Disclaimer - I don't own Twilight or it's original characters, but the plot is mine :D

Thank you to Keye for prereading and Rita0TX who freely gives up so much of her time to make me look good, I love ya girl x

Special thanks to Bevey99 and EeWee for giving me the prod to write this story.

Chapter 38

"Sooo, you managed to get some alone time with your girl last night, huh?"

Wilson was watching me from the battered, red leather bench seat while I worked under the hood of an old Ford.

"What makes you say that?" I asked, maybe a little too defensively which earned me a dirty laugh.

"Because them dark rings under your eyes tell me you got no sleep last night but the fact you're whistling a happy tune tells me you don't much mind," he hooted.

The wily old horn dog. I should've been annoyed and for a moment I considered denying it but he'd seen enough of life to know he was bang on the money.

"Just don't let on you know when she comes by later," I said, leaning my elbow on the fan belt housing and shooting him a stern look.

"I won't," he chuckled, grinning mischievously. "Is she bringing you lunch?"

The idea of Ella cooking for me was strangely appealing, nearly distracting me from my goal. Although there was no way I was going to give Wilson the full explanation of what had led to her needing to come to the garage, I still wanted to make certain I wasn't overstepping my bounds by offering to fix her hood.

"I promised I'd fix a dent on her truck...if that's okay with you? I'll do it on my break."

"Sure," he shrugged. "I wouldn't wanna stand in the way of you playing the hero for your girl."

"Thanks," I said, retreating back into the job at hand.

Last night in the high school parking lot had been something else and I replayed it over and over in my mind as I ate my sandwiches in Wilson's tiny office. In minute detail, I recalled exactly how she'd looked all laid out and waiting for me in those killer boots. The sex had been so animalistic and urgent, I'd had no time to lose my nerve or over think whether I was doing it right and that had worked in my favor.

We'd made out a while longer before the clock forced us to break apart. Riding on a cushion of post orgasmic bliss, I'd escorted her home and waited a short way up the street to make sure she got into the house safely. Her father's cruiser was already parked in the driveway under the window and while I'd been relieved she wasn't walking into an empty house, I wished I had the power to protect her from the kind of interrogation she'd probably face for arriving home so late.

Wilson had been right, of course. I'd tossed and turned for hours in my lonely bed, finally settling with one arm behind my head to watch the room gradually lighten. Instead of thinking about the letter, I'd focused instead on Ella. She was absolutely fascinating to me, the way she could seem so assertive one minute yet vulnerable the next. A warm feeling settled in the pit of my stomach followed closely by an uneasy stirring when my conscience decided to remind me what a bad choice I was for her. If she had any idea how thinly my civilized façade was stretched, the novelty of banging the local bad guy would probably get old real fast.

It was almost the end of my lunch break when Ella finally chugged onto the premises in her slightly crumpled truck. As much as I'd tried to play it cool, the longer it had taken for her to arrive, the more anxious I'd been getting.

"Hey, you made it," I called out as I jogged over to greet her, deliberately ignoring the knowing grin on Wilson's face as I passed.

"Um, yeah. I wasn't even sure this was the right place until I saw your bike parked over there," she answered. Eyeing my badly fitted coveralls, she climbed out of the cab and gave the door a firm push to close it. "Are you sure your boss is okay with this? I don't want to get you into any trouble."

"Don't worry, he's cool," I promised. Pulling her in for a quick peck on the lips, I leaned a little closer to whisper in her ear. "He actually told me he'd bent a few hoods the same way back in his day."

"Edward, you told him!" she gasped.

The mortification on her face was priceless and, for the first time in what felt like forever, I burst into a fit of honest to God giggles.

"Just kidding. Between you and me, I think he's more the old fashioned, romantic type," I chuckled.

She mock slapped my chest and, with my arm still around her waist, I flicked my head for her to follow me inside.

Wilson didn't try and hide his delight at getting to meet my girl, offering to make her something to drink and showing her to the good office chair instead of the rickety, old bench seat we mostly used.

The proximity of a pretty girl in his grease pit certainly brought out a charming side to him you'd never expect. While he wasn't a particularly ugly guy, he was no George Clooney either so I didn't mind leaving him to flirt while I drove her truck into a bay and got to work with a rubber ended mallet.

