A/N: Thanks so much to everyone reviewing, and I'm pleased to say I caught up with responses. I hope I answered everyone's questions satisfactorily. Please let me know if you have more questions! Special thanks to guest reviewer Tuti back with us again, for your comments on chapters 3, 7, and 9!
One note: "planes" in the previous chapter meant "airplanes." Same in this one.
Tons of gratitude as always to our beta, SunflowerFran. Any mistakes are mine.
~.~
"You do, eh?" Edward asked, absently offering her a glass of wine before downing the second one. "That's good. Now, if you won't come over for lunch or dinner, how about for the afternoon? You have a date at five so you could be here by two." He winked at Bella. "That would give us plenty of time to get to know each other."
"Between planes," Bella said dreamily, sipping her wine. "No entanglements…" It was true; she would never get to know someone as attractive and interesting as Edward Cullen in the usual way… so what would it hurt if she spent a few hours with him in the afternoon? It was time for some excitement in her life. She was eighteen and ready to experience everything the world had to offer. And she knew what she was getting into. Above all else, she must never fall in love with this man. He would never return those feelings.
But she could have a fun adventure with the sexiest man alive. Why not? Then, she could be back home for dinner, and there would be no need to worry her father. Her smile broadened.
Now, if she were going to have an adventure with the infamous playboy Edward Cullen, she had better act like someone she was not. Her imagination churned into overdrive as she pictured the kind of woman he dated. Someone quite sophisticated, experienced, worldly… more like some of the women in her father's case files.
"All right," she said, now grinning. "I'll be back at two. We'll have to make it short so I can meet my date on time." She met his eyes with her dancing ones. "Let's see, it's Tuesday, so it must be Jacob today."
He looked taken aback. "You're dating more than one person?"
"Yes," Bella said, laughing. "No entanglements, you know. Life is so much simpler that way." She remembered a quote from one of the women in the files and tossed it out, matching his glittering eyes with her own. "My motto is: She who loves and runs away lives to love another day."
Edward stared at her, his eyes wide in surprise. For a moment, his irises appeared to brighten to green and gold, then he grinned, and once again, his eyes were dark and depthless. "Yes. Very good. Yes, it's always better that way." He opened the door for her. "See you at two!"
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A/N: Loved all your comments and questions about his eyes. All I will say at this point is that he is human. But I'm eager to hear your thoughts on what might be going on. :)
What do you think about Bella's decision and act? Is she making a big mistake? (Did anyone here do some really stupid things at age 18, especially when a crush was involved? Lol, I'm not admitting anything!)