Thanks to all who continue to give me your precious time. Things are slowly starting to build up between Edward and Bella now. Someone commented that Bella is a Supper Bella. I agree, however I wanted my Bella to be more accomplished, be more independent, and have had obtained that herself before she looses herself in love. :)

SM owns characters; I changed them up and stuck them in my settings and plot.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 7

BPOV

Edward spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking and getting set up in the office. I spent some time in the ring with Zepher thinking about how damn good it felt when Edward swooped in and saved me from Mike the Bike.

It was like his body was meant to fit up against me, so perfect. I swear he was sniffing my hair. Not that I would complain, I mean, I practically wanted to lick the side of his neck just to taste him and get my own whiff of his heavenly scent. Ugh. Of course, he was just trying to prove to Lauren that he was indeed straight.

I don't know why I keep saying things to him about being home. I know that he agreed to be here for the summer and that he had bigger and better things to do back in Chicago. I just don't want to give up on the hope just yet that he'd see the light. Ugh, I'm so confused maybe Ol'Billy was wrong, maybe my mom was wrong. I hope not, I really, really hoped not.

Dinner was jovial with Em, Jazz, Rose, Edward and I. It had only been two days and Edward was fitting right in. After dinner we played pool and I found out Edward was a sneaky shark when I lost $10. We threw a few rounds of darts which affirmed my mantra of never getting Rosalie pissed at me. I swear the girl could take your eye out at twenty-five feet. Scary! Jazz, the master of calm and collect, killed us at poker. Emmett was the Mario Cart champ. I didn't excel at anything but I really enjoyed myself none the less.

I caught Rose giving me suspicious eyes every once in a while. I drank more beer and forgot to ask her about it. I caught Jazz watching Em and Rose interact. He didn't seem worried but he was careful. Em had turned from a full on lady killer into a pile of mush since meeting Rose. He had no idea how to act. He had never been on the other end of refusal. I found it hilarious. I caught myself most of all stealing glances at Edward.

As the night wound down I asked my brother, Jazz and Rose if they were interested in a day ride tomorrow. Everyone gracefully declined.

"So do you mind?" I asked Edward.

"It's been a while since I've been on a horse, but it sounds like fun."

"Okay, then it's you and me then."

Early Saturday morning I packed us a lunch and filled our canteens. Edward came down stairs with his old backpack slung over his shoulders. He was wearing some low slung jeans that made his ass look friggin' awesome. I unlocked the gun cabinet. I never go in the back country unarmed. Edward was making his choice when he laughed at the sight of his old 4-10 rifle in there. I just shrugged my shoulders. I know I hang on to everything.

I chose a nice mannered mare that still had some go power for Edward. I decided to ride another one of the newer horses. She was a PMU mare rescued from Canada. I explained the whole debacle to Edward as I saddled up both mares.

I told him about the horse farms up there that had 100's and 100's of mares that were kept pregnant in very close quarters and were forced liquids because their urine contained the active ingredient of a popular hormone replacement for women. He was disgusted and looked a little shameful.

We mounted up and headed out. I heard Zepher having a cow, but I didn't want to take him Edward's first time out. He was a stallion and most found him rather intimidating. Jake took off in front of us excited for an outing. It was a rare sunny spring day. There was still a chill in the air but evidence of spring was everywhere.

We headed north for about forty minutes at a slow pace. Edward was behind me on the narrow trail; we were silent. I saw the old deer stand off the right slightly hidden in the trees. Em had fixed it up about five years ago, but it had still seen better days. I turned in my saddle to look back at Edward. He looked deep in thought and just enjoying his surroundings. We walked the horses a bit further up towards the tree line.

"Bella, do you mind if we stop and take a break here for a bit," Edward called out.

"No, that sounds good." I stopped, dismounted and held Edward's horse still for him.

I brought the mares forward, into the open, and put them on a long tether so they could enjoy some wild spring orchard grass. I saw Edward dig out what looked to be a really nice digital camera out of his backpack.

"I wanted to get some pictures," he said sheepishly when he caught me staring.

"Go ahead, I'm going to head over to those cottonwoods down there and see if I can't round up some morels." I smiled.

The tree line opened up into a beautiful natural meadow with a small creek meandering through it. I wondered if Edward remembered that one thunderstorm. Jake trotted alongside me fighting his wolf instinct that told him to be wary of open spaces. Even though it was the beginning of April and spring had hit the lower elevations, Mother Nature had showered some of her beauty early in this highland meadow. Perhaps this was going to be a warm summer. Violets, Avalanche Lilies and Harebells dotted the rolling terrain.

