A/N I don't own the characters, except maybe Stephan, Mac and Margie, S.M. owns the others!

If you didn't get a response to your review, I'm sorry but when I had time to do them, FF was being pissy. This ch is also unbeta'd.

Again, if I can get 40 reviews on this ch, I will post another ch tomorrow. Those that review will get a 'teaser' of Ch 27!

Chapter 26

EPOV

I entered Red's Monday afternoon through the back door and made my way out into the club.

There was music playing and Tanya was stretching on the main stage.

She had on a pair of tiny little shorts and a sports bra type top. She had silver stilettos on her feet.

In other words, she wasn't wearing much.

Tanya was pretty on the surface but no one appealed to me like Bella. Her personality just fit mine so perfectly. She was never fake or deceptive and didn't have a mean bone in her body.

I just had a feeling that Tanya was anything but what she tried to be in public. I'll bet that chick has a real mean streak in her if provoked. She just didn't seem genuine.

Tanya looked up from doing the splits and got to her feet giving me the once over.

I was wearing cargo shorts , a t-shirt and sneakers.

She pursed her lips and her brow furrowed as she took in my attire.

"Get changed and hurry up" she said making a 'shoo-ing' motion with her hands.

"I didn't bring a change of clothes. I can learn moves in these. I'm comfortable." I replied feeling confused as to why I couldn't just learn whatever she could teach me like this.

"But I like you in the thong so much better" she pouted.

My eyebrows shot up but I quickly controlled it and wiped all emotion from my face. I jumped up onto the stage and said "ready?" The faster we got this over with the better.

"Oh baby...I'm always ready...for anything!" she purred and tapped my nose and ran her finger down over my lips and chin and then down my chest to my waist.

"Ah...the moves?" I said ready to have this over with and be back home with Bella.

She huffed but started actually instructing me. She showed me lots of different creative ways to take the money that the women waved at the dancers.

Some were really cool and I tried them back on her.

She assured me that if the women liked the contact, they were apt to wave more money.

She also told me that on occasion, it was ok to bring a lady on stage. She warned me to only bring up the shy looking ones because it was easier to remain in control of the stage.

She went over different scenarios for this and gave me pointers and ideas on what to do with the ladies while they were on stage with me. She suggested props like having a chair handy.

I actually learned some great new moves and had lots of new ideas for my act.

If it hadn't been for her touching me so much it was worth coming in. She touched me every chance she got. All under the ruse of positioning me. Ya right!

"You know Edward, I used to be a dancer a while back. Before I owned Red's." She said motioning for me to sit down on the chair we had been using on stage. Tanya picked up a remote and pushed a button and the room filled with music.

Tanya started to dance in front of me. She danced very seductively all around my chair running her hands over herself and occasionally over my shoulders or in my hair.

It felt really creepy. I could imagine some of my old friends thinking this would be great, but it wasn't. It was kinda freaking me out.

It wasn't a secret that she wanted to fuck me. I just hoped she didn't go to far.

She started to give me a lap dance. She backed up to me popping her butt up and down just above my crotch.

I just looked away feeling uncomfortable and hoping she would stop soon because this had nothing to do with teaching me anything. She started dancing around me again. She was behind me with her hands sliding over my shoulders and feeling my pecs while I sat completely still and barely breathing.

Suddenly, one of her long legs stepped over my legs and she was straddling my lap facing me – topless!

She plunked herself down right on my dick and started grinding herself back and forth on me while simultaneously crushing her naked chest tightly against mine. Her arms wound tightly around my neck and her lips crashed to mine.

I was momentarily stunned. A second later I heard her moan deep in her throat. Her tongue was desperately seeking entrance to my mouth.

"Fuck!" I roared pushing back on her shoulders and standing up.

I grabbed her hands and removed them from my neck pushing her back further.

"Let's go upstairs gorgeous" she purred. "I'm gonna make you feel soooooo good" she said breathily while trying to grab my hand and drag me with her.

Is this chick for real?

"I'm married! You know that Tanya! Just...just stop!" I said firmly.

She dropped to her knees in front of me and quickly fumbled to undo my jeans with one hand while she palmed my dick with the other.

"I said FUCKING STOP!" I yelled again, my voice a little higher and less authoritative than I would have liked.

