A/N: Thanks to everyone that has put this story on alert-. If you've reviewed, I've responded. If FF screwed up and I didn't get your review, I apologize. Thanks to my Fab BETA Lands!

If you've read anything else I've written you know I write things based on my real life. Don't hesitate to ask what's real or not-I don't mind in the least.

Thanks to everyone that put this story on alert! I'm flattered you'd want me in your inbox -really!

Thanks to being so VOCAL! I was pretty happy to read your reviews on the previous chapter

Beyond the Sea

Somewhere beyond the sea
somewhere waiting for me
my lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailing'

Chapter 24

I woke up to an overheated man holding me close. I almost panicked until I remembered Edward showing up early this morning. I shifted so I could see my watch and gasped in surprise. It was noon. I leaned closer and nudged Edward with my elbow.

"Quit it." He snuggled down further into the bed, pulling me with him.

"We need to get up, Edward."

"No we don't. Shhhh, go back to sleep." He was adorable all sleepy.

"It's noon."

"It's what?!" He shot up, rubbing at his face. "We slept for over five hours. Shit!" He jumped off the bed, looking around in confusion.

"Bathroom is through there." I pointed him in the right direction. He came back out a few minutes later, looking sheepish.

"Sorry, but I have a conference call in thirty minutes and I need to check on the dogs." He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his shoes on.

"I need to go for a run; did you want me to take the dogs with me?" I offered.

"They can be a handful, are you sure you'd want to do that?" He looked happy at the suggestion.

"I love dogs, so of course. Let me throw on some clothes and brush my teeth and I'll be right over." I leaned up and kissed his cheek, happy that there wasn't any awkwardness between us.

He was gone when I got out of the bathroom, so I tossed on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Deciding not to take my iPod, grabbed my keys and headed to Edward's house.

I didn't have time to knock before Penn and Teller were at the screen door, yipping at me. A muffled, "its open" carried down the hall, so I walked in. I got on the floor with the dogs giving them love, while waiting for Edward. I looked up when I heard him coming towards me. He helped me off the floor and gave me a kiss.

"I would have done that before I left, but between the alcohol and the sleep, I was pretty rank."

"Understandable." I agreed. "Anything I need to know before I take the kids?"

"They're great on the leash, and if there's no one around, you can let them off. They know their names, so that won't be an issue. Come on." He waved me behind him and we went into the kitchen. "Here are some poop bags, but they both already defiled the backyard, so you shouldn't need these." He also handed me a portable water dish and a big water bottle." You can share it with them." He winked and walked over to a door I hadn't noticed before.

"What's that lead to?" I asked.

"Oh this is to the garage, it's closed in and I use it as the main office/inventory/warehouse for the website. I'll show you later. I also have a dog area for their stuff." He reached through the door and grabbed a leash with a splitter. "Here you go" He handed the leash to me.

"You want me to leash them?"

"You need to get to know them, so why not? I want them to listen to you as the Beta, since you can't be Alpha." He laughed at his own horrible joke and I poked him.

"I won't run with them today so I can get used to them, but we will walk the same trail I run. It's not rocky or anything."

He walked me back to the foyer where the dogs were patiently sitting waiting to go. I clipped them to the leash and led them to my car. Edward lifted Penn and I lifted Teller into the backseat.

"Leave the windows open about two inches while you drive, and they will love you. Thanks for this, Bella." He kissed me good bye and helped me into the car. "See you in a little bit."

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the dogs were in the car. They each chose a back window to look out of and they were extremely patient with me getting them out of the car. They had no problem with me leading them in the direction I wanted to go. We stopped a few times for them to sniff and mark territory along the way. Gladly I didn't need the poo bags.

When we got back to the grassy area, I gave them water and let them run off leash for a little while. They seemed to like that. Once I corralled them back onto their leash, we got in the car and headed back to Edwards. The door was open when we got back to his house. I debated over just walking in, but if he was still on the phone, I didn't want to interrupt him.

The dogs ran out their doggie door in the kitchen as soon as I took their leash off, so I decided to follow them. I hadn't been anywhere other than the kitchen and the living room of Edward's house, so I felt like being nosy. To my delight he had a pool! It was gated to keep the dogs out. I had just sat down in a chair when I heard the backdoor.

"There you are. Whatcha doing?" Edward joined me at the table.

"Taking a look around of course. I'm a bit jealous since you have a pool. "

"Don't be, they're expensive. I had to gate it because Penn loves to swim but they need supervision or they won't get out."

I took a look around his backyard. It had an avocado tree in the back corner, and some grills at the edge near the back of his garage. "Three grills?"

"Ones for gas and the other two are charcoal. What?" He noticed me giving him an odd look.

"No really, you have three grills?"

"Sometimes I throw the four employees a thank you party, more grills makes it easier. Come with me." He stood up and pulled me with him. He took me around to the other side of the garage and opened a door.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. An entire wall was full of racks. Each rack had about six shelves and each shelf had rubber tubs on them. Every tub had a number on it.

"This is my inventory." Edward explained. He pushed me further in and I could see three desks set up in a corner. On the other side next to the shelving was a smaller rack with shipping supplies on it,

"Here, look." He handed me a clipboard with spread sheets on it. Each line had a number and a description of the item. "This corresponds to each tub on the shelf."

"Wow! It's so organized!"

"What were you expecting?"

"An adult store feel, but this makes sense as you don't need to display anything."

"Did you want anything?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Maybe after we get to know each other a little bit better." I was a little uncomfortable discussing my likes/dislikes before we'd even gotten to second base.

He led me back into the kitchen through the other door. "Hungry? I haven't eaten other than an apple and I'm starved."

"Oh, I have some things to do before we go out tonight, so no but thanks. What kind of attire for tonight?"

"Let me get back to you. If I was going to pick you up at six, what time would you need that answer by? I know women take a crazy long time to get ready." I laughed and elbowed him.

"No later than five, I really don't take more than forty five minutes."

"You'll hear from me before that." He walked me to the door. "Thanks for taking the kids today, they had a great time."

"How can you tell?"

"They're running all amped out in the back yard, that's how. " He opened the door, leaned down and kissed me." I'll call you later."

I got in my car and did a little squeal. An actual date! I was excited.

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