I'm back! Sorry for the wait. Updates just weren't possible during the week, but to make up for that we have an extra long chapter today and hopefully more to come over the weekend. This chapter is one of my favorites so far as it finally gives us some quality Bella and Edward time. I hope you like it:)

~*~chapter 4 ~*~

After my embarrassing word vomit the evening before, I woke up the next morning determined to stay as far away from Edward as possible. And after saying a quick hello and good morning to him and the rest of his team I retreated to the house to prevent any more potentially embarrassing incidents from occurring.

Unfortunately for me Edward seemed just as determined to seek me out and throughout the day he was keen to keep me updated on the progress they were making. He was very conscientious like that.

By all accounts the guys were working incredibly fast, so much so that Edward seemed to think that they would only need another day, two at the most before they would be ready to move on to the roof. Edward was very professional and made no comment about my remarks last night. It was as if yesterday hadn't even happened which helped me relax and get past my silly worrying.

That said, I stayed hidden away at my desk, which was probably for the best as I was far less likely to make a fool out of myself that way. I had a lot to get through this week anyway so I kept my head down and worked through it as best as I could. Like so many other times before I was so engrossed in my work, and lost track of time. So much so that when the end of the day came I was startled by the knock at the door.

I hurried to answer it, finding Edward waiting. "Bella," he smiled, sending my racing heart into overdrive.

"Hi Edward," I responded, attempting to sound natural when inside I was anything but.

"I haven't seen you around much today so I thought you would like an update before I head off," he started telling me.

"The good news is that your porch is almost done. Jake and Paul are going to finish it off tomorrow while the rest of us move on to the next challenge," he explained.

"That's good," I replied, slightly puzzled by Edwards unusual behavior.

He was stood there, looking a little unsure of himself as he rubbed back of his neck nervously, his other hand buried deeply in his pocket. He had seemed okay around me this morning and throughout the day but I couldn't help thinking that maybe my forwardness last night had freaked him out more than he was letting on.

"So I guess I will be going," he said suddenly, sounding a little disheartened for some reason.

"Okay." I didn't know what else to say.

"Bella, are you going to invite the poor boy in, or leave him standing on the doorstep all night?" Grans voice echoed down the hallway. I turned around just in time to see her teasing grin before she headed up the stairs.

I blushed, hoping that perhaps that was the reason behind Edwards odd behavior.

"Oh sorry, of course come in," I practically begged, immediately stepping aside so that he could come inside.

"Would you like a tea or coffee?" I offered when we had made our way into the kitchen.

"A coffee would be great thanks," he smiled, more comfortable now.

When I had finished making our drinks I went over to join Edward. Seeing him looking so at home in my kitchen threw me into a bit of a spin and I had to refrain from imagining him here on a daily basis.

"So..."

"So."

We both said at the same time then laughed at our eagerness.

"You first," I encouraged.

"I was just going to ask how your days has been?" he asked shyly and just like that I was having my first real none work related conversation with Edward Cullen.

Normally I was never very comfortable around people that I barely knew, but there was something about Edward that put me at ease instantly and we quickly fell into easy conversation.

Being somewhat of a loner I didn't go into town very often and when I did it was only out of necessity. I knew very little about the town, or the people in it but Edward seemed happy to fill me in. He was a very open and honest person and he told me all about his family and his friendship with Emmett. In particular he talked with great affection about his younger Sister, Alice, whom I realized I had spoken with when I had made the call to EMC construction only a few weeks ago.

In return I told him more about my own life. I talked about college and the work I did and how I had come to live with my Gran shortly after she had her stroke. I learnt that we were the same age and the similarities didn't end there. We had a lot in common; we shared the same tastes in music, favorite TV shows and interests. While I loved books, Edward confessed to his secret love of comic books. I stifled a laugh when his cheeks turned red at the revelation that he was a closet geek.

"So your Gran seems like a real character," Edward smirked no doubt thinking about her not so subtle comments earlier.

"She has her moments," I smiled, remembering some of her more funny antics. For her age and the problems she had with her health she was a real personality and hadn't let the stroke defeat her.

"Is it just the two of you now?" Edward asked hesitantly, as though he could sense the subject was a difficult one for me.

"Yeah, its just been the two of us since my Dad died when I was in high school." I told him.

I didn't go into the detail about the botched robbery that had taken my Father away from us. The unfairness of it all still bothered me, even now. Usually I refrained from talking about Dad because the memories were too painful but Edward had the strangest type of grip on me. I felt like I could tell him anything without fear of judgement or sympathy. Most importantly he didn't push me to tell him anything I wasn't comfortable with.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Bella. That must have been really tough on you." Edward said, his voice full of concern as he reached out to take my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze before he drew his hand away.

"It was," I answered honestly. There was no use in denying it.

"So did you come and live with you Gran after that?" he asked looking a little confused.

"Not at first, no," I grimaced, thinking about that awful period after Charlie's death when I went to live with my Mother.

Renee was in her own world and had a couldn't care less attitude. She was selfish and uncaring and showed not a sign of grief or sorrow that Dad had passed away. She certainly wasn't sympathetic to the fact that I'd lost my father either.

In truth we didn't have a relationship. She barely even spoke to me and if by some miracle she did, it was only to tell me how little she thought of me and how much of a burden it was having me around. She drank a lot which was usually when the more hurtful insults would come out of her mouth. Like how she never wanted me when I was born and that she didn't want me now either.

Yeah, my Mother was a real piece of work.

Realizing I hadn't answered Edwards question I continued. "I went to stay with my Mom in Phoenix before college."

I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice but Edward picked up on it.

"You two aren't close?" He inquired.

