A/N: SM owns all things Twilight. I'm just playing with her characters.
Thank you Fran for taking the time to edit all my mistakes, commas and spelling errors.
Twimom1960, klcivinski, winterhorses and Hopesparkles are my pre-readers and encouragement team. You guys are awesome. Thank you for your time and effort.
Lonely Tonight by Blake Shelton featuring Ashely Monroe
We don't have to be lonely tonight
(Need you, want, I'm right here)
We don't have to be lonely tonight
(I know we shouldn't, but I don't care)
Chapter 3
Monday came too quickly for Isabella's liking. She was having this amazing dream where Edward and she were having this secluded beach to themselves. He was wearing blue swim trunk that showed off the prominent V and six-pack. He was feeding her strawberries and licking the juices off her chin, whispering words of promises, pleasure and joy into her ear.
But then, this buzzing interrupted their romantic getaway. She swatted at the buzzing as if it were a fly. It just wouldn't stop. It was ruining their perfect moment.
Then reality kicked in. Her eyes opened slowly to her hotel room. She sighed. No wonder it had just been a dream. Nothing like that ever happened in reality.
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
She grabbed for her phone and pressed it to her ear without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?" Her voice was scratchy and rough from sleep.
"Bella! Where the hell are you? I've been waiting for you for half an hour." Lauren's upset voice rang in her ear.
Her eyes flew to the alarm clock on the bedside table and gasped. 10.30a.m. "Shit. Fuck. I'm sorry, Lauren. I overslept. I'll be there shortly."
She hung up and rushed to the bathroom, grabbing a quick shower and dressing in what she could find first in her messy suitcase.
Lauren and Isabella had decided to spend the day at the mall, shopping. It was a way for the women to catch up and spend unnecessary money. Isabella wasn't big on walking through endless stores. She usually came down with a headache from the different scents, but she agreed, wanting to spend as much time with her best friend as possible, even if that meant enduring the tortures of walking through a crowded mall.
The women strolled through a number of stores, before grabbing a quick bite to eat for lunch. Isabella's stomach had been grumbling since she woke. She ordered a simple chicken salad wrap and a Sprite while Lauren got a cheeseburger with fries. Luckily, she had the metabolism of a horse.
"So, you want to tell me what's going on with you?" Lauren asked while wiping her hands on a napkin. She had just finished her burger and was anxious to know what Isabella was hiding.
She was hiding something.
Isabella swallowed the last of her wrap and took a sip of soda, her heart beating in her throat. Did she dare spill her secret? Did she want Lauren to know?
"What do you mean?"
Lauren smiled and tapped Isabella on her hand with her manicured nail. "I think you do. I won't judge, especially since you're limping, so it must be good."
Holy.
Shit.
Isabella's face flamed and she closed her eyes. She had awoken sore this morning, but with all her might, she had tried to walk normally. Edward had given her a workout last night and even Lauren noticed. Had anyone else?
She looked around the food court of the mall looking for accusing eyes, but she found none. Turning back to Lauren, she nodded slightly.
"Yes, okay. What do you want to know?" She knew Lauren would keep her secret, dark as it may be. If anyone else found out, she'd be dead. Quite literally and figuratively.
"Eek," Lauren squealed and pulled her chair closer to Isabella, excited for her friend. "What's his name? Do I know him? Where did you meet? How long has it been going on? Are you…?"
Isabella held up her hand to stop Lauren. "Whoa, one question at a time." She breathed deeply, her heart rate increasing whenever she'd think of Edward, much less talk about it. "I won't tell you his name, no offense. It's easier to accept it as a fling if I don't."
"Why would it only be a fling?"
"You know why," Isabella growled at her friend with narrowed eyes. "Anyway, I met him after I left the reunion on the street corner. So far, I've seen him twice."
"Street corner? That's … that's dangerous. How do you know he's not a drifter or a homeless person?" Lauren was concerned for her friend. She did deserve happiness, but with a shady person like that?
"He's not," Isabella said defensively. "You see, this is why I don't want to talk about it. It's just a fling; someone to get my mind off the troubles at home. By the time I leave on Thursday, we will be done."
Isabella figured if she said it out loud, it would be true. The truth was, she was anxious to see Edward again. She wanted to get to know him, spend time with him. Her heart and mind were at war. Her heart being the most dangerous— wanting to latch on to those feelings and expand them.
