Best Laid Plans Heather Burkett
Chapter 16: Good Night
"Oh! Wear that red dress with the strappy heels!" Ali shouted through the computer screen Wednesday morning.
"This is not a date, Ali. I'm just dropping off paperwork for him to sign." I reminded her as I got ready for the drive to Port Angeles to meet Edward.
"If it's just business, then why did you call me to help you pick out an outfit, Bella?" She sassed with a big ol' grin on her face.
Damn, she has a point.
"The answer is still a no on the red dress and strappy heals."
She harrumphed, pouting at me.
I'd dialed her through video chat because, for the life of me, I simply could not dress myself today.
"Screw it, I'm going in a t-shirt and jeans." I said with finality.
"At least wear the capris so you look cute."
I laughed, but decided she was right, slipping on my denim capris with a plain white tee. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What?!" I said in frustration.
"It's too simple. It needs something to dress it up. Oh, I know – do you still have that gold daisy kimono wrap I gave you for Christmas?"
I disappeared into my walk-in closet, retrieving the flowing top with the white floral embroidery before re-appearing with it. "This one?"
"Yes! Put that on!"
I slipped it over my shoulders; it's lightweight, silky fabric cool against my arms.
"Perfect! Now you just need some gold accessories and you'll look fabulous."
I had to admit, I felt better about this outfit than I did the other seven ensembles I'd tried on. It said "business casual" without trying too hard.
"Alrighty Sweets, gotta head to my next lecture. Catch ya later!" Ali advised just before the video chat went black.
I threw on a necklace, a couple of cheap gold bangles, a pair of daisy earrings and some espadrille wedges before I was happy enough to consider the look complete.
I left the house early enough to run some errands, picking up Edward's three new work shirts along the way so I could drop them off with the paperwork. I was pleased when I parked in a spot across from his apartment building a few minutes early, thankful not to repeat the tardiness of his interview.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my wits before knocking.
The white door cracked open as an inferno of copper hair peeked out; his broad shoulders bare from what I could see. "Oh! You're early!"
"A little bit, yes. Is this a bad time? Should I come back later?" I said in an embarrassed rush as I ogled the freckles that spanned his shoulders and collarbone.
"No, of course not. I'm sorry, I'm just running a little late. I went for a run and must have lost track of time. Please come in, take a seat." He opened the door, gesturing for me to enter.
His apartment was neat and tidy, decorated in woods and chrome, but I couldn't bring myself to tear my eyes off of his naked torso long enough to take in any more of the details.
He was remarkable.
There was stubble on his cheeks and throat, leading down over his Adam's apple. Tiny freckles speckled his clavicle, trailing down over a well-defined chest and chiseled abs. His red basketball shorts hung low on his hips, revealing a smattering of hair just above his...oh my.
My knees went weak.
He caught me as I started to fall, my face landing square against his solid muscle with my hand over his heart.
"Woah, are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Yes, I just tripped over the doorjamb." I lied, hoping that was a good enough excuse for my burying my face in his chest. He up righted me, his hand holding onto my upper arm for support – his other hand over mine on his heart. He watched on to make sure I was okay.
As I looked up into his eyes, I watched the emerald concern darkening with a shadowy fire that consumed me, leaving me a pile of scorched ashes in its wake.
"I should go change." He breathed huskily, the scent of mint cool against my face.
He was too close and yet my body told me I wanted him closer.
"Okay." I whispered on an exhale.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "I'll be right back. Please, make yourself at home."
I watched, dumbfounded, as he left, trying to memorize him from top to bottom. Wide shoulders with muscles that bunched and flexed as he strode away from me. Freckles dotted along his spine, leading ever further downward. The loose fabric of his shorts ghosted over his ass, only hinting at the round firmness that lie beneath. His thighs and calves were strong and lean with a thin smattering of brown hair.
Once he was out of view, and the trance was officially broken, I grew curious about his apartment. I wandered in past the kitchen, drawn to two mahogany shelves that were on my left just past the hallway to his bedroom. Along the floating wooden shelves were a series of chrome-plated frames filled with white photos mats and black & white pictures.
