Oh, uh hey guys. Long time no see. Sorry for the long wait, life just got so hectic! I promise to try and update more! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.


A week had passed since the bonfire and it hadn't taken long for my mother and Alice to hear about the date. 8 am the following morning I was woken up by a phone call from my loving mother asking when and where I would be taking Bella on a date.

I decided I was going to take her to a little Italian restaurant in Port Angeles, called Bella Italia. After dinner a little winter stroll through the town square, checking out the little mom and pop shops and the various boutiques. I hope that she likes it.

There is still that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me it wasn't a good idea. That something would go wrong, it was too good to be true. Jane truly fucked me up when it came to romantic relationships.

At that second my office door opened and Bella popped her head through. "Edward, we've got a rejected calf." She said with a small frown. Although rejected calves were a normal occurrence it was still never fun. "I've already given her the colostrum replacer and moved her to the pen with the other rejected calves." God she was amazing.

"Thanks Bella, keep an eye on her, make sure we don't lose her." I wanted to add some new heifers to my herd as many of my current brood cows were getting up in age and about ready to retire from breeding. Bella nodded and gave a quick 'Will do' before heading back out of my office.

I really hoped that all of this wasn't moving too fast for her. I mean I know we hadn't even gone on a date yet, but I know she's damaged from everything that James put her through. Bella seemed like she was put together despite her past, but I was afraid one little thing might set her off. I was going to be tiptoeing around glass shards tonight. I yawned and stretched my arms out. It was only about two in the afternoon and our dinner reservations weren't until six-thirty. I definitely had time to sneak in a quick nap.

I stood up and headed out of the office, letting Leah know what I was doing if they needed me. A short minute later and I was kicking my boots off in the mudroom of the house and collapsing on the couch. I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep but I woke up to Bella lightly shaking me.

"Edward, hey, you should probably get up and start getting ready so we can make it to dinner." She smiled softly at me, giving me a peck on the cheek before making her way up to her room.

I looked at the time and it was a quarter after four. I sat up and slowly stretched out, feeling slightly refreshed from my not so short nap. I made my way up to my room and took a quick shower. My head wandered to how tonight would go and I felt my stomach knot up. I had never been this nervous before a date before.

Of course I had been nervous with Jane, but not like this. This was a whole different type of nervous. I couldn't quite describe it. I tried to push any unnerving thoughts out of my head and focused on getting ready. Once out of the shower I pulled on a nice pair of dark was jeans, a maroon flannel with a grey undershirt and some dark brown boots. I left my hair in its usual disarray and decided to forgo a hat, for the sake of looking more formal. I brushed my teeth, threw on some deodorant and cologne and I was ready.

"Bella?" I called out as I walked out of my room, "I'll be downstairs, take your time getting ready." I finished and made my way down the stairs grabbing my keys and cell phone before taking a seat and waiting on her.

About ten minutes later I heard a throat clear and looked up the stairs. This woman was going to be the death of me. She had on a pair of curve hugging dark blue jeans with a black top that had straps going across her chest, showing off the rounded tops of her breasts. She finished the look off with a pair of black ankle boots and subtle makeup.

She made her way down the stairs and over to me, she arched a brow at me. "You okay there?" She asked as I had yet to form words.

"Oh, uh yeah." I said shaking myself out of my trance. "You look wonderful, are you ready to go?" I asked smiling down at her and continuing to take in the beautiful woman standing next to me.

"Sure am." She smiled and walked with me out to the garage. I opened the truck door for her before climbing in myself. It was only a little after five so we would have a few minutes to spare after the hour drive. "So, where is it you're taking me?" She asked as she buckled herself in.

I chuckled, she had been asking me all week and I had been keeping it a surprise, other than that it included dinner. I hit the button to close the garage door before taking off out of the driveway. "Well first, we're going to eat at this little restaurant called Bella Italia and after that I figured we could do some strolling through the shops and boutiques." I said, resting my arm on the console in between us.

"That sounds wonderful Edward." Bella said as her small, soft hand grabbed mine. I smiled and squeezed it lightly. The drive was spent with small talk and just listening to the radio in between conversations.

If it hadn't been for Bella's disapproving looks towards our waitress I wouldn't have even noticed she had been eyeing me up. I was far too focused on the beautiful woman sitting across from me.

Our food came relatively fast and Bella dug into her cheese manicotti. A small moan escaped her mouth when the food hit her taste buds.