I glanced back at Edward he was facing due east with his back to me. He had a spectacular view up the valley at Mt. Olympus. I had a spectacular view of him looking up the valley at Mt. Olympus. He looked so natural kneeling on one knee clicking away with his camera. Who would have thought?

I entered the cottonwood grove and walked in a crouch looking for those evasive little suckers. I took three steps in and hit the Jack pot. Holy Crow! I dropped down on all fours and started gathering. I grabbed a netted sack from my back pack and went to town. My bag was almost full. I had never scored so big with morels. Sue was a master at this. I was down on my belly slithering from tree to tree, knowing I probably looked ridiculous, but not caring. I heard leaves rustle behind me. I quickly looked over my shoulder to see Edward right behind me on his belly aiming a camera at me. Oh crap.

He motioned ahead of me and brought his finger to his lips to silence me. Not fifty yards in front of us was a doe and her brand new fawn. She was taking advantage of the fungus delicacies too. It was a beautiful scene as she stepped into a filtered ray of sunshine that touched the forest floor. I laid my head down on my hands in front of me and became still.

Wait. Where was Jake? No way was this deer this close with Jake around. No way could Edward have gotten this close to me without warning. Weird.

The doe finally caught sent of us and darted off with her baby in tow. I pushed myself off the ground and started to brush the debris off of me. Edward was doing the same when we looked up at each other and started laughing. If I looked half as silly as he did I'd be laughing at myself.

"That was pretty cool." I nodded in agreement as we walked out of the cottonwoods.

"Have you seen Jake?" I asked him.

"No, I thought he was with you. Should we be worried?" he asked gently.

"Nah, it's just he's been taking off a bit more than usual lately. It's also a bit weird he hasn't given you a hard time at all," I added.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" He gave me a crooked smile.

"Definitely, Jake is slow to trust ANYONE. Him even letting you have access to me, is really something," I said honestly. It really was weird now that I had given it some deeper thought.

He gave me a shoulder and hip check. "So I have access to you, huh?"

I felt my face grow warm and decided to ignore him. We walked back to the horses and instead of mounting, we led them further up the little valley.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me out with Mike yesterday," I blurted out.

"Oh, well, thank you for helping me out with Lauren. My hetero ways are now no longer in question." I smiled and continued walking.

"So what is the deal with Mike?"

"He has selective hearing. He doesn't hear the word NO." I looked up at him and his lips had tightened and his jaw tensed.

"He had been asking me out on a date every single time I had dealings with his parents for three years straight. I don't know what came over me," Lie. Yes I did. I heard Edward had planned on taking his girlfriend to Europe for the summer. "…but last year I reluctantly agreed." I took a breath.

"He picked me up a Charlie's. We were supposed to go to an early movie and then dinner. During the movie he uhhhh… got somewhat…..um….grabby. He wasn't mean or hurtful, he just really disgusted me, so I told him this wasn't going to work and I asked him to take me back to Charlie's instead. When we got there, I jumped out of the car and he came up behind me quickly. He was begging me to give him another chance when he grabbed me and tried to forcibly kiss me. I kept telling him 'No', but he wouldn't let go." I peeked over at Edward and saw his fists clenched up close to his sides but looking straight ahead.

"Charlie must have heard the commotion and opened the front door. I next thing I knew Jake had somehow got him off of me, tackled him to the ground, and had his jaws wrapped around his throat. God, I freaked out for several reasons, but mainly I did not want Jake to get in trouble. I managed to calm him down and back him off of Mike as Dad grabbed Mike by the scruff and threw him into the back of the cruiser. Jake and I high tailed back up to the ranch and I hid him for fear of someone trying to harm him. The next day Charlie came up and explained that Jake's safety would be bargained for me not pressing charges against Mike. It pissed Charlie off to no end, but he knew how important Jake was to me so he agreed. I couldn't let anything happen to Jake," I finished with a sigh. Pause. Pause. Silence.

"So why do you still do business with them? And why did we even go there yesterday?" he asked somewhat terse.

"I had… have a contract with his parents, and I stupidly didn't have any clause that negated it with managerial change," I defended. Jeez, did he think I was stupid? I sighed.

"I don't know why I brought you there yesterday. I wanted to gloat that the contract was almost up. I guess you made me feel brave and I knew I would be safe with you there." I was a bit scared of my confession to him and to myself.

He stopped walking and faced me. He reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Bella, you are the bravest person I know. And you will always be safe with me." He brushed the back of his finger lightly on my cheek as he brought his hand back to his side.

I didn't know what to say. My knees were shaking, my heart was ready to jump out my chest, and so I just nodded and swallowed hard.