She couldn't let that happen.
"Okay, I get it," Lauren said quietly. "But know I am happy for you. You look … refreshed." She winked, causing Isabella to blush once more.
"Well, well, well. I knew I'd run into Smelly Belly again." The voice of Angela interrupted whatever Isabella wanted to say to Lauren.
"I figured since you ran from the reunion, you would have left the island. Shame," Angela drawled out with pouty lips.
Isabella straightened her back and looked into Angela's eyes. "What is it about me that bothers you so much? I have done nothing but left you alone ever since I started at that school."
Angela braced her hands on the back of a chair and leaned forward, a couple of inches from Isabella's face. "Your presence bothers me. You stole from me ever since you came to that school. You took what was mine."
"And what exactly was that? Attention? Friends? What? Because if that's the case, you can have it all back. All I want is to be left in peace. Is that so much to ask?"
Angela narrowed her eyes at Isabella, contemplating her words, before she huffed and walked away, her heels clicking loudly on the floor tiles.
"Well, that was interesting," Lauren, mused. "Guess you showed her."
Isabella sighed and discarded the trash. "Let's hope it stays that way. I'm tired of dealing with my past. I have enough on my plate as it is, without her."
Isabella looked forward to nightfall. She would see Edward again and he would make her forget.
Except, he didn't come to her that night.
-T-T-T-
On Tuesday, Isabella took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and lounged by the pool, wearing a blue bikini and aviator sunglasses. Her cell phone lay on the table beside her, silent for most of the day, minus a few texts from Lauren asking how her day was and that she was sad that she was leaving so soon.
Isabella's answer to the later was simple. 'I can't hide forever.'
The book she was reading was just getting to the good part when her phone vibrated on the table again.
Alice.
"Hey, Ali. How are the engagement jitters?" She teased as she answered the phone.
Alice laughed. "Oh, you know. Exciting."
Isabella laughed along with her. "Did Lauren tell you to call and keep me company?"
"No. Nothing of the sorts. I am calling about tonight."
"What's tonight?" Isabella asked and sat up in her chair, her eyes following a couple that walked hand in hand on the other side of the pool. The woman was blonde, fairly pale while the man was dark-skinned and had shiny black hair. Complete opposites, but they fit well together.
"There's a luau on the beach, about a mile from the resort where you're staying. You're coming with us."
"Oh, am I now?" Isabella teased.
"Yes, and meet me at my place in two hours. Don't be late." The line went dead.
Isabella stared at her phone with furrowed brows. What was Alice up to? Isabella figured she could ignore Alice's request and stay in her room all night, hoping for Edward to show up again, or she actually could enjoy Hawaii's most popular party while she was still here.
Still, Isabella knew Alice had something up her sleeve.
Two hours later, Isabella knocked on Alice's apartment door. Her apartment was just a short way from downtown Honolulu, with trees as its perimeter and a beautiful backyard with a fire pit and flower gardens. The building was white in color and had light blue shutters on the windows.
"Bella, you came." Alice pulled Isabella through the door and into her bedroom.
Isabella scowled at her energetic friend. "Like I had a choice. What's going on, Ali?" Truth was, she was looking forward to the luau. She hadn't been to one since high school.
Alice pushed Isabella into a chair that sat in front of her mirror and started messing with her hair. "Well, okay. I guess I should tell you."
"Tell me what?" Isabella asked with raised eyebrows.
"Jasper invited his college buddy and he needed a date. I told him that I knew someone." She looked pointedly at Isabella, "You."
If it were possible, Isabella's eyebrows raised further, Edward flashing in her mind. "You set me up? Why?"
Alice sighed and perched herself on her vanity. "Because you deserve to have fun. Plus, that way he won't be a third wheel. I felt sorry for the guy. He hasn't been out in a while and Jasper says he works too much."
Okay, that sounded like a workaholic. However, would Isabella keep him entertained? "And how do I fit into this picture, exactly?"
Alice picked at her nails, hoping her friend would agree to this. "You could talk to him. Entertain him for the evening so that he gets his mind off work. We would greatly appreciate it. He's a good friend of Jasper's."
Isabella sighed, "Fine. Talk. I can do that."
