A/N: Can you tell it's my day off work and I find reading through these chapters relaxing?
Or I did until I realised I uploaded chapter 14, not 13, so I've just had a serious panic attack! So, to anyone who thought 'What?'. I'm sorry. I haven't had the best of luck with this story.
Chapter Thirteen
"Where do you think you're going?"
Bella froze, her fingers inches from the doorknob. She'd woken up with a smile on her face and Edward's wonderful arms wrapped around her. She had never been so content. She lay there, tracing his detailed tattoos with her fingertip as he snored softly behind her. It must have taken forever, she thought as she pressed a kiss to something she assumed was a tribal symbol.
Warm and comfortable, she glanced up and saw she stayed later than planned. Her shift started at noon. It was ten now. She needed to get a cab home, shower and then catch the bus work. Plus, she always liked to arrive at the diner a little early.
Bella wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with Edward, but she had to go to work. Besides, if Emmett realized she wasn't in her bed he'd flip.
Inching out of Edward's embrace, she quietly tugged on her sweatpants, t-shirt and shoes.
She almost made it out the door when he spoke. Turning back, she saw him laying there, his chin propped up on the heel of his hand, the sheet covering his body. His eyes sleepy and his hair tousled.
He looked sexy as hell.
"I didn't want to wake you," she explained.
"Obviously," he drawled. "Where are you going?"
She returned to the sheet strewn bed, perching on the edge. It wouldn't hurt her to rush through her shower, if it meant spending a little more time with him. Reaching out, she tucked his messy hair behind his ear, her fingers trailing along his stubble covered jaw. The culprit behind the whisper burn she now had on her breasts.
"I have to go home and get ready for work. I had a really good time last night, Edward."
He leaned forward to nip her fingertips. "I did, too. It's nice to see how easy things are between us when you're not being so mean to me."
She scowled. "I had my reasons. And I apologized, so get over it." She hesitated. "I'm going miss you today," she whispered.
"I'll miss you, too. Why don't you call in sick and stay here? We can see how many condoms we can get through before noon." He waggled his eyebrows.
"You can spend the day with me tomorrow, if you'd like. The diner is closed on Sunday's and the weathers supposed to be really nice."
He smirked at her, his hand shooting out to yank her back onto the bed. Edward pulled her back into his arms, nuzzling her neck, something he was fond of doing she noticed.
Must be a wolf thing, she thought.
"If I have the entire day with you, it wouldn't matter if it was hailing golf balls outside. We won't be leaving this room."
"Promises, promises," she sighed as she ran her fingers through his thick hair. "Edward," she started when she felt his lips glide lower, his fingers reaching to tug her collar out of the way to give him better access. "I have to go. I have work."
He sighed. "Fine," he groaned as he lifted her head. "But you're not getting the bus, or a cab. Give me five minutes and I'll drop you off at home. I can take you to work as well if you'd like," he offered.
She smiled. He was sweet. Considerate. "I think we both know the longer we stay together, the less my chances of getting to work on time are."
He smirked. "I know. That was my plan."
Bella giggled as she pushed him off her and sat up. Tapping his rock hard abs, she said, "And that's why you're just dropping me off at home. Get up and get dressed," she ordered as she got to her feet.
"Baby," he murmured and she looked down at him. "I really did have the most amazing time of life last night."
"I did, too. But you know that. I kind of..." she trailed off.
He sat up with a chuckle. "Ravished me?" he supplied.
She flushed crimson. "Kind of. Yeah."
He got to his feet, dragging his jeans over his hips. No underwear, she thought with a whimper. Incredibly sexy.
"If I didn't heal so quickly, I would have been left with claw marks this morning." H winked at her, his long, extremely talented fingers buttoning his pants.
"Really?" she gaped. She didn't remember doing that.
Edward sauntered around the bed to stand in front of her. Bending down, he kissed the tip of her nose. Reassuring her. "Don't be embarrassed. I kind of liked it."
Bella let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay. That's good. Well?" She raised her eyebrows, waiting.
Edward friend as he pulled a black shirt over his head. Raking his fingers through his hair in lieu of a comb, he frowned. "Well what?" he asked, confused by whatever she was hinting at.
Bella rolled her eyes. "This is the part where you say how amazing I was. How beautiful my body is. Especially my boobs and ass." She beamed up at him. "I have a really good ass."
