them both on a large baking sheet, and put them in the oven. Watching Edward in his element was thrilling; he looked how I felt when I was baking – at peace and content, even through the intense concentration.

"Morning, Bella."

I jumped. I didn't realize he had seen me come in. "Um, morning. I didn't want to interrupt," I nervously said.

"You didn't. I don't mind people watching," he smirked, as he started wiping off his work table.

I glanced away, a little embarrassed and a lot intrigued by him.

"I see you couldn't wait to get here and check out your space," he teased.

"Well, when I got home last night, I just started thinking about how all of this would work, what kind of cupcake menu I would create, and how it would work with everything you already do. Plus, I wanted to see what kind of baking utensils and appliances were here, not to mention ingredients."

He tossed his cloth into the soapy sink and walked toward me. "We have a convection and a conventional oven," he pointed to the side wall, "and obviously an industrial stove. The mixer is next to the work table against the far wall, near the fridge and freezer."

He walked me over and showed me where all the attachments – paddles, whisks, dough hooks – were, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and general baking utensils. I asked about piping bags and tips, but they didn't have any. Cakes, apparently, weren't their specialty. I quickly jotted down some of the items I would need to get. I could use my own tools until we were able to place an order.

"So, this space over here," he pointed to the second work table, "is for you. Do you think it will be enough?"

It was certainly smaller than his work table, but I didn't anticipate a problem. "Yeah, that'll be fine. Thanks," I said with a smile. "So in terms of ingredients, what do you have?"

"Well, the basics – flour, sugar – both brown and white, and baking powder and soda. I'm assuming you'll need powdered sugar, butter and eggs?"

"Of course. You can't make cakes or buttercream without it," I smirked.

I added a handful of other items to my list – vanilla, different icing gels, special decorating sugars – and looked around. I realized he hadn't mentioned pans. "Do you have cupcake pans? Liners?"

"Actually, good call, no we don't have pans or liners. Add them to your list. Let me know when you're ready, and I'll place a special order so they arrive by mid-week. As you get into a routine and can start anticipating what you'll need, I'll add your supplies to the standard order we place each week."

"Ok, thanks. That sounds great!" I was beginning to feel comfortable in here. Edward was like a completely different person than he had been last week, and if I were being honest, since I met him. He had been nice, but cool and slightly distant. Today, however, he was being friendly and even a little flirty. There was definitely something about him and this kitchen that I couldn't put my finger on, and I was determined to figure it out.

I spent the rest of the morning working on a cupcake plan. I really wanted to make sure there were a couple of staples – like vanilla and chocolate cakes with a mixture of icings. I also wanted to set up a rotational plan for specials, maybe something local or holiday specific. I sketched out my idea for how to present them - the refrigerated case out front would be fine for most of them, but I really wanted to have a tall, covered cake plate to sit at the end of the bar, like in the movies. I decided I wanted to have a menu board, similar to Edward's daily special where I'd post the standard cakes, as well as the weekly special. My head was swimming with ideas and I could feel the excitement coursing through me. This was definitely the right move for me.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The salted caramel cupcake recipe is on my blog, as our pics of the Cullen House and the cars Emmett is/has restored! http://jessyptff(dot)blogspot(dot)com/

If you are so inclined, feel free to follow me on Twitter: Jessypt

Some of my favorite authors (feathers_mmmm & VJGM) have just published their stories. Please support the women in our fandom! You can check them out at http://www(dot)omnificpublishing(dot)com/

Leave me some love!