AN: Jasper misses dinner, but makes up for it.

Chapter thirty seven: Happy Valentine's Day

Jasper, February, 2011…

"Excuse me, Sir," the guy said. "Where would you like the flowers delivered?"

"What are you doing?" Bella asked, the suspicion in her tone making me smile.

"Nothing," I replied coyly while writing down what I wanted the florist's assistant to do. I handed him the paper. He read the instructions, nodded, and left.

"Are you sure?"

I smirked at her question before turning the tables on her. "Absolutely. What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Bella said quickly. Her answer was vague and accompanied by a giggle that left me intrigued.

"Really? Just nothing?"

"Yes, really," she half moaned; making my cock twitch.

I shook my head and groaned into the phone. "I wish I wasn't here right now. I wanted to be there with you."

"And what would you be doing if you were here with me?" She had no idea how dangerous that question was.

I scanned the open office, noticing no eyes on me. "If I were there, you'd be under me, on top of me or in front of me taking my cock into that sweet pussy of yours."

Bella moaned into the phone and told me that she wanted me. I looked at the elevator and nearly said 'fuck this meeting' and go home to her.

"I can't wait to get home."

"I can't wait to see you," she groaned into my ear. "All of you."

"Fuck, you're killing me," I said softly.

"Go somewhere if you can."

I didn't stop searching until I found an empty office and fist pumped before going inside and shutting the door behind me. "I found somewhere," I eagerly tell her.

"Good. But, Jasper, I know you're up to something," she said, momentarily taking my mind out of the gutter it was presently residing in.

"Yes, I am," I said cheekily. "But you won't know a thing until I tell you."

She laughed at me. "Please, no more extravagant gifts."

"You'll like this one."

"I will?"

"It's one of the most inexpensive things I have done since you met me."

Although it was just a part of the gift, getting Bella flowers was the most inexpensive thing I have done. Compared to the car I bought her to get around town, and the penthouse being another part of my Valentine's present to her, I think flowers were the least costly thing I have purchased.

Rose called her favorite florist for me after I shared the little surprise I had planned for Bella. Rose warned me not to go overboard, and I promised her I wouldn't. It was just a couple of vases of roses that I was going to have put in every corner of penthouse. What was overboard about that? Tomorrow was our first Valentine's together. I wanted Bella to enjoy it.

There was a soft sigh on the other end of the phone and then Bella whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too. But you're still not going to know what I'm up to."

Bella laughed.

"Baby, what are you up to?" I wanted her to admit it. I needed an image of my girl's delectable body in my mind to help get me through the rest of this meeting, if I was going to stay.

"Are you alone?" her voice dropped to a sexy tone.

"Yes."

"Bella, are you naked?"

"I don't know," she moaned. God damn, a naughty Bella was a fun Bella. "What do you call it if I can see my pussy in the mirror?"

I growled and palmed my cock through my pants. "Shit."

She giggled, "I want you here. When will I see you?"

"I want to be there right now," I whined. The thought of her naked ass moving about the bathroom was killing me. "I want to leave so bad, Bella."

She switched gears and the sincerity in her tone touched my heart. "I'm sorry, Jasper. I wish I could help."

"You are. You're giving me something to look forward when I get home."

She laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Jasper."

I stroked my cock and moaned. "Not gonna happen. Need you too damn much right now, baby."

"Jasper?"

"Is that Maria?"

I groaned and willed myself to calm down. Talk about a cock block. "Yeah, I gotta go. I love you, Bella."

"I love you too."

I ended the call and Mom said, "I thought you'd left."

"Unfortunately no," I said. "And I wanna string Paul up by his balls for putting us in this shit."

"I'll help," Mom said.

Tanya's ex had made some half cocked deal with the men we're meeting with. He told them that he could easily persuade us so they could drill on our land. They brought their lawyers with them to show how legitimate their deal with our former lawyer was, and they were throwing out big figures in hopes that we would reconsider. But the answer was still no. There will be no drilling on Whitlock land.

"I can't believe Paul did this."

Mom chuckled. "Edward wants to kill him. He left us in a sticky situation with these gentlemen, but Edward and Peter have found a way out for us."

"That's the best damn news I've heard all day," I expressed. This was good. I could go home to Bella. "Let's go."

Mom and I walked out of the boardroom. "Did you make the reservations yet?" she asked as we headed back to the boardroom where our meeting was being held.

"Yes, I did. Thanks for the suggestion."

"Bella's gonna love that restaurant, darling. Trust me," Mom smiled. "Did she like the penthouse?"

"Yeah, although I think I should ease up on the expensive gifts," I said. "It's outside Bella's comfort zone."

"Yeah, you should," Mom nodded in agreement. "I don't want you scaring the damn girl off. This isn't Alice, Jasper. You don't need to spend excessively on Bella to prove that you love her."