Playing along, he glared at her through narrow eyes. "Why should I? You didn't say anything nice about my cock."
Bella shrugged her shoulders dismissively. "It was okay." She sounded almost as if she was bored with the subject, but her eyes danced with laughter. "I'd give you, like, maybe a six out of ten."
His jaw dropped. "Okay, that's it," he muttered as he tackled her onto the bed and then proceeded to punish her. Last night, during their picnic, she mentioned she was incredibly ticklish and he wasn't above using that against her.
Bella begged for mercy even as she burst into a fit of helpless laughter. Finally, unable to take it no more, she relented. "Okay, okay, it was a ten out of ten. No, an eleven. A twelve, even!"
Edward stopped his assault. "That's better," he said with a satisfied nod as he climbed off her and helped her to her feet.
"Sweet Jesus, you men are so touchy when it comes to your penises."
"We are," he agreed complacently, pulling on socks and shoes. Grabbing his keys and wallet, he dropped a kiss on her upturned mouth. "Your tits and ass are out of this world," he murmured before taking her mouth thoroughly.
Bella smiled against his lips. "I know. Now, come on, I'm going to be late."
Edward let out a put-upon sigh. "Once again you toy with my emotions. I'm going to have to walk out there and humiliate myself with this monster of a hard on." He motioned down to the bulge in his jeans. "And then there's you, with your messy hair, swollen lips and sexy body. Not to mention you're leaving wearing what you arrived in."
She laughed as he pulled open the door. "No one saw me. I didn't get here until well after midnight."
"Exactly," he jumped on that as he ushered her through the door. "My reputation is being dragged through the mud as we speak."
"I hate to break it to you, Mason, but I have a feeling that your reputation is somewhat used to mud by now."
His response was to deliver a sharp slap against her round ass. Bella squealed, but when she turned back to look at him, she winked. "I told you I like kinky."
Edward groaned, holding his jacket in front of his hips as she sashayed off in front of her, his eyes glued to her sexy ass as it swayed from side to side.
The woman was going to kill him.
#
Bella waved from the front porch as Edward pulled away. She stood with a stupid grin on her face as his truck turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
He wanted to see her tonight, but she knew after a ten hour shift at the diner she wouldn't be the best company.
She didn't want to show him her true colors just yet.
He frowned, growled and even pouted, but she stayed strong. She would see him tomorrow, when she had a good night's sleep in a comfortable bed and could spend the entire day, and night, with him.
When he parked outside Emmett and Rosalie's house, she frowned. She didn't want to leave him. Last night, and this morning, had been perfect, almost like a dream and she didn't want to want to return to reality just yet.
With a small sigh, she turned to him, intending on giving him a sweet and chaste kiss before she left him for the day. He shocked the hell out of her when he laced his fingers through her hair and pulled her mouth to his. Edward's kiss was hot and rough, and Bella wanted to climb on his lap. To hell with what the neighbours would see.
Edward kissed her until her heart pounded, her cheeks flushed and her knees were weak.
"What was that?" she whispered, pressing the heel of her hand to her chest.
Edward grinned, slow and sexy. "If I'm not going to see you until tomorrow, I need something to tide be over."
Bella had rolled her eyes before scrambling out of the truck and rushing up to the house. If she stayed a second longer she would have thought 'screw it' and called in sick for work.
Now here she stood, watching him drive away, her lips still swollen from his kiss, wondering why the hell she hadn't jumped back in the truck and spent the day in bed with Edward.
I have a job, that's why, she thought as she let herself quietly into the house.
Emmett worked most Saturdays, so she wouldn't have to worry about him catching her, but Rosalie spent Saturdays catching up on paperwork or planning her classes for the week. All Bella had to do was get to her room and she'd be safe. Within half an hour she'd be out the door and on her way to work with no one the wiser.
She closed the door, cringing as the lock clicked into place. She resisted the urge to press her finger to her lips and hiss for the thing to be quiet, but she came pretty close.
Sliding off her jacket, she tip toed her way to the stairs, aware of every little noise she made.
"You total slut."
Bella jolted, whirling around she glared at her friend. Her hand clutched to her chest she hissed, "Why does everyone keep scaring me?"
