You are all pretty upset that Bella hasn't told Edward who Jamie was. But she is a strong girl and doesn't want Edward to fight her battles.

I think she should tell him, but she doesn't listen to me.

Exciting chapter! Sorry it's late...I had to finish it this morning.

EPOV

"You want to schedule a what?" I asked, trying to pick my jaw up off the ground. Jamie was standing in front of my desk, his hands propped on the worn wood as he met my eyes.

"I want to have a team building night for the crew. We're so spread out across the site, there are some days I don't get to talk to any of the drivers at all. I barely know Swan and Miller, since they're working the long runs. I think we would work as a much more cohesive unit if we spent some mandatory time together," Jamie said. I didn't want to admit it, but his idea was pretty good. I just hoped that whatever he had planned wouldn't blow Bella's cover. She had been on edge since he started, but I just figured it was because there was yet another person she was lying to. She hated to do it, but at this point she was in so far there was no way out.

I hadn't told her about what was going on with her father. I knew she would be pissed at me, but I was just waiting for the right time. My dad was once again proving why he was my hero, and I'd have to get him a big fucking bottle of Scotch to thank him.

"Sounds good, Jamie. And to sweeten the deal, I'll pay the guys for the time. That should eliminate anyone bitching about it," I said. He smiled and I reached my hand out to meet his. He was a really good addition to the crew. He was hardworking and smart.

"I'll set it up for this Friday night," he called over his shoulder as he walked out of the trailer. I was relieved when the door closed and I could go back to sneaking glances of Bella through the blinds.

BPOV

I thought I would be used to keeping secrets by now…but I was wrong. Not telling Edward that Jamie was the guy who attacked me outside the diner was the hardest thing I'd ever done. I still had a week left before my two weeks were up, and Jamie came in every night right before my shift ended. He would always sit in my section and flirt and chat with me. I ignored him. Did he actually think I would want to have anything to do with him after he put his hands all over me?

At work it wasn't as bad. He often made rude comments about women, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying something, but we got along alright. The nights I didn't have to spend busting my ass at the diner, I spent with Edward.

A week after Edward had kidnapped me, his dad came over to give me an update on Charlie.

"He's struggling, I won't lie. He's having a really hard time dealing with his paralysis and the fact that you know he's your father. Apparently he wanted to raise you as his own, but his parents said no. He was only sixteen," Carlisle explained as he sat on the other side of Edward's kitchen table. Edward was next to me, his arm around my shoulders.

"But he's had plenty of opportunities to tell me since they died," I whispered, spinning my empty coffee cup around. I leaned into Edward's side, thankful for the support.

"Bella, honey, do you really think he would want you to know? You were his only support. The reason he's dealing with depression and his reliance on alcohol is because he knew how much he was putting on your shoulders," Carlisle explained gently. His words took some of the sting out of how Charlie had treated me, but not all of it. He was a grown man. He could have stood up and taken some of the responsibility. But he didn't.

"It is going to take some time for him to really deal with everything. I've set him up with a therapist and some home nursing care." I was overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity both Edward and his father were bestowing on both of us. I covered my face with my hands as tears pricked my eyes, not wanting to show weakness in front of these two strong men. Edward pulled me off my chair and into his lap, rocking me as I cried silent tears. I heard Carlisle's chair sliding across the floor a moment before I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Take care of her, son."

"Don't worry, Dad. I'm not letting her go," Edward whispered, his words rumbling in his chest beneath my ear.

EPOV

Bella was a mess after my father left. She was dealing with so much and she was still so damn tired all the time. I couldn't wait until she was finished at the diner because I was just as exhausted after spending my nights watching her from the cab of my truck. I wasn't sure she knew I was keeping an eye on her, but I hoped not. It wasn't that I didn't trust her…I just worried.

After my father left, she seemed to just collapse. My shirt was wet with tears and…other fluids by the time she fell asleep. For such a cute little thing, she sure did produce a lot of snot. I stood up, holding her slight weight in my arms. I couldn't help but nuzzle my face into her short, silky hair as I walked down the hall to my bedroom. She sighed as I set her down on the bed, barely fighting me as I stripped her pants off. She rolled to her side, settling back to sleep as soon as I had her in just a t-shirt and panties. I stood next to the bed, watching her and trying to remember what my life had been like before she'd been here with me.

