A/n: OK so here is chapter 4. I hope it lives up to everyone's high expectations and is as involving as the previous 3 chapters.
I have a few people to thank: Redsock thank you for finding my story and pimping me on twitter and leaving me some of the nicest reviews. Snowqueens Icedragon, thank you for convincing me to write and post this, you're a great friend. Thanks to Incognito for their advice, support and just all-round general loveliness.
Finally a HUGE thanks to xoEMC for lending me her eyes and certifying this chapter as fit for posting!
All characters belong to S Meyer.
Enjoy!
"Hurt you? Why would you think I would hurt you?"
He looks appalled with himself, sets me back on my feet, lets my shoulders go and takes a step back from me. Come on Bella snap out of it! There was no need to overreact like that, people get angry all the time; it doesn't mean they're like him. You mustn't be so jumpy; you'll be in so much trouble if people get suspicious of James. Lie now – and do it convincingly!
"Y-you just seem so angry." I swallow thickly, instantly missing the feel of his rough grip on my shoulders; there is something strangely comforting about it.
Although it's somewhat awkward, I cannot actually believe I am engaging in a conversation with E.A.M Cullen. The very same E.A.M Cullen whose books I have stashed in a hidey-hole in our spare room. The man I fantasise about on a regular basis is here, now, shouting at me.
This...is...amazing! If not somewhat panic-attack inducing.
I wonder if he'll sign my latest purchase. Oh, he really is just so close, I want to reach out and run my fingers through that unruly bronze hair, mmm he looks like he would smell delicious. I feel my eyes close and a dreamy look flitters across my face as I daydream about this god-like man. Wait! What did he say about 'crazy stalker housewives', I'm sure I heard that somewhere in his tirade – crumbs! I'm one of them! If I want to keep him talking – which I do - I must pretend I don't know who he is. Oh God this is going to be so difficult, I really am an awful fibber and one of his biggest admirers.
"I-I didn't mean to invade your privacy. I live next door and I came round to introduce myself and welcome you to the area..." I motion with my head in the direction of our house and fidget nervously. "I made a cake for you." I point at the clear container that sits perfectly intact on the porch, the cake inside however, looks as though it has been in a particularly nasty fight. I watch his facial expression soften from his previous grimace, to a look of sheer embarrassment as my words sink in. It seems he believes I don't mean him any harm.
"I didn't mean to spy on you." I ramble on. "But I heard the piano playing and I was intrigued. Then I stupidly hit my head on the window and now here we are." I motion between us with my hands to indicate the situation we now find ourselves in. Bella, please stop speaking.
I watch him, waiting to see how he will respond. I clasp my hands together so that he can't see them shaking. It takes every single ounce of control I have to stop myself from squealing in excitement and running around the garden like a headless chicken.
Suddenly the beautiful man decides to speak again. "My God! I'm such an arse! I'm so sorry, are you ok?" He shakes his head as though he is mortified. I nod that I am fine and he continues to speak "I'm feeling a bit hounded at the moment and I'm afraid I grossly overreacted, when I saw you looking through the window. I just assumed the worst." He extends his right-hand towards me.
"Let's start again? I'm Edward, Edward Cullen." His voice is much softer now; his words feel like a warm blanket wrapping themselves around me. Oh Edward, I know exactly who you are! I mentally fan myself and try not to swoon.
Looking directly into his eyes I take his hand and shake it lightly. His skin is so soft. I feel a comfortable warmth spread throughout my whole body. His touch feels like returning home after a long absence; it feels new and delicious yet familiar and dependable at the same time. I become distracted with thoughts of how wonderful his hands would feel on other parts of my body, entangling in my hair and then sliding down my back stopping to cup my backside as he kisses me deeply. Whoa there Bella!
"I'm Bella Smith. It's lovely to meet you, even if it is under somewhat unconventional circumstances." I square my shoulders and raise my chin – yes Bella, not James' Isabella! I wait for him to speak again.
