Drive-By Flirtation

Chapter 10

A/N – Thank you for the reviews. I promise that I read them all and love them! You make me laugh. Lots of interesting comments this week about Victoria and James. I don't know about those two.

As always, everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Bella was hard at work Tuesday when she heard the stampede. Stiletto heels, running, accompanied by high pitched squeals, the noise getting louder and louder as it neared her desk. She popped her head up over the top of her cubicle only to see three blond heads rounding the corner at a dead run. She pressed her chair back against the desk to keep from being run over. What the hell? It must be a fire, she realized, grabbing her purse and preparing to run.

"What is it? What's going on?"

Jessica turned her head as she dashed by. "Edward Cullen is in the building!"

Bella dropped her purse back in the drawer. "Seriously?" Her intercom buzzed, and she picked it up. "Hello, Alice."

"Good morning Bella. I have some good news for you."

"I already know Edward is in the building. The fan club just ran by. Are they for real?"

"Oh they're real all right. Real annoying." Alice giggled. "And easy to distract. I trust they're heading for the front door?"

"Yes" Bella said. "How did you know?"

"Because I told them he was coming in that way. But for you, I speak only the truth. He came in the back door, and he's already in Jasper's office. So how about you drift on up here so the two of you can talk without the bimbo patrol finding out?"

Bella snorted. "Bimbo patrol? Alice, I love you."

"I know" said her friend with a sigh. "Everyone does."

Bella approached Jasper's office and stuck her head in the door. "Hey."

Edward jumped up from the chair in front of Jasper's desk. "Hey yourself. I'm just waiting for Jasper."

"I know. I thought I'd say hi." Bella felt suddenly shy around him. Everything had changed since yesterday's coffee date.

"Could you say hi to me from over here, instead of over there?" He held out his arms and wiggled his fingers.

She laughed at his funny gesture. "Of course." She walked over and tucked herself into his arms, melting a little when he kissed the top of her head.

"We still on for lunch today?" Edward sat down, motioning for her to sit in the chair next to him.

"I'd really like that" she replied.

"Only if her boss says it's OK" said Jasper, walking in and taking his seat behind the desk. He winked at Bella so she knew he wasn't serious.

"If her boss wants to keep his favorite author happy, he will" Edward retorted, a wide grin on his face.

Jasper shrugged. "Well, by all means then, go ahead. Do you think maybe we could get a little business done before lunch?"

Bella smiled. "Of course. I was just saying hello. I'll leave you two to work." She squeezed his hand and started to walk away. "I'll meet you in the parking lot at noon. And Edward? Whatever you do, don't go out the front door."

They managed to make their escape, with a little more misdirection from Alice, and had a quick but pleasant lunch at the coffee shop. He drove her back to the office and put the car in park.

"So about Saturday" he said. "I'd like to take you somewhere really nice. Is that OK?"

"That would be lovely, Edward" Bella said "but really, anywhere would be fine. I'd be happy eating cold hamburgers at McDonald's as long as it was with you." She smacked her forehead. "Did I say that last part out loud?"

"You did" he said. "But don't worry. I think the fact that you have no verbal filter is just adorable."

She blushed at his remark, and he couldn't help but graze his fingertips down her face. He moved toward her, brushing a small, gentle kiss against her cheek. It was quickly followed by his lips pressing against hers. He could taste the chocolate brownie they'd shared on her lips and in her mouth. He never wanted to stop kissing her.

"I'll pick you up at 7" he said, with a final touch of his lips to hers. "And I'll be thinking about you every minute until then."

Bella somehow made it back to her desk, where she found Alice waiting for her.

"Nice lunch?"

"Uh huh."

"You're going to have to give me more than that, Bella."

Bella took a deep breath and shook her head to clear the Edward-induced fog. "He's absolutely charming, Alice. In addition to being smart, and funny."

"Don't forget incredibly sexy" Alice said.

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Bella couldn't conceal her smile. Alice laughed, and left her friend to try and get some work done.

DBF

"Well, Jasper, I don't know what you expect me to do about these authors. Sleep with them, perhaps?" Victoria sat back in her chair and winked at Jasper, who tried very hard not to let his disgust show on his face.

"Of course not, Victoria. I would never imply anything like that."

"Loosen up a little Jasper, I was only kidding." She looked at her manicured nails.

Jasper ran his hand through his hair, and walked to the window. He couldn't look her in the face right now. "I don't understand what's going on with you, Victoria. Two of your best authors have signed with another agency, and it doesn't seem to faze you at all. Instead, you're in here making all kinds of, well frankly, inappropriate statements about it."

The door opened and Rosalie stalked in. "Victoria."

"Rosalie, what a pleasure…as always."

"Cut the crap. Have you been in contact with Volturi? Because amazingly enough, both of your former authors have just signed with them. What the hell are you up to?"

Victoria looked momentarily surprised, and then collected herself. "I wasn't aware of that. And no, I haven't been in touch with anyone at Volturi." She threw her red hair back over her shoulder. "In fact, I'm insulted that you would even suggest such a thing. I've brought in quite a few successful authors for you, Jasper, and I should think you'd be more grateful."

"He's not talking to you. I am." Rosalie's eyes narrowed. "And I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."

"Well, in that case, I'll be taking the rest of the afternoon off." She turned at the door to face Jasper. "Perhaps, Jasper dear, you should look a little closer to home. Like maybe Alice and her little friend Miss Swan. Or even your dear sister."

Victoria saw that her remarks accomplished their purpose, and quickly pulled the door shut behind her, which was a really good thing since Rosalie heaved a book at her retreating figure.

"Rose! You can't do that." Jasper grabbed her hand just before she picked up a paperweight from his desk.

