A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just make the characters do sick, twisted things.
Chapter 8
I didn't get up until almost eleven the next morning. I yawned and stretched, then retrieved my bag to count my earnings from the night before. Ninety-five dollars wasn't that great for five hours' work, but it would probably cover my gas and groceries for the rest of the week. I shrugged. I probably would have made more if I'd been upstairs working instead of hiding out in Alice's office, playing with sticks and string. And if I hadn't blown Edward's fifty by buying drinks for Eric and the girls. It was better than the alternative, keeping the money and feeling like…
I shut off my thoughts. I rolled my neck and decided to take a walk this morning instead of yoga.
I dressed in yoga pants and a tee shirt and drove to the park, locking my truck. I stretched before starting down the paved path that wound through a low marsh, watching out for bicyclists and dog walkers.
My thoughts returned to the previous night, and I cringed as I thought of the spectacle I'd made of myself on stage, groping myself, crawling along… I shook my head in an effort to clear the memory, but it refused to recede.
The beauty of his face, his crooked smile was replaced with the hard look in his eyes as he appraised me. Why did he even bother having James bring me over? His distaste was so obvious...
The path curved back around towards a small parking area, half-full of cars. I noticed several people sitting at picnic tables, or eating in their cars. I checked my watch; it was lunchtime already. My stomach growled at the thought; I hadn't had breakfast.
I saw that the path I was on looped around to the lot, connecting with a second path that ran along the road; I assumed it headed back the other direction to where my truck was parked. I continued along, gauging the time and figuring I'd be back at my truck in fifteen minutes or so. I tried concentrating on my walking, on the massive oak trees that lined the parkway, the sound of the birds… but my thoughts kept seeing his face, his eyes, his hands…
A car traveling the opposite way on the parkway slammed to a halt. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the driver execute a U-turn in the middle of the street. The silver car pulled up beside me, keeping pace as I continued to walk. The passenger side window rolled down smoothly.
"Do you need a ride?" It was him. I couldn't see him inside the tinted darkness of the car, but I recognized his voice immediately. I ignored him and kept walking. The car rolled forward next to me. "Do you need a ride?" he repeated, slightly louder this time.
I looked towards the car, my eyebrows pulled together in irritation. "No. I do not need a ride."
He chuckled. "I see. Well, do you want a ride?"
I stopped. Boy, do I ever. But not the kind you'd be willing to give me.
I turned towards the car, more irritated at myself than with him. "What do you want, Edward?" Saying his name sent a little thrill through me, and I liked the shiver more than I wanted to admit. He smiled crookedly at me.
"I was on my way to lunch, and saw you walking. I thought that decrepit truck you drive might have broken down, and decided to find out if you needed a Good Samaritan. But if you don't need a ride…" he trailed off.
Several cars slowed to go around him, one or two of them honking impatiently. He ignored them. My irritation grew. "Why don't you stop blocking traffic?" I asked, curtly.
"Perhaps you'd like to join me for lunch?"
I blinked, surprised. What in the fifth circle of hell is going on here?
I didn't answer, and instead, turned to continue walking towards my truck. His car started rolling again, staying right next to me no matter how fast or slow I walked.
Suddenly the path turned. I looked up, and saw that it resumed across the parkway and continued back the direction I had just come.
I groaned and heard him chuckle.
His car was blocking the way to cross the street, and I was at his passenger side door. I
stood, unsure what to do. I heard him sigh and saw the door swing open.
"Get in," he ordered.
I got in stiffly and sat, determined not to break the silence. No sooner had I shut the door than the car hurtled forward, doubling the speed limit in a few short seconds. I held on to the seat and saw the parking lot with my truck pass by on the right, a flash of dull red.
He kept driving, and eventually slowed down to a reasonable pace. I crossed my arms and looked out of my window. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
He stared at the road ahead. "I often take the parkway instead of the main roads. It's much more beautiful."
"I guess what I meant was, 'what am I doing here?'" Why am I in your car? Why am I with you? Why do you keep showing up in my life?
Again he chuckled. "You wanted a ride, obviously."
"I didn't want a ride. And I didn't need a ride. You offered a ride, and I didn't want to be impolite." I fairly spit out the words.
He didn't answer, but out of the corner of my eye I detected a smile.
Something clicked in my brain, and I turned to him. "How did you know I have a truck?"
He stilled imperceptibly. Then, "I saw you getting out of it at the club yesterday morning."
I gasped. "You were there? When I auditioned?"
He nodded, still looking at the road.
My mind was working through this, putting the pieces together. He was at the club when I pulled into the lot. He came inside to talk to James. He watched my audition. He saw me.
