Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~0~

~~Bella~~

I brushed my teeth, shot into my bedroom and closed the door.

Edward is here! Oh god, the way he kissed my neck, the way he spoke, the look in his eyes. Something's not right. Why would he kiss me like that when he has a girlfriend?

He can't be here just to talk about the song. Something else is going on, I can feel it.

I couldn't relax, my head was spinning with all kinds of delusional scenarios. Maybe he's just excited that the copyright is almost finalized? It just needs our signatures. It didn't take long at all. I thought I had months to be in his life, while we sorted out the song…his ultimate goal was to get it on the soundtrack; maybe that would take months.

I exhausted myself with panic and eventually fell asleep.

It was inevitable; I dreamt of Edward. He was kissing my neck, his large hands surrounded my waist as he nibbled and licked, sending blissful jolts through my body. He lifted me and carried me into his bedroom – we were in his suite at the hotel. Edward removed my clothes, slowly, his lips all over my skin, desperate and moaning. I felt him touching me, slowly working me over to give me the ultimate pleasure.

'Edward.'

'Bella,' he kept moaning. 'I want you.'

'Edward. Edward please...' was my response as he sucked harder on my neck then pushed himself into me.

'Edward.'

I felt wanted. I felt complete and contented in his arms as he made love to me.

'Do you love me?' he asked, as his body pressed against mine.

'Edward, yes Edward,' I responded instantly.

Then I could hear someone's voice, whispering. Suddenly Riley was standing next to the bed, watching me and Edward. It was the fourteen year old Riley; the beautiful boy who had given me my first kiss, the boy who had sparked something inside me that my adolescent mind didn't have the emotional capacity to deal with. As he watched, he looked betrayed, devastated.

I woke up panting. I was equally aroused and depressed. I felt guilty and angry with myself.

I lay in bed, trying to calm my breathing. Edward was sleeping in the other room. Part of me wanted to know why he was here, but the part that wanted to stay oblivious was winning out.

Did I really want to know why he didn't tell Rosalie he was coming here? Why he hasn't told anyone? I understood why he'd want to get away from the oppressive monotony of life in the hotel, but surely he wouldn't want to leave her for the weekend?

I lay awake for a long time. I was still panicky, knowing he was just a few steps away from me. I wanted to go and curl up on the sofa with him, I wanted my dream to come true, for Edward to carry me into the bedroom and worship my body.

I felt a swell of anxiousness rise again as I gave into the physical need and touched myself. I tried desperately to recall the sensations I felt when his lips were on my neck, and combine that with the visual in my dream of him inside me – before the image of Riley appeared and ruined it.

I stifled a moan into my pillow when I came. My heart was pounding and the anxiety turned back into depression. I was torturing myself with fantasies that would never come true.

I pulled the spare pillow into my arms and hugged it, as if it could provide me with comfort, as if it could morph into Edward, and hold me all night.

That would only ever be a fantasy. I tried to rest into a post-orgasmic sleep.

~0~

~~Edward~~

In my stupefied and erect daze, I was disoriented, until my bare feet left the smooth wooden steps on the porch and hit sharp gravel. The pain in my arm became more pronounced under Emmett's death-grip. He shoved me away when we reached the water of the lake.

"Are you fucking out of your mind?" he seethed. "What the fuck? Watching her sleep while you jerk off? I know it's been two years since you've had some pussy but fuck, Edward that was sick, you're fucking sick. What if Bella had woken up?"

"I wasn't – fuck Emmett, she called out my name. I thought she was awake. I just–"

"Well, it sounded like she was calling out another guy's name to me. What the hell is wrong with you, did you even listen to what I said to you earlier? If you wanted to get laid, I could have offered you a selection of women that would have happily and discretely serviced you in the hotel. They're called professionals, Edward. You didn't have to make me drive you four freaking hours to seduce a fan that's obviously into you."

I closed my eyes and sat on the rough ground, rubbing futilely at my arm, knowing there would be a bruise from Emmett's manhandling.

