A/N: Okay, this part is short. I was going to make this chapter really long, but I have already had to rewrite this part of the story twice after not liking what I put down. So, since it has already been a week since my last post, I decided to give you this section since I am happy with it and gives some nice Jasper/Bella bonding time. Since I find that I am becoming a review whore, if I get 25 reviews, I will post the next section within three days. It is close to being done, but I really like the next scene and want to do it proper justice. So if I get a good response on this mini-chapter, I will work extra hard over the next two days to get the next part done. Deal??

Disclaimer: It's mine… all mine!! Yeah right. Everything belongs to Stephanie Meyers.

BELLA'S POV

"A part of me will always love him, just as a part of me will always mourn him. Am I in love with him is probably the better question, and that answer is no. No, I am most definitely not in love with him anymore." I stared down at a blade of grass. I did not say what I wanted to add to the end of that statement. But I think I am beginning to have feelings for you.

How do you tell someone that? How do I even resolve these feelings within myself? It seemed like the past twenty four hours, this was all I was thinking about. Now that my feelings for Jasper have finally come to light, they seem like they are coming on stronger and gaining momentum with every passing moment. Come on, Bella! There is more to you then mooning over some vampire!! I mentally shook myself awake.

I looked up then at Jasper and smiled. "So… this was surprise number one. I must say, I am pleasantly surprised."

I was relieved to see that his smirk had returned and I could tell the conversation revolving around Edward had passed, for now at least. Although I was curious, I really did not want to hear about his particular whereabouts and what he had been up to right after he left. Maybe someday I would be ready to be friends with him, but not now and I definitely did not want him to somehow manage to put a damper on the day. The sun however had other ideas… Jasper and I looked up and noticed that the sun was trying desperately to make an appearance.

"Well, Bella, it looks like we might have to cut the horseback riding short." He smirk had turned into a frown. You could tell he thought that his plans were being spoiled. However, my good mood had returned and I was determined not to have a little sun ruin my day.

"So? We can go back to the cabin. There is a hot tub calling my name after all."

Jasper took my hands and lifted me up. We made quick work of the impromptu picnic and packing up our horses again. I trotted back on Buttercup at an easy pace, with Jasper getting ahead, giving his mare more of a workout. After ten minutes or so, he doubled back and fell into an easy trot beside mine. Soon the barn appeared on the horizon. "You really don't mind heading back?"

I shook my head. "No. The point of this weekend wasn't supposed to be about sightseeing or surprises. For me, it was about spending time with my best friend. How many times am I going to need to tell you that?" I couldn't help but tease him a little.

The owner was there to greet us and take care of the horses. We thanked her profusely and with a glance at the ever strengthening sun, we took off on the bike. In no time, we were back at the cabin. We walked in, he placed the keys on the table while I immediately headed up to the bedroom.

"Where you going?" Jasper asked.

"Bedroom. Changing. Bikini. Hot tub. Remember? Wanna join?" If I had not known better, I could have sworn I heard Jasper groan. I grabbed the suit that the conceriage had picked out. It wasn't the skimpiest bikini I had ever seen, but it did not leave a whole lot to the imagination either. I am just glad I had shaved prior to going on this weekend excursion. I grabbed a towel and walked out to the deck where I noticed that Jasper was already there, in a pair of swim trunks. My previous musings about Jasper's body were dead on. He was very well built underneath his clothes and he had a perfect six pack. A body sculpted like a marble statue. What else did I expect? I gulped suddenly feeling very self concious in my bikini. I quickly pushed aside my feelings of inadequacies and walked to the hot tub.

"Coming in?" Jasper asked almost coyly. Before I had a chance to respond, he grabbed my body, and extending his arms, precariously held me over the hot tub.

"Ahhh!!!" I shouted. "Jasper if you even…"

With a big grin he replied, "If I what? Do this?" and then I found myself get dropped in the hot tub, water flying everywhere.

I quickly sprang to the surface. Sputtering, I responded. "Oh, you are so dead!"

Another smirk crossed Jasper's face as he effortlessly got into the hot tub. "Yes, I am. Obeservant, aren't we?"

I couldn't help but laugh. He continued. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't help it. I knew the look on your face would be priceless. Besides, I never got to surprise Alice that way." His voice turned soft on the last sentence.

Through the water, I squeezed his hand. "I know this is going to probably sound trite, but I wanted to let you know how much I admire the strength you have to get through the loss of her. I know how much she meant to you and I know how much you meant to her. I can only hope that I will someday be able to love someone like that again."

He pulled me back against him like last night and hugged me tightly. "Someday, someone is going to love you with all their heart and they are going to steal you away from me and I will be broken once again."

I leaned back further into him, enjoying his comforting embrace. "No one could steal me away from you. You mean too much to me." If he only really knew.

We sat in silence then. In the heat of the hot tub, his body temperature almost felt normal. I allowed myself the luxery to pretend that his embrace meant more than it really did, that we were more than just friends.

After sometime had passed, Jasper gently rubbed his hands up and down my arms. Without meaning to, I let a small moan at the touch. I could feel my blood rush throughout my entire body and knew that Jasper felt that wave of embarrassment. He did not make any comment on it however and just stated, "Bella, your body is getting overheated. We should get you out of this. We can continue reading our books for a bit and then you need to get ready for tonight. I hope you don't mind but I took care to make sure you had an outfit for tonight."

I scrunched up my face and mumbled. "Do we have to?" When Jasper's response was helping me up out of the tub, I changed subject. "Tonight? So…What are we doing?"

"I told you there were two surprises this weekend. Emphasis on the word surprise."