EPOV

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She was…amazing.

She was beautiful, intelligent, funny, opinionated…everything a man like me could want. Typically, I went for brown hair and brown eyes, but there was something about her light pink hair and her hazel eyes that captured me. The more time I spent with her, the more I could see it was uniquely her.

This was our third time seeing each other in a week. And for once in my life, the schedule of the woman I was interested in matched mine pretty well. I usually worked a few early days, meeting with potential clients. But mainly, my nights were spent in the shadows, making sure that the people I matched were getting their money's worth, since they paid top dollar to fall in love. I was there for the beginning of their dates to help kick things off, but after about an hour, they were on their own.

Until the other night, that meant I helped other people find their soulmates, while my own love life was nearly nonexistent. And then I met Bella.

She was busy with the bar most nights, serving drinks, matching up people in her own way, or listening to their woes for free. So, it wasn't a big deal to her when I'd asked to see her again, but explained it would have to be late in the evening.

"You see those two people over there?" Her voice brought me out of my thoughts, and she subtly nodded toward a couple a few tables away from us. "He's cheating on his wife with her, but it's more than just that. He's actually in love with her."

Raising my eyebrows, I stared at her. "Really? And you got all of that just by looking at them?"

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, a sign I'd picked up on after the last few dates that meant she was trying to hold back her laughter. Her eyes danced with humor, and I knew something was up.

I sat back, crossing my arms along my chest, trying to hide my own laughter. "What aren't you telling me, Bella?"

She leaned in, whispering. "Okay, his name is Dave, and he comes into the bar a few nights a week. Spills his guts to me every single time. He's been married for ten years, loves…well, loved his wife." She rolled her eyes at that. "But they just don't click anymore, he says. They have two kids, and he doesn't want to disappoint them. He fell in love with Sheila over there, but they've never slept together. She knows he's married and refuses to do anything until he's not."

"I didn't take you for a gossiper, Miss Swan. But that's not exactly cheating then, is it?"

Bella shrugged. "There is such a thing as emotional cheating. They're making plans for when he leaves her. He's giving all of his worries, hopes, and dreams to her and not his wife. And he'd give her a lot more than that if she'd let him, you know what I mean?"

"I still don't think that's cheating. That's having a very close, trustworthy friend."

Her eyes narrowed. "I don't know about you, Edward, but I don't want to kiss or fuck most of my friends. It's definitely still cheating."

"Most of your friends? So, there's at least a few who you'd hook up with?" I grinned.

"You haven't met my friend Rose. She's hot as hell. I'd be crazy to pass that up if she was down for it."

"You'll have to let me know if the opportunity ever arises." I waggled my eyebrows.

"Such a perv." She took a drink, hiding her smirk behind her glass.

"And you love that I am, admit it."

"Well, I don't hate it."

We sat there for a few minutes in comfortable silence, both of us glancing around the restaurant at the other couples surrounding us.

I took a deep breath, finding the courage to bring up something that was weighing on my mind. "I'm curious. Have you ever thought about doing something more with the talent you have for listening to people and figuring out their needs?"

She sat up straighter in her chair, no longer leaning in toward me. The intimacy of our moment was gone. "I am doing something with it. What, because I'm not charging people thousands of dollars to find happiness means I'm not using my talent?"

"I'm not trying to offend you, but I've seen you in action. You work way too hard, pouring drinks, listening to people, helping them find confidence to approach someone, but not doing much for yourself."

"Oh, and you do so much for yourself? Why are you single then, Edward? Hm?"

"Ouch. Look, I honestly wasn't trying to upset you, but you'd be a great matchmaker, Bella. You care about people and their happiness, you're a bit of a hopeless romantic. My company is throwing a Valentine's Day gala next weekend, and I wanted to ask you to go with me. I know Carlisle would be interested in meeting you."

"Is that all this has been to you, you trying to recruit me? The other night I thought—"

"No!" I shouted, cutting her off and causing a few heads to turn. "I'm not…shit, I don't know how I've gotten this far in my career when I lose all ability to think around you. I just want to see you succeed."

"Your version of success and mine are different. I'm happy doing what I do."

"I guess I was just hoping…" I sighed, trailing off.

"What were you hoping for?"

"That we could work together, you know, like a team. I really like you Bella, a lot. And I know our schedules match up right now, but I'm just worried that eventually, like with all of my other relationships, we won't have the time to be together. That you'll get frustrated with me having to put my clients first the majority of the time. But if we were working together on a shared goal…"

"That's really sweet, but isn't that kind of fast? We hardly know each other. I've been having fun spending time with you, I don't want to rush things, though."

"Rush things? Oh, you mean like sleeping with me the first night we met?"

"Wow." She stood and gathered her things. "I didn't know you were such a dick. Fuck you," she hissed as she headed out of the restaurant and into the night.

"Goddammit," I muttered to myself as I pulled out my wallet, throwing enough money down to cover the check and tip before rushing out after her.

"Bella!" I called out, running to catch up with her. I grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Bella, wait, look, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

She wrenched her arm out of my grasp. "You don't get to speak to me like that and then put your hands on me. You were there that night as well, so don't fucking throw it in my face. I like you a lot, but I'm proud of what I do Edward. My father worked for decades to make Charlie's what it is, and I plan to keep it up now that he's retired."

I stepped back, putting both my hands up. "I understand, and I'm sorry. I was being selfish and overbearing. Will you forgive me?"

She stared at me, biting at the skin on the back of her thumb nervously. "I swear if you—"

"I won't, Bella. I promise. Please, will you forgive me?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, staring me down for what felt like hours, but was merely a minute or two. "I'm still mad, really mad, but take me to get some frozen yogurt, and I'll consider it."

Let me know your thoughts, my loves!