Chapter 5

BPOV

I watched from the door as he turned and left through the back gate. My stomach was twisted in knots for reasons that I didn't understand. There was something about him that made me want to wrap my arms around him and simultaneously slap him. There were emotions in his eyes as he spoke to me that I couldn't place.

I startled as Jake came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Everything okay, Bells?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Everything's cool." I shook my head, trying to break myself from my daze. Edward had me really amped up, enough that I could hardly concentrate. Though, that may have been the pot.

"It didn't seem like it earlier. Who was that?"

I smirked at him. "You jealous, Jake?" I really wasn't in the mood to have this conversation again.

"Do I have a reason to be jealous? You gonna sleep with him too?"

He might as well have punched me in the face. I'd slept with him a handful of times because the sex was amazing. He'd known from the start I didn't want a commitment. He knew I wanted the freedom to be with whoever I wanted. But after each time we had sex, he felt the need to try to get a hold on me. To claim me as his own.

"Since you're not my boyfriend, it's not really any of your business, is it?" I leveled him with a glare.

"Bella, don't be like that—"

"Well, maybe if you weren't such a dick, I wouldn't have to be. I'm not yours. I'm not anyone's. God, both of you are killing my high." I stole the joint he'd stashed behind his ear before pushing past him. I headed out the back door once again, letting it slam behind me.

I pulled my lighter from my pocket as I sat down on the grass, basking in the cool night air as I lit my joint and staring at the spot I stood with Edward earlier.

I knew nothing of him besides his name and who he worked for. Oh, and the small fact that he was engaged. That was a line I'd never crossed before, but I wasn't sure I could put him off forever. Typically, I slept with a guy if they made me feel something; if I felt a connection there. And as wrong as I knew it was, I couldn't deny that I felt an energy humming between us.

As my mind wandered, all I could think about was how he'd said there was no love between him and his fiancée. That alone made my heart ache. Why would you do that to yourself? Why not just have fun while waiting for the right person to come along?

I took another drag as I laid back on the grass, closing my eyes. There was no reason for me to feel anything for him. He was a stranger. Yet, here I was, my mind engulfed with thoughts of him and wondering who he really was.

—

I groaned as I opened my eyes, sunlight blaring through the curtains as someone knocked persistently on my front door. I threw the covers off, giving a sigh of relief to see my bed empty and myself fully clothed.

I tightened my robe, glancing at the clock on the wall as I headed out into the living room. I wasn't sure who the hell would be pounding on my door at 9 in the morning on a Saturday. Surely, no one I knew was up that early, aside from my dad or my grandparents.

I pulled the door open and was greeted by the largest bouquet of flowers I'd ever seen. The kid holding them peeked around to look at me. "Ms. Isabella Swan?"

"Oh, uh, yes. That's me. Here, just put them there." I pointed to the table beside the door. "Thanks."

I closed the door behind him as he left, pulling the card from the flowers. Jake definitely wasn't the type to send flowers, but I was positive that Edward was. He seemed the type who liked to throw his money around on frivolous things. The flowers were gorgeous, but they'd be dead and gone in a week's time.

I was sure my eyes widened in shock as I read the note once and then again. He was inviting me to have dinner with him at Bull and Bear. I couldn't begin to wonder how many palms he'd greased to not only get me in there, but himself as well, since it was a members-only gentlemen's club.

As I placed the card back into its envelope, there was another knock on the door.

"Ms. Isabella Swan?" the man on the other side of the door asked as I pulled it open.

"Yes?"

"A package for you from Mr. Edward Masen." He handed a box to me. I stared down at the packaged that was stamped with the Bergdorf-Goodman logo and had to wonder if Edward truly thought I could be bought this easily.

"Thank you." I moved to close the door, but the courier stuck his hand out, causing me to wait.

"My apologies, Ms. Swan, but there was also a message for you from Mr. Masen. He will be picking you up this evening and asks that you be ready by six o'clock sharp."

"Okay. Thanks." I shut the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what game Edward was playing. I knew nothing about him in order to deduce why he'd gone to so much trouble. I'd already denied him sex, and for the life of me couldn't figure out what he'd want beyond that.

I pulled open the box, a small gasp escaping my lips. Inside was the most beautiful cocktail dress I'd ever seen. It was sleeveless, the silk fabric a vibrant dark blue and purple tye-dye, with a deep sweetheart neckline. Hidden underneath the dress was a pair of dark blue kitten heels.

As I ran my fingers over the soft silk dress, my mind was telling me to pack everything back into the box. To hand it over to him, along with his flowers, when he showed up this evening. He had no right trying to win me over while his fiancée was sitting at home, most likely planning their wedding.

But there was also a part of me—one that was extremely hypocritical considering my morals—that wanted to slip into that dress and slide my feet into those heels; to see what he wanted from me. So, against my better judgement, I grabbed the dress and headed toward my bedroom.

Depending on how you looked at it, I was about to either make the best or worst decision of my life.

—

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