I don't own these characters. They are the sole property of Stephanie Meyers. I only borrow them. No humans are permanently harmed through my actions, though I do confess to harassing, annoying, torturing, and exasperating them – just because it's fun. I make no money from my little stories, sad day. I only play in the sandbox, I didn't build it.

Chapter 10: Southern Comfort

"Won't you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And you'll never see me no more."

"Gimme Three Steps" Written by Allen Collins and Ronny Van Zant, performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Edward's POV

So…apparently Bella had decided that there is nothing in the world that was more fun than tormenting me. I was pretty sure she stayed up at night coming up with new ways to torture me. Or maybe it was all innocent and I was reading way too much into everything. Maybe it was both. I didn't know. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday she dogged my footsteps. If I turned around, there she was – grinning up at me like she'd won the lottery. One time I even came out of the restroom to find her studying her cuticles while she waited for me. It was annoying and infuriating, and somehow…almost endearing. I wanted to kiss her when I didn't want to strangle her. But she had skills, that girl. I couldn't even call her out on her shit because she always had a perfectly reasonable and logical explanation for being where I was, when I was there.

Bullshit. I called bullshit.

The smirk on her face and the gleam in her eyes gave her away. She knew she made me uncomfortable. She knew I got tense and anxious when she was around. That was her intention. And she was fucking pushing the envelope every damn time. Then just when I knew I was about to crack and run like the pussy I had become, she'd bite her lower lip and get this sexy shy little smile on her face and retreat. I could almost see her clapping her hands in delight at my anxiety.

It was like a damned military campaign in a war I didn't know had been declared and I was exhausted. I'd been drafted and I wasn't enjoying the battles. She was wearing me down, though for what purpose I couldn't imagine. And I didn't like it – not one bit.

That's what I told myself as I grinned into the mirror every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

Bella's POV

I was such a bitch. I knew I was driving Edward crazy, and not in a good way. He'd started developing this hunted expression the moment he walked in the shelter doors. He would hear me approach and heave a deep sigh before turning to meet me with a look of resignation on his adorable face.

Sadly, I was enjoying the torture too much to stop. Besides, tormenting Edward was an easy way to keep myself from revealing that I was growing more and more attracted to him with every passing day. There were a dozen very good reasons for me not to want him, not the least of which was I didn't deserve anyone in my life, much less a scruffy Adonis with perfect feet. I sighed, pushing away the image of Edward's feet and the perfect, muscular calves that came next, not to mention the taut thighs…

Just then I caught a glimpse of Edward trying to sneak past my office by hiding behind the huge bulk of Raul. I grinned to myself. Silly man, to think he could escape me that easily!

We couldn't have that happening, now could we?

"Oh Edward…." I sang out, trying to stifle my laughter.

Edward's POV

"Oh Edward!" I felt my whole body go into lockdown. Fight or flight. Make a stand and reclaim my testosterone or run like a bitch? The adrenalin started pumping.

Shit. Fuck. Damn. She'd seen me again. I had really been counting on Raul's hulking form to hide me as I slipped past her office. And I was just three short steps from safety. I was even willing to ignore the weird looks that Raul gave me in order to take shelter in his immense shadow. But no… Ms. Swan had to have the eyes of an eagle or something. Or maybe she sensed fear. I don't know how she did it, but she did. Gritting my teeth, I pretended not to see the smirk on Raul's broad face and turned to gaze at the bane of my existence.

"Yes, Isabella?" I had taken to calling her Isabella mostly because I could tell it annoyed her, and I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to pay back a little of what she dished out.

Her lips tightened for a moment but then she smiled widely and I knew I was in for something painful. Again.

"I need help in the equipment room," Bella said sweetly. She batted her eyelashes at me like she wasn't the devil in tight jeans and a cotton hoodie.

"I'm sure that Zach would be-"

"He's taking a client to the clinic," she interrupted. Why did I have the feeling that she'd deliberately waited until I was the only one available? She smirked at me and I knew I was right.

"What about Raul?" I offered desperately. I looked to where the big chicken had disappeared. I'd get him back if it was the last thing I did.

Bella shook her head slowly, her grin getting wider and wider. "Uh uh," she replied. "Bad back." Then she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Looks like you're the only one available...and up to the job." That sounded dirty. Then again, pretty much everything sounded dirty to me these days.