Rosalie lay on the couch in her soft cotton pyjama bottoms and t-shirt, her long legs crossed at the ankles, her blond hair fanned above her head.
Her eyes closed, she drawled, "I should feel bad about that, but I don't. I'm mad at you."
Stepping into the living room, Bella dropped onto the sofa, pushing Rosalie's delicate feet out of the way. "Me? Why are you mad at me?"
Opening her eyes, Rosalie smirked at her dearest friend. "Since Emmett got up to piss at four in the morning and decided to check in on his little sister. Something he's done since you moved in with us. Only this time, you weren't tangled up in your sheet's, snoring your head off. Much to my delight, and Emmett's dismay, you weren't in your bed at all. Despite coming home last night and heading up to your room."
Bella cringed. She was asleep, naked and wrapped up in Edward's arms by then.
Rosalie snickered at her friend's expression. "It was bad," she confirmed. "He went ballistic. Storming back into our bedroom, scaring the shit out of me, he grabbed his phone and called Edward. He knew you were with him and demanded to talk to his little, virginal, sister," she chuckled.
"Oh God," Bella moaned in humiliation.
"It gets better," Rosalie said brightly. "All your poor, worried, brother got for his effort's was Edward telling him to 'shut the fuck up' because Emmett's yelling was going to wake you up."
"Oh God," she repeated.
"Yeah," Rosalie chuckled. "Which lead to Emmett's ten minute tirade of how Edward better not be messing you around. That if he hurt you, he would personally see to it that he died screaming in pain and blah, blah, blah." She waved her hand dramatically through the air.
"Was it really that bad?" Bella asked, biting her lip.
"Oh, it got worse. At the end of his ten minute tirade, Emmett frowned and began to snap 'Hello? Hello? Edward!'" She smirked. "It turns out your boyfriend had heard enough and hung up on him around four minutes into his rant."
"He hung up on him?" she giggled. It sounded like something Edward would do. And she had to admit, she felt a small thrill when Rosalie called Edward her boyfriend.
Bella knew the thought made her sound like a thirteen year old girl, but she didn't care.
"Yes, he did. I was up for the rest of the night because of it, and not in the sexy, fun way that you were. Emmett couldn't stop pacing and muttering, and plotting Edward's vicious and, slightly disturbing, demise. In the end, I got up and got in your bed. It wasn't like you'd be using it," she drawled, waggling her blond eyebrows suggestively.
Bella refused to blush. Instead, she shrugged her shoulders. "I should feel bad, but I don't," she said, throwing Rosalie's word's in her face. "It's not like you and Emmett have gone celibate since I moved in. I know this because I sleep in the next room."
The colour drained from Rosalie's face as she gaped at Bella. She was horrified. "You've heard us?" she croaked.
Bella grimaced at the memory of overhearing her brother and best friend getting hot and heavy. "Just the once. After that I invested in a pair of noise cancelling head phones. Still," she sighed. "It will most likely scar me for life. Of course, I can still tell when you've gotten down and dirty."
"How?"
Bella chuckled at the blonde's discomfort. "Your eyes. They are all soft and dreamy, and you can't stop smiling. Normally, you're an evil bitch in the morning. Apart from when you've gotten laid."
Rosalie covered her flushed face with her hands. "That's it! We are never having sex again," she groaned.
"Liar."
Rosalie removed her hands and smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I know. He's just too good in the sack."
"Ew!" Bella gagged. "That's my brother," she protested, slapping Rosalie's lengthy legs.
Rosalie chuckled as she placed her bare feet on top of Bella's thighs. "I know. Consider it payback."
She slapped at her legs again. "Evil bitch." She flashed a bright smile. "Can I borrow your car?"
"Sure. I don't intend to get off this sofa today, never mind leave the house. What time does your shift end?"
Bella wanted to whimper. "Ten. Exactly the number of hours I'll be there."
"And Edward?" she asked archly. "What about him?"
She pouted. "I'll see him tomorrow. I didn't want him to see just how bitchy I can be after a long shift at the diner."
Rosalie snorted. "He's seen you at your worst, Bell. You basically told him to get out of your life, and still, he wanted to know you. I don't think tired and grouchy will send him running."
"I don't know," she admitted quietly as she got to her feet. "He's just too good in the sack to risk it."
