Best Laid Plans Heather Burkett
Chapter 30: Kiss Me Again
After stopping at the Craigdarroch Castle for one last check-in to ensure that nothing had been left behind or overlooked, Charlotte and I started our two hour journey towards Port Angeles late Sunday morning. I dropped her off just after one before hooking up with some coffee for the last leg of my journey home.
I knew I needed to call Edward but, by the time I reached my apartment, the coffee was failing me. I didn't even make it to my bedroom, plopping down onto the couch and quickly dozing off.
The wedding had been a tremendous success, but it had taken its toll on my body and mind.
I woke with a start when my phone rang a couple of hours later.
"Hey Mom! How was the wedding?" Sarah greeted me excitedly.
"It was fantastic, but boy am I beat!" I smiled lazily.
"I bet. You worked really hard on it."
"How was Angie's Halloween party?" I prompted.
I listened attentively as she regaled me with tales of what all of her friends dressed up as, the games that were played and the creepy concoctions that adorned the food and dessert tables.
"Sounds like you had a good time." I concluded.
"OMG, it was the best!" I could still hear the excitement in her voice.
"I'm glad you had fun, baby."
I glanced at the time on my phone as we said our goodbyes, noting I'd wasted more than half the day away with travel and napping.
I put a pot of coffee on, letting it brew as I checked my e-mails and voice messages. There was no message from Edward, so I assumed he was patiently awaiting my call.
I settled into the couch, phone in hand, trying to figure out exactly what I was going to say.
Ten minutes later, I still hadn't figured it out.
Yesterday had been – surprising – to say the least. Leaving had been easier when I thought I would never see him; before I never knew the insane reaction I would have to just being near him again.
But making love to him...and I had come to the conclusion that that's what it was...had rekindled the flame brighter and hotter than ever before.
For better or worse, I was no longer willing or able to walk away from this; I had to know where this thing could possibly go. And that meant coming to terms with our age difference and somehow moving past it.
That was the part I had yet to figure out.
I picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hey Bella!" Alice answered in a chipper mood.
"Hey Ali. How's your Sunday going?"
"Oh, just a lazy day at home with Jazz. How was your big event?"
"The event went splendidly, but something unexpected happened." I replied. "Edward was there."
"Shit!" Alice cursed. "What happened?"
I decided to jump straight in. "Well, to get straight to the point, we had sex during the reception."
"Oh my God! Really?" She sounded way too happy for an uninvolved participant.
"Yeah, and he used the 'L' word."
"Holy shit!"
"Yeah." I said, a smile on my face.
"You sound like you're taking it rather well." She mused.
"Honestly, I kinda am."
"So, what now?" She inquired.
"I don't know. I promised to call him, but I'm not quite sure what to say."
"Well, are you going to get back together with him?"
"I think so. But, how do I get over my reservations with his age? That's what I'm struggling with." I whined.
"In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? We all have one flaw or another that must be overlooked. I mean, can you honestly tell me that Jake didn't have flaws that you had to get over from time to time?" She paused as I mulled it over." So you're older and Edward's younger. If your age difference is honestly the biggest thing you have to overlook, I'd say you're damned lucky."
Damn, she had a point.
"Thanks, Alice. I knew you'd know exactly what to say."
"No problem, Bella. Now what are you waiting for? Give him a call!" She cheered me on.
"Will do. Thanks again. You're the best."
"You're welcome. And call me back – I'm dying to know what happens next!"
I giggled as we said our goodbyes.
I took a deep breath before dialing Edward's number and hitting "send".
"Hey." He answered, the smile evident in his voice. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to call."
"Sorry, I was wiped out when I got home and passed out for a couple of hours."
"I get it. This weekend was quite an undertaking. I'm really proud of you." He admired.
"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you." I took a deep breath before diving in. "So, about last night..."I began, still unsure where to go with the conversation.
When I took a minute to continue, Edward spoke up softly. "Don't."
"Don't what?" I asked, confused.
"Don't say it was a mistake, Bella. Please." His voice broke.
"NO! No, actually, it was quite the contrary." I rushed, not wanting to upset him.
"Really? You mean it?" He asked, sounding young and vulnerable.
"Yes, I mean it."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God."
I giggled. "Look, I'm sorry Edward. I seriously thought I was doing the right thing."
He remained quiet for a moment. "And what do you think now?"
I thought carefully about what I wanted to say next. "I know I missed you. I know nothing was the same without you. And...I think..." I took a deep breath, "I want to see where this thing goes."
I could sense his smile through the phone line. "Can I come over? I need to see you."
"But, don't you have an early class tomorrow?" I asked.
"I don't care."