Realizing it was late and we had to be at work early the next morning, I made a quick pit stop in the bathroom and then slid beneath the covers next to Bella. The second I was settled, she rolled over onto me, snaking her arm across my chest and pressing her face into my arm. I closed my eyes and ran my fingers over her soft skin, letting the gentle rhythm of her breath lull me to sleep.

"Oh yes."

Bella's husky moan woke me. The entire right side of my body was warm, a comforting weight covering my chest and thigh. As I threw off the last vestiges of sleep, I turned my head to look at her. Her face was turned up toward mine, her lips parted as she released another one of those sultry moans.

She was having a sex dream.

My cock got hard in a second, blood flowing away from my brain. I reached down to tuck my now throbbing shaft into a better position, running into the satin-smooth skin of Bella's thigh in the process. She was grinding herself against my thigh. Oh damn…that was hot.

I debated what to do for about a second, and then I rolled to my side, facing her. Bella sighed as I eased her to her back. I pushed the covers down, needing to see her. I nearly came when I saw the damp spot on the crotch of her purple cotton panties. Her legs sawed back and forth on the bed, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her closed lids. I slid the tips of my fingers under the top of her panties, stroking gently toward where she needed me.

"Edward," she rasped and I looked up quickly, worried I'd been caught. But she was still sound asleep, her eyes closed tightly. She was having a sex dream about me. Confidence buoyed, I slipped my fingers against the top of her pussy, feeling her get even wetter. I was leaving a wet spot of my own against my boxer briefs, my cock leaking as I pushed one finger inside her. Her back arched, hands grabbing onto the sheet beneath her. Her nipples pressed against the thin cotton of her shirt and I stretched up so I could take one of the fabric-covered points into my mouth. When her fingers tangled in my hair, I didn't stop to see if she was awake. Her moans got louder, which only made me moved faster, stroke her harder, suck her deeper.

As she splintered apart in my arms, I held her tight. Releasing her nipple, I looked up and was met with her dazed eyes.

"That was a great way to wake up," she sighed, running her fingers through my hair. I settled down, my head resting on her breast as I enjoyed the peace between us.

"How about I-" she started to say, but the blaring beep of the alarm clock interrupted her. I sighed, grimacing when my cock got pinched as I rolled over to shut off the annoying sound. I sat up, looking longingly over my shoulder at the satisfied girl spread out behind me.

"Tonight?" she giggled, standing up and sliding her panties down her legs. I gaped at her, wishing I had set the alarm for an hour earlier instead of twenty minutes before we had to leave.

"No. We have that damn group thing tonight," I pouted. Bella walked over to where I was still sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I pressed a gentle kiss to each of her nipples before I looked up at her.

"When we get home then," she whispered. Although the meaning hiding beneath her words had my heart racing, it was the fact that she said 'home' that made me smile.

BPOV

Edward was grumpy all morning, but I guess being cockblocked by an alarm clock would do that to a guy. I wouldn't know…I got off spectacularly. By five, I still had no idea where we were going for our bonding night, but the other guys seemed to be really excited about it.

I locked up my rig and walked over to where everyone was gathered. Instead of standing by Edward, I settled in next to Alec and waited. Jamie and Edward were talking animatedly outside the trailer, and I could tell by the way Edward's hands were moving, he wasn't happy. They went back and forth for a few minutes before Edward nodded impatiently. He didn't look at me as he joined the group, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Jamie stood in the middle of the group, his face showing his excitement.

"Okay boys, although the boss isn't too happy with my choice, he agreed that we need to blow off some steam. Get your dollars ready…we're heading to a strip club!" he announced, bringing cheers from the guys. I looked over at Edward, meeting his nervous eyes.

Oh…shit. This was going to be an interesting night.

Oh shit indeed! How do you think a cockblocked Edward is going to react?

There will probably not be an update this weekend. I have a soccer game tomorrow and then I'm taking my girls to Knoebels for their birthday on Sunday.

See you Monday!