#
Five minutes before her shift began, Bella pushed open the door to the diner, ignoring the familiar jingle of the bell announcing her entrance.
She'd made it, she thought. Bella had never been late in her life and she didn't intend to start now. It was rude and disrespectful.
The diner was busy, as it always was on a Saturday. From the moment they opened until the moment they tossed the last customer out at nine-thirty, it was busy. By the end of her shift, all she'd want to do is crawl into bed and pass out.
Tabitha was behind the counter, pouring a regular diner his coffee, when she looked up and spotted Bella. She placed the coffee pot on the counter and walked around to greet her, her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out what was different about her.
Bella met her at the dish door and froze. "What is it?" she demanded, her eyes wide. Was there something on her face? Had she put her jeans on inside out? She was in a rush after all, and it wouldn't be the first time she'd done it.
Tabitha's eyes widened. "You've had sex," she exclaimed.
"Oh my God, shut up," she hissed as Tabitha clapped her hands. She seemed a little too invested in her love life, Bella thought. "The entire diner could have heard you," she snapped.
Tabitha waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, who cares? Tell me everything," she demanded impatiently. "It was Edward, right? The hottie who was in here yesterday? The one with the great bod and sexy mouth?"
"Yes. Are you happy now?"
"Immensely. It was about time you got some."
Bella blushed. "Was it that obvious?"
Tabitha shrugged her shoulders. "Only to a sex obsessed freak like me," she assured her. "I'm happy for you, honey. It's nice to see a little life in your eyes. And I'll admit, I'm as jealous as hell. That man just screams sex."
Bella blushed. "Thank you. I think," she added.
"Filthy little hobbit," a voice hissed from the industrial sized dishwasher.
Bella's head snapped towards the demonic voice. "Shut up, Mitch."
An unhinged chuckle sounded over the roar of the dishwasher. "Oh, the hobbits' angry, she is."
Bella turned back to Tabitha. "I swear to God, one day I will drown him in dirty dish water."
Tabitha smirked. "Get in line. Now, tell me everything."
#
A little after midnight, Bella was safe and warm in her bed. She crawled into it upon returning home and, after tugging off her shoes, jeans and bra, she'd fallen asleep. Nothing felt as good as the fluffy pillow beneath her head. The soft sheet's against her skin...
The blessed silence.
There was no constant chatter of customers. No beeping oven timers or roaring dish washers. It was blissfully quiet and the headache plaguing her since the dinner crowd vacated, finally began to ease.
She didn't wake when Emmett knocked softly on her door, or even when he entered her room determined to talk to her about last night. She'd looked so peaceful, and he couldn't bear to wake her. It was so rare for her to sleep without nightmares, without tossing and turning until she woke up in a cold sweat, screaming for him.
Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, he left to get some rest.
She lay, sleeping peacefully when Thomas Square blared from the bedside table, jolting her out of her slumber.
Reaching out, she blindly slapped her hand down until her palm came into contact with the phone.
"Hello?" she mumbled, half asleep.
"Hey, baby," a husky voice greeted her.
She forced her eyes open. Her brain to function. "Edward?" she demanded, glancing at the alarm clock. "It's after midnight. Why are you calling me?" she demanded, snuggling into her pillow, desperate for sleep.
"I missed you," he told her, sounded unbearably sweet. "I haven't talked to you since this morning," he added sulkily.
"You sound like a child. I told you I'd talk to you tomorrow. Wait. How did you get my number?" she demanded, sitting upright, her mussed hair falling around her face. Her eyes were wide open now, alert.
Edward's rich laughter met her ears. "Baby, I found you from across the country. Getting your phone number wasn't exactly hard."
"Well, that's not creepy," she drawled.
"Go to your window," he ordered.
"What?" she blinked.
"I said, go to your window," he repeated, his voice thick with laughter.
"I swear to God, if you're standing there, holding a human head, I put back everything bad I took back against you," she grumbled. Whipping the blanket's back and slid her feet to the cold floor.
"That was a little convoluted, but I'll put it down to your just being woken up."
Phone in hand, she stomped to the window, hissing, "Yeah, by you. Oh shit," she snapped when she saw him standing in the front yard.
Edward stood, his phone pressed to his ear and a big shit eating grin on his face. Like it was perfectly normal for him to be standing in her front yard in the middle of the night like some lunatic.