"Not exactly." I paused for a moment, trying to keep from spilling out what I really thought about my so called Mother. "We have a difficult relationship," I told him. That was putting it mildly.

"So it's just the two of you now?" Edward asked his voice sounding strange. "There's no one else to help you out?"

"No, like I said it's just me and Grams now," I tried to sound casual but my voice sounded false, even to my own ears.

"But enough about me!" I interrupted, trying to deflected the conversation away from my past. "Tell me about you? What got you into construction? Is it something you always saw yourself doing?" I asked genuinely interested.

I'd been fortunate enough to see Edward at work and it was clear from his enthusiasm and his hands on approach that he loved what he did. He didn't delegate tasks to workers as I'm sure many other bosses did.

"Hardly," Edward replied, his head shaking in silent laughter.

"When I was younger I was adamant that I was going to be a doctor like my Father." He admitted, which surprised me.

"I had it all planned out. I had even started thinking about what colleges I was thinking of applying for that far in advance."

"What changed your mind?" I asked intrigued.

"My Dad had a heart attack when I was in high school," he told me.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry Edward. That's awful, Is he okay now?" I worried.

"He's fine," Edward assured me, but he still looked a little weary from re-living obviously painful memories.

"He was only 45 years old at the time. Needless to say it was bit of a wake up call to him. Dad loved his job, so much so that it became his life. He was the youngest chief of staff the hospital had ever had, which obviously came with a lot of extra pressure. He worked all hours, stressed too much and eventually worked himself into the ground. His body could only take so much before it shut down," Edward said solemnly.

This time it was my turn to comfort him, and I hesitantly reached across to take his hand in mine. I wished I knew a way to comfort him, but if Edwards small smile was anything to go by I think it helped.

"Once he had recovered Dad cut back on his hours and started looking for another job. Something less stressful and a quieter life."

"That's what brought you to Forks?" I guessed.

"Yeah, we moved here six months later when a post at hospital came up. " Edward nodded back, seemingly lost in his own thoughts again.

"You know we must have just missed each other," he mused. "You had gone to live with your Mom by then?"

"Yeah it was around that time." I confirmed.

I felt a genuine sadness when I considered how we had literally just missed one another. And I couldn't help but wonder would have happened if we'd have met back then.

Would Edward have even noticed me or spoke to me? Would we have been friends? Or maybe something more? I thought hopefully but quickly dashed my wishful thinking aside. There was no use thinking what might have been.

"It put you off being a doctor too?" I asked, eager to move away from my foolish fantasies.

"At the time I thought becoming a doctor was what I wanted but when I think about it now I realize I was only doing it to impress my Dad and get his approval. I didn't see all the pressures and worry that came with the job." Edward explained before his expression turned serious.

"It's definitely not the life I pictured for myself. I don't want to be away working all hours of the day, with little life other than work and away for days at a time. I saw what it did to my Mom and I wont put my family through that. I want to be there for my wife and be around to see my kids grow up." He said sincerely.

I felt a warm feeling in my chest and I smiled picturing beautiful children with bronze hair and green eyes before I could stop myself.

"I didn't have a clue what I was going to do after that. Then one summer I got a job at Emmett's Dads site and loved it from the second I started. I enjoyed begin outdoors and doing something different every day. After we graduated from college he offered both of us positions within his company but we knew we wanted to set up on our own." He explained.

"That's pretty impressive," I praised. "Quite a contrast from becoming a doctor though." I pointed out.

"I like my job, Bella" Edward defended.

"I – I didn't mean..." I stuttered and flushed at the thought that I had offended him.

"It's okay. I know you didn't," He teased grinning at me.

"I just enjoy seeing that colour on your cheeks" he added as he reach out to touch my face. Edward froze too as if he realized what he'd done but his uncertainty disappeared when I smiled shyly across at him. His touch lingered a little longer than was friendly before he pulled his hand away and started telling me more about Emmett and the struggles they had faced when starting the company from scratch.

After that we talked about everything and anything. I lost track of time when I was with Edward and I couldn't remember the last time I smiled as much. Not only was he gorgeous, but he was intelligent and witty and I felt myself falling for him the more I discovered about him.

Usually I kept people at a distance, fearful of letting them in but it felt good to have someone to talk to besides Gran and my room-mate Angela, who was the only person I had stayed in contact with after college.

Despite how exhausted I felt I didn't want the night to end. I struggled to hide my tiredness but a yawn fought its way out and Edward noticed.

"You're tired. I'm sorry I didn't realize that was the time. I should probably get going," he apologized as he stood up and took our mugs over to the sink.

When we reached the door Edward hesitated for a moment before he turned back around to face me fully. He lingered in the doorway and we stood there staring at each other for a while, both seemingly struggling for words before Edward broke the silence.

"Thank you for inviting me in. I have had a nice time tonight Bella." I smiled, and blushed at his words.

"Me too," I agreed and I meant it. There was something reassuring about Edward that no longer scared or frightened me.

"We'll have to do it again," I said, surprising myself with such a suggestion.

"I'd like that," he replied, that familiar crooked smile tugging on his lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow" he promised, then turned and headed back down the path. "Goodnight Bella," he shouted.

"Goodnight," I repeated. Disappointment swept through me as I watched him leave.

"Oh and Bella." Edward paused when he was half way down the path. He turned around, that familiar crooked smile tugging on his lips as he called.

"There is no wife. At least not at the moment." He winked playfully.

AN: Awwww! I was going to break this chapter into 2 but figured you would prefer it all as one. I hope you liked it. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And I promise from now on I'm going to find the time to reply to all of your lovely reviews:) It means the world to me that so many of you are supporting this story:)