"So, you made me a cake?" Edward smiles, lets go of my hand and walks towards the container. I instantly miss the contact and I clutch my right-hand to my chest – I wonder how long is too long, to go without washing my hand? He bends gracefully and lifts the cake up to eye-level so he can take a closer look. I watch as he stares at the cake, as if scrutinising and intimidating the cake will make it reveal it's flavour. The look of sheer concentration on his face makes me giggle. He turns to look at me and cocks one of his perfectly formed eyebrows; his face cracking into an amused half-smile. A few strands of his bronze hair fall forward to cover his forehead. Oh my, surely it's dangerous for someone to be that attractive.
"It was, a lemon drizzle cake." I shrug and struggle to keep the disappointment from my voice. Edward stows the cake under his left arm and starts walking towards the front door. He turns and looks over his left shoulder at me. "Well, aren't you coming Bella? There's cake to be eaten." He grins broadly at me and rattles the container. I nervously look around me to see if anyone is watching. If James finds out that I have been talking to another man, he'll be so angry. He gets so jealous and possessive at times. I find myself stuck to the spot, unable to decide whether to follow Edward. I should just make my excuses and go home, I can tell James I bumped into the neighbour and no harm will be done. Oh but I do want so badly to talk more with Edward.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the note I wrote earlier lying on the porch, I quickly snatch it up and follow Edward into the house. I'm sure I'll think of something to tell James.
I am in Edward Cullen's kitchen and I am struggling to suppress my excitement. I try not to fidget while I sit on one of the four oak chairs at the kitchen table. Unsurprisingly it hasn't changed much since I was here last with Mrs Roberts. Well, he has been here less than 24hours. I watch him move around the room, clearly looking for all the necessary implements to make a decent cup of tea. Eventually he settles on a saucepan having clearly given up any hope of locating the kettle. He fills it with water from the tap and puts it on the hob to boil.
As I watch him navigate the kitchen I commit his physique to memory, strong broad shoulders and a muscular back can be seen through his lightweight grey marl cotton t-shirt. At the front I know there are two small buttons at the neck of the t-shirt and a tiny amount of chest hair can be seen bursting forth. Trailing my eyes down his scrumptious body I settle on his lower half, a brown leather belt holds up his black Levis. They fit perfectly on the bum and flare slightly at the knee, as I finish my visual journey of his body I settle on his feet. He's wearing a pair of black Converse All Stars. So casual, sexy and approachable -- the polar opposite of James' cheap high polyester count suits.
Edward turns to stare at me. I feel myself blush under his gaze and I lower my eyes .I can't let him know, that I know who he is. He'd never have me in here again if he thought I was an obsessed fan. He waves a hand in-front of my face "Bella? I said would you like milk and sugar in your tea?"
"Umm, milk 2 sugars?" It comes out sounding like a question. Edward looks momentarily confused, but shakes his head and carries on with the tea-making. I don't normally have sugar, James says I'll get fat. This is my attempt at a minor act of rebellion and it feels quite refreshing.
Edward grabs two plates that do not match and sets them down next to the cake on the kitchen table that separates us. He takes the lid off the container and begins to spoon out two small mounds of cake crumbs. I feel like such a failure. The cake looks pitiful. He brings a huge spoonful of cake to his mouth and chews slowly. He licks the spoon clean and pulls it out of his mouth with a loud pop. I watch as he closes his eyes and makes a guttural sound of pure pleasure. I feel a warm tingly feeling between my legs and I shift slightly in the chair, almost desperate for some friction. Is it me or did it just get hotter in here? I feel myself flush from the neck upwards and when he next speaks I almost jump.
"Bella, it may look like shit as a result of my clumsiness, but this cake is fucking gorgeous." I cringe slightly at the ease with which he swears, yet I cannot help but feel my chest swell with a sense of pride at his compliment. I smile at him, about to thank him, when the hissing sound of the saucepan boiling over interrupts us.