There was an image of Edward smiling over the shoulder of a woman about my age as she blew out the candles on a birthday cake. She was in the next photo as well as a gentleman, with Edward standing between them in full cap and gown, beaming as he held his diploma. Another picture captured Edward in running gear, breaking through a ribbon in mid-sprint. To the far right of the shelf was a distant photo of Edward with the gentleman – presumably his father – in a boat, fishing on a pristine lake.
The family resemblance was uncanny.
I lifted the last photo – an image of Edward on a beach with his arm around a young woman's shoulders – Edward pulling her in close to kiss her on the temple as she smiled sweetly.
Of course, a guy this charming and good-looking must have a girlfriend.
I lifted the photo, tracing the mirrored frame with my fingertips as I examined how very happy they were together.
"That's my sister." He husked, standing over my shoulder.
How long had he been standing there?
"She's beautiful." I smiled, as he took the frame reverently.
He shrugged. "Eh, she's okay if you like that kinda thing." He chuckled, amused with himself. "Just don't ever tell her I said that. She's a bully." He cocked a sideways grin my way as he dusted off the shelf with his hand before putting the frame back in place. "Would you like something to drink? I have some wine I think you'll like." He made his way towards the kitchen.
"Oh. I really shouldn't, I won't be staying long." I called out to him as he disappeared from view.
He peeked back out of the kitchen with a furrowed brow, looking disappointed. "Are you sure?"
I couldn't stand to see him frown. "Well...maybe just one glass." I conceded.
He smiled with the excitement of a kid who couldn't wait to hand over his very first Christmas present.
"If you want, have a seat at the dining table. I figure we can go over the paperwork there." He called out from the kitchen.
I did as he instructed, pulling the documents out of my purse and stacking the three new, black polos I'd bought for him on the dark mahogany table top.
I heard pots and pans moving around as he busied himself in the kitchen, and I had to wonder where – exactly - he was storing his wine.
The dining room and living room space were painted in a muted gray tone, accenting the chrome details that were spread throughout. The décor was dark and rich; masculine while still being warm and inviting.
I looked up as he exited the kitchen, taking in his new look for the first time. He'd tamed his coppery hair – and he must have shaved quickly, I noticed. He'd chosen black slacks with a marled gray t-shirt that had three buttons at the neckline that he'd left undone, exposing his throat and part of his collarbone.
Even though he was now decently covered, he was still irresistible.
And knowing most of what lie beneath that lightweight fabric didn't help matters.
He placed two glasses of wine on the table before sliding into the seat beside me, his nearness doing weird things to my equilibrium.
What had I done? Working like this was going to be so hard!
"What's that?" He nodded to the pile of black shirts.
"Oh, I took the liberty of picking up some polos with my business logo for you to wear to events." I slid the shirts over to him.
"Oh, thank you! I hadn't even thought about asking if there was a uniform." He held one of the shirts up, smiling as he checked out the label. "It's the right size." He arched an appreciative eyebrow my way.
You're about the same size as my ex-husband.
"I took a guess." I grinned.
"Good guess. Mind if I try it on?"
"Sure, be my guest."
I expected him to go back into his bedroom, so I was caught off guard when he peeled his shirt over his head, his abdomen and lats stretching and flexing with the tension. He lay his discarded shirt across the back of a vacant dining room chair before pulling on the brand new shirt I had bought for him.
"What do you think?" He smiled grandly, gesturing to the shirt.
Perfect.
He blushed slightly. "Well, thank you."
Fuck had I said that out loud?
"How much do I owe you for the polos, or will that come out of the first check?" He asked.
"Oh, no. They're on me. Consider it a thank you gift. Welcome to the Eclipse Events family."
I sipped my wine just for something to do, my eyebrows raising as I took in the familiar sweet taste. "Is this-"
"From the restaurant? Yeah, I liked it so much that I ran out and got some the next day. Was just waiting for someone to share it with." He said, suggestively.
"Well, thank you for sharing." I answered, my voice coming out deeper than I had intended.
"My pleasure, Bella."
We focused on the matter at hand, going over each of the documents my lawyer had prepared for him to sign. About fifteen minutes later, we finished both the contract and the wine at the same time.
"Would you like another glass?" He offered, standing up to retrieve the bottle.
"Oh, I really should get going."
"Are you sure I can't convince you to join me for dinner? I have a lasagna in the oven that should be ready soon."
"I really shouldn't." My stomach grumbled loudly at the mention of food, betraying me.
