LWFE

Ch 6

Edward and Bella weren't too sure who was the first to wake up in the morning.

But they were sure they'd had the best night sleep in a long time.

Only one was certain how they ended up with Bella wrapped in Edwards arms and they far from minded the position they found themselves in.

But even though they could have happy stayed snuggled up with one another, time was ticking, and they needed to make a move, both wondering how they could extricate themselves from their entanglement without being all weird about it.

Eventually someone had to rip the band aid off.

"I need to pee," Bella said, and with mutual relief the tension was broken, the pair unravelled themselves and they went about their morning as if nothing had happened.

Not that anything had actually happened.

Bella organised her final flight plan for the trip and touched base with Mr Jenks to let him know her ETA in Sydney and would let him know when she was free to be picked up. He assured her that he'd send someone to take her to her hotel and that he'd see her at 0900 sharp the following day for the first and hopefully only sitting.

They were wheels up two hours later and it took just as long before the pair got past the trepidation that had developed since "Foldabedgate', and the sterile cockpit chat gave way to their usual banter.

The final 1500 nm leg down to Sydney was anti-climactic, with land in sight, the closer the classic aircraft flew towards the Aussie Mainland, the quieter the pilots became. There was an air of melancholy within the cabin and they were both aware that something had undoubtedly shifted in their lives.

When they arrived at Bankstown Airport, they put on their game faces for the ground crew and everyone was all smiles. The vintage Grumman Mallard is the star of the ramp and Bella called Mr Jenks to let him know that she had arrived and would be ready in the next hour, while the FBO removed the gear and any ferry equipment that Edward hadn't purchased.

The pair went through customs and then they had the aircraft towed to the maintenance facility where the bird was to receive an Aussie spec makeover before she would be ready to take on the North West of her new home down under.

It had been another long day at the end of a long week for the two new friends. The light was starting to fade, and he escorted her outside reception to keep her company while she waited to be picked up.

In truth they were both holding on to every last second while they still could, and even though they didn't say much to each other, they didn't need to.

In her trepidation, Bella checked her watch at regular intervals until finally a car made its way into the carpark from the main road that looked like it could have been the vehicle they'd been waiting for.

"Well, I guess this is it," she said, at loss for anything else more original to say.

The wind whipped the hair around, so typical of airports everywhere.

"Yeah, but does it have to be?" Edward said tucking some of Bella's wayward locks behind her ear, wondering if he would regret the intimate gesture and his choice of words.

Bella blinked rapidly, trying to figure out if Edward actually said what she thought she heard. "Uh," she uttered, shifting uneasily.

It wasn't that she was repulsed by Edward's question, on the contrary, she was thrilled that he said what she herself was thinking.

"Sorry I blindsided you like that, what I mean by that is don't be a stranger," Edward said, walking back his question, nervously shoving his hands in his pockets and mentally kicking himself in the process.

Bella smiled, she knew exactly what Edward implied and maybe if things were different, she might very well have encouraged... something.

"Well, aviation is a small world Edward, I don't think there's a snowballs chance in hell, we could ever be strangers from this point," she said, hoping her answer lessened Edward's unease.

"Good," he said, relieved somewhat and pleased that they were on the same wavelength before holding out is arms to her.

Bella didn't hesitate to walk into them and made sure to squeeze him back.

The sound of a car pulled up not far from them.

"Bella?" A familiar voice interrupted their precious moment like a needle being dragged over an old school vinyl record.

"Who's that?" Edward asked quietly, before drawing back from her and looking up to spot a dark haired figure peering back from over the far side of the car.

Bella didn't need to see the man over her shoulder to know exactly who it was, and her heart sank. "Just my lift," she said looking up at Edward with a shrug while trying to muster up a casual smile.

Their eyes met.

Edward smoothed down some of her hair again and there was a moment where they were in 'that' place, searching for the next sign.

Edward desperately wanted to kiss the woman that he held in is arms, but Bella's eyes were stormy, clearly preoccupied with their intruder. This was simply not the right time.

He reluctantly let Bella go and stepped away from her.

"Here, allow me," Edward said, offering to carry her bags.

And Bella let him.

Edward hadn't missed Bella's faltering expression and figured that she definitely knew this man. His instincts told him that it would be a good idea to size the fella up.

Approaching the car, Bella felt the other man's unsought scrutinization rake from the top of her head to her toes.

"Well, aren't you sight for sore eyes," said the guy who had walked around the car to greet Bella and her porter.

"What are you doing here Jake," Bella said less enthusiastically.

"You wound me," the man said with mock offence, while placing is and over his heart dramatically. "Is that any way to greet a close friend, Bella?" he asked.

Not wanting to miss out, he hustled Bella for a hug.