Emmett was pacing, kicking stones into the lake. He was angry.

"I'm in love with her," I said. "I need to tell her, she doesn't know, and if I don't tell her before those pictures of me and Rosalie hit the stands, she'll never believe me." I clenched my fists. I sounded forlorn, beaten and depressed.

"I don't just want to sleep with her." I added. "I want everything with her; friendship, understanding, love. Bella is it for me, Emmett. I can't lose her. Everything that's happened over the last three weeks has made me see that I can't keep going on like this. I want to be doing my music; I want Bella to be with me. I want the world to know that I'm in love with her. I want her to meet my family and I want to meet hers. I can't even think about not having her in my life."

Emmett sat down on the hard ground opposite me.

"I haven't spoken to her since she misinterpreted something Rosalie said. She hasn't given me a chance to explain; she left the hotel, I went on the junket. The timing has been awful and it didn't help that you interrupted last night when I thought she would hear me out." I said, taking in calming breaths.

"You've only known Bella a couple of weeks – "

"Three," I said, cutting him off.

"Three weeks and you're in love? I mean she's pretty and funny and all, but I think you're deluded from lack of sex. You know you can just fuck with no emotional ties Edward. Thousands of girls would kill to be in your bed for one night, and you'd never have to declare undying love for it to happen," he added sarcastically. "You admire Bella's lyric writing, she's a breath of fresh air, but three weeks and you're in love? I don't buy it."

I could have gone into the whole unbelievable story about Alice's ability and how I believe in my heart Bella is the one. Emmett was the kind of guy that probably slept with tons of girls through college without any real emotional connection. I skipped the whole college fraternity life, but I could see that Emmett had lived it; his perceptions of relationships were vastly different from mine.

"I admit I can't control my thoughts of sex when I'm around Bella. Can you blame me?" I asked, seriously hoping he didn't answer. "It's complicated; we share more than just sexual attraction. I can talk to her, she knows the real me, not the Hollywood actor."

"You just said she wouldn't believe you about Rosalie, and to be honest Edward, it looks to me like she's scared to be alone with you. If she knows the real you she would know Rosalie isn't your type. It's obvious to me that you make Bella nervous."

I watched as Emmett stood up and brushed the dirt from his ass. "I'm going back to bed, I only got up to take a leak and, well, just make sure Bella is awake and you're invited before you go into her room again, OK? I don't know Bella; she could be trying to trap you into something. There's nothing at all to stop her from calling the media herself. After what happened with Rosalie, you shouldn't be too trusting. Goodnight."

I watched as Emmett walked away. The moon was bright, the lake glistened, the night air was cool.

He doesn't understand. I know she'd never do that. I closed my eyes, trying not to let my anger take hold. Emmett was just looking out for me; after all it was his job. He didn't have to be so fucking forceful about protecting me, at least not from Bella.

I'm going to tell her. I want to be alone with her when I do. What if she doesn't want me? What if she is still in love with her ex, Riley; her ex from three years ago?

I reluctantly walked back into the cabin and lay down on the small sofa, humming the melody to Episode, followed by one of the songs that was on the playlist Bella created for me.

I made myself a promise. I'm not going to leave this cabin until Bella knows exactly how I feel about her.

~0~

~~Bella~~

When I woke up, I could sense movement in the living room. I tried to run my hairbrush through my frizzed hair, but it was no use so I pulled it back into a ponytail. I got dressed and put on some perfume before I dashed into the bathroom.

When I walked into the living room, Emmett was pouring himself a glass of juice and Edward was sitting on the sofa with his back to me.

"Good morning!" I said cheerily.

They both said 'good morning'. I didn't look at Edward. I wanted to be in control and for some reason I thought if I looked at him, he'd be able to tell that I'd had the dream. I froze with mortification. I hope to god I've grown out of talking in my sleep. I could feel my face flush; I was more than a little anxious at that thought.