"Are you sure about that, because your stomach seems to disagree." He laughed with boyish charm as I flushed.
I struggled internally with the decision. On the one hand, my attraction to him made it dangerous to stay if I intended to remain professional. On the other hand, sharing a lasagna with someone sounded much more appealing than chowing down on a Frugal's burger on the long, lonely drive home.
"You've already bought me dinner, Edward, I-"
"And you bought personalized shirts for me and delivered them to my door. We're even."
I giggled like a stupid schoolgirl. "You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?" I asked.
"I'm glad you see things my way." He smiled charmingly. "I'll go get you another glass of wine." He winked at me before heading back to the kitchen.
This boy was going to ruin me.
He came back with the bottle, refilling our glasses before rejoining me at the table.
"So, when is my first big gig? Do you have anything lined up, yet?"
"Oh, good point."
I hadn't given him my schedule of events yet. Where was my mind ?!
"Well, I have a baby shower and an engagement party scheduled for this weekend, but I assume you'll be unavailable on such short notice." I began, clicking the power button on my phone to access my calendar.
Edward had his phone in hand, I assume doing the same thing.
"Sure, I'm available. Where and what time?"
"Really? You don't have plans?" I asked, surprised.
"Besides my uncle's practice and school, I don't really go out much. Like I said before, nights and weekends – I'm all yours."
My body heated with the insinuation and I took a sip of wine, trying to cool myself down.
"Well, they'll both be half-day events. The baby shower is this Saturday. Parking is limited, so I'll have to pick you up so we can ride together. Could you be ready by, say, ten-thirty that morning?"
"Sure thing." He typed the information into his phone. "Is there anything in particular I should wear with the polo?"
"It's a casual event, so you can wear jeans. Black jeans would be even better." I advised.
"Black jeans, black polo and a smile on my face. You got it. And for the Sunday event?"
"Well, for formal events like engagements parties, anniversaries and weddings, I'll usually ask that you wear black slacks but, this particular couple is pretty laid back, so the black jeans would be fine. I might suggest picking up a couple of pairs of each, as several of my events are back to back and you may not have time to do laundry in between."
"I'll go shopping tomorrow." He advised.
"Sunday, the event is in Beaver and starts at three. You can either meet me there at one, or you can stop by my house around noon so we can ride together. The turn-off to the property is a little obscure if you don't know what you're looking for." I informed him, tingling at the idea of sharing two car rides with him.
"Noon sounds good. I'm not quite familiar with that area anyway, so it's probably best I don't get lost." He cocked a shy grin.
"Noon it is."
We went over the rest of my calendared events, allowing Edward a moment for each to enter it into his calendar until we had the next six months or so planned out. He assured me he'd be there for each and every event.
"Are you sure you don't have any family functions you'll need to attend to?" I asked, assuming he was close to his family given the pictures I'd seen.
"You seem to be free on my mom's birthday, which is November 11th. Dad's birthday and mine just passed, so we won't have to worry about that till next year. And it doesn't look like you have any major events around the holidays yet."
"And your sister, or your friends?" I prodded.
"Oh, Liz is out in Marylhurst University studying Interior Design." He gestured upwards with his nose. "She and mom helped me decorate my apartment."
"Oh she did a phenomenal job." I commended.
He smiled proudly. "I like it."
"Didn't you have any interest in going out of State?"
"Well, I earned a full-ride scholarship if I stayed in state." His fair skin blushed subtly. "I considered a couple of State Universities, but wasn't really interested in dorm life. And, local apartments by the State Universities aren't cheap. So, I opted to stay here where I knew I could afford a decent apartment. Besides, I like being close to Mom & Dad, in case anything should come up and they needed me."
"That's very thoughtful of you."
"Well, we're close. Liz has always been a fish that was too big for the fishbowl, so she's thriving on her own in Oregon."
"Were you two close?"
"Oh, yeah. She's a few years younger than me, so I really took the whole 'big brother' guardian role to heart. It was nerve wracking when she moved out there, knowing I couldn't watch out for her anymore. But as it turns out, she didn't need a watch-dog after all." He chuckled, nodding towards the pictures on the shelf. "That was the day before she left. We decided to spend the day at the beach and take some pictures. That was my favorite." It was easy to see his love and affection for his family in his eyes, and it made him that much more charming. "Do you have a lot of family here?"