"What are you doing here?"
He shrugged his broad shoulders. "I wanted to see you."
She pushed her hair out of her face with her left hand and glared down at him. "If you think for one second I'm going to have sex with you, especially after you woke me up, you're out of your Goddamn mind."
"No sex," he promised, holding his free hand over his heart like a good boy. "I just thought we could have a sleepover. Snuggle a little."
Bella couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Who would have thought the big and dangerous wolf she met that first night would turn out to be such a romantic? Or she would find him so adorable when she would have run a mile should another man turn up at her house in the middle of the night?
"If Emmett find's you in here, in bed, with me, he will cut your dick off," she warned as she balanced her cell phone between her ear and shoulder, using both hand's to open the stiff window. "He's pissed at you enough as it is."
He scoffed. "I think I can handle your brother, Bella." He grinned up at as he walked towards the house. "Besides, you'd protect me."
It was her turn to scoff. "Don't count on it," she mumbled. Sticking her head out the window, she said, "Come on, then."
Edward gaped at her. "You're going to make me climb through the window? Open the door."
She sneered at him. "You're a werewolf. You should be able to climb one story easily enough." She flashed him a sweet smile. "My high school boyfriend used to climb up the fire escape all the time."
Even in the darkness, she could see his eyes flash red. A color that would have terrified her with anyone else. Anyone but Edward.
"I don't need to hear about past boyfriends. Especially those who used to climb your fire escape. Where was your brother then?"
Bella rolled her eyes. He'd probably been with hundreds of women, no one was that good at sex without a lot of practice, and yet he was sniping over her boyfriends in high school. "Yeah, your lily white, aren't you?" She hung up on him, tossing her phone on the dresser. "What are you waiting for? Come on, Mason." She snapped her fingers impatiently when he continued to stand there.
"Give me a minute, woman," he grumbled. Sighing, he latched onto the side of the house and began to climb onto the porch with the ease and grace of a monkey.
Bella's room was directly above the front porch so he didn't have to climb far. Soon he was standing in front of her with a cocky grin on his face. "My lady," he greeted.
She smiled at him. "Idiot," she replied, taking a step back to give him some room. "Get in before Emmett really does come in here with a knife. I managed to avoid him when I came home, but if he hears you nothing will stop him."
Edward ducked through the window quietly and for a moment she was back in high school. Only this time it was a very sexy man climbing through her window, not her gangly boyfriend who she met in the library during lunch hour.
Edward closed the window behind him and turned to find Bella standing directly in front of him with narrowed eyes. "No hanky panky, Mason. Get undressed, boxers on, and we go to sleep. Or you can just climb right back out the window," she said in her sternest voice.
He actually pouted. "Not even a little panky?"
"No."
He let out a depressed sigh. "I come all this way. I'm romantic and sweet, and this is what I get?"
"Take it or leave it."
"Fine," he replied as he stripped to his boxers.
Bella didn't dare look at him. She wanted to go to sleep. She made a big deal of stating sex wasn't going to happen tonight. She could not be the one to jump him after everything she'd said.
So, she climbed into bed, snuggling up to her pillow with her back to him. It was the safest option, she decided, letting out a contented sigh when he pulled her back against his hard chest. His arms wrapped around her, her ass snug against his crotch. He was aroused, but neither of them shied away from the contact.
"Aren't you glad I came by now?" he asked smugly after she let out another dreamy sigh.
She didn't bother lying. "Yes."
Bella hadn't realized just how much she'd missed him until now. Being wrapped up tight in his arms made her see just how much she'd wanted to be all day, and night.
It was crazy, she shouldn't react like this, she barely knew him, but it was true.
"Have you had a hard day?" he whispered in the darkness.
"Yes. My feet are killing me. My back is killing. If I don't have to ask anyone what they'd like to order ever again, it would be too soon."
"Poor baby," he murmured, pressing sweet kisses to her neck, his hands coming up to cup her breasts possessively.
"Hey," she let out a half-hearted protested. "I said no hanky panky."
Edward chuckled as he gently flipped her onto her back. Leaning over her on his hands and knees, he agreed, "No hanky panky. But just a little hanky for you," he murmured, lowering his head to nibble her neck and collar bone.