I walked into the kitchen and distracted myself by cooking a huge egg and bacon breakfast. We all sat at the table, in the same seats we'd occupied the previous night. There seemed a lot of tension in the air between Edward and Emmett and even though I tried to ignore it, it was making me more than uncomfortable.

We ate in silence. They both gobbled the food down like they hadn't eaten in days.

"That was so delicious, Bella." said Emmett.

"Yeah," said Edward. "I haven't eaten so well since I lived at home."

Emmett laughed. "I was thinking the same thing!" he smiled at me.

I was proud of my ability to make them happy, then after I'd cleaned up the kitchen I set myself down to write.

"Come on Edward, get your running gear on; let's leave Bella alone for a while to do her work." said Emmett. "What kind of book is it anyway Bella? Action, drama, autobiography?" he queried.

"Um, I haven't really classified it yet. It's kind of a drama romance." I said, hoping that he didn't ask to read any of it.

"Well, we'll give you an hour or two. Edward and I need to work off that delicious breakfast."

"I really don't –" Edward began.

"No arguments, Edward," interrupted Emmett.

I was shocked. I thought Emmett worked for Edward but if anyone was casually observing their interaction, Emmett kind of treated Edward like a little brother rather than an employer. It was funny; Edward just seemed to comply, like he knew he wouldn't win an argument, so why should he bother trying.

I could tell they'd known each other for a while. I wondered if they'd been friends before Emmett started working for him. I blinked out of my daze; suddenly aware I had been staring at Edward. He was staring back, and smiling at me. I forced myself to look at my laptop, pretending to ignore them both, but hyper aware that Edward had taken some clothes from his bag and had disappeared into the bathroom to change.

When he came out of the bathroom, I didn't look up but I mentioned there were some bottles of spring water in the fridge and for them to help themselves. With a 'see you soon' from Emmett and a timid 'bye', from Edward, they were gone.

I sat staring at my laptop screen, unable to focus enough to even read or type one word.

I tried to recall the feeling I had sitting next to Edward in the Purple bar. I knew the surroundings were different, but essentially I thought I could get back to that, back to the way we'd interacted before I found out about Rosalie. It was selfish of me to let my disappointment affect the natural level of friendship we'd established over the last three weeks. I berated myself for it. When I looked at the time on my laptop, I was shocked to see I'd been daydreaming for more than an hour.

Before I knew it, they were back. My whole body seemed to react as soon as I heard them walking up the steps of the porch.

They were sweaty and out of breath. I watched, mesmerized, as Edward smiled at me, his cheeks flushed pink, sweat marked in a distinct V on the chest of his navy t-shirt and circles under his armpits. He took off his baseball cap, wrapped his lips around the mouth of the water bottle, tilted his head back and gulped. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, his neck more pronounced because of the angle he held it. It was one of the sexiest things I'd ever witnessed.

"I need to cool off," said Emmett. I looked over to him. "Let's go for a swim in the lake." He proceeded to peel his t-shirt up and over his head.

I stared at his ripped muscles, feeling mildly amused that he was so unconsciously at ease with his perfectly sculpted body. He wasn't trying to show off or be alluring; there wasn't an arrogant bone in his body.

I kind of admired his physique, but it had nothing on Edward's sensual form. I knew some women lusted after bulky arms and rock hard abs, but it didn't really do anything for me. I had always been attracted to slim built men that still had a touch of boyish charm set off by the masculinity of a sharp jaw, or a prominent Adams apple, a pert bum and nice hands and eyes; sensual curves that complemented the lean softness of a body that wasn't overly cut, or with zero percent body-fat. Boys like Riley, men like Edward.

"Um, you guys go. I think I'll just finish this chapter." I said, suddenly and instantly flushed at the thought of seeing Edward with no t-shirt on and...wet. I knew there would be no way I could look at Edward without a shirt on as casually as I could Emmett's body. I could already feel the heat rising up my chest to my face at the delicious mental vision.

"You should take a break, refresh yourself. Your laptop will still be here in twenty minutes Bella," stated Emmett. "You already look all hot and bothered." he said with a small chuckle.