"I'm realizing that every day, momma. She's everything I never thought existed for me. I think she's what I was searching for," I told her. "I'm completely at ease with Bella. I've never been this happy with a woman. Even an ex means nothing to her."

"An ex?"

"Natasha showed up at the penthouse today and met Bella," I said. Natasha was so ticked off when she came here complaining about my guest. I told her that Bella was my girlfriend and did nothing wrong.

"I hope Bella didn't believe a word out of her mouth," Mom stressed.

"No," I chuckled. "She came here when I took a break earlier. She wasn't practically pleased to have met Bella and complained about Bella's nonchalance toward her."

"Screw Bella not liking expensive gifts," Mom stated with a gleam in her eye. "I'm gonna buy that girl something big and expensive for putting that little brat in her place."

"I love her," I concurred, letting my mind wonder to the girl waiting for me at home. Until Mom pinched my arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"This is your fault," she said pointedly. "You should've been thinking with your head. The one on top of your body, not the other head!"

She was tapping the side of my head with her fingernails and I jumped away, "Damn, momma. Ouch!"

"You had too much fun in college. I know you were going through a lot, but whatever you looking for, wasn't between those fast girls' legs. All you did was warrant unnecessary attention from them. Girls like Natasha can be a pest; like her father," Mom argued. I loved she added Mr. Bradford there on the end. She loathed his attention. "But all I know is she better not cause any problem for Bella, or else, she'll have to deal with me."

"I'm sure she won't want that," I smiled at her as we continued to the boardroom. I needed to end this meeting now!

"She better not," Mom mumbled.

I smirked at her as we walked into the room. Edward, Peter, and Rose looked up and scowled at Mom and me. "I'm going to string Paul up by his balls if I ever get my hands on the bastard," Edward said angrily.

"I know how you feel."

We took our seats and the meeting continued. Mom leaned over to whisper to me, "Do you want me to buy out Tanya's building from Natasha's dad so you won't have to deal with her, seeing as your penthouse is in the same building?"

"No, Mom. I can handle it."

"Let me know if you change your mind."

"Yes, ma'am, I will."

"Good, because if Natasha goes anywhere near Bella again, I'll be on her ass," she warned. "I like Bella, Jasper. Don't fuck things up."

I pulled back to stare at her and she laughed at me.

"Natasha won't be a problem, momma."

"Good."

The meeting took another hour and a half to finish, but we came out on top. I thanked Edward, Peter, and Uncle Joshua before Edward and Peter hastily disappeared with their cell phones glued to their ear and smiles on their faces.

I was about to call Bella, when momma told me we had been invited to dinner by the business men we were just dealing with. "They insisted," she hissed.

"Fine, but I'm not eating and I'm leaving after the first drink," I told her.

"Deal."

The plan was simple, go with them, talk a little, don't eat, make up an excuse and leave.

I would see Bella soon.

~~abt~~

My leg bounced and I checked my watch for the umpteenth time. I wanted to scream. It was fucking nine o'clock and Mr. Bradford still hasn't shut up yet. I was ready to leave about an hour ago. But Natasha and her father saw us, and invited themselves to dinner. I was still going to make a run for it, but Mom and Rose had death grip on me, begging me not to leave them. And when I thought the torture wouldn't end, Natasha took over, focusing all her unwanted attention one me.

"Jasper, your little friend was a little rude to me today, you know," Natasha said in a chastising manner. "I hope you'll discuss her attitude with her. She needs to be more courteous on my next visit."

Mom cursed under her breath, and Rose sneered at Natasha. She, on the other hand, was oblivious to it because she only had eyes for me, which was completely unnerving.

"I have nothing to discuss with my girlfriend," Natasha bristled at my answer, but I ignored her huff, and went on, "Bella must've been reacting to something you said."

Natasha gave me a forced smile and didn't respond. But I wasn't through. This was our way out.

"Ladies, I think it's time to go." I thanked the gentlemen for dinner and Rose and momma and I left the restaurant without another word. I waited until they drove off before moving to my car. Again, I took my phone out to call Bella, but Natasha interrupted me.

She tried to take my hand in hers, but I pulled it away. She feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes in a way she thought was seductive. "Jasper, when can I see you?"

"You just saw me. Good night, Natasha."

I jumped in my car and drove off, leaving her there. While at a red light, I called the front desk and spoke with Everald. He said the flowers had been delivered to the penthouse. I thanked him and hung up. The light changed and I drove home.

Sam met me by the elevator doors when I got there feeling like shit that I had miss dinner with Bella.

When Sam saw it, he said, "She's fine, you know."

"What are you talking about?" I greeted Everald and then made my way to the elevators with Sam following me.

