A/N- I don't own Twilight or anything else in the story but the plot. Thanks for all those who reviewed and added the story to your lists, I can't wait for you to see what unfolds between our favorite couple. If you have any ideas or suggestions you know I'd love to hear them. Again to my Beta Dani Cullen…a huge thank you. And as always please, please REVIEW!

It had been a week since Edward's arrival and I was already miserable. He began working as soon as I'd finished giving him the tour of our 10 acre property. I will give him credit thought, the boy works hard.

I could already see a difference in the property; The two acres of grass on which we used for the manor was cut, the fence which separated the wooded area Charlie used for his excursions was mended, and, at this moment Edward was working by the pond trying to fix the rotten benches that sat in the shade of the old weeping willow trees, who's boughs sweep the ground.

But even with all the hard work, I still wasn't happy with him. He irritated me. He was so hard headed! If I wanted the shutters painted black, he painted them brown because he thought they would look better. If I wanted the apples from the orchard picked, he thought it would be best to leave them on the ground for the deer, to help Charlie lore them in closer to hunting season, giving the guests a better opportunity to bag a buck. And of course, he had Charlie eating out of the palm of his hand.

What annoyed me the most was his blatant disregard for my rules. I didn't have many and it's not like they were anything ridiculous or unfair, yet he still refused to follow them.

Flashback

I had just taken Edward to his room, the one I normally saved for the short term guests. It was a small, a double bed with my great grandmother's patchwork quilt and a small nightstand. The carpet was a hue of gold, reminiscent of the 1970's. To the right was the bathroom, whose small bath only worked 40% of the time.

"Quaint." He smiled like he was appreciating some unknown joke. I tried not to let him get to me. I knew it wouldn't meet his standards when I showed it to him. I could tell he was just trying to get on my nerves.I vowed to not let it bother me.

"Look, while you're here I've got a couple of things you should know- First, the kitchen closes at nine and will not open until breakfast, so don't go looking for snacks. Breakfast is from six to ten; lunch from one to three, and dinner is at seven- no exceptions. If you're late, you better make other plans. All meals are served and eaten in the dining room. Second, the truck is for errands only. No mud-running, no 4x4, no dates; which brings me to rule three. The B&B is a family place not a brothel; don't bring your one-night stands in or out. And finally, no drinking or smoking while on the grounds. Got it?

"Yes, oh virtuous one, I think I can keep all your saintly rules." He smirked.

"Great. Then I only have one more- I'm not your mother, so keep your room picked up, and keep up with your laundry."

Edward looked suddenly uncomfortable.

"Is that a problem?" I asked shocked at his expression.

"No, um, well, it's just that…" He stuttered, trailing off.

"Oh please tell me you know how to do your own laundry?" I laughed.

"No, it's not a problem." He hissed.

"Touchy, touchy." I grinned. "The machine's downstairs and the electric box is in the cellar if you need it. When you're done meet me downstairs."

"Fine. I've got some phone calls to make first." He huffed and shut the door in my face.

Flashback over

I mean really, how hard is it to be on time for dinner?

I kept pondering the mysteries of his mind while I hung up the clothes and sheets out on the line. My iPod blared in my ears, this time playing more relaxing, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. My music range ran from anything from Muse to the Beach Boys and everything in between. It all just depended on my mood. I was swaying as I hung up the sheets, occasionally sneaking peeks at Edward who was working directly across from me on the other side of the pond.

I love hanging clothes outside; it made them seem so much fresher and softer. In Forks, finding a warm summer day was like finding a needle in a haystack. I was taking advantage of the beautiful weather while I could and apparently so was Edward; his shirt lay beside him as he pounded nails in the arms of the bench he was replacing.

I could almost hear Alice's giggle in my head as I did in fact ogle him from behind the sheets I was hanging. He didn't have the same athletic build which Jacob had from lifting weights but Edward had a natural build from working hard. He wasn't tanned brown, but you could tell he worked in the sun from the darker complexion of his neck and arms compared to the rest of his body. And, as usual, his hair was a mess. This was due mostly to the mixture of sweat and his frequent habit of running his hands through the mob of bronze on top of his head. I wonder where he had picked up the habit.

