I'm home and changed into comfortable clothing by 5:30 pm on Wednesday. Edward calls to say traffic is bad but he should be at my place shortly. My doorbell rings at 5:45 and I open it to find a grinning Edward who swoops me into his embrace.

"Hmmm, it's good to see you again," Edward murmurs into my neck. "How was your day?"

"Uneventful in the best way. How about yours?" I ask as we release one another.

"Good meetings. I was in Redmond talking with the procurement and event marketing teams at Microsoft. We're bidding on a contract to offer tours during some of their major campus events - everything from their CTO Summit to intern program events. I'm pretty sure that Puget Sound Excursions is also bidding, so we'll have to propose a compelling solution."

PSE was our primary competitor in the area, offering similar tours and like us jointly focusing on tourists and corporate sales. "I'm sure we'll do great, Edward. We have the better reputation, cleaner and more luxurious transportation, and we're a lot more flexible. PSE doesn't do as well with custom tours - if it's not to script, they struggle to create a quality experience. We're great at that. Maybe you should sell that angle, and suggest a few custom itineraries that would appeal to their different corporate audiences."

"Great idea. Let's talk more about it on Friday morning. You're in the office, then, right?"

"Yes. I have tomorrow off, but I'm working Friday and Saturday."

"OK, then no more work talk tonight. Let's get your stuff and head over to my place."

As I'm pulling the items from the refrigerator, Edward clears his throat and starts hesitantly, "Hey Bella, would you want to bring along an extra change of clothes?" After a brief pause, he starts talking quickly, spitting everything out in one breath. "You can have the guest room. I know it's only a couple of miles between your apartment and my place, and please know that I don't mind bringing you back here if you prefer. It's just that I don't have anything tomorrow until noon and I know you have the day off." He pauses to suck in a breath of air and begin again, talking less quickly. "I figured if we wanted to stay up late talking, it'd be easier for you if you only needed to walk down the hall to go do sleep instead of getting in my car for the return drive home."

I'm quiet for a moment as I process what he's said. I know the answer, but can't seem to get my mouth to cooperate with my brain before Edward blurts out, "You know what, forget I asked. That probably made you uncomfortable. Of course you wouldn't want to stay over in the guest room. It's OK, really, I can..."

I cover his mouth with my hand mid-sentence as he mumbles through a couple of more words. "Edward, stop. I do want to stay over. Let me just grab a few things from my bedroom."

I walk down the hall to my room and quickly pack a bra and panties, yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and my cotton sleep shorts and cami into a small duffel. In the bathroom, I empty the contents of my travel toiletries bag onto the countertop, confirming I still have the essentials and stuffing them back in their bag, adding my birth control packet to the mix. I started taking the Pill when I was in college and in a steady relationship. Despite the celibate lifestyle I've lived since then, I've stayed on it because I like how it regulates my cycle and reduces my period to just a few light days per month.

Edward is waiting for me in the hall with his left hand holding the paper bag of items we'll be having for dinner tonight. "I can take that," he says pointing to my duffel bag with his other hand.

"I've got it. You just keep the food from spilling inside that bag," I chuckle. "Ready to go?"

"I'm ready if you are," he says as I exit my apartment and wait for Edward to step aside so I can lock the door.