I nodded. "Yeah, my small family is all based in Forks, so we get to see each other pretty frequently."
"You drove here from Forks? That's like an hour long drive, Bella!"
I nodded again. "It's okay. Like I said, I had to run some errands in the city anyway, so I was nearby. Most of my clients and vendors are based in Port Angeles, so I make the drive frequently. If it wasn't for my family, I'd probably move out here permanently."
"So, you all are close as well?
"Oh, definitely." He smiled, as if I'd won some points as well in a contest I hadn't known I'd entered.
"You don't sound as if you make a lot of time for friends." I noted.
He shrugged noncommittally. "Most of my childhood friends are off at various Universities for the time being, and I take work and school pretty seriously. Doesn't leave a lot of time for a social life."
"So, what do you do in your time off?"
"Well, I run, obviously." He laughed. "I fell in love with track and field in High School."
"Oh, that explains the picture."
"That was my last race. My coach always said I was the fasted she'd ever seen. I like to push myself, you know? When I run, I don't have to think about anything – just feel the burn in my lungs and in my legs. Other times, I think about a lot. I've resolved a lot of problems that way, just running till I figure out whatever's going on in my head."
I can't remember the last time I worked out. I thought in shame.
"I guess I have a lot of pent up energy." He smiled, his eyes darkening.
I wanted to ask about a girlfriend, since he hadn't mentioned anyone, but knew better than to pry on a business visit.
"Who knows, maybe you and I will turn out to be friends." He thought errantly.
"It would be nice to have a friend." I mused.
The timer on his phone went off, alerting him that the lasagna was ready. He patted my hand as he stood up, silencing the timer and disappearing back into the kitchen.
I heard him hiss loudly.
"Can you use any help?" I called out.
"No, I'm good. Just burned my finger a little on the pan."
I rushed into the kitchen, my maternal instincts taking over.
"Put ice on it." I advised, swooping into the kitchen and plucking an ice cube from the freezer.
"Really, Bella, it's not that bad."
"Maybe not now, but burns have a habit of sneaking up on you if you don't cool them." I grabbed a paper towel from the rack on the counter, wrapping it around the ice cube before running it under a little cool water. "Here, let me see." I reached out and he gingerly placed his left hand in my right. I held the cool wad against his thumb, where the redness was starting to form. I stared down at his hand for a moment before I could feel his eyes boring into me.
I looked up to find the return of the predator, and I was trapped by it – a literal deer in the headlights, unafraid of my impending doom.
We simply stared into each other, my breath growing ragged as a lock of hair fell down, falling lightly against my cheek.
He reached up with his unoffended hand, brushing the lock of hair behind my ear, leaving his palm to gently caress my cheek.
It took all of my self-control not to lean into his touch.
I swallowed. "Better?" I asked, my voice husky.
"Much." He answered, his eyes locking on my mouth as he licked his lips.
I bit my lip in anticipation.
"Are you nervous?" He asked, his voice low and guttural.
"No." I lied. "Why do you ask?"
His fingers wandered down to my chin, pulling slightly, releasing my lower lip from my teeth. "I've just noticed you seem to have a habit of biting your lip when you're feeling anxious."
Oh. He read me like the open page of a novel.
I blinked away the connection. "Nope, just concerned about your finger." I hummed, painfully removing his hand from my face and placing it over the cool wad of ice and water, signaling him to hold it. I noted he already had the plates and silverware on the counter. "Why don't you just hold on to this for a minute and I'll serve the food. Deal?"
He smiled cockily. "Deal."
He leaned back against the wall, the picture of calm, cool sexuality as I prepared our plates.
"Here, let me take those." He offered when I finished, quickly dropping the paper towel with the half-melted ice cube into the trash.
"I'm perfectly capable of carrying our plates out to the table." I assured him.
"Are you sure about that? You seem to have a habit of tripping over things." He teased.
I felt betrayed by my blush.
He just laughed, swooping up a plate in each hand and gesturing for me to lead him back into the dining room.
"More wine?" He offered as we sat down, the mostly finished bottle in hand.
I was clear-headed enough to know that two glasses was definitely the limit. "No thank you."
I was grateful when he didn't push the subject, knowing how susceptible I was to his charm. "What else would you like? I have tea and water-"
"Ice water would be perfect. Thanks."