"Did you follow me to the cafe?" I accused, angry.
"Not exactly. I was driving by on my way to a meeting yesterday when I saw your truck. Not many old Chevys with Washington state plates in this area." He smiled and looked at me, unapologetic. "I was hungry. And I decided to support the local economy—"
"That's a load of bullshit. Alice told me that you own that entire building, including the cafe. And I also know that you weren't having any problems with your Internet connection on your laptop, Mr. Broadband." I shot this at him haughtily and turned again to look out of the window.
He laughed. "Did you really just call me 'Mr. Broadband?'" He shook his head and chuckled. "I don't actually own the cafe business, just the building. Of course I am going to support my own business interests. And what was the harm in using minor subterfuge to chat with an attractive young woman for a few minutes?" He shook his head in mock sadness.
"Bella, Bella Bella…" my skin tingled as he said my name. "What am I going to do with you?"
I sighed to myself. I have so many ideas of what you could do with me, I wouldn't know where to begin…
He had turned off the parkway and now we were driving up a long, narrow road along the side of a tree-covered hill. A large, pristine white building came into view. He pulled in to the covered entrance beneath a green and gold sign reading, "Valley Country Club".
"Mr. Cullen!" The green-shirted valet was quick to open my door.
"Tony, how are you today?"
"Fine, sir. Have a nice lunch, sir."
I'd exited the car and stood, arms folded over my chest. Edward reached out to take my arm, but I backed away. "What are we doing here?" I hissed.
He looked at me blankly. "I invited you to lunch."
I opened my arms and looked at myself. "Look how I am dressed! You could have warned me that we weren't going to Applebee's" I was fuming.
Again with the blank look. "Would you rather go to Applebee's?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not exactly dressed for a country club luncheon." Doesn't he understand how I feel? Fairly mortified…
He shook his head at me. "Nonsense. You look fine. No one would ever say otherwise." He tucked a stray hair behind my ear, and I shivered.
No one would ever say anything to you, but they would know I don't belong here…
Despite my mortification, I allowed him to take my arm, and we walked through the entrance to the dining room.
The maî·tre d'showed us to a table near a massive stone fireplace, next to a large window. The view was breathtaking; from this vantage atop the hill, I could see the varying shades of green in stark contrast with the gray mountains that lay far beyond. I turned to Edward.
"This is really beautiful."
He nodded. "My favorite table."
At that moment, a waiter appeared. Edward spoke quietly to the man and then turned to me. "Would you care for some wine with your meal?"
I looked back and forth between the two. "Um… I've never had wine before…"
Edward smiled. "If you'd prefer something else…"
I shook my head quickly. "No, I'll have what you're having." Except I'll be having a heart attack over here. 'Coronary, table for one…'
The waiter returned with two glasses and a pitcher of ice water. As he poured, I surveyed the table. As he turned to fill my glass, I spoke
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, Miss?"
"I think there's been a mistake." I picked up one of the forks next to my plate. "It looks like they gave me an extra fork." I handed the fork to him with a smile.
The waiter stood, momentarily a statue, then turned to Edward.
Edward smiled, then picked up his fork and handed it to the waiter. "It appears I've been given an extra fork as well."
"Very good, sir." Without another work, the waiter turned and left the table.
I looked at Edward, another smile playing at his lips as he surveyed the menu.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, tell me, what are you smiling about?"
"Is it safe to assume that you won't be ordering a salad for lunch?" It was a normal question, I suppose, but that didn't explain why his golden eyes were fairly dancing.
"I hadn't thought about it… why?"
He put down the menu. "Some restaurants give you one fork for your salad, and one for your entrée. Since you obviously don't need your salad fork…" he shrugged, and I saw that the laughter in his eyes threatened to take over his entire face.
"Oh." What had I done? Not even five minutes at this fancy-schmancy place, and I made a huge gaffe. I'm sure none of his high-end, high-maintenance girlfriends would ever do something so—
He reached his hand across the table towards me, interrupting my kamikaze train of thought. I resisted the urge to pull my hands away, fold them across my chest, hold myself up. He grazed my knuckles with his fingertip, and looked into my eyes.
"You are a delight." He smiled gently. "Thank you for coming with me."
There was no doubting the sincerity in his words, and I felt myself begin to melt in response to his touch, his eyes, his voice, his breath…
I took a shaky breath and returned his smile, reaching for my menu.
Let's hope they have something on the menu that isn't salad.
* * * * *
A/N: I couldn't resist the restaurant scene! Bella hasn't been exposed to the life that Edward has, and it has the potential of creating a huge rift between them – but only if she lets it.
I may or may not be updating on Wednesdays, it depends on how much real life encroaches on my writing.
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