Thanks for all the reviews!! I'm really glad all of you like this story; it's one of my first, Esme being the first, so the fact that I'm getting such a good response is unbelievable. By the way, I welcome criticism, if one chapter sucks or you don't like how I described a character tell me and if I agree I will change it!

To answer some questions, yes Nessie's plan to go to the party does seem flawed, since it's a relatively small party and it'd be kind of hard to blend in wouldn't it? But have no fear because I have a plan, I'd tell you, but that would just ruin the surprise wouldn't it? So I guess you'll just have to read to find out!

EPOV

I hung up and walked over to Bella and her friends. I had cancelled all my meetings for the afternoon so that I could hang out with Bella and see where we stood.

"Hey Bella, can I talk to you alone?" She looked up at me with those wondering eyes, looking so shocked for a second I wondered if I was out of line. Then she nodded.

"Sure." I nodded at Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Jacob feeling a little self-conscious in front of their knowing stares.

Hesitantly I took Bella's hand and led her out the door. The biting wind hit me full face as I stepped out making me cringe back involuntarily. For a second I thought I had left my coat in the restaurant before I looked at Bella and realized she still had it on. She seemed to realize this at the same moment I did and she started to pull it off.

"Here, it's cold, you should have this back," I gripped her shoulders, holding the jacket there. She tensed under my touch, oops I guess I'm being a little too forward. I dropped my hands, but kept them ready in case she tried to take the coat off again.

"I'll survive, but I don't think you will. Keep it on, okay?" I could tell that she was ready to retaliate and say no again, so I just looked her in the eye and put on my best "puppy dog face", "please? For me?"

She rolled her eyes, but made no other move to take the jacket off. I grinned triumphantly, and opened the passenger door of my car, "it'll be warmer in here."

I looked at her again, she looked kind of nervous, but I couldn't really tell what she was thinking. She was so hard to read. Usually I can tell what people are thinking by their facial expressions, it really comes in handy when you need to know if a client is lying to you about whether or not they actually broke their ex's car windshield. With Bella though, I can never tell if I'm saying or doing something that makes her feel uncomfortable. It's starting to annoy me a bit.

I watched intently as she slid into the seat, knocking her head on the top of the car. Something about the way she moved, yes she was a total klutz but at the same time there was something about it that was so beautiful. She started rubbing her head, gazing out the front of the car. I had a feeling she was avoiding looking at me. I frowned slightly as I closed the door gently behind her. Does she not want to talk to me or something?

I walked over to my side of the car quickly, opening my door and climbing in in record time. I sighed and put the key in the ignition to warm the car up. Immediately the music I had been listening to started playing.

"You like Debussy?" I looked over at her startled.

"You know Debussy?" Her cheeks flamed and she looked down at her hands. I had to admit I was a little shocked that she listened to classical music; I guess I pictured her as a fan of more pop-rock music.

"When I was little it was the only thing my mom would listen to in the car. I never really liked classical music myself, except for Clair de Lune. It was the only song I could listen to and actually enjoy,"

"That's my favourite, as well." I murmured, surprised. Damn, she even knows Debussy? Could she be any more perfect?

Bella started speaking, "So," and paused, and looked unsure of how to continue. Prompting her on, she said, "I guess I'm going to have another lawyer, huh?"

I was taken aback, had I come on too strong? "Why would you want to do that?"

"Well, you know… because of my feelings." She responded, with a tinge of red painting on her cheeks. So gorgeous…

"Your feelings? What do you mean?" Surely she wasn't so embarrassed about what happened that she didn't want to see me again.

She continued to gaze down at her hands, getting redder by the second, "well… that I… you know… l-like you." I couldn't help the grin that slowly made its way onto my face. Of course, I had already figured out that she had a crush on me from her little "dream" speech, but it was so much better to hear her enchanting voice say it directly.

"I like you, too Bella, I really do." I reached out a hand and put two fingers under her chin, lifting her head until her stunning brown eyes met mine, "my god, you are absolutely beautiful." Without thinking, I stroked her cheekbone, relishing in the soft feel of her skin.

"You…you like me, too?" Her eyes were still questioning, what did I have to do to prove to this girl that she is the most amazing girl I have ever known?

"Yes, silly Bella. I really, truly like you, more than I should for the short amount of time we have known each other." Her face flushed and a smile played on her lips. Inwardly I moaned, that smile has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, the most beautiful thing there is to see.

"Edward…" her blush deepened, if she her face got any redder I might have to start worrying about the rest of her body not getting enough blood.

"Yes, tesoro?" Her eyes widened at my use of the Italian word. Before I could stop myself I started leaning towards her, my eyes glued to hers I caressed her cheek before lowering my hand to the back of her neck, locking her into our intense stare.