I looked at Edward. I could see he was uncomfortable.

If they weren't here I would have been in the lake an hour ago.

God, just stop! He's just an ordinary guy that has a girlfriend.

I knew Edward wouldn't even look twice at me in the lake. It's not like I had the type of body that could model on the cover of Sports Illustrated, like Rosalie Hale.

It's a swim to cool off, nothing more.

"OK," I said. "Twenty minutes will be enough to cool me off. I'll just get my cozzie on."

Emmett laughed. "Your what? Jeez Bella, talk English? Your accent is confusing enough without you using weird words."

I smiled. "Cozzie," I said in the most ocker voice I could conjure, "short for costume, as in swimming costume. I believe you call them swimmers or bathers? My bik-ee-nee," I drawled in an over the top attempt at an American accent.

Emmett laughed again and shook his head at me. Edward was surprisingly quiet, tugging on his hair that was still damp with sweat from their run.

I walked into the bedroom, stripping off my dress and underwear and put my new bikini on. I looked at myself in the mirror.

I'm no Rosalie Hale, but this is really cute and the deep blue makes my skin look creamy, rather than pasty and sallow.

I grabbed the sunscreen and smothered it all over my exposed skin, including my face and neck.

When I walked in to the living room, they were already gone. I looked out the window to see them walking towards the lake, deep in conversation. I walked into the kitchen, filled up a plastic jug with ice and water and grabbed three plastic cups. I had my sarong tied around my waist and a towel draped over my shoulder, the bottle of sunscreen tucked under my arm and the jug and cups as I walked down to the bank.

Emmett was already in the lake; I watched as his muscular arms flew, slicing the still water.

"Hey," I said to Edward. He stood facing the lake in maroon board-shorts and a white T-shirt. "Are you going in?"

"Yeah, I just, I'm supposed to stay pale, you know for the film's continuity."

"I have sunscreen." I said. I put down everything else and held on to the pump-pack bottle of SPF30.

"Thanks." He turned fully to face me then, and looked me in the eyes as he removed his t-shirt.

I was totally unprepared to see Edward shirtless standing within touching distance. I absorbed the insanely surreal vision of his broad chest and prominent, delicate collarbones. His chest hair was sparse, his abs not overly defined, just the hint of their shape made me want to touch; then his perfect belly button and the fine dark hair that disappeared behind the waistband of his shorts.

I was embarrassed by my ogling. I looked up at his face. I could have sworn his gaze was trying to communicate something. I looked away quickly. The vision of Edward's upper body was enough to send all the blood in my own body in two directions – straight to my face and between my legs, arousing me more than I could consciously register.

Holy fucking shit, he's perfect.

"Can you...put some on my back, please Bella?"

I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry.

"Sure," I croaked. Stay calm, act normal, I chanted.

I fumbled with the bottle, my hands still slippery from when I had put some on my skin not five minutes earlier. I tried to keep my gaze down as I pumped the white lotion onto my palm, furtively flashing a look at his stomach and chest through my eyelashes. I cringed when the squeaking spurting sound of the pump action made me think of extremely inappropriate thoughts of Edward's body and...

I looked up, embarrassed and self-conscious. "Turn around." I instructed curtly.

He did so, and the expanse of his beautiful pale skin had me almost weeping from desire. I stepped forward and placed my hands on him, smearing the lotion all over his back, trying to breathe slowly and silently through my mouth and not collapse in a heap, or turn into a sobbing, embarrassing fangirl. I stood wide-eyed as I took in the feel of him, as my hands ran across the small moles and the dips and bumps along his spine. His shorts hung very low on his hips, and a couple of centimeters of the deep valley of his plumber's-crack was exposed. I glided my hands over and over again. Touching him was like an out of body experience.

He's letting me touch him!

My body broke out into tiny goose bumps.

After I'd spread the sunscreen around and up and over his shoulders, my head started pounding and I thought I was going to faint. As my fingers brushed over his strong neck, I felt him tense and I immediately removed my hands, shocked by the fact that my fingers were no longer rubbing in lotion, but had been dancing lovingly over his hairline.