I giggled like a thirteen year old with a crush. "No. I'll come to you."
"You sure?" He asked.
"Yeah. It's about time we make some memories at your place."
He chuckled. "I could get on board with that."
"Give me a few minutes to shower and I'll head out." I advised, anxious to see him.
"Bella?"
"Yeah?"
His low, sultry voice caused goosebumps to break out along my arms. "Bring an overnight bag – it's going to be a long night."
I texted Edward when I was about five minutes away and, by the time I arrived, he was already downstairs waiting for me.
I got out of the car, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him tightly, as if he may disappear if I let go.
It's funny, we had done many things so far, but I don't think we'd sincerely hugged before then. He wound his arms around me and held me, kissing my hair sweetly.
"You hungry?" He asked.
"Starved. What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I'd like to take you out on the town," a bit of worry crept into his voice, "or we could order in, if you prefer."
"Let's go out. That sounds nice."
"Really?" He asked, sounding surprised.
"Really."
"Okay, but I'm driving." He said with a grin.
He took my hand, kissing my knuckles before leading me to his shiny silver Volvo, opening the door to the sleek vehicle before helping me to slip inside.
He strode around to the driver's side, all long strides and smooth movements.
I loved watching him move.
"So, where are we off to? Or, is it a surprise?" I asked, getting excited.
"Have you ever been to Sapor on first street?" He asked.
"No, I've never even heard of it."
"It was actually my first choice for our first date, but we would have been driving back and forth the entire night." He explained.
"Is it nice? I'm afraid I may not be dressed up enough for it."
"It's a nice restaurant, but they don't enforce a dress code. Besides – you look beautiful."
I blushed slightly at the compliment, slipping my fingertips over the back of his hand. He turned to me with that dashing crooked grin, flipping his hand palm up to accept mine in his.
"So, what have you been up to the last month and a half?" I asked as we headed into downtown Port Angeles.
"Oh, same old, same old. School. Uncle Carlisle's practice. You know, the usual. How about you?"
"I've just been throwing myself into work like I did before, but even that wasn't the same without you."
He pouted briefly, looking over at me with sad eyes. "But, your new assistant seems to be working out well. From what I could see, she really stayed on top of things."
"Charlotte's been great. She was almost my first choice." I giggled.
"Oh really?!" He laughed. "And why was that?"
"Well, you know. I didn't know what to do about my attraction to you. I didn't know how that would play out at first, and Charlotte seemed like the safer choice."
"Safer?" He asked, lowering his voice as he looked at me with bedroom eyes. "Am I dangerous, Bella?"
I swallowed. "Very."
He chuckled "Well, don't worry. I won't bite...unless you ask nicely."
I shivered in anticipation. "I might just have to do that." I replied huskily. His blackened gaze shot to me quickly as he tensed his jaw provocatively.
He turned his focus back on the road, putting on his turn signal and turning into a little side parking lot where we were fortunate to slip into a parking space near the front of the restaurant. "Ready?"
I smiled widely. "I'm excited."
He returned the smile. "Good, so am I."
He stepped out of the car, coming around to the passenger side to open my door for me, ever the gentleman.
He offered me his hand to help me step out, but once I was out of the vehicle, I refused to let go. He bit his lip as he arched an eyebrow at me, and I just responded with a bashful smile. We walked hand-in-hand around the building, where Edward opened the door for me and followed me in.
"Table for two, please. A booth, preferably." Edward greeted the hostess.
She took a good look at Edward before sizing me up and down, and my insecurities started coming to the surface. "Of course. Right this way."
She led us towards the back of the establishment, which was wood paneled with blue-gray carpeting. The booths were upholstered in beige and taupe with rose-colored chairs on the outside of each table. We rounded a staircase before coming across a section of high-backed, intimate booths with strings of crystal beads hanging between them. The lighting was warm; the atmosphere quaint.
The waitress placed our menus on opposite sides of the table but, as I slipped into one side of the booth, I was surprised when Edward slipped in right beside me. The hostess assured us that our server would be with us shortly before leaving us with one last disapproving look.
My stomach felt suddenly uneasy as I noticed an elderly couple in a booth across the way staring at us.
"You okay?" Edward asked, sensing my unease.
"Yes. I'm great." I replied, giving him a reassuring smile.
I knew he wasn't oblivious to their stares.
He leaned over, skimming his nose along the outer shell of my ear. "Don't pay any attention to them." He whispered, slipping his hand around mine. I nodded, shivering as his nose skimmed over my jaw before he placed a chaste kiss against my cheek. "Here, take a look at their menu. They have a great variety." He added, trying to get my mind off of the suspicious glances we were getting.
