AN: thanks for the reviews, and thanks to my two beta Jazzy-Confederate1861 and mauralee88 for betaing this chapter.

AN2: some of you rightly pointed out that in the US you don't have school on Saturday, I'm Italian so I didn't know, I apologize for the mistake, for my story-line I need it to be Saturday so bear with me. You asked me about the timeline, I have Bella meeting him on Wednesday and Friday, Paul goes to see her on Saturday.

Now on with the story...

9. Bella

Bella was sitting in Paul's car watching outside. The teasing had left her a bit on edge, but she felt a strange sense of peace being in his car. Somehow his presence was soothing. She was aware of his moves and sighs, but she wasn't uncomfortable.

Paul seemed to be the kind of guy that either threw innuendos at her or didn't say anything at all. He wasn't like Edward, all polite conversation, and he wasn't warm and fuzzy like Jake. He was just Paul and that suited her just fine.

She almost jumped out of her skin when he put his warm hand on her knee. She could feel the heat radiating and expanding. She realized that she was holding her breath and she exhaled.

"So how was school kitten? Have you thought about me?" he asked her, smirking.

Bella felt herself blushing. His hand was just resting on her leg, but she was starting to feel aroused again. What did he ask? She shook her head to clear it. "School was school. Nothing much. And no Paul, why ever would I have thought about you?"

His smirk widened and his hand started to move slowly upward.

She was so entranced in watching it that she almost didn't hear him asking. "Are you sure you haven't thought about me?"

She gulped and tried to focus. The hand was nearing its destination and she had few seconds to say something. "Okay! Yes, I thought about you a bit."

The hand stopped and then went back down on her knee.

She took a breath and then she heard him chuckled. "Just a bit?"

The hand started to go up again. "A lot!" she shouted, and the hand stopped and moved back down again.

She bit her lip. Damn him for making her feeling that way!

But two could play the game.

Bella steadied herself and then with her left hand touched the hand that was on her knee, she felt him almost jump. She smiled secretly, her hand slowly started to go up on his arm. "What about you Paul? Have you thought about me?"

She thought she saw him struggle with his breathing, and she increased the touch by drawing her nails slowly on his skin.

"I did" he said huskily. "And if you continue doing what you are doing I will show you how much I did."

She stopped abruptly, blushing even more. She took her hand away and turned to look out of the window. She wanted him so much that she prayed to get to the diner soon.

At least around other people he couldn't rile her up that much. Or could he?

They arrived at the diner and parked the car.

Bella was out almost as soon as he turned it off.

He got out slowly. She thought she saw him adjusting his jeans, but he was behind the car so she wasn't sure. He got to her side and took her hand. "Let's go kitten. I find myself quite hungry as well."

Paul gave her an intense look and she knew he wasn't talking about food.

When they entered the diner the bell on the door jingled causing the waitress to look up.

Bella saw Sue looking at them with surprise and then speculation.

She managed to smile weakly. "Hello Sue, table for two please." She noticed that Sue was watching their hands. They were still joined. Paul hadn't let go and neither had she.

Sue smiled and motioned to a table in the corner.

Bella and Paul walked over and sat. Sue brought two menus, and left giving them the time to read them.

Bella sighed, with all the sexual tension in the car she had lost the little appetite she had. She looked pensively at the menu and then she looked up at Paul. He was watching her intensely without saying anything. "What is it Paul?" she asked softly.

He smiled at her, not a smirk, but a real nice simple smile. "Nothing, just wondering if you knew what you were going to order."

Bella felt her heart flutter, Paul was simple and yet complicated. She could never guess what he would do or say next, and she realized she liked it.

"I'm going for a simple burger with fries. And a coke. What about you?" she said,

"I guess I'll get the same." replied him.

After placing their order, Bella found herself watching Paul, she realized that he was doing the same. Thinking they must look really silly staring at each other, she decided that she wanted to know more about him. "Do you have brothers or sisters?"

Paul seemed surprised by the question, but then answered. "No, I'm an only child. I have two friends though, Jared and Sam, who are like brothers to me. You'll meet them eventually. What about you?"

Bella was taken aback. Had he really said that she would meet his friends? It seemed like he was planning to stick around then. "I'm an only child too. We have something in common then. Like you I have a friend, Jake, who is like a brother to me. I think you might know him, he is Billy Black's son."