"You're all good," I said cheerily, hoping to disguise my desire.

"Thanks, Bella," he said as he bent to pick up the bottle of sunscreen I'd left on top of my towel.

Edward was still facing the lake as he put sunscreen on his chest and stomach and arms. I stood behind him, covertly ogling his ass and back while I poured myself some water and drank, no, sculled was the word. What I needed was straight Stoli.

Before I'd even put my cup down, Edward had dropped the sunscreen bottle and walked forward and into the lake. When the water reached his thighs he dived in gracefully. I spotted Emmett a little ways off, he was laughing as he tread water.

"Come on Bella!" he beckoned to me.

I saw Edward's head emerge, he flipped the water from his hair and eyes with a quick whip of his head and he looked towards me.

Damn, I should have gone in when he wasn't looking.

I hastily untied and dropped my sarong and placed my empty cup down before walking into the water, the whole time looking at my feet. I could see the pink tinge to my already overheated and flushed skin, as the shade from the trees blew mottled shadows across me. When I got to waist height, I looked at Edward.

Had he been staring at me?

I dove into the water and swam in the opposite direction. I could swim and cool off, but I knew if I spoke to him, if I got too near his semi-nakedness, I would make a complete fool of myself. He must know how attractive he is?

I remembered the rock I found on Friday so I swam to where I thought it was. I heard Emmett laughing when my face broke from the water. I shook the water from my ears and felt around with my feet until I found the cool slick stone. I kept my shoulders in the water and rested there. Edward was at least twenty meters away, his hair plastered to his beautiful face.

I was happy he was keeping his distance. I needed to calm down. I was throbbing with arousal, and I simultaneously felt guilty and sorry for myself. I adjusted my bikini bottom, guiding them back to the natural crease of my bum. As I watched Edward, his wet hair and face, I surreptitiously glided my fingers in between my legs feeling how moist I'd become, simply from touching his skin and feasting on the vision of his beauty.

They were talking, but I couldn't hear them; they were too far away. After a few minutes, I watched Emmett dive under the water. His body emerged a few meters from the edge of the bank and he casually sauntered up to the cabin without an explanation. I was about to call out to him when I felt the water swirl around my neck and I heard Edward behind me, close.

"Hey," he breathed softly. "I want to talk to you alone. I need to tell you something and I need to explain."

Explain? Explain why he'd even want to keep his relationship with Rosalie a secret? Explain why he kissed my neck?

I ignored his statement, and took a stab at directing the conversation to something else; anything else.

"I wanted to ask you about how your meeting went with the director, Liam Berty?"

I watched as Edward's face went from serious and determined to lighting up in a proud grin.

"I got the part," he said, beaming. The water swirled around his chin. His facial hair was more prominent than yesterday and maybe the longest I'd ever seen it.

Stop looking at him like that, I chastised myself.

"That's fantastic!" Just keep the topic light and general, I thought. "I read the book, just finished it yesterday in fact," I said.

"You have the book here with you?" he asked. "I haven't read it; I don't think Berty wants me to. It's probably very different from the script."

"You can read my book, if I can read your script," I bartered. "I'm interested to compare them myself."

The constant motion of Edward's hands and feet as he swirled and kicked in the water was distracting. So was Edward's wet hair that stuck to his head, making his face appear even more perfect. His long eyelashes were clumped together and dark from the water.

He's so desirable. I looked up to the cabin. Emmett was still inside.

"Did you enjoy the book?" he asked.

"Some of it was a little...um, cheesy. I liked Nicholas, but Georgia was a bit grating sometimes. It's pretty dramatic. You're really going to have to be convincing as Nicholas or, well..."

"Well...what?" he prompted, smiling at me.

"You know, if you're not completely in it, emotionally, it could turn out to be lame and over indulgent."

He laughed. "Yeah you're right, but I plan to be totally in it. I'm going to live it. I'll be Nicholas. This will be my breakthrough movie, I can feel it. Berty himself said it was Academy Award material. I don't plan on doing anything less than a winning performance."