"Do you have any recommendations? What are you getting?" I asked.
He held open his menu, glancing over it quickly. "I'm feeling like steak tonight, so I'll probably get the Delmonico Center-Cut. It's very flavorful and incredibly tender. But, in all honesty, you can't really go wrong with anything you order here."
I looked over the menu, impressed with their offerings, just as the waiter arrived. "Good evening, folks. My name is Eric, what can I get for you to drink?"
"I'll have a long island ice tea, please." Edward answered when I stuck my nose further into the menu.
"And for you, ma'am." The waiter asked.
Ugh, being called ma'am was the last thing I needed at this moment.
"I'll have an amaretto sour, please. Two cherries." I held two fingers up to accentuate my point.
"Yes ma'am. I'll be right back with your drinks."
Ugh, again with the ma'am!
"Do you see any appetizers you'd like to try?" Edward asked, slipping his right arm around my waist and sliding over closer.
His nearness did strange things to my concentration. "I don't know – it all looks good."
"How about oysters." The emeralds in his eyes sparkled mischievously.
I slipped my hand over his knee, squeezing softly. "You do know what they say about oysters, don't you Edward?" I teased.
He smirked. "I do."
"Somehow, I don't believe you need the help."
He smiled at me like a predator toying with his prey. "Afraid you can't keep up?"
I dipped my head low, looking up at him from under my eyelashes. "Don't underestimate me, Edward." I husked.
"I don't intend to."
Someone cleared their throat and we looked up to find the waiter standing there uncomfortably with our drinks. He announced them as he set each glass down in front of us.
"Can I start you two off with an appetizer this evening?" He asked courteously.
"Oysters on the half shell with mignonette, please." Edward requested.
"Excellent, and do you know your dinner orders, or do you need a few more minutes?"
Edward gave me an inquisitive look, so I peeked at the menu, quickly making a choice. "I'll have the braised beef with chimichurri, please." I ordered.
"And are you okay with the watermelon & cucumber salad, served with sauteed seasonal vegetables & mushroom risotto?" He prompted, making notes in his notepad.
"Yes, that sounds delicious. Thank you." Eric smiled at me before turning his attention to Edward. "And what can I get for you?"
"I'll have the Delmonico Center-Cut, medium. But can I have the garlic whipped potatoes instead of the French fries?"
"Yes sir, I'll make a note for the kitchen. Is there anything else I can get for you all?"
Edward looked to me quickly before advising the waiter that was all we would need.
I sipped my drink, loving the sweet flavor as it trickled over my tongue. I offered Edward a taste, watching entranced as his Adam's apple bobbed as he sipped the drink. "That is good."
He offered me a taste of his long island and I obliged, surprised by how closely it mimicked the taste of sweet tea. I had to give the bartender props, I hadn't enjoyed drinks this much in years.
"So, why the two cherries?" He asked.
"I love maraschino cherries. I could serious eat them straight from the jar." I replied, taking another sip. "Besides, I have a little trick to show you." I smiled widely, plucking the cherry off of the skewer and poised it over my lips, letting it dangle from the stem.
"Oh, what kind of trick is that?" He asked, intrigued.
"Watch." I plucked the cherry from the stem with teeth, chewing and swallowing quickly before slipping the long stem into my mouth. Edward's eyes widened before he furrowed his brows, trying to figure out what I was going to do next.
I chewed the stem for a second, softening it up before manipulating it with my teeth and tongue. A few seconds later, I pulled the cherry stem from between my lips with a loose knot in the center.
Edward's eyes went wide, his thigh tensing beneath my hand as his eyes grew dark.
I smirked. "I thought you might like that."
He swallowed dramatically. "I do."
Feeling someone staring, I looked over to find the other couple staring at me intently, whispering to each other in disapproving, hushed tones.
Edward followed my gaze, his expression growing somber as he realized they were talking about us. He turned back to me worriedly, his hand engulfing my hand on his knee to reassure me.
"You know what?" I said, my face flushing. "Screw it." I brought my hand off his thigh, running my fingers into his hair as I pulled his head down, crashing my lips against his. He was stiff at first, shocked by my actions, before his fingers found their way into my hair and he returned the kiss.
We kissed languorously, exploring each other's tongues and nibbling on each other's lips. The kiss was long and deep and erased any insecurities I had about being with him in this moment.
We broke the kiss, our foreheads resting against each other and our noses dancing around one another as we panted from the exertion. "What was that about?" He asked, his eyes closed.
"Let's give them something to talk about, right?" I smiled, recalling the song he'd sent to me on our first date.
"Yes, let's." He smiled broadly, before leaning in to kiss me again.