Hello my loves. Thank you all so much for the response to the last chapter. Some of you hit the nail on the head with your guesses, but I don't want to say which ones. I like to keep you all guessing. *insert winky face here*
This time we're back with Bella's POV and the next chapter we'll be hearing from Emmett. It's already halfway written. I just need to find the time to type it up.
Normal disclaimers apply.
BPOV
"I'm telling you Rose, the couple next door are the greatest guys I've ever met." I boasted to my cousin over lunch. "One of them even bought me new shoes because he saw that I had broken my heels."
"Not the Jimmy Choo's I got you for your college graduation?" She gasped, almost choking on her coffee.
"Unfortunately." I sighed, picking at my raspberry muffin. "But the replacements are amazingly comfortable and fit perfectly. I don't know how he got my size just right."
"Well you mentioned he's a gay guy, don't they have some sort of built in fashion sense?" She asked, stuffing her face with an apricot danish.
"I guess so." I shrugged, thinking that was a bit stereotypical. "How's everything in the life of the stellar Rosalie Hale?" I asked, sipping from my macchiato.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, I met someone." She gushed, a slight colour tinting the apples of her cheeks. "He's a chef and the sweetest man I've ever met. I was expecting him to be a Gordon Ramsey type, as I heard him shouting at his sous chef one evening, but he's just a big marshmallow."
"I take it you met him at the restaurant he works at then?"
"Yes actually. It's a funny story. I was actually there on a date and I wanted to thank the chef personally for the exquisite meal. He served up this fantastic angel hair pasta with scallops and shrimp in a garlic lemon sauce. I could have licked the bowl clean it was that good."
"Garlic on a first date? I bet that made a great impression." I snorted.
"Oh please. Like that loser was going to get lucky with me. He tried mansplaining how a car engine works. To me of all people!" She fumed.
There were several things in life that Rosalie hated, but none more so than the assumption that she was stupid because of her buxom figure and platinum blonde hair. She was quite the opposite. She has a master's degree in child development and knows the ins and outs of pretty much any car engine available. The latter was a hobby of hers, as she adores her job at the Twilight preschool for children with learning disabilities, looking after the needs of her little 'Twilighters' as she likes to call them.
"So when do I get to meet your new fella?" I smirked, watching the faint blush rise in her cheeks once more.
"No offence Bells, but it's still quite new. I want to keep him to myself for just a little longer. I have a feeling this one is a keeper and I don't want to jinx anything by introducing him to family too soon."
"I understand." I smiled. Our family can be a bit crazy sometimes. When our mothers get together the noise levels sometimes go through the roof. "Have you met any of his family yet?"
"No. Not yet. He only has his brother. They recently moved to the area from Chicago. I don't want to pry, but he always gets a sad look in his eyes when he talks of home."
"Well at least they have each other, and now you." She smiled over the rim of her coffee cup while I finished off my muffin.
000
The most heavenly aroma filled my senses when I got out of my car after work. Spices mixed with chargrilled meat and burnt brown sugar. Someone was grilling ribs. My mouth started salivating while my stomach growled in protest at the thought of the greek salad that awaited me in my fridge. I collected my post on my way indoors and noticed that I had a gardening catalogue listed for an Edward Cullen in with my mail.
I unlocked my door and tossed my mail down on the small table set just inside the entrance. I shook Jake's leash and waited for the golden barrel of fur to come charging at me from the kitchen. I clipped him into his harness and kicked off my heels, swapping them out for my much more suitable black converse. I locked up the door behind me and crossed the front lawn to the boys house.
I knocked and waited, Jake sitting patiently by my feet. Edward finally answered the door looking a little flustered. "Bella? What can I help you with?" He asked, concern lacing his features.
"It's nothing bad Edward. This was placed in my mailbox by mistake. I think it belongs to you." I handed over the catalogue.
"Oh! Thank you so much. I've been waiting for this to arrive. Would you like to come in? Emmett's making ribs."
"Wait, that's him making the neighbourhood smell like an episode of Barbecue Pitmasters?!"
"Yes. He thinks of himself as a barbecue connoisseur. Eat your heart out Myron Mixon." Edward grinned, running a hand through his hair.
"You realise this smell has had me salivating since I got out of my car. Ribs are my absolute favourite food."
"Ours too. Come on in." He stepped back to let me through. "There's plenty to go around."
"Thank you so much for the offer, but I have to walk Jake and I need to change out of my work clothes." I replied, motioning down at my attire.
"Hey, we can't have you missing out on the best ribs in Seattle now, can we? How about you go shower and change while I walk Jake for you? I can walk Ness at the same time."
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Of course I can Bella. We've been neighbours for several weeks now." He replied earnestly. "Let me just grab Ness and let Em know where I'm going." He disappeared into his home and returned moments later with his own dog in tow.