He was excited. I could tell he was determined to do his best. Maybe I misjudged him; maybe he doesn't just want to do his music?

"Have they selected someone to play Georgia yet?" I asked, hoping he would tell me. I'd rather picture anyone else except Rosalie Hale.

"Berty has cast his Georgia. She's waiting for me to sign on, before she agrees." He smiled shyly at me and dipped his chin into the water, covering his lips up to his nose. I could tell he didn't want to tell me what actress they'd chosen. Maybe because it wasn't locked in? Maybe it's her? Rosalie? She could dye her blond hair brown, or she could wear a wig and contact lenses.

I suddenly felt nauseous. Our light-hearted conversation was now weighed down by my delusional jealousy.

"Do you want to get out, sit in the shade? I really do need to talk to you," said Edward.

I suddenly felt flushed. I watched as his lips touched the water and he blew out a long sigh, the water rippling around his body

"How come you're not out of breath?" he asked. "We've been treading water for ages."

"Um, I'm not. I'm standing on a rock," I laughed.

His eyes grew dark as he moved closer to me. I watched as Edward's arms reached out under the water and gripped onto my waist. The heat from his hands seeped into my cool skin. They were soft, yet holding firm. I felt his leg brush mine. I wobbled a bit; the slick stone under my feet was barely big enough for two.

His breath was labored from treading water; small droplets clung to his pale skin. I could feel my heart rate quicken and the atmosphere change instantly from happy friendly banter to sensual longing – and it wasn't just coming from me. Edward was looking at me as if he wanted to kiss me. I felt his feet trying to step on the stone; they were either side of my legs. I stood to my full height in a panic when my bare knees brushed against the soft nylon of his shorts.

This is too intimate, too mind-numbingly overwhelmingly close.

"Share," his voice was husky and downright provocative as his face came closer to mine. I was in a daze as the heat of his hands on my waist seemed to be burning me.

He can't do this; he can't make me want him when I'm trying my hardest to shut that feeling down. He can't touch me this way, he has a girlfriend! My desire turned to anger.

"I don't want to share," I stated.

His eyes widened and his grip on my waist loosened. I panicked and pushed sharply on his chest. It was like slow motion; his lips pursed together firmly in anticipation of hitting the water. He clenched his eyes shut at the last second, as the splash of water shot up and into my face, stinging my eyes. I was shocked, and my body was shaking. I had one thought and one thought only.

Get away!

I dived under the water and kept swimming until I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I powered freestyle to the bank; my head pounding, pulsing blurry dots appeared in my vision.

"Bella!" he called for me.

I didn't look back. I grabbed my towel, my sarong. Calm down, stay calm, don't let him see, I kept chanting.

I felt supremely devastated. I was crushed at having to admit to myself that my attraction to him, my desire, the love I felt, was what made me so aware that he couldn't be mine – and I just couldn't be his friend.

He belongs to someone else.

"I'd better keep writing," I called out. I hurried into the cabin and straight to the bathroom.

I didn't see Emmett; he must have been in his room. I was thankful. The silent tears that flowed could not be witnessed by anyone.

With a trembling body and an ache in my chest I stepped into a scalding hot shower. Trying to give myself a new pain, trying to recreate the heat of his hands?

I can't be alone with Edward. I refuse to be alone with him while he's here.

I was frantic. My skin stung from the heat, and all I could see when I closed my eyes was his lips, his tongue. I wanted them on me, all over my body. I felt overwhelming guilt and shame for thinking such things. I was delusional. He wasn't interested in me that way. He's always been a touchy-feely guy. My deluded mind is playing tricks on me.

I washed my hair. I massaged conditioner through it. I roughly scrubbed my toe and fingernails. The action became a representation of my need to punish myself for even thinking that Edward Cullen could want me.

If Riley didn't want me, Edward certainly wouldn't.

