A/N: So so sorry I haven't been paying attention to this story as of late. But I'm super happy you guys are enjoying it so far. :) Thank you to Christie Walker for beta-reading this week.

"Bella!" Kate hissed next to me. "He was so cute! The way he couldn't keep his eyes off of you! I'd keep an eye on him." She winked suggestively, which made my cheeks burn even hotter. I needed some air.

I smiled nervously, looking down at my beat up, old black Converse High Tops. "I can't really keep my eyes on anybody right now…" I walked around the small island that separated the checkout lines from the cashiers.

As I walked past Kate, I heard her add, "Nothing wrong with a little summer fling."

~oOoOo~

The next day, I came in to work in my uniform, my lunchbox in one arm and my small purse in the other, along with my sweater for the chilly store temperature. The atmosphere was pretty quiet, some customers shopping in the Sportswear section, which was my department. I glanced to the cashier lines to see how many cashiers we had for tonight, so I wouldn't have to be up there again like last time.

Three cashiers. Great. All the more reason for them to call me to do backup, which I hated.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, fast-pacing myself to the back room to sign in for my shift. After signing in and putting my stuff away, I walked out to my department. I was glad that no one was in the back room so I wouldn't have to answer to anyone why I was 10 minutes late.

My feet slowed down when I saw his reddish brown, messy hair in the Men's section across the walkway. A gasp fell out of my mouth, prompting me to hide on the other side of a pole. It seemed silly to hide and stare at someone you barely know, but there was something mysterious about this man.

His back was turned to me, but I could see his hands swiping through the rack of men's' knit shirts. The lights above him made his hair glisten, and I could spot some blonde highlights underneath the red and brown. His head turned slightly, as if a tick had went off in his head. Did he know I was watching? Possibly, given that he turned his head fully around! I gasped again and cursed myself for staring. Footsteps sounded on the white tiles closer to me, chills raised on my arms. The red-haired beautiful stranger found me rigid behind the pole.

His easy, crooked half-smile peeked out a dimple on the side of his right cheek, and my heart contorted, losing my train of thought. "Hi, you work here right? You helped check me out yesterday." His soft, velvet voice spoke around full, pink lips.

"Check you out?" I frowned in confusion, surprised that my voice didn't give way to my nervousness.

"In the checkout line yesterday. You were the cashier who helped with my sister." He pointed his thumb behind his shoulder, where the checkout and cashiers were.

"Ohh, right," I smiled nervously. "But yeah, I work here."

"Good. I mean, that's great. Do you know if they're hiring? I could use a summer job before I go back to school in September." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, shifting from one foot to the next. "I know this is kind of weird to ask, since you're not a manager…"

My shoulders dropped a bit when discussing work. It was weird, how much I wanted to leave this place, the more I met some people wanting to work here. How would this guy be any different? Or maybe he was? "Ohh, um…yeah I'm not a manager. Even though I probably should," I chuckled humorlessly and continued, "But yeah, I would just ask the supervisors up front for an application. Or, just apply online like I did."

He nodded, "Ok, thanks a lot," he glanced to my name tag, which stated Bella with a heart symbol in the shape of the store brand. "Bella." His easy, half-dimpled crooked smile came out again, which made my knees weak and my breath come up short. Just the way he said my name made my heart flutter.

I gulped and looked down for a beat. "You're welcome…" I waited, and he blinked a bit.

"Edward." He held his large hand out for a shake, my small palm raising up to shake his.