I jumped back from her feeling violated, shocked, and disgusted by her. I turned and strode towards the front door as quickly as I could without running. If she followed me I would run.

"Get back here Edward! Stop being such a prude! Your little wifey never has to know.!" She yelled.

"Not happening Tanya!" I growled shoving the front door open and leaving. Before the door closed I heard her shriek "Get back here!"

I started to jog towards my car. I peeled out of the lot and headed for McCarty's. There was no way I could go home this angry and upset.

I barrelled through the door to McCarty's.

Em was behind the bar, cloth slung over his shoulder talking to one of his regulars.

He glanced up, saw my expression and hold his waitress that he was taking a break. He motioned to a booth in the back. Once we were seated, he spoke first.

"What the hell man? What's going on?"

My hands were continually running through and tugging on my hair. It was my nervous 'tell'.

I started to tell him about how when I was hired Tanya set up this date to 'coach' me if I made it through the weekend. I told him about what she said and what I learned.

"Dude, what's so bad about..."

"It didn't stop there!" I hissed.

I then told him what she did, said etc...and what I did and said.

Em just shook his head saying "I warned ya man. The chick is bad news. She hounded me relentlessly till Rosie went in one night and threatened her. Rosie can be really scarey when she wants to be" he confessed.

"I have to handle this myself Em. I'm not used to women like her. I can't believe she thought I'd let her blow me after I told her no and I'm happily married! Who does that?"

"Chick has no scruples man. She wants what she wants. Trouble is, she usually gets it. Us guys are supposed to respect 'no means no' but not her dude. She just can't fathom there is someone out there that doesn't want her." He answered.

"Pffft!" was all I could muster as a response.

"You are going to have to be careful now Ed. You're like - this personal challenge to her now. You have probably just made this her most exciting game ever with your reactions."

"Fuck me..." I groaned.

Em beckoned over the waitress and ordered us a couple burger platters and a couple cokes. The waitress was totally eye fucking me and Em started to laugh.

"Hop to it Brandi" he chortled "we're starving – and put your eyes back in your head so you don't trip on your way to the kitchen!"

The poor girl turned 10 shades of red in an instant. Her mouth hung open in shock and embarrassment as she spun on her heel and practically ran to the kitchen.

Em and I looked at each other and broke out laughing. Damn, I'm glad I came in here. Em was a good guy and my earlier tension was leaving me.

We ate and talked for another half hour or so. We made plans to meet at Em's tonight for another BBQ.

Rose would also be there and we decided we would all go out to a movie afterwards.

I rushed home anxious to spend time with my girl.

Bella and I watched tv and talked for the rest of the afternoon.

I told her we were invited to Em's again and then a movie. She was down with that.

Rose called and they decided we would go see Bridesmaids.

Yep, chick flick.

Oh, well Bella wanted to see it and so did Rose.

We dropped my car off at home after supper and went in Em and Rose's car.

Em complained all the way to the theatre wanting to see Thor instead.

"Shut up Emmie or no snacks for you in the movie!" Rose warned.

Em's mouth dropped open and he looked like a little kid. His mouth closed and he silently followed along behind her to the concession stand.

We all laughed at his facial expressions, including Rose.

Once Em was loaded up with popcorn, drinks, nibs etc.. his smile along with signature dimples had returned.

Considering it was Em that didn't want to go to this movie, he was laughing louder than anyone else in the theatre.

When the girl was running across the street in her wedding dress he had tears running down his cheeks. At one point he even grabbed himself like he might pee his pants.

The best part for me was how hard Bella was laughing - at Emmett.

For an intelligent business man, he was such a kid/frat house idiot at times. Bella had tears in her eyes from both watching the movie and from Emmett's outbursts. Her face was flushed and her smile was wide.

I felt so happy at this very moment.

I needed to see Bella laugh more often and made it my personal mission to make her as happy as possible during this uncertain new life thrust upon us.

It sure seemed a little easier now that we had friends.

We had Em and Rose and Margie and Mac. We no longer felt as alone or cut off from the world. I was making enough money to support us, and I had my girl. That was I needed to be happy. I'd be damned if I was gonna let Tanya wreck that for me!