"I'm talked about you looking like you're going to be in the doghouse," he chuckled as we got on the elevator and pressed the number for our floor.

"I think she's mad. I told her I'd be here."

"She's not," he said. "Tanya and Char kept her company the whole time. I checked on her. She's fine."

I wanted to believe Sam when I walked into dark penthouse with only the light from the kitchen illuminated my way, but I couldn't. I still felt that I should apologize to Bella for being late. The place smelled amazing. The roses were a good choice.

I had gotten her a mixture of white, red and pink roses which were placed in crystal vases.

"Thank you," she whispered from the bedroom's doorway. She looked beautiful in her long crème lacy nightgown.

"I'm glad you like it," I whispered back. "I'm sorry for being late."

"You're here," Bella said, walking over to me. "That's what's important." She kissed my cheek and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was overreacting. Sam was right. Bella was fine. "I'm happy that you're here, Jasper."

"I'm happy I'm home with you."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. I barely ate today."

Bella ordered me to sit at the dining table and said she would get me something to eat. She kissed the top of my head and left for the kitchen.

My dinner was delicious and I complimented her on the dish she prepared. Bella blushed. "You're lucky I put that aside for you or else it would've been Edward or Peter's stomach right now."

"Yeah, Sam told me that Tanya and Char were over here."

"We had fun gossiping about you boys," she smiled.

I got up and kissed her. "I'm happy you're happy, Bella."

"I haven't felt this happy and free in so long," she said, her eyes bright with joy. "I love this and I love you."

"I love you too."

Bella listened with keen interest as I told her about my day. She asked questions to about what she didn't understand, and I was happy to explain. Our talk continued right through me cleaning my dishes to dragging Bella to the bathroom with me, where she sat on the closed toilet and listened to me talk. I just wanted to close to her.

After my shower, I dried off while she pretended to not peek and then I donned a pair of pajama bottoms she handed me. I lifted her up in my arms amidst her laughter and took her to bed, where we talked about the flowers.

"I love them!" she said excitedly, jumping up and kissing my lips. Bella was in an exceptionally good mood, and while I was suspicious about it, I didn't question it. She would tell me when she was ready.

"I'm happy that you do."

Bella laid her head on my chest and we continued to talk about everything and nothing. I told her about Natasha and to be on look out for a gift from momma for standing up to Natasha, making her laugh.

"You're so happy," I stated.

"I love you, that's why."

I was exhausted but too happy to sleep. I wasn't in the doghouse. Bella understood why I was late and she was happy to be here and in love with me. "I love you too, Bella."

She smiled against my chest and then kissed the spot over my heart. "Happy Valentine's Day, Jasper."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Bella."

She rose up to meet my lips in a kiss, and what started out as soft and sweet turned into heated and wanton. Soon, our clothes were shed, our hands roamed, our soft moans filled the air and as I pushed into her, I promised myself that I would never stop loving this woman.

We made love. We sought until we found our mutual end, moaning our release. My grip on Bella's body tightened as I held her to me while we caught our breath.

"I had a nightmare before you got here," she whispered to me. "I saw us at home and then you got up to go and get something to drink. You were taking so long I came to check on you and found you on the floor with James standing off the side, smirking at me as he licked your blood off the knife."

I loosened my hold on her naked body, moving back so I could look in her eyes. "I'm sorry you dreamt that, baby. I won't let him hurt you. Do you want to talk to Esme tomorrow?"

"Great time to mention your aunt," Bella chuckled looking down at our naked, joined bodies.

I laughed with her. "Your health matters more. Do you want to talk to her?"

"No," she said. "I'll talk to her, but not yet. I want to tell you the end. It's new. This dream isn't like the others."

"What did you do?"

"I killed him," she laughed shakily. "I've never done that before, Jasper. Usually, he wins, even in my sleep."

"How did you do it?" I took her back in my arms and laid her down on the bed. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed, meeting my eyes with a smile. There was so much joy in her smile. Bella's triumph was radiating nothing but undulated happiness as I kissed her cheeks, her nose, her chin and her lips.

"You told me to," she said softly against my mouth, causing me to pull back and look at her. "You said I could do it. That I was the only one who could do it. Jasper, you gave me the strength to overcome him."

Tears spilled from her eyes and a chuckle escaped her lips. She pulled me down into a kiss that led to more and we made love again.

After Bella fell asleep in my arms, I laid there watching her take soft breaths as I looked on admiration. I was happy she got this breakthrough. I knew that it was still a long road ahead and she would probably need therapy for years to come, but her dream told me two things. She was taking her life back, ridding herself of the terror James had instilled in her, and she was beginning to trust me.

When sleep finally took me, I dreamt of Bella smiling and dancing in circles with a beautiful little blonde haired girl while they played in a field of sunflowers.

Next: Part II