A/N Thanks to you all for reading and reviewing, I'm sorry I can't respond to you all but I love reading your thoughts and appreciate them more than you can know! Sorry for the time between updates I just don't much opportunity to sit down and slog out chapters like I used to.

Thanks to Donna for helping catch my silly mistakes but I'm an eternal tinkerer so any mistakes are mine alone! As always I can only wish I owned Twilight!

Chapter 6

Tuesday dragged by slowly. The meeting with Markus went about as well as I expected it to; I didn't come outright and ask for him to give the task to someone else, but I dropped enough hints and name dropped one or two people who I knew would love to be in my shoes. Either Markus didn't pick up on the hints and suggestions which I doubted very much, or he chose to ignore them. Whatever the answer it meant I was still the guy responsible for the summer event.

Brilliant.

Trying to come up with good ideas for most of Tuesday afternoon only seemed to make the clock tick even slower and by the end of the day I'd still come up with nothing I would ever put my name to. My phone buzzed and I saw Emmett's name pop up on the display, he'd sent it in the group chat I was in with the rest of the guys.

Fanelli's 6pm tonight. Burgers & Beers.

I groaned as I read it. The last time we'd had a last-minute visit to Fanelli's was when I broke up with Jessica. While the perk of meeting Bella was brilliant, the downside was my raging hangover the next morning—Fanelli's on a school night was not a good idea. I waited before I replied, knowing that the chat was about to explode with the other five guys jumping in. Seth was the first, barely a second later.

Yes! Haven't seen you guys in ages!

It's been three days since the party, Seth. I could almost hear Emmett's eye roll at Seth's flair for being dramatic, he would put many teenagers to shame with his over exaggerations.

Well it's been months since we were at Fanelli's then!

Two weeks Seth! We went when Edward was having his crisis.

I scowled at Emmett's response and jumped in myself.

Crisis? I was dumped and you dragged me to the bar! And Fanelli's… on a Tuesday… really?

Yes really. Jazz, you are responsible for making sure Ed doesn't sneak out of work and go home!

On it! I'm messaging Tanya as we speak, Em.

Why tonight?

Tyler's answer surprised me, he was usually the first up for this kind of thing, but I decided to make the most of his reluctance.

I'm with Tyler. How about another night?

Ssh, Edward and why not tonight, Ty? Before we know it, we're going to be old and senile and we'll forget who we are. Or worse, we'll be married with the ball and chain stopping us leaving the house.

Emmett you're so dramatic. Can't we do it another night when I don't have work the next morning?

I've squeezed a client in last minute. I'll try to swing by when I'm finished. Tyler's sort of agreement didn't help my cause and now it was Emmett' turn to take advantage.

Now Tyler is going you can't use him to get out of you turning up, Ed. Your date's tomorrow night we can prep you!

Another date with Penis Girl? Doesn't hurt to play it cool, Edward.

I like Penis Girl, Jake. I approve.

You couldn't really agree with him though, Emmett, you saw the thief two days running. If it becomes a regular thing, I'll have to buy a padlock for my bedroom door.

Rose made her intentions clear. She's about the sex—sex with me specifically. She's coming over tomorrow night, don't say I didn't warn you!

Fucks sake, Em! Jake, just warning you that Edward & I might need a sofa to crash on tomorrow night.

You might, Ty, but Edward might be sleeping elsewhere tomorrow night. Or if he's really lucky, he might not be doing much sleeping at all.

Go Edward!

I'll report on the state of him Thursday morning bright and early.

If you've got time to play about on your phone, I can find you work to do, Jazz!

Sheesh my boss is an ass!

Right, my next client just showed up. Everyone, Fanelli's at 6—Tyler, you show as soon as you're done.

A few minutes later Tanya knocked at the door, she knew I wasn't on a call, so she didn't wait for me to wave her in. "I've been asked to pass on a message."

"No need, I've accepted my fate," I told her. "But the next time Jazz tries to get at me through you, tell him I'm bringing his performance review forward or tell him you'll have Alice, Bella's friend, deliver him flowers! That'll scare him to death."

"Are you heading to the bar straight after work or taking off before?" Tanya asked as casually as she could, but there was a reason she was asking.

"Heading straight there." I leaned back and smiled at her. "What time do you want to leave?"