I rinsed my hair. I'd been in the bathroom for way too long. When I got out and dried myself I saw Edward's or Emmett's toiletry bag. I wanted to unzip it. I wanted to look inside.

I didn't.

Oh my god, I could instantly be a stalker fangirl. I could instantly abuse the trust he placed in me. He can trust me. I won't tell anyone about Rosalie. I'd instantly sign a piece of paper like Emmett suggested.

I took my time slowly blow-drying my hair straight. My scalded skin had lost its bright red flush. I covered myself in body lotion, wrapped myself in a towel and scurried across the hall to my bedroom.

I can't avoid him forever.

I collected myself, got dressed, determined to go out there and do exactly what I would have been doing if he hadn't turned up here.

I need to write.

~0~

~~Edward~~

"I don't want to share," she said, then she pushed me. It was like a punch to my heart.

I fell backwards with a muted splash, my ears filling with water, the submerged sound of underwater white noise. My head pounded. I was in shock.

I pushed myself to the surface. She was swimming away from me.

God, I'm a fucking idiot.

"Bella!" I called.

She didn't turn.

"I'd better keep writing," she said and disappeared into the cabin.

"Fuck!" I slapped my hands down on the water.

This is freaking ridiculous.

I'd been insanely jealous when I watched her looking at Emmett's body, openly admiring his chest. Her skin had flushed, she'd looked embarrassed, and my heart had ached. I thought it was only me that did that to her; that only I could make her blush that beautiful shade. But she had blushed when I removed my shirt. She had looked at my body, her teeth digging into her lip, her eyes dropped and her breath hitched. I know she feels something for me. I know she was dreaming of me last night – but she was also dreaming about her ex.

I swam back to the bank, wrapped a towel around myself, picked up the jug of water, cups and sun block, and stormed inside. Emmett was standing at the fridge tipping the orange juice bottle directly to his mouth. I glared at him as I placed the items on the kitchen bench.

"What?" he said, holding the juice bottle to his lips. "I did as you asked; I got out of the lake."

I walked to the hall, I heard the shower. "She distracted me and I, well, she didn't give me a chance to explain," I said as I walked back to the kitchen. "I need to be alone with her when she comes out of the shower."

He looked at me, incredulous.

"Not for that," I could read his mind. "I still have to talk to her, tell her I want to be in a relationship with her, spell it out. She doesn't understand the whole Hollywood bullshit, she doesn't know about my contractual obligations to the studio. I need to tell her that mine and Rosalie's relationship is purely a professional one before she sees those photos."

He scowled at me.

"Well, Edward, I'm not comfortable in leaving you alone. I'm sorry; it's my job on the line. What happens if we were followed, and some crazy-ass pap turns up here? Or worse still, some stalker fan?"

"I'm not asking you to leave, and if we were followed I think we'd know about it by now, don't you?"

"OK, well, let's see what Bella says about being alone with you, shall we?"

I couldn't ignore the sarcasm in his voice.

"I don't want you to ask her, just make yourself scarce."

"I'll think about it," he said.

"Emmett, come on–"

"Edward, you agreed to my terms when I said I'd drive you four freaking hours to bring you here, its not like I get paid overtime and the studio can't know you're here or they'll have my balls. As far as they're concerned you're holed up in the hotel, with Rosalie. Anyway it looks to me like Bella doesn't feel comfortable being alone with you. Maybe she did see you in her room last night."

I paced, trying not to pull fistfuls of hair from my head.

I heard the low hum of a hairdryer from inside the bathroom.

It was over twenty minutes later when Bella finally emerged. She was wearing a different dress, her hair was long and smooth and silky looking. She was holding her wet bikini. I watched, my mouth watering as she stepped out onto the porch to hang it over the rail to dry.

She's drop dead gorgeous.

I even caught Emmett admiring her.

When she'd rubbed the sun block on my back, I'd been instantly aroused. I could do nothing but get in the brisk water, and will it to go down. Emmett had noticed of course, laughing as if it was some huge joke. He wasn't laughing now – he thought I was some lascivious sexual deviant, and I couldn't blame him. I had been aroused when I saw Bella writhing on her bed, calling my name, but he'd only heard her call for Riley.