"Yay," Alice clapped her hands. "Now, let's get ourselves gussied up for tonight. It's going to be great, you'll see."
Isabella's thoughts strayed to Edward again. Would he be at the luau? A luau was usually a significant event for the people home to Hawaii and even to tourists. Would it be possible not to run into him all evening? What would he think if he saw her with someone else?
'And why do I care so much?' Isabella asked herself, frustrated with her line of thoughts.
Pushing her thoughts aside, she asked, "What's his name?"
"Masen," Alice answered, focused on styling Isabella's hair.
-T-T-T-
The party was in full swing by the time Alice and Isabella arrived. Both women wore hula skirts made out of straw that went below the knee. Alice wore a yellow bikini top with small white flowers printed on it and a lei made out of pink plastic flowers. Isabella wore a dark green bikini top with a lei made from red plastic flowers. While she wore flip-flops, Alice wore wedges. She had claimed that they made her taller.
They weaved through the crowd, some dancing, some drinking and some way underdressed.
The sun had just set and the big bonfire had been started, a bunch of tables with delicious looking food had been set up and the pig was rotating on the fire. Tiki torches were lit along the beach, illuminating the sand and the ocean.
Alice looked around the crowd, getting frustrated. "He said they'd be around the fire. I don't see him."
Isabella linked her arm through Alice's, not wanting to lose her among the crowd. "We'll find them."
They found them shortly after. Jasper's shaggy hair was hard to miss, along with his tall frame. The person with him made Isabella's heart skip.
Edward.
"Jasper, here you are." Alice embraced him and the couple kissed unashamed. Isabella's eyes were glued to the green ones staring back at her. Her body flamed and she was glad it was dark, afraid, he'd see right through her and the effects he was having on her.
Jasper addressed Isabella, giving her a brief hug. "Bella. Glad you could come." He smiled and turned to Edward. "Meet one of my best buddies from college, Masen."
Edward, or as Jasper called him, Masen, stretched out his hand to Isabella. Hers was trembling slightly. What was he doing here?
"Bella, it's nice to meet you," he said slowly, drawing out her name with his eyes never breaking from hers. Was he thinking of their rendezvous as she was? Warmth spread through their joined hands, up her arms and down her spine.
"You as well, Masen," she answered calmly, hoping they, or specifically he, didn't hear the tremor in her voice.
Alice handed her a beer and so began the night. Isabella stayed close to Alice; afraid of what might happen if she would be alone with Edward or Masen, whatever the hell his name was. She felt his eyes on her and she looked up to meet his questioning gaze. He was probably wondering why she was ignoring him.
"So what is it that you do?" She asked, looking at Jasper. Alice's social profile hadn't said much and Isabella hadn't looked at Jasper's either. She figured this was a safe conversation.
The four of them had found an unoccupied picnic table close to the water. Jasper and Alice sat on one side, glued to one another while Edward and Isabella sat on the other side, as far apart as it the bench would permit. her. Her body betrayed her, itching and wanting to be close to him; to inhale his intoxicating scent, to feel his skin on hers.
It was playing with fire.
Hot, sexy fire that wouldn't stop looking at her.
"I work in security. Home security. Banks. I set it up and get it working. Not much to it. Mase here helps me out now and then when he's around. He's usually somewhere glued to his camera," Jasper answered, his eyes on Edward, smirking.
"I only capture beautiful things," he said, his eyes solely focused on Isabella. Her skin heated and she wasn't sure if it was the alcohol in her system or just Edward.
"That's interesting," Isabella said, drawing the attention back to Jasper.
He laughed. "No, it isn't, but thank you for indulging me. What do you do, Bella?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Edward lean forward, intrigued. She snorted into her beer. He would not be impressed once he found out. "Nothing as interesting as security. I am a seamstress. Tailoring clothes, mostly for wedding parties. Also, very boring, but I love it." She took a hefty sip of her beer.
Jasper laughed. "Imagine a world without seamstresses. The horror."
She laughed along with him, glad he didn't judge her on her choice of career. It was simple, not at all elegant, but she loved doing it. The joy of seeing a bride fit into her dress perfectly after she'd altered it was priceless.
The crowd around the fire hollered something and the music got louder. The four acquainted friends turned to watch a dancer perform some wild tricks on the makeshift dance floor. Isabella smiled, imagining the movement of the body. Soon, she was swaying to the beat of the music.
