Ok, readers, We have Bella an the Cullens going to the bar and we have Jake and the pack going to the same bar. Would you like to guess at what will unfold one they all are in the bar together? No of course, I won't tell you, but I assure you it will be drama packed and very entertaining. HOpe you enjoy reading. I had fun writing this chapter and I know I will have fun with the next one too because the next one will be about what takes place at the bar. Hope all of you had a good holiday and thanks again for reading. Sincerely, SA2009

Chapter 11: Anticipation

Bella POV

I grew more and more excited as all of us women gatherd in Alice's room to get dressed for a night out with the family. I could hardly wait to see what they were all like ina more relaxed setting than in the more formal settings of the charity funtions we all attended. Being the influential people they are, they have to be more reserved at those funtions. Tonight, though the setting would be laid back and relaxed. We'd all be able to just let our hair down and be ourselves without having to impress anyone. We would be able to truly have fun at eh country & western karaoke bar & grill we were going to.

As I sat while while Alice did my manicure and pedicure, I thought about how it came as no surprise that Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and Edward would enjoy this type of thing, but it did however come as a big surprise that Esme and Carlisle would wnjoy it as well.

While Alice did a manicure and pedicure on all of us, Rosalie gave us all a signature hairstyle to compliment our clothes. Our look would be completed with make up by Alice.

Now that I was showered, manicured and pedicured, I sat down to let Rosalie do my hair while Alice worked on Esme's hands and feet. I couldn't wait to see how Edward would react to seeing me in the waist-length, three-quarter length sleeved, black denim jacket. A white, cotton, camisole was going to be under it, while a short, tight, black denim minishirt would cover or at least attempt to cover my bottom half. Black, western high-heeled boots would finish my ensemble.

My hair was now french-braided and my make up was complete with smokey eyes and glossy lips. I couldn't resist going to stand in front of Alice's 360 degree mirror that was built in her dressing room to admire the work that ha been done on me. I walked back out to see Rosalie about to start on Esme's hair.

" So what do ya think, Bella?", asked Alice.

Smiling I answered," Well it might sound just a touch conceded but I think I look pretty damn good."

" Edward is not going to know what to think when he sees you in that outfit.", Rosalie said.

" Well, I'm hoping he won't be thinking but with one head tonight and ladies, I don't mean the one on his shoulders.", I said with a wink and a wide grin.

" Bella, I have always taught my sons to treat women with dignity and respect. I am confident that I did a good job, with the sometimes exception of Emmett, bless his heart.", Esme said with a laugh before she continued." I also know Edward needs to loosen up. I think you are just the woman he needs to help him do that."

Having not thought about what I was saying when I said it in front of Esme, I find myself blushing and rushing to explain. " Oh my gosh, Esme, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking about what I was saying. I am so sorry if I offended you in any way."

" You most certainly did not offend me, Bella, that's nonsense. I am just so grateful you took such an instant liking to Edward and that you are interested in him for more than his money or whatever power the Cullen name brings. He is a good man. He's smart, handsome, and loving. He deserves a woman who can appreciate all tht he is beneath the surface. I also know you are very deserving of a man like Edward. He's always been so picky and finicky, I wasn't sure if there was a woman who would ever get more than a passing glance from him.", she explained.

" He's had his head up his on ass for far too long, it's about time he joined the rst of us here in the real world and stop being such a snob.", Rosalie proclaimed.

" I believe with my whole heart you and Edward are made for each other, my dear.", Esme told me.

" Bella, you couldn't have done better than if you had gotten stamped with the good housekeeping seal of approval.", Alice said grinning.

" Thank you, Esme, that means alot to me."

Esme smiled and winked at me as she stood to go see herself in the mirror at her completed look. She was classic with her hair pulled to one side of her neck and flowing over her shoulder in a carmel-colored wave leaving the other side exposed. She wore a dark wash, fitted, denim jacket over a bright red, cap-sleeved, v-neck t-shirt. Dark wash, boot-cut jeans and boots finished the look.

" Esme, you look entirely too young to have three grown sons. It's not fair!", Alice exclaimed.

" I just hope I look as good as you do when Emmett and I have grown children.", Rosalie said.

" Care to tell us younger women your secret to that, Esme?", I asked teasingly.

" I don't know that it's such a secret, girls. It could be the result of several things combined. For instance, a wonderful, handsome husband, who always makes it his first priority to keep me happy and sooo very satisfied all these years.", she explained with a smug grin on her face.

We all laughed. I grew more and more attatched to Esme everytime I wsa with her. I was coming to love her as much as and maybe even more than my own mother. I felt a twinge guilty for that, but it went away quickly. I knew my mom had loved me in her own way and would be happy that I had Esme in my life.

"Ooookaaay, ladies, How do ya'll think I look?", asked Rosalie as she stood twirling around before us.

Rosalie's was a timeless beauty much like Esme's. She had her hair gathered and clipped in the crown of her head while the length flowed down her back in tight ringlets and a few soft tendrils framed her face. Her outfit consisted of a tight-fitting, white, halter-top dress, that stopped at mid-thigh in length. Over that she wore a short-sleeved denim jacket and boots on her feet.