I stared at Emmett from across the room as Bella sat at the table and went back to typing. I was silently trying to communicate with my eyes that I needed to be alone with her.

He furrowed his brow at me, like he was going to do something.

"So Bella, what delicious meal are you cooking for us tonight?" he asked.

She looked up at him. "Um, a barbeque. I have some sirloin and sausages, and salad."

"Well then, I really need a beer to go with that. I'm going to take a drive into Alberni to get some. Probably be a ninety minute round trip, do you need anything?" He started walking to the door and picked his car keys from the hall table.

I tried to hide it, but an exultant grin was threatening to burst forth. He's fucking brilliant, ninety minutes alone with her. I was more than excited, that was until Bella spoke.

"I'll come with you," she said and stood up. "I need some wine."

"I'll get it for you." He smiled at her.

"No, really. I want to go," said Bella urgently.

I started to panic; this was not going to Emmett's plan.

"You better stay here with Edward," he said, "You know, keep each other company. I won't be long."

"Why don't we all go?" she said. "I don't mind driving and we'll all get to see a little of the port."

The blood seemed to drain from my body. She doesn't want to be alone with me.

"Edward can't." said Emmett dismissively. "He might get recognized, they'd follow him back here, and it would be a complete disaster."

She looked anxious. "I hate to tell you this Emmett, but the media and the fans know you are his bodyguard, you're just as recognizable."

I was gutted, she actually had a point.

"No, it'll be fine; I'll be back before you know it," he said, feigning assurance. I could see by the look on his face that he agreed with her.

Fuck!

"No," said Bella sternly. "It makes more sense for me to go on my own and you stay here with Edward. If both of you stay out of the public eye, we'll all have privacy."

Her assertiveness was as equally sexy as it was frustrating.

Bella grabbed her car keys from the hall table. "I won't be long. What beer would you like?"

No No NO! I followed her out; Emmett grabbed my arm in warning.

"Heineken for you Edward? Is that OK for you too Emmett?" she asked over her shoulder.

She's still not looking at me.

I had to stop her. Another ninety minutes without telling her, I just couldn't stand it!

"Bella, we didn't come here for you to wait on us, make us dinner and fetch us beers. Let Emmett go, please," I said.

She wouldn't look me directly in the eye; my heart was breaking.

"I'm just doing what I'd be doing if you guys weren't here. I need some more wine, so I'm happy to go. If either of you were recognized, that would be the end of my weekend, and I don't want that," she said as she walked to her car.

"Bella, please."

She turned as she opened her door. She looked into my eyes. "You know what would make me extremely happy?" she said. The huge grin covering her face made my heart rate accelerate.

"Anything, it's yours," I said wistfully.

"You can clean the grill on the campfire barbeque, so it's ready for tonight. There's ingredients and bread in the kitchen, feel free to make yourselves some sandwiches for lunch." She jumped in her seat, slammed the car door and drove away.

~0~

A/N: There was that open-ended invitation to YELL AT ME last chapter, so those that did not take me up on that, can do so now in a review… I do not want to spoil the story, but I will say that you will all want to read chapter 26 and 27 and 28…

For those of you that have read my one-shots and did read my winning entry in the Texts From Last Night Contest –Exclusively– I have a surprise for you. I am nearly finished the epilogue (what happened that night and the next morning)? To find out, you need to dig deep; actually $5 is sufficient and donate to the Fandoms Fight the Floods appeal. My Exclusively Epilogue will be in it!

Fandoms Fight The Floods w w w. fandomsfightthefloods. blogspot. com/ will help our friends in Queensland to rebuild. They now need help even more after the devastation of cyclone Yasi. Please donate to the official Queensland Government appeal w w w. qld. gov. au/floods/donate. html and email in your receipt to the fab gals so you get the–what will no doubt be a deliciously HOT–compilation from several Fandoms (not just Twilight).

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