He poured the rest of the bottle into his glass before leaving to retrieve my beverage.
"So, what made you decide to go into event and wedding planning?"
I cut into the lasagna, holding it up to my lips and blowing the steam away. "Well, I've always loved crafts and decorating and planning functions." I answered, taking a bite. I actually moaned. "This is really good. What brand is it?"
"No brand. I made it from scratch." He took a bite himself, pleasantly pleased with the taste. "Mom made sure I knew how to cook from an early age, insisting that I wouldn't need to depend on a woman for a decent meal." He rewarded me with my favorite crooked smile.
"This is delicious." I said, quickly taking another bite and pleased with the way the tomato and basil hit my stomach.
"So, your website says you've only been in business since 2017. If you've always loved planning events, and if you don't mind my asking, what made you wait to pursue it?"
I chewed thoughtfully, waiting to swallow before answering. "Well, if I'm quite honest, I didn't think I was good enough. I didn't feel like I had the right to charge people for something I truly enjoyed, especially without a fancy degree or any real experience."
I skipped over the part about supporting my ex-husband's business and raising a child, not really wanting to go into that at the moment.
He frowned. "So, what changed your mind?"
"My cousin's wife, really." We each took a bite. "They got engaged in 2015, and I assumed her family would be helping to plan her wedding. But, when I asked her about it early the next year, I learned that she really had no one to help. The poor thing was absolutely overwhelmed with the process, dreading it every step of the way and terribly behind. I offered to help and –within a couple of months – I had pulled everything together."
"What was that like?"
"A bit daunting, really, but I found I truly loved it. Even the unsure parts. I enjoyed the problem-solving and piecing together the puzzle of her dream wedding. She wasn't always sure what she wanted, so it was fun throwing ideas at her and seeing her eyes light up when I suggested something she really liked."
He smiled fondly. "And how did that turn out?"
"Well, we were worried when it rained that morning. And, there was a small misunderstanding between my cousin and I in regards to a car he had rented to sweep the two of them away right after the ceremony. But, all in all, the weather cleared up, we found a solution for the rental car and everything ran smoothly. I was really grateful for the experience. A lot of our family and friends thanked me for putting everything together and, I got such positive feedback that I decided to take some online courses to see if I had what it takes to do it professionally."
"Oh, so you got that degree after all?" He asked between bites.
"Oh, no. It was just a short, online certificate program. But, I did receive certifications in both wedding and event planning, when all was said and done." I took a bite. "You're fortunate to know what you want to do with your life at such a young age. It takes a lot of us many years to figure it out." I admitted.
"What makes you say that? That I have it figured out?" He asked, his brow furrowed.
"Well, you're pursing a business degree." I stated, as if it was obvious.
"Oh, that? Business just seemed like a wise choice for a degree but, the truth is, I still haven't found anything I'm really passionate about. You're lucky for knowing what that is and finally believing in yourself enough to pursue it." I hadn't thought of it that way. "I'm still learning to listen to and follow my heart."
I couldn't help but feel he had something in mind.
"Well, I hope you discover what it is younger than I did." I answered thoughtfully, truly hoping he wouldn't wait another ten years to do whatever it was that made him happy.
"I'm working on it." He smiled with a panty-dropping grin.
For the remainder of dinner, we chatted idly about our weekend events and some of the tasks I would be requesting of him. After dinner, he invited me to join him for dessert, but I insisted that I really must be going. It was already about eight at night so, when I reminded him I still had an hour long drive home, he didn't argue.
As with our interview, he insisted on walking me out to my car.
"Thank you, once again, for dinner. Your mother would be proud."
"I try." He smiled bashfully as I slipped into the driver's seat. "May I ask a favor?"
"Sure." I answered, curious.
"Would you mind texting me when you get home? I know you're fully capable of making it home safely, but it wouldn't feel right if I didn't ask."
I smirked. "Sure, if it will help you sleep at night." I teased.
His smile broadened. "It would." He grabbed the seatbelt, reaching in to slide it over my lap. With his face mere inches from mine, he husked "Safety first, Bella."
I held my breath until he released the buckle and pulled back, the cool night air rushing into the space where his warm body had just been pressed against mine.
How does he do that to me?!
"Goodnight, Edward." The words escaped me on a breath.
"Goodnight, Bella."