After he has cleaned up the mess, Edward places a cup of tea in front of me. I nod my thanks, raise the cup to my mouth and blow on the hot sweet liquid gently. My knuckles whiten as I grip the cup and decide to be brave, asking the only question I care about the answer to. "So Edward...do you live here alone or is there a Mrs Cullen that plans on joining you?" I watch as the spoon of cake he was about to put in his exquisite mouth hovers in mid-air. Oops. Maybe that was a step too far Bella., I know his previous wife committed suicide, but I assume there has been someone else since her; he's too adorable to be single.
"Ah!" he makes a strange choking sound and drops the spoon, it clatters loudly as it hits the plate. "My wife, died a few years ago, there hasn't been anyone else since." I immediately feel awful.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realise." I lie, leaning forward and boldly reaching out to rub his fore-arm lightly. The warm sensation briefly returns and Edward looks up at me and smiles sadly. I feel tears of sympathy forming at the corners of my eyes making them glisten.
"Honestly Bella, it's fine. Thank you for your concern, but it's unnecessary." His body language changes suddenly and he becomes withdrawn and rigid, a sharp edge to his voice tells me the discussion is over. I withdraw my hand quickly, it feels as though it has been burnt. He pushes back the chair loudly, the legs screeching against the flagstone flooring and rises from the table and walks over to one of the kitchen counters. Standing with this back to me he grips the worktop so tightly his knuckles go white. "Thank you for the cake Bella, but I think it's time you should be going. I trust you can see yourself out." He says all of this with his back to me, his voice a controlled monotone, but I can see his shoulders shake like he is trying to hold back a sob. I nod in answer to his question and then realise he cannot see me.
I nervously clear my throat, "O-of course Edward. It was lovely to meet you and I hope I haven't upset you." I don't wait for a response and make my way to the front of the house. Unless it's my ever-present overactive imagination, I swear I can feel his eyes on me as I make my way down the hall, but I'm too much of a coward to look round.
As we settle down to a supper of salt beef, cauliflower cheese and green beans in a garlic sauce, James enquires about my day. "I didn't get up to anything outside of the usual today James. I bumped into the new neighbour. He seems pleasant enough." At this James' interest seems to pique.
"The new neighbour has arrived? I noticed the Vanquish, but just assumed it belonged to the Estate Agent. So how old is he?" I reluctantly answer James' questions about the neighbour, feeling protective of the information I gathered today.
"I think he's in his early 30s, it's hard to tell as we barely spoke." I lie, praying that Edward doesn't return that damn container at any point while James is around.
"Hmm, I'll have to see if he wants to come down The Carlisle for a pint sometime, welcome him to the area properly and introduce him around. With a car like that he's obviously wealthy. He could be a useful person to get to know." James looks at me expectantly, his eyebrows raised. "Well what do you think Isabella, shall I ask him?"
"Yes James, if you think that would be best." I put a forkful of food in my mouth barely tasting it. I feel slightly nauseous at the thought of Edward and James becoming friends. I want Edward to be my friend, not James'. "Perhaps we could have him round for dinner one night, you could cook a roast." James seems happy with this idea and continues to tuck into his meal. "Perhaps I'll go round after dinner and extend an invitation." He says with a mouth full of food. Oh no! If Edward mentions that he met me today and we had tea I will be in so much trouble. Oh god why did I lie? I gulp anxiously, maybe if I can speak to Edward first I'll be able to explain and he'll go along with my lie.
"Oh I'm sure he'll be busy tonight, maybe you should wait until tomorrow to ask, it is starting to get late." I try to make my voice sound impassive.
"Nonsense Isabella, it's hardly late. I shall go round after dinner and introduce myself." My shoulders droop and I struggle to finish my food.
I pace up and down the kitchen nervously. James left the house a few minutes ago to go and see if Edward would like to come for dinner one night. I pray that Edward doesn't tell James about what happened today, James will be livid if he thinks I have lied to him.
I jump as the front door opens and I grab a cloth and pretend to be wiping down the kitchen side.
James wanders into the kitchen with an unreadable expression on his face.
I hold my breath, waiting for James to speak…
A/n Oooh I wonder what happened at Edward's! Leave me a review please :) I hope to be able to update weekly, I'm away this weekend so chapter will probably be a bit later next week. Thanks Flubs x