When we got to the end of the little valley we mounted up and I led us on a trail that would take us to a waterfall we used to play in as kids. It was noon-ish by the time we got there and I asked if he would want to eat here since the sun was high and we wouldn't be cold in the shade.

There are thousands of waterfalls on the peninsula and each one is unique and beautiful. This one was simple only about a fifteen foot drop but it was wide and the way it cascaded from one mossy rock to another was mesmerizing. There were trilliums blooming everywhere. There were buds on the wild roses, and ferns were beginning to unfurl, a nice place for picnic.

"So, are there any other guys out there that I need to intimidate?" he asked between bites of his ham on rye sandwich, which he had found hilarious.

Was he trying to go all big brother on me? Surely he knew I had one of those. Huh?

"No," I answered honestly.

"No, no other guys or No, none I need to intimidate?"

"Neither, I've only ever been on two half dates, Edward."

His eyes grew wide and he started choking on his bite. I patted him on the back but he lifted his hand up signaling that he was okay. He didn't look okay.

"Bella? You've never had a boyfriend?"

"Umm, no." God, now he really was going to see me as an inexperienced little girl. I should have lied, but I wouldn't even know how to fake it.

He shook his head slowly starring into the pool at the bottom of the falls. I should probably explain.

" There was Allan, a dressage rider, he had asked me to attend a dance after some high fluting auction at the ritzy stables that was hosting our event. I was fourteen and he was sixteen, and my mother was going to be a chaperone. Everything was fine until he wanted to kiss me and I punched him in the throat. It was a defense mechanism, I swear. It didn't go over to well with all the fluting-tooting horse bags." Agh he was laughing now.

"Then there was Travis, from the community college, that asked me out only to run screaming 'jail-bait' when he found out I was fifteen. Yeah, nothing like having a learners' permit and having your mother drive you to college. Fun times!" His smile was twitching then turned into a full on laugh, again.

"Oh my god. Don't laugh I know that sounds so pathetic," I pleaded.

He stopped laughing and looked at me seriously.

"Does that mean that you are a … you know….a….?" Spit it out Jr., I'm the one who lives with my pathetic self.

"A virgin, Edward?" I finished for him.

"Uh, yeah."

"Yes, I am and I know it's sad. I'm sad, borderline ridiculous," I admitted.

"No, not at all Bella. It's sweet, enduring and even special, but not ridiculous. It would only be sad if you gave it away to someone that wasn't deserving." His eyes were truthful. I wasn't embarrassed. It was us being quiet and in the moment.

It wasn't until after I had put the horses away that I turned and saw Jake standing next to Edward in front of the barn. Edward knelt down and was eye level to my best friend. He scratched behind Jake's ears as Jake leaned in for more. As I walked closer, I thought I heard Edward say 'Good boy, Jake. Watch Bella.' Huh?

After diner I declared a movie night. Everyone was in agreement, just not on which movie. Rose wanted a love story. Emmett wanted fight club. Jazz voted for Legends of the Fall. Edward and I didn't seem to care. So I put a bunch of movies, including their choices in a box and blindly picked two.

Monster's Inc. and Legends of the Fall.

I made a huge batch of popcorn upstairs and when I brought it down everybody had already picked their places out on the sectional. Jasper had commandeered the whole right wing spreading out with pillows propped under his head. Rose was sitting to the left of him with her feet curled under her. Emmett was next to her and had extended the recliner. Two cushions over, Edwards was in a recliner, but had not reclined. I could sit between Emmett and Edward or to the left of Edward and mirror Jasper. This positioning stuff is hard work. Greed won out, and I jumped over the back of the couch into the corner next to Edward.

So what? Rose and I cried a little during Monster's. It was damn cute. The guys made fun of us. Em made a smart ass remark that earned him a swat on the back of the head from Rose. Jazz and I exchanged a quick look. Rose actually touched a male. Yeah, so Em got pummeled but it's all in the name of rehab and socialization, right. Way to take one for the team, brother of mine. It made me smile and Jazz too.

Legends of the Fall is a great movie. I mean young Brad Pitt, duh. The cinematography is awesome too. I had curled over on my side bringing my hands up by face. My head was on a pillow eye level with Edward's hip. As soon as the outside of my hand touched the side of his hand I felt a jolt, I didn't move away neither did he.

When it got to the part when the little brother died, I felt my eyes tear up. I sniffed to try and erase them. His pinkie brushed against mine deliberately, slow and smooth as if to soothe me, and then he linked our pinkie fingers. Just like that. My breath hitched a little until I remembered to breathe. So simple of a gesture, such a small touch, but it felt so good. It was the last thing I remember.