"I know, I know. Sorry." Rosalie dropped onto the couch. "She pushes all my buttons."

"Yes, but you don't usually let it show. This isn't like you."

Rosalie sighed. "It's just that I'm so sure she's the leak. Sure, we've lost a few authors now, but hers are going directly to Volturi. Jasper, we can't just sit here and let them pick apart the agency. I love this place. I love our authors and I love everything we've accomplished. You're my best friend and my brother as well as my business partner."

"I know. I feel the same way." Jasper sat next to her and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm just not sure what to do."

They were both lost in thought for a few minutes. Suddenly Rosalie sat up straight, an evil glint in her eye and a smile on her face. "We are not going to sit back and let this happen to us. We need a plan, and I know just what we should do."

She explained it to Jasper. Anyone watching would have seen her hands flying around as she explained her plan, and Jasper's excited nods of agreement. When she was done, he grabbed her and swung her around in a circle.

"Rosalie, you are brilliant and evil, all at the same time, and I love it." Jasper laughed, and for the first time in days he really believed it might all be ok after all. "Are you always like this? I feel sorry for Emmett. He doesn't even have a chance against you."

"Oh trust me, Jas, Emmett is doing just fine. I've made him a very happy boy." She sat in his desk chair and tapped a few keys on the computer. "Now back to business. Let's get started."

Outside Jasper's door, James smiled and continued to pretend he was looking for something on Alice's desk.

Alice nearly sprinted to her desk when she saw him. "James, is there something I can help you with?"

"No, my dear" he said. "I've got exactly what I was looking for."

DBF

Bella smiled as she saw the silver Volvo pull up outside Alice's house Saturday night. Since Bella lived an hour away, she suggested that Edward pick her up at Alice's. That way Alice could help her get ready, and then she'd sleep over there. She wanted to spend her time being able to look at him, not spend most of the date riding in the car.

She quickly smoothed the skirt of her midnight blue silk dress and took one last look in the mirror by the door. She tried to remember not to bite her lip and ruin her carefully applied lipstick.

When he knocked on the door, she opened it slowly almost too afraid that it wouldn't be real. But there he stood, all kinds of beautiful himself in a dark blue suit. If she thought he was handsome in his jeans and sport coat, this was a whole different level.

"Hi Bella. You look beautiful." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You too." That wasn't what she meant to say. "I mean, come in Edward."

"Where's Alice?" He looked around, anticipating Alice's normal hyperactivity.

"Actually, she's on a date with Jasper."

"Really?" Edward grinned. "About time."

"My thoughts exactly."

He escorted her to the car and then drove to a small, upscale restaurant in Port Angeles. Despite Bella's initial nerves, their conversation was relaxed and comfortable. They exchanged stories about their hometowns, their families, college. She told him about how she became friends with Alice and he shared some funny stories about Jasper and their college adventures. She was fascinated by how this sweet, quiet boy became a world-wide best-selling author.

"You know, it's a lot easier for me to talk to you when I think about you as Edward, not as Edward Cullen, best-selling author.

He smirked. "What's the difference?"

"Well, when I think about you as Edward Cullen, I want to ask for your autograph and have my picture taken with you." She looked at him, wistfully. "And when I think about you as Edward, all I want to do is kiss you."

"Both can be arranged, but I think I'll enjoy the second one more." He leaned over and kissed her. "Let's finish up our dessert. We have one more stop to make."

He walked her to the car, pausing before opening the door to kiss her again. "I seem to be making a habit of kissing you when you taste like chocolate." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "And I think it's my new favorite thing."

She put her arms around his neck and couldn't resist touching his hair. "It's my new favorite thing too."

When they got in the car, he took hold of her hand.

"Where are we going?"

He gave her hand a quick squeeze. "You'll see." They talked a little about his next book, and he was impressed with the comments she made about the plot. No doubt about it, he thought, she would be a star at Whitlock-Hale before long.

Bella gasped when she realized where he was taking her. He pulled into the drive-in window at the coffee shop, asking for one coffee with two sugars and her favorite latte.

"How did you know what I like?"

"I'm making it a point to find out everything I can about you, Bella." He took the two cups from the barista, and handed one to her. "I want to know all the things that make you happy, Bella, so I can do them all for you."

How was she supposed to think after hearing something like that? "Edward, that's incredibly sweet. You already make me happy, just by being here."

The sat in the coffee shop parking lot, sipping their coffees and continuing their conversation. When they were finished, he drove her back to Alice's. He parked the car in front of the house, and it was impossible to tell who reached for whom first. Their kisses this time were less gentle. They weren't just learning the feel of each other's lips this time. They were exploring, yes, but mostly they were expressing without words what was happening between them.

Bella had never been kissed like this before, and somehow, she knew that no one else's kisses would ever feel this good. Edward was amazed at the passion in their kisses. She was far from being the first woman he'd ever kissed, but he'd never felt so much. Every touch of their hands was like a spark. He finally pulled back just enough to rest his forehead on hers.

"Bella, I…."

"I know."

He kissed her again, softly. "Sometime soon I want to kiss you when we're not sitting in a car."

She laughed. "I think I'd like that."

"Sometime soon, I'd like to do more than just kiss you."

"I think I'd like that too."

"Bella, I'm sorry if that was too forward." He cupped her face. "You deserve to be cherished, and I intend to do that."

"Edward, it's OK. I understand what you meant. We haven't known each other that long, but this is" she struggled with what she wanted to say. "I can't find the right words."

"It's magic" he said and she nodded in agreement. "Trust me, I'm a writer" he said. "Sometimes the simplest words say it the best."