When she turned back to her friends, Jasper and Alice's were engrossed in a silent conversation before their lips locked.
'Well, that's that,' Isabella thought dryly.
She turned to Edward only to find him watching her intently. His eyes locked on hers before traveling down her face, settling on her lips. He blinked once and swallowed heavily. She mirrored his actions, the pull she felt towards him strong.
Her thoughts strayed to Monday night and she clenched her thighs together, warring with herself again. On one hand, she wanted to grab him by the collar of his shirt and kiss the ever living fuck out of him. And then fuck him senseless. But on the other, she wanted to run and pretend that she never had met him. He was slowly, but surely, driving her crazy with lust and want.
A very dangerous combination.
Isabella moved to stand when his hand shot out and grabbed hers, his thumb stroking over the flesh of her palm. Her breathing hitched and her temperature spiked. Slowly, she looked from their hands, up his muscular arm to his eyes.
Such a beautiful green.
"Dance with me," he said quietly, his eyes pleading.
Against all her better instinct, Isabella agreed.
Edward led her through the crowd towards the beach, his hand never letting go. It was a little bit more private here and Isabella figured this was her chance to ask him about his name.
She shouldn't want to know, but she did.
He turned her to him and folded his arms around her lower body, drawing her close, swaying to an unknown beat. They certainly weren't dancing to the beat of the song playing through the speakers. Her hands found purpose on his strong arms, afraid if she'd wrap them around his neck, she'd only want to kiss him. Not that she didn't want it now. God, she wanted it, but there were people around.
"I seem to recall you mentioning that you like to dance," he teased, smiling down at her.
She drew in a deep breath, his manly smell overpowering her senses and almost driving her insane. "I do," she answered, thinking back to their get to know session they had on the boardwalk.
"Ask," he nudged her slightly with his cheek where he had it pressed up against hers. His breath washed over her ear and she shivered.
"Ask what?" She asked nonchalantly.
He released a breathless chuckle. "You know what." He drew back and looked into her eyes. "About my name. I know you're curious."
She sighed and looked past his shoulder at the slow rolling waves of the ocean. "Okay. What's with the different names?"
He smiled at her and placed his cheek on hers again, talking low and softly into her ear. "They're both my names. Masen Edward. Edward is my middle name."
Simple, and yet it left her intrigued for more of him. "Okay." It was enough, and in two days, she'd have to forget about him. The less she knew, the easier it would be.
Isabella closed her eyes and let herself feel the simplicity of dancing with this beautiful man. His warm hands spread over her lower back, his thumbs caressing her skin. A small moan escaped her when he drew her closer.
He heard and released a quick shudder, placing his lips on her neck and sucking lightly. Her eyes rolled back and she slid her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his silky smooth hair.
"You make me forget that there are people around," he whispered heavily in her ear, kissing her neck and then her cheek, before capturing her waiting lips.
They kissed slowly, savoring the moment, still swaying to the unheard music. Isabella's fingernails scratched his scalp and he moaned into her mouth, tracing his tongue over her lower lip and slipping it inside her mouth to stroke her own. The taste of beer and Edward was all she could taste and it was the best flavor she had ever tasted.
His hands grabbed her ass and drew her against his hard erection. It pressed into her soft stomach, making her ache for him.
Needing to breathe, she drew back. His lips were cherry-stained and swollen, his eyes hooded. "You make me forget, too," she admitted in a whisper. There was more truth in that sentence alone than he would ever know.
His eyebrows furrowed in question, but she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again until they were both breathless and panting, their bodies wanting more.
Throwing caution to the wind, she requested the one thing of him she wanted so desperately but knew it was not wise in the long run.
"Stay with me tonight."
A/N: So, Edward knows Jasper. Wonder what that is all about?
Bella invited him to stay with her. She's craving him more. Sounds like trouble, don't it?
What are your thoughts of it so far? How are you liking these two?
You gals like red eyed Edward? Yes? Well, there's this contest going on called Red Eyed Edward. I may or may not have an entry in there. Check it out! Search writer: redeyededward. 8 wonderful entries. Leave the authors some love by leaving a review. They spent a lot of time and effort into the stories.
Thank you, my darlings. Xoxo
