The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

Chapter 20

Set Fire to the Rain

The rest of her week seemed to pass without incident. It was probably a good idea Edward had decided to refrain from contact. When she finally emerged from her room the last day he talked to her she was surprised as both Charlie and her mom had the day off.

Charlie glanced at her curiously as he questioned her about the call. There was a reason why he was the Chief of Police; not much got past him. He looked at her with what she decided was his cop stare; his probing gaze trying to determine if she was telling the truth.

In the end she made up the craziest story she could think of. Explaining a client forgot she was out of town and they also forgot about the time difference. Thinking it was later or earlier depending on whose perspective you were talking about. Her footsteps running around the room was her trying to find her planner which held the numbers for who was handling things while she was out of town.

He had simply stared at her for nearly an eternity before murmuring, "Humph." The conversation was quickly moved to Seth and his newest flame. Inside she was cringing as they all tried to figure out what her name was. It seemed like her brother went through girlfriends like some men went through socks.

She even asked her mom if she was sure that their dad had the sex talk with him. The last thing she wanted to hear was her brother had knocked someone up or worse yet—had the gift that kept giving. She had long since stopped asking him who he was dating as it was too hard to keep up.

Either way, he and his girlfriend would be coming the same weekend Edward was due to arrive home. She wasn't sure what she was more nervous about—him meeting her family, her punishment, or the fact her past and present were going to be sitting in the same room together. It made her want to toss her cookies on an hourly basis. How could the fates be so cruel to her?

Eight days after her last contact with Edward she sat in the only diner in Forks with Bella, Sam, and Paul going over wedding details. She and Bella had been busy and had found a few options for bridesmaid dresses along with a few tux options. Bella was trying to convince Sam that pink—wait, salmon was a perfectly acceptable color for men to wear.

It wasn't working but she was giving it her best effort. As Leah watched the two of them interact, she could see the devotion they had for one another. It was obvious in their words, expressions, and actions. It made her happy for her sister and sick at the same time—it was like foreplay before her eyes and she realized as Bella's eyes suddenly glimmered with delight that perhaps she should have kept her mouth shut about some of the things she shared.

And her nerves weren't helping her either. She had heard nothing from Edward and she knew he was home from London. She had called yesterday to find out. He had promised her it would be one week—seven days and it was day eight.

She counted them in her head, slowly and deliberately. Counted them in every way she could think of—numbers, days of the week in English, Spanish, and Quileute; comparing them to the seven levels of hell with an addition—which was her own personal hell. And even thought about them in terms of the seven deadly sins—the eight being the conclusion when she rose from the ashes of her wasted, sinful life.

It was when she was counting them for the fiftieth time that it happened. She had barely been paying attention to the conversation happening around her. Too focused on her own thoughts, fears, longing, and desires. Too focused on him to realize he stood not even ten feet from her.

His gaze intense as his eyes roamed her body. She was dressed casually; a tee-shirt and pair of jean shorts. Her long hair plaited into a single long braid with small wisps of hair falling from it. Nothing other than lip gloss on her luscious lips—pouty lips that would be begging him to touch her.

He licked his lips and tamped down his need to adjust himself in his slacks. The other occupants of her table had noticed his attention. One of the men gazed at him inquisitively while the other looked ready to attack and kill him for his interest. The brunette girl nudged her slightly and she paused in her musings to glare and muttered, "What?"

Another nudge and whisper brought her attention to him. He watched as her eyes widened and saw her breathing turn ragged. He began his slow prowl over to her; knew her gaze wouldn't waver from his. She had taken to the role of a submissive as though she was born to it.

It was one thing that he loved about her—that and at least a hundred other things which he couldn't really put into words. He didn't have the most normal view of relationships—he could thank his parents for that. But there had always been something about her that drew him in.

He paused at their table; his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder and her eyes fell for one moment to his hand on her flesh before travelling back to his face. He smiled wryly and greeted, "I told you I'd see you in a week, you didn't need to call the office—I'd never forget you."

"Edward," she breathed. "How?"

"You have a unique name, lilla and of course, people are more than happy to chat about you. Once I deduced where you lived; your mother was helpful in pointing me in the right direction." He glanced at the other members of the group before turning back to Leah.

"I think we have a date to discuss. Come with me?"

She placed her hand in his outstretched hand and allowed him to tug her to her feet; following him without a glance to those she was with.