" I think Emmett is going to need a hat to hang over the front of his jeans.", Alice said with her eyes twinkling.

" He'll have to beat the other men away with a stick.", Esme told her.

" I think you will be the one needing a stick just to keep his hands off of you, Rose."

" I think Bella maybe right about that, Rose. I love my son, dearly but I swear he walks around with a hard on 24/7. I love sex as much as the next woman but if Carlisle pestered me as much Emmett pesters you, I'd scream.", Esme said.

" You know, I have always wondered how Emmett wound up being so sex crazed while Carlisle, Jasper and Edward are all so quiet and reserved about it.", Rose said.

"I wouldn't be so quick to judge them as being quiet and reserved so much. They may seem to be that way but when it comes right down to it they are all male and just as ready as the next man is. They are just simply more subtle about it than Emmett is.", Esme explained, laughing.

While Rose, Esme and I all sat talking, Alice had done her own hand and feet. Now she was ready for Rose to do he hair. Once Rose had her short, black hair slicked down with the bangs swept to one side and pinned with a small, diamond barrette, she slipped into her clothes. She was wearing a dark wash, denim dress. It had tiny silver buttons down the front and cap sleeves and fitted snugly against her body. The length stopped at mid thigh. Boots adorned her feet.

" Well, ladies, what do you say we get out of here and go save some horses and ride some cowboys?", Alice asked as we made our way out of her room and down the stairs.

Edward POV

After the drama of the afternoon had died down and I had finally gotten calm, I followed my father and my brothers to the house to rest and relax for awhile until it was time to get ready to go out tonight.

All of the women had barricaded themselves in Alice and Jasper's room and had forbade any of us men to even think about coming near the door.

I could hardly stand waiting to see what Bella would be wearing. Of course, she is so georgeous she could make a flour sack look sexy.

I really started to think about how I was starting to remind myself of Emmett. Ever since Bella entered my world, it seemed all I could think about was sex and how much I wanted to get Bella in bed with me. I had never been that kind of man. I wasn't raised to think about women as just an object for a ma to gain pleasure from. I was raised to treat them as ladies even the ones who didn't act like ladies. I know my mother would cut my balls off is she found me being disrespectful to a woman and especially one like Bella. I know I have got to get my thoughts under control and quickly before I embarass Bella and myself by walking around like Emmett with a constant, visible hard on big enough to hang a hat on. Yes, I'll admit the Cullen men are well endowed and we don't mind admitting it.

I couldn't get over how many times since meeting Bella that sex had crossed my mind and especially with what happened this morning in my bedroom and with what she said this afternoon while with me at the arena. I found I just about couldn't think of anything else. That fact scared me.

I know Bella and I have done alot of kissing, talking and bantering back and fourth but I also know my feelings for her are very real too. It may sound crazy to an outsider that I have fallen for her like I have since I've only known her for a day and half. It's tru though I knew she was the one for me when I met her last night and I kno she is the only woman I will ever want to be by my side. She is the first woman I have ever met and instantly felt a connection with.

Yes, I'll admit I am no virgin and have been with some beautiful women in the past, and I'll admit that there are still countless physically beautiful women willing to bow down at my feet and do my bidding. I don't want those women though and I don't want a woman bowing at my feet either. I want Bella. She is everything those other women are not and cannot and will not ever be.

Bella is the kind od woman a man can count as an equal because not only is she physically beautiful, she has a beautiful soul as well. She's smart and funny. She's got all the class of a lady but yet so full of firey passion. She's the kind of woman who deserves better than a man thinking and treating her like she is just a piece of meat.

So tonight I am vowing to show her and tell her that I am that kind of man and that I am hopefully deserving of her love and devotion before anymore lines are crossed. I want her to know I am serious and not just playing around with her like a toy.

Jake POV

Damn, I can't believe how tense I am and how long it has been since I have been out and had any fun with the pack. I am in serious need of some female company too. I decided to call Sam and see what the pack is up to.

" Hello.", Sam answered.

" Sam, this is Jake. What's up old man?"

" Aww not much, Jake. You know same old stuff. Got to work come home, do the work around the place, go in eat some supper, get some, go to sleep and do it all again the next day. What's up with you? The boys and me have been wonderin' what happened to ya.", Sam answered.

" Not much here. I've been busy working is about it. I was just sitting here thinking how long it's been since I had any fun. I was thinking about going out to the bar to get a few beers, play some pool, and thnk about seeing what chic will be lucky enough to come home with me.", I said.

Sam chuckled and answered," Hell yeah, let me get of the phone call up the pack and let'em know what's going on, then I'll go get cleaned up and tell the squaw where I'm off to and meet ya later."

" Later, old man.", I said as I hung up the phone.

I needed to go get a shower and get dressed myself. I was looking forward to see what chic was gonna be lucky enough to warm my bed tonight.