By the time the sun started to set every muscle ached and I was exhausted, but I was hardly complaining. Throughout the rest of the work day, I'd catch glimpses of Bella around the property. Sometimes she'd see me staring and she'd flash me a glorious smile. So worth it. Work was easy with such a pretty view, no matter how sweaty I got.

"Edward, you did good work today, son. That fence is already fixed up real nice. I appreciate it. Can I expect you back tomorrow?"

"Absolutely, four a.m.?"

"Nah, I normally don't get started till five most mornings. I just needed to see if I had a pansy on my hands. I'll see you at five."

"I'll be here, Mr. Swan, thank you again for the job."

"Thank you. And, Edward, you can call me Charlie." He nodded, gruffly, before turning to head inside as Bella peaked her head around the porch. She grinned like the cat that ate the canary and I couldn't help smiling back when she walked towards me.

Leaning against the porch post, her smile grew, "Dad called Mike Newton 'boy' and he yelled at him the first time Mike referred to him as 'Charlie'. He's taken a likin' to you, Edward. You're roped in now."

Little did she know she could rope me in any time she wanted.

"Hopefully he decides to keep me around. I don't mind the work...or the company," I flashed her my flirtiest smirk and might have casually flexed my muscles.

"Hmm, well I'm looking forward to seeing you around the property. I'll see you tomorrow, handsome." Her eyelashes fluttered. With a quick wink in my direction, she turned on her heel and sauntered back into the house. I felt like a cartoon character staring after her, jaw hanging open and tongue rolling out dramatically in her wake.

I can't wait for work tomorrow!

By the time morning rolled around every muscle in my bone ached, my skin stung from the sun exposure yesterday, and the smile on my face couldn't get any wider. The work was hard, but work meant seeing Bella and seeing Bella meant today was going to be a fantastic day.

I put my truck in park in the front yard and walked around back to get started with the livestock when Bella rounded the corner. I was surprised with it being so early. If she wasn't working the farm, why was she up at five in the morning?

"Good morning, Edward!"

"Good morning, Bella. What are you doing up so early?"

"Oh, I like to make sure Daddy eats and we have coffee together every morning. We have since I was old enough to drink coffee. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Wow, y'all must be close then?"

"He's my best friend." Her voice was soft and a small smile played on the corners of her lips as she glanced out in the field where Charlie was working. I smiled back at her, admiring her love for her father. She seemed so big-hearted.

"That sounds really special. It's great talking to you, Bella, but I can't have the bossman think I'm already slacking on my second day. I'd love to see you again when I stop for lunch."

"I think that can be arranged." Bella ran her hand down my arm and went inside. My heart basically exploded. I think fireworks went off. I'd never been so enraptured by a woman as I was with Bella. The day went on with visions of Bella dancing in my head.

Her smile.

Her eyes.

Her hair.

Her face.

Her smile.

Her. Smile.

I was counting down the minutes until it was appropriate to take a lunch break. Sadly, eight o'clock was hardly an appropriate lunchtime. I wonder how Charlie would feel about a breakfast break. Then I could take a brunch break around eleven. Then a lunch break at noon. Maybe I should just tell him I need a Bella break. That would definitely go over well: "Hey, boss, I know I'm new, but I'm pretty much head over heels for your daughter, so would you mind if I didn't get any work done and just spent the day ogling her?"

Hello, unemployment.

I groaned and tried to distract myself by focusing more on the work at hand. Time continued to pass, slowly. Thankfully, I kept myself busy enough that when lunch came around I was met with a lovely surprise.

"Hi, Edward, I thought you might like some sweet tea and a tomato sandwich. Maybe a little lunchtime picnic. We could get to know each other better?" I dropped my tools where I stood and grabbed the wicker basket from her hand.

"Lead the way, pretty girl."

Bella blushed- my heart stuttered- and she began to walk toward a small creek near the back of the property.

"I used to come out here all the time when I was little to read. It was the one place daddy couldn't find me and ask me to do chores." She giggled and settled on the grass. "So, Edward, how'd you find yourself in our little ole podunk town?"

"Well, I grew up in a small town about an hour away. It wasn't as...quaint as it is here, but I loved it. When I hit high school, my dad got offered a job in a big city hospital. We all moved and my parents and my sister adjusted wonderfully. I did okay, but I missed the feeling of a small town. There's a sense of community and homeliness you just don't get in the city. I couldn't see myself starting my own life there, so I bought a plot of land just outside of town, and here I am." I realized I was ranting, so I bit into the sandwich she'd made for me, and instantly groaned.

It tasted like home. Like summertime and my childhood and playing in the water hose in the yard with Alice when we were kids. It was a simple sandwich- just mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and tomato on some white bread- but she'd done it perfectly.

"I hope that tastes okay. It's not much, but I didn't want to make anything too heavy with you working out in the heat."

"No. It's perfect. Just like my momma used to make them." Bella smiled wide and her cheeks flushed pink.

"You're a charmer, Mr. Masen."

"And you're charming, Miss Swan."