"Oh, Edward, this is to die for! I think I've found my new favorite restaurant." She exclaimed after swallowing her first bite. She reached over and grabbed my hand, "Thank you so much for bringing me here." She gave me a small smile and I felt my heart flutter.

"It's my pleasure Bella. Thank you for saying yes to this date." I smiled back at her and we continued to eat. Most of our conversation was centered around work, it was early december and it was getting closer to calving season. The new year signaled the first batch of calves, some we would even sell to kids as 4-H projects.

We finished our meals and talked for a little longer before deciding it was time to take our stroll.

"So, Bella, what are your favorite types of shops?" I asked as we walked along, my hands were hanging at my sides when I felt her hand grab mine for the second time that night.

She nibbled on the thought and her lip for a second before she responded to me. "I think bookshops would definitely have to be my number one and second to that would have to little handmade home decoration shops." She said looking down at her feet before looking back up at me. "You know, the ones with all the country rustic decorations."

I smiled back her, I knew exactly what kind of stores she was talking about and there just so happened to be one nearby. I pulled her hand in the direction of the store and with a couple minutes of walking, we stood in front of a door. The shop window said 'Rusticly Home' and the sign on the door said it was open for another hour.

"So, do you want to go in?"

"Of course I want to go in."

"Stupid question?"

"Yes, but since you paid for dinner, I'll let it slide." She grinned cheekily at me before pushing the door open, causing the little bell to chime that customers had come in.

We heard someone, presumably the owner or a worker say hello from the back of the store and Bella quickly chimed a hello back. She walked around the store with me as her tail, occasionally she would stop and look at something before putting it down.

We came across a sign that read 'uncork, unwind' and Bella picked it up. "Oh, I would just love to put this in a kitchen one day." She said as she ran her fingers lightly over the words.

"Well, why can't you put it in our kitchen?" I raised my eyebrows, confused on why she thought she had to wait. Did she not think the house was as much hers as it was mine?

"Oh, but Edward it's your house, your kitchen. I couldn't hang it up, it wouldn't be right." That answered my question.

I frowned, upset that she thought she couldn't put her own touch on the home. I grabbed the sign from her and headed up to the cash register to pay. I heard her footsteps quickly coming up behind me.

"Edward, what are you doing?" She grabbed onto my arm lightly and looked up at me with a confused face.

"Bella, the house is just as much mine as it is yours, I want you to feel comfortable and at home in it. Whatever Bella-esque touches you want to add, please feel free to do so." I said watching as the store clerk wrapped the sign in a layer of bubble wrap before boxing it up.

I thanked the store clerk and Bella and I were on our way. I was quite sure how, but we had managed to spend a good forty-five minutes in the store and the only book store I know around closes in 15 minutes.

At that moment Bella chose to yawn, meaning it was time to head home.

"I'm not boring you, am I?" I teased her and she rolled her eyes, trying not to let the slightest hint of a smile show.

"Of course not, it's just been a long day." She said as we made our way towards my truck.

I helped her climb in before placing the sign in the backseat. The drive home felt shorter than the drive to the restaurant, even though it took the exact same amount of time. However, Bella was fast asleep by the time we got home.

I stopped at the start of the driveway and hopped out to grab the mail, I had forgotten to get it earlier in the day. What with the excitement of the night and all. Quickly, I scanned through it, since Bella didn't have any bills she never really got any mail so most of it was mine. Tonight was different though, there was an envelope, with Bella's name written on it in messy handwriting. Maybe it was from her father, although I figured he would just call.

I pulled up to the house, waking Bella from her nap and helping her out of the truck. I figured I would leave the sign in there for the night and we could hang it up tomorrow.

"Here, this came from you." I said, handing her the envelope as I set the rest of mine down.

In the middle of shrugging my jacket off I heard the envelope and its contents fall to the floor along with Bella.

I turned around to find her crumpled on the floor, shaking and tears streaming down her face. The empty envelope with a single sheet of paper on the floor around her.

"Bella, Bella, what's wrong?!" I sunk down and pulled her into my arms in hopes of comforting her.

She clutched onto me, her fingers digging into my arms and her face buried into my chest.

Although it was muffled by my chest I could still hear her whisper.

"James."


Uh oh! What did the note say? Will Bella be okay? Will this put a damper on their budding relationship? Tell me what you guys think!

xoxo

Ashley