Beating out a panel is an exercise in restraint. You hit a point where it's as straight as you're ever gonna get it and, if you don't have the good sense to put the damn tool down, you risk making it worse than it was before you started. I popped out the main dent from the hood and pretended to ignore Ella's giggles as they drifted from the office to taunt me. Wilson was in there with her, of course, basking in the glow of female attention.

Jasper used to say laughter was the quickest way to remove a pair of panties and as more giggles tinkled across the bay, I couldn't help feeling a little jealous of Wilson's knack for making a woman laugh.

Satisfied I'd done about as much as I could do, I stepped back to inspect the hood. It looked almost perfect to me…nothing particularly noticeable, just a faint crease about a foot in. I reckoned she'd be happy with the results.

I made sure to put the hammer down before making my way to the office. It wouldn't do to have a weapon in my hand in case I walked in on Wilson making a move.

Of course, I should have more faith in people...in him, at least.

Mugs of coffee in hand, they both sat bent over his battered old desk while Wilson showed her photographs from his wallet. As I leaned against the door frame with my arms crossed, her eyes swiveled to me, the wide smile spreading across her flushed cheeks making me smile in return.

"Wilson was showing me a picture of him and his wife before they were married," she said cheerfully.

Curiosity got the better of me and I took a step inside to peer at the photograph. The colors were a little faded, an orange cast giving away the age of the image, but it was definitely Wilson, maybe eighteen years old with thick, black, shoulder length hair sporting a lush Magnum P.I. Mustache, standing proudly in a striped shirt with enormous collars and a pair of brown bell bottoms. One arm was draped around the shoulder of an equally young and very pretty girl with long, dark hair and a broad, infectious smile wearing some kind of flowing dress and what appeared to be brown, knee high boots.

"Geez, would you look at all that hair," I chuckled.

"Hell, boy, it was the 70's," he grinned, taking a lingering look at the photograph and lovingly stroking a finger over the image of his wife.

"You looked so happy," Ella sighed. "Such a shame it didn't work out for you two."

Wilson shrugged.

"Such is life, little darlin'," he said, "Things change, time moves on, but I wouldn't have missed the thirty-four years I had with Rita. She was one very special lady and when you find someone like her, you've gotta take the chance or you'll never know how good your life could be."

He glanced in my direction and I nodded.

There was silence for a moment, everyone lost in their own thoughts while Wilson stared at the face of his lost love.

"Did you manage to fix it?" Ella asked brightly, changing the mood.

"Well, I doubt anyone will be asking you what happened," I replied, casting a knowing glance in her direction and she blushed.

"Um, before I forget, I better go see if that road sign is still spinning," Wilson said, rising out of his chair with a slight grunt, his ribs still troubling him. I knew what he was doing, making an excuse to give us a little privacy before Ella had to leave, and I respected him for that.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Ella," he said, holding his hand out for her to shake but, instead of a handshake, he swiftly twisted her wrist, brought her hand up and pressed his lips to her knuckles. I think my jaw fell open as he tilted his head to wink at me and Ella giggled like a schoolgirl.

"You, too, Wilson. Hope your chest feels better soon," she told him.

"Don't you fret none about me, young lady. I'm a tough old bird. Give me another day or two, I'll be right as rain," he said as he exited the office, leaving the two of us alone.

"Did that old man just kiss your hand?" I asked, incredulous at what had happened before my eyes.

"Pretty sure he did," she smirked.

"Unfreakingbelievable," I muttered. "I leave him alone for five minutes and he tries to muscle in on my girl."

"Your girl, huh?" she said, a shy smile on her lips as she scuffed the toe of her sneaker against the vinyl flooring.

"What, you thought we were just fuck buddies?" I laughed and her face fell.

Shit! Cullen the dumbass strikes again. Jasper hadn't covered this but after the effect of Wilson's gallant gesture, I didn't need anyone to tell me insinuating a girl was an easy lay was the best way to keep her panties firmly in place.

"Ella, I didn't mean you'd ever want something like that...shit. It was just a joke...sorry," I babbled nervously, my fingers tugging stray locks of hair away from my forehead. Had I learned nothing? Why the hell had I opened my big mouth? Oh, yeah! To put my stupid foot in it!

"No, don't apologize. I shouldn't be so touchy," she said and relief washed over me as she reached up on tiptoes to brush my cheek with her soft lips, effectively forgiving me.