I scowled at her. "All right," I conceded without a hint of graciousness. That only seemed to amuse her.

Bella whirled around, releasing a burst of scent from her hair. It was vaguely fruity, but darker…spicier. I had a flashing image of dark sheets and quiet sighs. Stop it. The scent was not at all what I'd imagined a delicate woman like Bella wearing. I liked it.

A lot.

Down boy.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, mostly to adjust myself on the sly, I followed after Bella. The equipment closet was small and dark and musty. And I was going to be pressed up against Isabella Swan far more than I wanted. Well, more than I needed to be. She unlocked the closet with a look of unholy glee on her face and I gave a mental groan.

She had definitely planned this.

Bella's POV

I decided that I'd let him get comfortable first. So I acted sort of like the crocodile at the watering hole… just minding my own business, little antelope… don't mind me…just carry one with what you're doing… And then…

SNAP!

I giggled thinking about it. God, playing with him was just so much fun.

Edward's POV

She giggled. God help me, she fucking giggled.

And my pants got tighter.

I was so screwed.

"Down boy," I muttered. I was saying those two words a lot more than I liked lately.

Bella's POV

Edward's head whipped up as soon as I giggled. Shit. He looked wary and resigned. So maybe I hadn't been as subtle as I had hoped in my attempts to harass him. Really, I wasn't sure where the impulse had come from. It was completely out of sync with my normal behavior. But something about Edward Cullen drove me to it.

When I saw him, I teetered between the mad desire to press him up against a door and have my way with him and an irresistible desire to watch him squirm. I decided that I needed to throw him off the scent, so I began humming a little tune to myself and ignoring him. I let him relax. I lured him in.

He began muttering under his breath, though I couldn't make out the words. He was really adorable when he was flustered.

Of course, he was pretty much adorable all of the time.

Edward Cullen, scruffy Adonis and adorable ass.

Edward's POV

She wasn't fooling me. She had something up her sleeve and her innocent act just wasn't cutting it anymore. "If she's not careful, I'll introduce Rosalie to her…that'd show her…" I grumbled quietly. Rose had always been the ultimate threat when we were growing up. She'd kept Emmett and Jasper in line. I usually tried to stay on her good side. As I've mentioned before, I liked my balls attached and in working order. Always had.

Suddenly, Bella stopped humming and whirled around to look at me in the dimly lit closet.

"Why don't you have a Southern accent?" she asked unexpectedly. "Are you a transplant here, like me?"

I grinned at her, sensing I might be able to get the upper hand here. For once. Maybe. I leaned in close and gave her what Alice called my "panty dropping" smile, hoping she'd see it in the gloom. "Well now, ma'am…" I drawled, deliberately drawing out my syllables and lowering my voice. I was, at heart, a good ole boy and I was going to play it up. "I am a Southern boy, born and bred, I assure you." I was laying it on thick now. "But my mama, she always wanted me to be college educated, so when I went to school, I sorta learned to speak proper like. Just like you big city folks." I fluttered my lashes at her. I could talk like a good ole boy with the best of them. I'd been surrounded by it my whole life and I sounded like I'd been raised up on grits and cornbread and greens – which I had. My mama was practically a gourmet cook of traditional Southern cuisine.

Bella scowled at me, looking too adorable for my peace of mind.

Point one for Cullen. Take that, Swan.

Her eyes narrowed as if she sensed my inner dialogue. "Where did you go to college?"

I laughed and put my lips next to her ear. She shivered. "There's only one place that any self-respecting Southern boy would go to get educated, Ms. Swan." She turned to look at me and the movement put her lips just millimeters away from mine it seemed. I could feel the heat of her breath on my face, smell the hint of peppermint. Briefly, I closed my eyes and imagined how soft her lips would be.

"And where's that?" she asked breathlessly. I wondered what else might make her voice sound that way.

Down boy.

"University of Florida, ma'am," I answered with a wink. "Go Gators." I smirked. "We bleed orange and blue, you know."

She considered that for a moment and then she rolled her eyes. "That's in Gainesville, less than two hours away!"

I pulled away from her then, afraid I'd kiss her if I stayed close. I shrugged. "Seriously, I just sort of lost it along the way."

Bella huffed and turned away from me.

But she wasn't humming anymore, and that made me want to sing.

Damn. I'm good.