Jake and Ness greeted each other enthusiastically while I told Edward which route was our usual one. "There's poop bags attached to his harness and he likes to stop by the small stream in the wooded part of the park so he can have a paddle and a drink."
"I know the one." He nodded as I handed over the strap to Jakes leash. "Em said the food will be ready in about forty five minutes and you can just use the gate connecting our back gardens."
"I will. Thank you for this."
"You're most welcome Bella. We'll see you soon." He called the dogs to attention and gave them each a treat before heading off in the direction of the park.
I hurried inside and straight up to my bathroom, stripping quickly before stepping into my shower. The hot water easing my tense muscles and washing away the stench of teenage boys who use too much Axe body spray. I didn't bother washing my hair as I knew I was going to get smoke in it and I can always wash it in the morning.
I think my other neighbour, Alice, was onto something when she convinced me to get a choppy bob cut after one of the girls at school stuck gum in my hair. It's so much easier to manage now.
I quickly dressed in a loose tunic and some leggings. If I was going to eat my own body weight in ribs I was going to do it in comfort. I slipped on my converse again and ran down the stairs. I stopped by the kitchen to grab some jars of the pickled chillies I grew and pickled myself, alongside some tortilla chips and queso that would need reheating.
"Hey Emmett." I called out as I stepped through the gate. I brought along some bits to go with your ribs. They smell amazing by the way."
"Hiya Bells! Come on over." He waved me over through the smoke billowing out of his homemade grill pit. "What goodies did you bring today?" He asked, rubbing his hands together.
"I made these myself." I said, opening a jar of the chillies and letting him try one. "I grew them fresh in my garden."
"These are great! Really fresh tasting still. Nice crunch and- Wow! Do they pop some heat!" He gasped, swigging from his bottle of beer. "What else did I see you carry over?"
"Just some tortilla chips and this tray of queso that will need reheating on the grill, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all. Here, let me take that for you." He took the foil container out of my hands and slapped it down on the scorching metal next to several rows of tantalising looking ribs. "I don't suppose you brought over any of those amazing cookies of yours too?"
"Sorry. Not today. I'll need to head to the store to restock my cupboards." I shook my head in the negative.
"Oh well. We've got ice cream in the freezer if anyone has room for dessert later." He winked.
The sound of barking and the front door slamming had the both of us looking towards the house. Jake and Ness came charging through the back doors and into the garden, where they proceeded to chase each other around for a while. Edward appeared right behind them, smile in place and two glasses filled with wine.
"I guessed Emmett wouldn't have offered you a drink so I took the liberty of pouring you one myself." He handed me one of the glasses and sat down at the patio table.
"Thank you." I smiled, taking a sip of the chilled beverage. "Did Jake behave on his walk?"
"He sure did. Ness not so much though." He rolled his eyes. "She's still young and in training, but it looked like she was trying to show off for Jake." He grinned, rolling his eyes at the same time.
"Grubs up!" Emmett called, placing a giant platter of perfectly grilled ribs down on the middle of the table. I tipped the tortilla chips into a bowl while Emmett poured over the melted queso and topped it with my pickled chillies.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in!" He said, pulling up a seat and plating a whole rack to himself.
I only took a couple to start with and happily tucked in. The spices bursting across my tongue as the succulent meat practically melted in my mouth. After that first bite there was no stopping me.
"Damn little lady! You sure can pack it away!" Emmett sounded shocked, as he eyed the mountain of stripped clean bones on the plate in front of me.
"Well when the food is that good, how could I not eat as much as possible?" I grinned, licking sticky sauce off of my fingers. "You'll have to give me the recipe." I said, accepting the damp washcloth Edward passed over so I could wipe my hands and face accordingly.
"You'll be lucky." He snorted. "Em won't even tell me what's in it. It's a closely guarded secret."
"Tell you what, you give me the recipe to your incredible cookies and I'll give you the recipe to my ribs." Emmett said, scratching his chin.
"Oh boy." Edward sighed, shaking his head lightly.
"Well Emmett, it would appear we're at an impasse. How about we negotiate a deal instead?" I asked, leaning forward to rest my elbows on the table. "What if each time you make ribs you invite me round and each time I bake my cookies I'll make a batch for you?" I reached my hand across the table top.
A wide grin spread across Emmett's face and one of his giant hands encompassed my smaller one. "Why Miss Bella, I think we have ourselves a deal." He agreed, shaking our hands.
000
Later that night as I was crawling into bed, I couldn't help but think I was losing this niceness battle. So far, all I had done for the men was bake them a gift basket and give them some pickled chillies, while they had bought me new shoes, walked my dog and fed me the best ribs I've ever tasted. I was two strikes down. I didn't like being behind, or even level pegging. I wanted to win this weird nice off. I had to think of something to up my score and fast.
Who knew Bella could eat as much as Emmett, and have a fierce competitive streak.
Find out what she has planned in the next chapter.
Much love x