But it wasn't enough. I needed her in my arms, the desperation to hold her tight and drive away any lingering doubts she had over my intention so strong I snaked them around her waist and pulled her to my chest.

"I'm really sorry," I whispered against her hair, my eyes squeezed tight as I clung, her perfume filling my nostrils while the heat from our bodies mingled.

All too soon, she was pulling away. If I had my way, I'd have stayed entwined with her like that for hours but I was on Wilson's time and knew I had to let her go.

Reluctantly leading her back to the repaired truck, I tried not to act proud as she complimented me for the good job I'd done.

"So, I'll see you Thursday?" she reminded me, making it sound more like a question.

"Yeah," I replied, "I'll pick you up at seven."

She nodded and clambered into the cab, blowing a kiss at me before she pulled away.

Having no idea where I was going to take her, I'd have to swallow my pride and ask Wilson if he could recommend any nice but not too pricey restaurants.

Dropping my shoulders, I trailed back towards the office.

"She's a lovely girl, Ed," Wilson said, grinning like he was the one with the date. "Reminds me of my Rita. No wonder you were whistling, you lucky son of a bitch."

"Umhmm," I responded. "You wouldn't know somewhere around here that serves good food...good, reasonably priced food, would you?"

He grimaced, rubbing his oil engrained fingers across his greying stubble.

"Oh, you don't wanna take a girl like that somewhere cheap," he snorted and my heart sank. I had precious little cash. As it was, I'd be working off cost of the bike parts for weeks. I could do without adding more to my debt.

"What you need is a grand gesture, something special…something that will really wow her," he insisted, absently tapping his chin with a grubby forefinger.

What the hell was he talking about? I had a crumpled bike and a handful of dollars in my pocket. With any luck, I could probably stretch to a single rose in a cellophane tube but that seemed more cheesy than grand.

"Yeah, I get the idea but I..."

He cut me off.

"Take the Caddy," he said and my eyes bugged. "There's an old style, drive-in movie theater in Port Townsend. Hell, that car would fit right in there. Ha! Maybe you could even dress like James Dean, slick that hair of yours back with some grease."

He rambled on, leaving me speechless. That car was special, bought and rebuilt for his wife and even though he'd said he was thinking of selling it, I didn't for one second believe he'd trust me with her.

"So, whadda ya think?" he asked, "She'll get you there and, if she doesn't, just remember you're a mechanic..."

What did I think? I thought it was a fucking brilliant idea. I could already picture us on that leather bench seat watching the film while my hand strayed to rest on her thigh, fingertips slowly inching the fabric of her skirt higher and higher as I moved in for a lingering kiss. It was definitely appealing and the clearer the picture became, the more I wanted it to come true.

"Listen, son. I've been in love before. I saw the way that girl looked at you. She deserves a special date, something to tell the grand kids about."

Grand kids? Where the hell did that come from? Wilson was shipping us quicker than my mother would. All this talk of love and children made me a little uncomfortable. Ella seemed like a great girl but it had been less than a week…far too early to be thinking about porch swings and grey hair. I tried to visualize what she might look like as an eighty-year-old with wrinkles and false teeth. Strangely, the image didn't repulse me the way I'd have expected. Did that mean something? Probably not and I quickly shook it off.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I mean, what if something happened to her?"

Someone had vandalized my bike and while I was convinced no one else knew the plan, I couldn't help wondering if that same someone could be making it their business to follow me.

He pulled a sour face like I was insulting him.

"The car's insured but you break her, you fix her, right?"

"Sure," I nodded.

"Besides, you'll be leaving that bike of yours here for collateral. I know she's special enough you'll want to come back for her."

I grinned. He was a wise old coot.

"Sounds fair to me," I nodded.

"Glad that's settled, then," he said. "What day you need her?"

"Thursday…Ella's off Thursday," I said.

"Okay," he nodded, "We better see what time the movie starts and work out when you'll need to leave."

And that was that. Wilson Marks, ex con, employer and matchmaker, wandered off to plan my date. Shaking my head, I snorted softly. I had a job with a cool boss, a sexy girl and a date.

He was right…I was one hell of a lucky son of a bitch.

Own up, who just fell a little in love with Wilson?

Take care

Claire x