###

EPOV

The movie ended and our pinkie fingers were still entwined. I didn't want to lose contact. Jazz and Rose stumbled up the stairs mumbling their goodnights. Emmett stood and was looking down at his sleeping sister, thankfully her hair had moved to cover our hands.

"She works so hard. She wears too many hats," he said solemnly, "I'm glad you're here, E, she really needs you."

I looked up at him. I wasn't sure if there was a double meaning there or not. I didn't respond but slowly untwined our pinkie fingers and leaned forward to get up out of the deep seated couch. Just as I did Bella lurched forward and wrapped her arms around my neck leaving us in an awkward position. I slid to my knees and glanced up at Emmett who looked a bit perplexed. I shrugged and slipped my arms under her knees and behind her back giving a little chuckle to lighten the moment.

"I guess I'll bring her upstairs." I lifted her with ease as I stood.

"Are you sure you got her, man?" Em sounded nervous. I rolled my eyes.

"Just open her bedroom door for me, would ya?"

Emmett went ahead. I forgot we were two stories down, but her weight wasn't a concern. She couldn't have been more than a hair over 100 pounds. It was slow going because I didn't want to bang her head or feet on walls or banisters.

Her door was open and Em's was closed. I guess he got tired of waiting. I set her down towards the middle of her bed and untangled her arms from around my neck. She was wearing a tank top and sweats so I figured that was okay to sleep in. I pulled down her covers and tried to roll her over onto the sheets.

"Edward.." Oops I woke her.

"Hmmm?" When I looked her eyes were still closed.

"Edward…"

"I'm here Bella," I replied.

"Too many clothes!" Quicker than I thought imaginable her thumbs hooked the waistband of her sweats and yanked them down. She kicked them off the rest of the way.

I tried to look up at the ceiling, knowing that's for sure what I would tell Emmett if he caught me, but my eyes did not belong to my brain as I tried to memorize every inch of skin that I saw from the top of her white bobby socks up to the simple white cotton string bikinis. Holy fuck. She was perfect. No lace needed. I proceeded to try and roll her into the sheets touching only her upper body where there was at least a little bit of fabric. Come on Bella, you're going to be the death of me. She finally rolled and I quickly covered her up afraid I might combust at any minute. I bent over and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Good night, my Bella," I whispered.

I don't know if it was sexual tension or what but I woke up at seven, Sunday morning, and ran straight down to the gym only to find Emmett working it hard too. We muttered greetings before I worked my body into exhaustion. Two and half hours later I drug my tired ass upstairs to take a shower.

Damn, I love this shower.

"AAAAH, EDWARD YOU FORGOT TO LOCK THE DOOR!."

I wasn't sure if I should turn around or not so I twisted my head over my shoulder to see Bella with a hand over her eyes. She was dressed in her riding jodhpurs and a T-shirt. I could see her blush contrasting against her white hand. I busted up laughing.

"OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO NOT FUNNY." She was trying to back out of the door hitting the frame with her shoulder.

"Sure it is," I chortled as she managed to find the doorknob and slam the door shut.

I remember Bella saying something about Charlie, Sue, Seth and maybe Leah coming for an early dinner. Rose had convinced Jazz to take her shopping in Seattle. They planned on being back late.

Having skipped breakfast, I wandered down to the kitchen around 10:30 in search for something to munch on. Bella was doing some prep work for supper. I helped myself to a bagel and cream cheese.

"Can I help?" I offered.

She looked me straight in the eye without blinking or blushing.

"I think you've done enough this morning, don't you?" Her face remained straight. Was my Bella getting brave and trying to dish it out? I'll play. I grinned.

"Did seeing me naked help you out any this morning?" 1.2.3… and the blush is back.

"That's not…..that's not what I meant…." She stomped her foot.

I started laughing. "Did you just stomp your foot?" I roared. That was just too fucking funny.

She turned and huffed back to another counter. I was double over now, when I straightened back up I saw, too late, something come flying right at my face. It splat right below my eye. It was cold. I reached up to something squishy and pulled back a mashed piece of avocado.

".."

I lunged forward as she squeaked and ran to the other side of the island. Her face was scrunched up in concentration as she successfully thwarted my advances keeping exactly opposite the side of the island I was on. She was full on laughing now. It sounded divine. I couldn't even fake being mad, she looked so cute.

Em came walking around the corner.

"Dude, what's up with your face?"

"He's trying out a new rejuvenating face mask," Bella snickered.

"Aw man, are you gonna let her braid your hair too?" Et tu Em?

"E, you wanna take the quads out?" Em asked?

"Yeah sure," I responded to Emmett.

I realized I wasn't going to catch her.