"Would it be too… straight forward…if I…" she took a deep breath, her eyes moving to my lips.

"No, I don't think that that would be a problem," I flashed a grin at her, before leaning even closer, I closed my eyes slowly, the last thing I saw was her lips curved into a victory smile.

Tap, tap, tap.

I snapped back, hitting my head on the roof of my car. Ow.

"Ow," we both said at the exact same moment, Bella started rubbing the back of her head, obviously having hit it on her window. I laughed lightly, the fact that we were both hurt seeming slightly funny.

A smile replaced Bella's grimace and she started laughing too. "What in the world was that?"

"I have no clue, it sounded like--" Tap, tap, tap. The sound came again and this time I realized it was coming from behind me.

Reluctantly I turned around and faced whatever was making that annoying sound. Emmett stood in front of the window, his gigantic hand formed a fist and he was knocking on the once shiny, clean window.

When he saw that he had my attention, he motioned for me to roll down the window, a playful grin on his face.

As soon as the window was down far enough Emmett stuck his head in. "Hey, guys, just thought I'd let you know that Rose, Jazz and I are leaving now. We will see you back at the apartment for the party." Does he realize that Bella and I were about to kiss when he interrupted us? Emmett clapped a hand on my shoulder, pushing me further down into my seat, had I been standing my knees would've buckled underneath me. "Real smooth Eddie, jerking back like that," he whispered in my ear, just quiet enough that it appeared that he didn't want Bella to hear, yet still loud enough for her to hear. He laughed, before ducking out and running away from the car, back to where Rosalie and Jasper were standing. Rosalie waved, her eyes focused on Bella with a mischievous smile.

I rolled my window back up, waving at them before turning back to Bella. She was staring at Rose and I realized they were probably having a silent conversations. I watched as she smiled and nodded her head a little. Her smile was absolutely breathtaking, I could just look at her for the rest of eternity and I would be perfectly content. Her smile widened and yet another blush stained her cheeks. She waved before turning back to me, still smiling.

"What?" She fidgeted, turning her gaze on her lap. I shook my head to try to relieve some of the intensity I had been feeling for her. That didn't work.

"You are the most beautiful person I have ever met," it was my turn to blush and I looked away, watching Emmett's jeep pull out of the parking lot.

"Thank you," I looked back up at her, she was looking at me through her eyelashes, a curtain of that soft brown hair falling over her face. I reached out and tucked it behind her ear. "So… what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… what are we going to do about the trial now? Can you still be my lawyer, now that we are…" she looked down again, her eyebrows constricting, "well what are we now? I mean are we in a…relationship?" I groaned, the case. I had completely forgotten about that. I couldn't be in a relationship with a client, it could easily mess up their chances of losing the case and there was no way I was going to let that creep Newton walk away.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and thought. I could forfeit the case and recommend another lawyer who I know would take good care of Bella… No, I can't do that I need to be the one to put that creep in jail; I don't trust anyone else to do a good enough job. We could keep it a secret until the trial is over, but do I really want that? What if she meets someone else while we aren't officially going out? Or decides to give that Jacob guy another chance?

I looked back up at Bella; she was staring at her hands obviously conflicted too. I sighed what mattered right now was making sure she was safe, and she wouldn't be safe until Newton was in jail, I need to be her lawyer right now not her boyfriend, as much as I wanted to be the former, her safety needed to come first.

"I think that for the time being, we should just be friends." Her head snapped up, her eyes were full of disappointment and hurt. I backtracked, "until the trial is over I mean, we can't let a relationship get in the way of winning the case."

"Okay, if that's what you want." She sounded so unsure, as if praying that I would change my mind and decide to give up the case.

"For now," I grabbed her hand. I glanced at the clock, it was only 1:45, the party wouldn't start until eight and I don't think I could stand being away from her that long. "Would you like to go somewhere with me?" She looked confused so I added, "as friends of course."

She glanced at the clock too; seeming to decide something, "sure, let's go."

I couldn't help but grin, happy that she had agreed, "great, I hope you like it, it's a place I've been going since I was a kid. It's sort of an oasis for me."

"I'm sure I'll love it then." She sat back in her seat, reaching behind her for the seatbelt.

This is going to be fun.

Sorry for the delay putting this up. My grandpa had heart surgery so I've been really busy lately visiting him in the rehab center. I have the next chapter almost finished so it shouldn't take long to get that chapter up too. Leave reviews please, any guesses to where Edward is taking Bella? It seems obvious to me. Oh and Mike will make an appearance within the next 2 chapters. Major foreshadowing there!! Put two and two together, the next chapter will be the Edwards "oasis" and then after that the party, so where exactly does Mike fit into that? You'll have to read to find out!!