I wondered a lot about Edward Cullen; a habit I myself had picked up from many years of living at Eventide. I was always interested in the lives of the people who came through the doors, but Edward in particular had my curiosity peeked. I wondered about his family, where he went to school, why he was interested in restoring homes. Edward just didn't seem the type of person who would enjoy hard labor; he seemed more of the type that would enjoy office work. He had air sophistication. He actually seemed out of place as a handyman.

My mind snapped out of its trance to find Edward no longer by the bench. I looked around and found him again, staring at me, this time he was leaning on the clothes line pole.

"Well that's an interesting choice to hang on the line." He laughed.

I hadn't even notice what my hands were clipping to the wire until it was too late- my red bra was already flying in the breeze.

I tried to snatch it off but his reflexes were too fast.

He held it up to himself, "Very nice princess." His voice mocked me. "I'm surprised, you don't seem the type. I pictured you more as a prude, beige kinda' gal." He taunted.

I blushed as I clumsily grabbed the bra from his large hands and stuffed it back in the basket.

"Awww, don't be like that. I just mean just cause you don't have anything to fill it with doesn't mean you should be embarrassed." He wickedly grinned.

"Well you wear pants, though, right?" I came back.

"Now that's not true because we both know you wouldn't have been over here, staring at me, for the past ten minutes if I had nothing." He winked.

"I have not." I feigned surprise, even though we both knew it was a lie. "I've been over here listening to my IPod. You seem to think highly of yourself" I nervously laughed.

He ignored my last statement and grabbed the IPod from my jeans.

"You're awfully attached to this little gadget." He chuckled. "What do you have on here, the best of Barney?" as he started scanning the selections.

"Hey, give that back!" I yelled.

He pretended not to hear me as he continued going through the lists, making faces occasionally until, finally, he smiled. "Debussy, I'm impressed. You may have a little class after all." He grinned.

"So glad you approve." I snorted. "Now would you shut up and give me my music back please?"

"Come on, where's the fun in that?" He laughed as he began walking backwards, trying to keep me from snatching my music back.

"Seriously, give it back. This isn't funny!"

"Sure it is, at least for me." He laughed.

Then it happened.

As he was walking backwards, he failed to notice the rock in his pathway. His foot caught on the stone and he fell backwards, he lost his grip and my iPod went flying in the air, landing with a loud "plop" shattering the reflective surface of the pond.

"YOU IDIOT!" I screamed. "LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"

"Calm down princess, it's just an iPod." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Calm down? You're so unbelievable!" I cried out in frustration. "That was a gift! I mean really, look around this place, does it look like I can afford to just go out and buy another iPod and all the music that was loaded on it? I don't have money coming out my ears like freaking Anthony Mason! I have to actually use my money to take care of this place."

Edward's finely composed mask slipped, his face changed to something of hurt, and then it was back. "What do you expect me to do? Dive in after it?" He said gruffly.

It was at this point that the tears came. I didn't have much money. Everything I earned went straight into the bank to keep the place running. I had very few luxuries and I considered my iPod one of them. It made the chores around the place a little less frustrating. But now, thanks to this prick, it was gone. I was so mad I couldn't see or think straight.

"YES! That's exactly what I want you to do." I took a deep breath, trying to pulse logic through my brain. "Maybe I can salvage it" I huffed.

"You're crazy. I'm not going in there, you can forget it." He stated with not a trace of humor in his velvet voice.

"Well crazy or not, you're going to get it. It wouldn't be in there if it wasn't for your stupidity!"

His green eyes narrowed. They were no longer bright, but a dark menacing color. He grabbed me by the arm and proceeded to drag me to the pond.

"If you want it so badly, go in and get it yourself." He growled as he flung me into the ice cold water. "You listen and listen good princess; I don't take orders from anyone, especially you." He pointed his finger at me while I pushed the water and hair from my eyes.

Hatred seeped from every pore of my body.

"YOU'RE FIRED!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

He just looked back at me as he slid shirt back over his rippled chest. "I've got a contract, sweetheart, you can't touch me." He laughed as I slapped my hands on top of the water.

"I'm going into town for some stuff, but don't worry I'll be back in time for dinner." He yelled over his shoulder, laughing all the way to the truck.

I pulled myself from the pond muck and watched my old beat up truck fly out of the driveway in a cloud of smoke.

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind. Edward was right I couldn't fire him, but I bet I could make him quit. I smirked at the plan that was forming in my head. Tonight would be a meal Edward Cullen would never forget.