Bella bristled, but not wanting to cause a scene, she conformed.

Edward didn't miss the man inhale Bella's scent, knowing full well that she smelled like the first drops of rain after a long drought.

Edward's jaw clenched and he dropped Bella's bags a little harder than was necessary.

"Oh Jake," Bella said, grateful for the noise and using it as an excuse to pry herself away from his invasive grip, "This is Edward Mason, Edward, this is Jacob Noir, he's..."

"We grew up together," Jacob said abruptly, stepping forward with an outstretched hand.

Edward narrowed his eyes at the large man who was not quite as tall as he was, but much more solidly built, the guy looked like he lived in the gym and likely had a very small...

"Jacob," Edward said with a nod, fully expecting the crushing hand shake, but the man's palm was soft as opposed to his own calloused skin. Edward smiled at that and assumed that the guy had never done a hard day's work in his life.

"Edward," Jacob said acerbically with a nod of his own, intrigued yet highly suspicious by Bella and Edward's affiliation.

Bella looked on and internally rolled her eyes with the pissing contest unfolding before her.

The men separated and Edward stepped back to give Bella and Jacob space to get ready to leave.

While Jacob threw Bella's bags into the car, Edward asked her, "You'll be ok?"

Bella nodded with a tight smile.

"Look after yourself Bella," he said sincerely.

"You too," Bella reiterated.

"Ready?" Jacob said making a point of walking between the two before opening the passenger door for Bella.

Bella nodded and she seated herself. She was barely settled before Jacob closed the door on her.

The boys locked eyes like a pair of lions sizing each other up, with Jacob giving Edward a victory smirk and leaving little doubt where each man stood.

Without another word, Jacob stalked to the driver's side of the car and joined Bella inside the intimate space.

Edward watched the car closely as it drove off.

Why hadn't she mentioned the douchebag before?

"So good to see you little sis," Jacob said reaching over Bella's shoulders to pull her to him and place a demonstrative kiss on her temple, "and I love your accent, very sexy," he said suggestively before turning out of the carpark.

"Ugh, cut it out Jake, why do you always have to be so crass?" She asked shoving him away.

"You rooting him?" Jake asked.

"What?" Bella asked, confused for a moment before recalling her inner Australian lexicon.

"That's none of your business!"

"So, you are then."

It was an assumption, not a question.

Bella made a colossal effort to ignore his inuendo.

"So why didn't Mr Jenks get one of his people to pick me up?" Bella asked, redirecting the conversation between her and the man child with whom who she shared a tenuous past.

"Bella, Bella, Bella," Jacob said in a patronising tone, "Jenks doesn't have 'people' at this time of the day, it's after hours, be glad you didn't get an UBER."

"Ah I see, you decided to get all chivalrous all of a sudden and volunteer out of the goodness of your heart? " Bella asked in an incredulous tone.

"Come now Bella, Can't I do something nice for you?"

"Do you really want me to answer that Jake?" Bella questioned dubiously.

Jacob sighed, realising that he wasn't going to get anywhere with the beautiful woman. She was no longer the naive little girl she once was and if he was going to get on her good side, he'd have to behave himself.

"Jenks was flat out and I offered." He said, with a shrug, telling the truth this time, "besides, I just wanted to be first to see you again. You look good Bells. Real good."

"Right." Bella said dismissively with a shake of her head.

"Look Jake, you need to cut the crap. I've just spent the best part of a week in the air ferrying a seventy - year - old aircraft across the drink, all I want is to go to the hotel and get some rest before facing what I actually came here for. This is really no time to be pissing me off!"

"Ouch", Jacob said knowing he deserved every bit of her wrath and after a moment, he finally conceded "I'm sorry. You're right."

And he wondered, and not for the first time if Bella knew what she was coming for. No one knew what the old man had left in his will and his mother had already accumulated everything she wanted and didn't want, so the hearing would be interesting to say the least.

Even so, his perverted mind couldn't help but be turned on by the way this gir... woman had grown into herself. She always had a weird hold on him even when they were kids.

Maybe it was some misguided guilt for the times she'd saved his sorry skin.

Or maybe he was just a sick and depraved arsehole who wanted to do the things to her that he had convinced himself he'd saved her from.

There was never a doubt that she always was and would continue to remain a far better person that he could ever hope to be without even trying.

He hated himself for hating that in her.

Jacob concentrated on the road, toeing the line and half an hour later they were parked at their Sydney hotel.

After Bella checked in, the two went their separate ways, with Jacob promising to give her a ride to the hearing first thing in the morning.

Of course, Bella was all tied up in knots and knew she wouldn't likely sleep a wink that night. If today's meet up with Jake was anything to go by, she knew that tomorrow was going to be far more testing if she had to face the likes of Victoria.