For the love of God, she thought as her body came to life. Minutes ago, she was dead to the world, and happy to be that way. Now, she was shifting beneath him, her fingers reaching up to tangle in his hair.
"Edward," she breathed as he kissed his way down her body, coming to a stop at the panties she hadn't had the energy to take off.
He smirked. "I finally get my wish," he murmured, lowering his mouth until his sharp teeth bit down on the scrap of cloth, and he got to live out his fantasy of removing her underwear with nothing but his teeth.
Once the panties were off and thrown carelessly to the floor, he ordered huskily. "Open your legs for me, baby. Wide."
Helpless to do anything but, she spread her legs. Wide, just like he told her.
His eyes devoured her until she began to whimper, impatient for him. "Don't you worry, sweetie," he whispered. "I know exactly what you need," he assured her and lowered his head to her spread thighs and proceeded to drive her out of her mind.
#
Bella awoke to the loud, incessant ringing of her alarm clock. Groaning, she reached over and smacked her hand down on top of the annoying machine.
Sitting up, she pushed her wild hair out of her face and frowned when two things struck her. She hadn't set her alarm clock, and she was alone.
Had Edward's midnight visit been nothing but a dream? Pressing her face to the pillow he'd used she could still smell his wild, masculine scent that drove her wild. So he had been here.
Crawling out of bed, she noted her panties were still on the floor where he'd thrown them and she was sporting a new love bite on her inner thigh.
The man had a problem.
At least this one would be easier to hide than the one of her neck. Which reminded her, she needed to get more concealer.
Well she couldn't back to sleep now, she thought as images of Edward's mouth on her, pleasuring her, filled her mind. Where was he? She had worried about Emmett catching them in bed together, yes, but she assumed he would at least say goodbye.
She would be having words with him about that later.
With a sigh, she grabbed a pair of shorts from her dresser and tugged them on. She couldn't risk running to the bathroom in nothing but her t-shirt this morning. It was Sunday and both Rosalie and Emmett were at home for the day. Rosalie would get up early to begin work on her garden and Emmett would watch movies and eat junk food. Ordinarily, she would join Emmett on his movie marathon but today she had a date.
When she opened her bedroom door, she thanked every God she could think of she'd put on clothes.
Emmett stood there, his hair mussed from sleep, a dusting of stubble covering his cheeks, wearing a wrinkled grey t-shirt and flannel pyjama bottoms.
"Emmett?" she squeaked out. She managed to avoid him last night and by the determined look in his dark eyes, he wasn't going to let that happen again.
"Good morning," he greeted casually. "How was work?"
"It was okay." She shrugged. "Busy."
He nodded. "That explains why you bolted up the stairs last night."
She sighed. "Emmett, I need to shower and get dressed, so just say it."
"I'm worried about you. About you and Edward," he added uncomfortably.
"Why are you worried? It was you who told me to give him a chance," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I wanted you to get to know him. To give him a chance to prove he was more than the monsters who took you, yes. Not for you the two of to date. For you to spend the night with him," he muttered, his cheeks flushing at the thought of his little sister having sex.
Bella rolled her eyes. "I'm a grown woman, Emmett. I've had sex before."
He flinched. "I know, but it's my right as your brother to live in blissful denial."
"Fine, live in denial. But, Emmett, despite the subject which we will not discuss, what did you expect to happen? I did exactly what you wanted, I got to know him. I took a chance and tried to see him as something other than a werewolf, and I liked I saw. What's wrong with that?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing, I suppose. But the other night you couldn't stand him and now you're about to go on another date with him. It all seems very sudden and that worries me."
Smiling, she pulled her brother into her arms and hugged him tightly. His arms circled her, pulling her close. "Thank you for worrying about me, but you don't have to. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
"I'm never going to stop worrying, Bell. You're my family. I don't want you rushing into something and end up getting hurt."
Pulling out of his embrace, Bella tipped her head back and met his concerned gaze. He really was worried and she hated that. Pursing her lips, she tried to think of a way to reassure him and decided honesty was best.
"Emmett, I know that just three days ago the thought of being anywhere near Edward Mason would have sent me running for the hills. And I know things have happened pretty fast, and I can't explain why. All I can say is, I did what everyone advised me to. I went there and looked past everything else and, despite myself, liked what I saw. I like him."
