Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews, I know you're all itchin' for some lemony goodness and your patience will be rewarded...eventually. Promise!
Big hello to Mxpi1970, slytheringrl17, kaylan101a and TwilightAddict71484!
Mambomama, my beautiful beta is a legend. Editing for a friend, Beta-ing me and probably others, and still having the time to make pies for Thanksgiving. What a woman!
I forgot my disclaimer for the last chapter, not that you guys need it really, but just in case...SM owns Twilight and it's characters, blah blah blah.
Jasper POV
I was standing at the bar waiting for Edward to get around to serving me. The bar was busy, and I hadn't been waiting long, but I really wouldn't have minded if I had been. It made me feel like a regular guy for a change, not having everything handed to me before I'd even asked for it.
"Hey man, how are you?" Edward was standing in front of me with his hand out.
"Edward, it's been a while. I'm good thanks. You?" I said as I shook his hand. I might not know him all that well, but he was always a decent guy.
"Yeah I'm doing well thanks, man. Can't complain. It's good to see you. How long are you back for?"
"I don't know to be honest. We've been touring for eighteen months straight. We just wanted a break. Decompress for a while, you know?" He gave me a look like he didn't, but he could see where I was coming from. "Well, I guess you don't really, but that's the story. Guess we'll stay as long as we feel like it. Your mom found us the perfect house though. She did a great job. I swear she thinks of everythin'!"
He laughed as I gestured to the table to say 'I'm getting another round' and he began to mix the drinks.
"Yeah, that sounds like Mom. I can't believe she didn't tell us that you guys were coming into town. I guess you wanted to surprise us?"
We chatted for a little while longer, and I realized that Edward was a lot like Emmett. They're both hilarious, though Edward was more subtle than his big bear of a brother. He turned his back to me, and I took the opportunity to look over to our table, only to see Vic talking to Bella.
Vic was grinning ear to ear and Bella seemed to be fighting one herself. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief as she watched Vic lock eyes with Alice as the latter walked in from the smoking terrace. She smiled and suddenly she looked so happy and...proud? She was so beautiful in that moment that I didn't hear Edward return with the drinks.
"Beautiful isn't she?" He said, following my gaze.
"Victoria?" I asked, not quite sure who he was talking about.
"Well, yeah. But, I meant Bella." He was looking at her with fondness, and I felt a pang of jealousy.
"Stunning." Was all I could manage to say.
"You like her." It wasn't a question, but I didn't answer. "She's an amazing woman, Jasper. Smart, funny, and I have to say, sexy as hell."
Ok, now I had to say something.
"Aren't you married?" I never took him for a bad guy, but he sure was starting to sound a little too interested in my Bella.
My Bella? Was that what I wanted? Yeah, I guess it was.
He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yes, Jasper. I am very happily married, but just because I am, it doesn't make me blind. Don't give me the eyebrow, man. I'm not saying I'm interested in her that way, she's like my little sister. I do love her though, and I don't want to see her getting hurt."
"I wouldn't hurt her." I said more to myself than to Edward, but he heard me anyway.
"I'm sure you wouldn't, at least not intentionally."
"What does that mean? Just because I'm a musician, I must sleep around? That's horseshit, Edward. I'm not sayin' I don't get offers, but that's just not who I am. My momma raised me right, and if you don't believe me, you can ask my sister."
"Whoa, man. Slow down! I only meant that if you two did get together, she might find it tough with you being on the road so much, that's all. Peter and Char always have nothing but good things to say about you, and I know for a fact that Emmett wouldn't let you anywhere near his Rose if you were some sort of man-whore."
We both cracked up after the 'man-whore' comment and all tension was gone. He really did just seem to be looking out for her. We both looked over to her and she was looking right at us with a little crease between her eyebrows again. She looked concerned, and I realized she must have seen our little misunderstanding.
I smiled to reassure her that we were fine, but she got up and walked over to us. Jesus, did she even realize how sexy she was? Those swaying hips and the way she looked up through her lashes after scanning the floor quickly to make sure there was nothing in her way.
Shit...
"Focus, dude." Edward whispered as she moved to stand next to me. Mmm she smells good...
Good god, Whitlock. Get a grip!
"You boys ok over here?" She asked looking between the two of us before raising an eyebrow at Edward.
"We're fine, B. Jasper was just telling me what a great job Mom did on their house." God he was a smooth son of a bitch.
The eyebrow was slowly travelling further up her head as she clearly didn't believe him.
I realized I could try to say something clever, but I got the feeling that she ain't the type of girl that falls for pick up lines and such. Fuck it, I'd just tell her the truth and if she didn't like me as I was, I wasn't interested.
Who was I kidding, of course I'd still be interested.
"Edward was just makin' sure my intentions were honourable." I smiled at the confused look on her face and the surprised, yet impressed look on Edward's. I guess he wasn't expecting me to tell her.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that I think you're the most stunnin' creature I've ever had the good fortune to meet."
Her blush was instantaneous and darker than I'd ever seen it, and she quickly hid behind a curtain of her long mahogany hair. I slowly reached up and pushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. I trailed the tips of my fingers along her jaw until I had her chin between my thumb and the side of my forefinger.
I gently tilted her chin up so she was looking at me with those deep, chocolate eyes.
"Please don't ever hide that beautiful face from me, Darlin'.
We were just standing there, looking into each other's eyes. Neither of us seemed to be able to look away. Well, I couldn't at least. My thumb was lightly caressing her cheek, and she was leaning into my hand.
She was perfect.
A loud clearing of a throat snapped us out of our trance, and we looked around to see that Emmett stood next to us with his arms folded across his chest and a 'What the fuck is going on here?' expression on his face. Peter was standing next to him with a shit-eatin' grin on his face, and behind the bar, Edward was standing there with a crooked grin to match Peter's.
"You wanna get some air, Darlin'?"
"Um...yeah, sure." She seemed excited, if a little dazed as I handed her the drink Edward indicated to be hers. I picked up mine and took her hand, leading her to the door. I could feel the eyes following us as we walked and heard Emmett demanding to know 'what the fuck was that?' but I ignored them.
Bella was holdin' my hand.
Her hand was so small, but the feeling of it inside mine was unreal. I could feel her looking at me with bright eyes as we headed for the smoking terrace. Was it possible there could be something between us? As we walked she gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
It was only a small gesture, but it was a start.
Well there you go, hope you liked. Let me know either way!
Red.x