"Alright, alright….truce?" I offered up to Bella.

She eyed me wearily, not sure if she believed me or not. She hesitated, but walked towards me anyway with her hand extended.

"Truce," she offered back.

I reached for her hand and instead of shaking it I pulled her into me and rubbed my face against hers, effectively transferring the green goo. She shrieked and slapped my shoulder. I ran out the door towards the shed. When I looked down at my right hand, I saw pink slime and tomato seeds. Little shit. I was grinning from ear to ear.

Em and I were having a blast going over jumps and through puddles. It was refreshing blasting through the woods like I never left. Emmett was every bit the boyhood friend I remembered. I realized he was the kind of friend I never should have been without. I imagined us kicking each other's asses and telling each other honestly how shit really was.

He skidded on two wheels, slamming down next to me spraying mud all over me. I laughed at the thought of taking another shower today.

"BAM" What the hell? Em and I both stopped and killed our engines.

"BAM…BAM….BAM…BAM…..BAM" Emmett and I both grinned at each other. It could only be one thing.

"TARGET PRACTICE!" we both screamed and jumped back on our quads racing each other to the range.

Seth was just finishing his turn with Charlie directing behind him when we pulled up. The sight was so familiar and brought back great memories. Charlie yelled out, all clear, and Bella ran to change out targets. By the time we walked up to Charlie and Seth, Bella had skipped to the line and was on one knee behind a bale of straw without noticing we were there. There was .22 rifle and .44 with a one clip in the chamber and another in her hand that she slipped in her jacket pocket.

"FIRE IN THE RANGE," Charlie shouted out.

She grabbed the rifle and put six rounds in one and five in other of the furthest targets. She dropped the rifle, grabbed the .44, jumped the straw bale, and stormed the two middle targets, empting the clip as she ran. She dropped and rolled behind a vertical straw bale half way down the range as she slammed in the last clip and shot the last two targets alternating between two sides as if there were two shooters. I turned to Charlie.

"What the hell, Charlie? SWAT tactics?" I accused rather concerned.

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled wide with his arms folded in front of him.

"ALL CLEAR," he yelled out, basically ignoring me.

"Bring them in, Baby girl, let's see how you did," he yelled out at Bella, who was now running around grabbing her sheets as Emmett was putting up more.

Bella and Emmett were behind the line at the same time. I heard Emmett call 'fire in the range' picking up the .44 Bella used and started shooting.

"Hey Edward, how was 4 by-ing?" She was bouncing with happiness.

Charlie had taken her sheets over to some lawn chairs to inspect them with Seth.

"It was fun. So what's up with going all commando?" I asked seriously.

"Edward," she purred.

What?

She was looking at me with hooded eyes. I followed her hands as one of them lifted her shirt to reveal an inch of flat taught stomach, kill me now. The other tugged on the buttons of her 501 jeans, snapping them open and tugging the flap down just low enough to see the white cotton of her bikini panties. What the hell?

"I don't go commando."

HOLY. FUCKING…..I am so sprung.

I showered again before diner and this time I did lock the door, because damn if I didn't need some relief and I wasn't ready for her to be walking in on that shit.

I had walked in on Bella and Sue having a moment in the kitchen before diner. There were whispers, some glossy eyes and a big hug before they returned to finishing up diner.

Diner was nice, I was mostly quiet watching everyone interact with each other. Leah ended up not coming and that was probably a good thing.

Emmett was complaining about some connections from some of the solar panels to the batteries were disconnected effectively loosing days of power.

Charlie bragged how Bella kicked all our asses at the range, including his own. Great, I fell for Annie Oakley. Hold on. Fell for, as in falling? Was I falling in love with Bella Swan? I'm not sure, I mean, I've been here all of four days. Yeah, but, it's not like I didn't know her before. Then again, this grown up version is something I'm having a hard time dealing with. I mean literally, a hard time. It's not lust, I've lusted lots. I would never, ever hurt her intentionally, I know that for sure. I never felt like this with anyone else before. I never felt a small fraction of this for Tanya, at all.

I continued to watch her laugh with her father and tease Emmett. God, she is beautiful in such a natural way. No pretenses, no plastic, no material yearnings, just Bella. Was it possible I loved Bella? Was it possible I had always loved Bella Swan?

I pushed everything back to gather perspective. I needed to be more. If I were to have a remote chance in hell of her giving me a fraction of her love, then I needed to be more.

I excused myself early, bringing my lap top upstairs with me. I settled down, mapping out my plan.

So I told myself I wasn't going to ask for reviews when I started this thing. But here I am...asking that is. It is no wonder I never make it out of January with my New Years resolutions.