Edward's fingers immediately halt their torture on my stomach and he pulls back his hands from around my waist. We're both breathing hard from our laughing, and I feel my face burn and my palms sweat.

"Hey Mike, Jess," Edward says calmly as if nothing is odd. "Where are you headed?"

So, that's how we're playing this? Hmm, it's worth a shot.

"My folks live in Bremerton. They're having us over for dinner tonight," Mike explains with a wide grin, obviously proud of his relationship. Wow, that was fast. Way to go Mike!

Jess seems a little uncomfortable, but I'm not sure if it's from being caught with Mike or having caught Edward and I in a questionable pose. We were just goofing around, after all. Maybe it's not so obvious we're together.

"How about you two?," Mike asks. "I didn't realize you hung out together." Oh Mike, you're so clueless.

"Bella's friend Allie is married to my friend Jasper. I'm playing golf with Jasper tomorrow over at Alderbrook. Bella's got plans to spend time with Allie while we're on the course."

"I remember Allie," Jess speaks finally. "She's your friend who is an airline steward, right?"

"Right," I confirm. "And her husband's a pilot. They've both been by the office before, though never at the same time. Jasper and Edward went to high school together - small world, huh?"

"Yeah, something like that," Jess says. She is so onto us! I think I need to head off this one at the pass.

"Hey, do you guys want to sit inside with us?" I ask. "We were just goofing around out here on our way to an inside table. I want to grab a soda for the long ride over."

We head inside, Edward keeping a respectful distance from me but I can feel the electricity between our hands - I want to reach over and grab his and end this tension. "I'm going to head to the galley. Anyone else want something?" I ask.

"I'll go with you," Jess says. "Mikey, you want to share something?"

"Whatever you want, Babe." Hmm, they have no problem being chummy.

As we head down one floor to the galley, there's an awkwardness between me and Jess. We've always made easy conversation, even if we've never confided in one another or become good friends. "So," I start, "you and Mike, huh?"

"So," she counters with a smirk, "you and Edward?"

"It's that obvious?" I ask.

"Oh Bella, I think it's been obvious for months. You two were like sick puppies around each other - well until last week, when I ran into you after my Rainer-tour-from-Hell and it was so obvious something was going on."

"Really?! Wow, I thought we handled that well."

"Edward was fine. You're the worst actress I've ever seen. But it was obvious you didn't want me to know, so I let it go."

"Honestly, Jess, this is all really new. We haven't wanted to say anything - you know, in case it doesn't work out or something." Or in case you blab to the world and spin up crazy rumors about Edward treating me more favorably than other employees, I think in my head.

"So, does everyone else know?" I ask.

"No, I'm not like that Bella. I know you think I'm flighty, but I'm actually pretty loyal. Besides, now you know my secret. Mike and I haven't gone public yet. Lauren doesn't even know. I think he might be 'The One,' though," she says with a dreamy sigh.

"I won't say anything," I assure her. "I'm happy for you, Jess. Mike's a good guy," I say sincerely. I'm feeling pretty badly about my earlier regard for Jess. She has potential to be a better friend than I ever gave her credit for.

"I used to think he was kind of smarmy," she says. "All those sex jokes and everything. I think he was just awkward around me, though, you know? And he doesn't do it anymore. I told him that it made me feel like all he wanted with me was sex. He was really contrite after that, and now suddenly he's so damn respectful. It's almost like he's had a personality flip. I kind of miss the 'dirty man' side of him. Well, just a little," she laughs.

I laugh, too, because Jess has summed up Mike so accurately. I'm glad to hear that she knows exactly what she's getting into. And maybe she's exactly what Mike needs - someone to call him on his behaviour and get him to change his ways.

"Besides, he definitely can walk the talk," Jess says conspiratorially. "We're like bunnies!"

I smile at her but don't confide my own insatiable desire with Edward. But thinking about our afternoon at the window and then in my bed does leave a smile on my face. We might not have been caught in a compromising position like Carlisle and Esme, but our positions definitely were the cause of us getting caught. If we'd gotten on the road when we'd originally planned, we'd have been on an earlier ferry and not run into Jess and Mike.

"Bella, I think you and Edward shouldn't hide your relationship," Jess says kindly. "I don't think people would treat you differently - not in our office, anyway. Well, Lauren might be a little snippy, but she's like that all the time anyway," Jess laughs.

"Thanks Jess, I'll think about it."


A/N - So not too bad, right?