He looked at her funnily and then replied. "Yes I do know him. We don't hang around the same places though." He paused for a moment, looking deeply into her eyes, "I think that we have more than that in common kitten."

Paul placed his warm hand on her knee again. Bella bit her lip. She noticed that his eyes had darkened again and he was watching her mouth intensely. He spoke again. "I wouldn't do that either, we're in a public place and I'm sure you wouldn't like to see what that little quirk of yours makes me want to do to you."

Bella almost gasped. Had he just told her that if they were alone he would make a move on her?

She looked at his serious expression and then she started laughing.

He seemed taken aback for a moment, but then joined in.

When she gathered herself enough she said. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have teased you that much. I'm not like that at all, but I thought that you deserved some payback for embarrassing me the first time we met."

Paul smiled at her. And her heart missed a beat. "It's ok. I guess I deserved it. I'm sorry about embarrassing you. It's just that it's me, I enjoy keeping people on their toes and when I saw that you could hold your own I guess I decided to see how far I could take it. You're different from other girls. You are ...unique."

She felt her heart warm, it seemed that he could be nice when he chose so. "Thank you Paul. I think that you are ... unique too."

She saw him take a deep breath. "Bella I'll be sincere with you. I like you and I would like to see if we could work, like a couple. I'm not playing with you. Do you think you could give me a chance?"

Bella didn't know what to say. He was being very honest with her, and he deserved the same from her. "Paul, I like you too, but I don't know if I can ... get involved with a guy again. My first...boyfriend... broke my heart in such a fashion that it took me many months to start recovering. I don't know if I can trust...a man again."

Paul took her hand in his. "Bella, I know that Cullen did a number on you, but look at me, I'm not him. I might have a problem with my anger and I definitely enjoy seeing you blush. But what you see is what you get. I'll never lie to you because I don't see the point in doing that and I'll be there for you. No matter what. You can set the pace of our relationship." And then he added. "But don't make me wait too much or you'll get a repeat performance of yesterday afternoon."

Bella burst out laughing again, she couldn't really keep up with his mood swings. She decided to tease him a bit more. "And what if that's what I want?"

Paul leaned closer to her and softly whispered. "Then let me take you back to my place. Who am I to deny you anything?"

She shivered at his words, the temptation was almost too much.

She heard a throat clearing and looking up she saw Sue with their order. She blushed and sat back in her chair. She saw Paul doing the same, but his look promised her there was more to come her way.

They ate in silence. After all they had laid out their thoughts and now they were enjoying each other presence.

Bella felt settled, she had always had a feeling of restlessness about her. She felt like she never belonged to any place, but now, here with Paul she felt home. He felt like home to her in a very simple and yet complicated way. It was a feeling of belonging. His smile, his eyes, his smell, his teasing all that was Paul was etched in her heart like he had always been there. "Paul I... I guess I can give us a chance. I am in if you are."

He took her hand and squeezed it. "Never doubt me Bella. I'm here to stay. I'm definitely in."

When they finished the meal he took the check and although she protested he paid the bill.

He took her hand again and led her out of the diner. "I guess I should take you back to your truck. It's getting late."

Bella felt disappointed. She didn't want to leave him, but she knew he was right. "Yes, I guess I have to go home, I need to prepare dinner for my dad."

Paul smiled and opened the door for her.

When they reached the parking lot he got out of the car and walked with her to her truck. He opened the door for her and when she was sitting in her truck he leaned in. "Can I see you tomorrow? I could pick you up at your house at three in the afternoon. First Beach is nice in this season."

Bella smiled and nodded. "I would love to. Three is fine with me."

They were watching each other intensely. It seemed that neither wanted to leave.

Bella was fighting a battle with herself and finally her reckless side won. She turned to look at him and put her hands around his neck. She leaned closer and touched his lips with hers. She sat back on her truck and whispered. "See you tomorrow."

She saw him watching her intensely. He didn't try to reach for her though, showing her that she really would be the one to set the pace. She felt a weight fall off her heart. Paul could be trusted.

He cleared his throat and said. "See you tomorrow kitten." He then closed her door and she saw him getting back in his car. She noticed that he waited to start his car until she turned on the truck and started to leave the parking lot. Trustworthy and caring.

Who would have ever thought it! That's why looks could be deceiving. He seemed big and scary and that was probably what he wanted others to think, but if he let you in you could see that he was a good guy.

Bella couldn't wait for the next day to come, maybe something good was coming out from the Cullen's leaving.