"I thought you couldn't stand him."
"I couldn't," she laughed. "But I think it was just because I wanted him out of my life. I didn't want him to remind me of what I went through. I used anger as a way of pushing him away. After seeing Dr Greene, I went over there to see if I could see past it. To see if I could stop using my anger and resentment as a way of pushing him away, and I could. I did. I saw he was a nice man, who I have things in common with, and who I like."
"That's great," he replied. "I think it's fantastic. But you have to admit it's all happened a little too quickly."
She nodded. "Yeah, I know that. I can't explain it, though. I know I'm the type to go Gung Ho when I've made my mind up, but this is different. It has happened fast, but I'm not worried about it. I'm happy. He makes me happy. Can't you just accept that?"
Emmett ran his fingers through his hair before replying, "Yes. I can. But if hurts you in anyway, I will kill him. Werewolf or not."
Bella beamed up at him. "I'll give you an alibi."
Emmett laughed. "Go on. Go get ready for your date."
Bella reached up to press a kiss to his cheek before rushing towards the bathroom. He watched her go with a worried frown. He would be keeping an eye on Edward Mason, he decided.
In the bathroom, Bella rushed through her usual bathroom ritual in record time and was soon in her bedroom, wrapped in a towel, blow dryer in hand. She had no idea when Edward would be picking her up, so she wanted to be dressed and ready to go.
Edward pulled up outside an hour later. Before Emmett could embarrass her by bringing up she'd spent the night with him, Bella grabbed her purse and ran for the door.
"Have fun," Rosalie sang from the flowerbed. "Hey!" she protested when Bella ripped the floppy straw hat from her head, tossing it across the front yard.
Bella didn't stop until she reached Edward's truck and jumped into the passenger seat.
Oh he was handsome, she thought when she looked at him. His hair was pulled into a short, stubby tail, stubble covered his cheeks. His smile was lazy and his sharp eyes took in every detail as they roamed her face.
"What happened to you?" she demanded. Bella knew she sounded like a needy girlfriend, and instantly wished she could take it back.
Edward didn't seem to mind. Instead, he leaned forward to brush a soft kiss against her lips. "You were the one who said Emmett would cut my dick off if he caught us," he pointed out with a smirk. "I thought it would be prudent if I knocked on the door instead of coming down the stairs for breakfast."
Bella blushed. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Edward frowned as he reached for her, his rough hands cupping her cheeks. "Why are you sorry? I wouldn't like it if I went to sleep with you in my arms and woke up alone, come to think of it. I should have left a note." He smiled. "I must admit, it makes me happy to know you didn't like it either."
Bella leaned forward, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. It wasn't enough though, she decided, and deepened the kiss. Losing herself in everything Edward. It was then she remembered they were still parked outside her house, Rosalie unabashedly staring at them from her rose bushes, straw hat back in place.
She would tell Emmett everything, Bella knew.
"Let's get out of here," she murmured against his lips.
"Okay. Buckle up," he ordered, waiting for her to do so before starting the truck.
They hadn't been driving for long before it occurred to her she had no idea where they were going. She had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, but only because he'd told her to dress casually for their date before he'd dropped her off at home yesterday. Based on the dress code, she thought it would be something simple. Most likely lunch and a movie. Ooh, that would be good, she thought with a smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Edward asked.
Intertwining their fingers together, she replied, "I'm just excited about our date. Where are we going, by the way?"
"I'm not telling you."
She blinked. "What? Why not? I need to know. Are we going to a movie?" she demanded.
"No."
Her shoulders slumped. "Are we going to a bar?"
"No."
"Honey," she patted his hand sweetly. "As much fun as I'm having, playing the guessing game, I'm going to need for you to tell me where we're going. I can't take not knowing."
"It will be a surprise. Isn't that a good thing?"
She huffed. "I'm the victim of abduction, Edward. I don't like surprises."
He grinned. "Don't you think you're being a little over dramatic?"
She shrugged. "I don't care. Tell me."
"I think it would be better if I left it as a surprise."
"No," she denied. "I think it would be better if you told me right now. You said casual, so here I am, dressed casually. How great am I? Now, please tell me," she begged, flashing her brightest smile in the hopes he couldn't resist.
It worked. He couldn't resist her when she was being so damned adorable.
"We're going fishing."