"I wasn't going to ask—"

"Yes, you were," I said, laughing. "There's nothing that can't wait until tomorrow so go home now if you want."

"Best boss ever," she said happily. "Coffees are on me tomorrow."

"You expense them anyway," I reminded her.

"Not the fancy coffees from The Coffee Guy." She winked. "No way, Judy in Finance signs those ones off—believe me I've tried."

"Maybe try buying Judy a Coffee Guy coffee—she might change her mind."

"Not a chance. Only special people get coffees from the Coffee Guy—he's the best kept secret in New York. Anyway, have fun tonight and don't turn up looking too rough tomorrow morning, Bella is delivering the flowers remember?"

"I've not forgotten, and I won't." I grinned.

MPA

Jasper had collected me from my office bang on 5:30pm and we were the last ones, bar Tyler, to arrive.

"What happened to maintaining the body of a Greek Adonis?" I asked Emmett when he ordered the biggest burger on the menu.

"Takes more than a burger to ruin this perfection, besides I need sustenance in preparation for Rose coming over." He laughed. "Did Jazz have to drag you here?"

"He'd admitted defeat," Jasper told him.

"I am not having more than two beers," I said seriously. "And neither is Jazz."

"You ain't my wife, Ed," Jazz huffed.

"No, but I am your boss," I said happily. "And I got you the job, so that gives me the edge. I can either be really kind when I allocate the work tomorrow morning or really cruel. I hear James wants to go through some details with one of my team ready for the meeting we have on Friday… that could take hours."

"I didn't want more than two anyway," Jasper said quickly, and Jake shook his head in disgust.

"How boring are you two," Seth muttered.

"You don't know James," Jasper said, and I agreed with him emphatically.

"Come on guys, we're here to enjoy ourselves," Emmett said with a mouthful of food, which he swilled down with some beer and I laughed.

"You're a guy whose reputation and income depends on your health and fitness," I reminded him. "Tyler's clearly the better professional than you, he's slaving away working while you're here eating and drinking."

"Yeah right, Tyler's fucking not working," Emmett said and let out a booming laugh. "He came home for a shower and to change clothes before his last so-called appointment. I only saw him because I forgot my wallet and had to go back to get it before I came to meet you guys."

"Fucking who?" Jake asked. "He never said anything about meeting a girl."

"Dunno." Emmett shrugged. "He told me he was freshening up now; then he'd get to the bar quicker after his last appointment, but I told him he was full of shit. That dude lies about as well as Eddie talks to chicks—Penis Girl aside."

"Thanks, Em," I said to him and the others laughed. "I'm so glad I'm here for your comedic relief."

"Well, we can quiz him about the mystery girl when he shows," Seth said and rubbed his hands together as he looked at me. "Your turn now, Edward. Talk to us about Penis Girl."

"She's cute, she's really funny and I like her. We have a dinner thing tomorrow," I told him, and Jake groaned. "What?"

"It's a date, Edward," Jake replied. "If you're going to dinner with a chick you like it's a date."

"It might be more than that," Emmett said smugly. "She booty called him last night."

"No, she didn't," I said and laughed at the absurdity. "Come on, if you're a girl—a smart girl like Bella is—are you really going to ring me if you're feeling horny? I don't think I fall into that category of guy that girls have in their phone just in case they feel like having sex."

"He makes a valid point," Jasper said. "And if she did booty call him last night; she'd have been disappointed. Our boy didn't put out."

"Maybe she's oiling the wheels so to speak," Jake said. "You meet this girl when you're absolutely wasted, hung up on your ex and you still manage to make a good impression—you've seen her twice almost three times in a week. Penis Girl definitely wants something from you."

"Are you sure she's not a stalker?" Seth asked randomly. "I mean, it seems like a massive coincidence that she just showed up at the party."

"That's because my party pimping skills are second to none," Emmett boasted. "Anyone who heard about it wanted to land an invite. Penis Girl and Angry Chick just didn't wait to be invited; they gate-crashed."

"Angry Chick?" Jake looked puzzled. "Do you not refer to these girls by their names?"

"Edward called Bella Penis Girl and it stuck. I call her friend Angry because she's really fucking Angry." Emmett pointed at Jasper and added, "That's his fault."

"Hey, I was pissed when I thought she'd blown me off," Jasper argued. "I liked that girl and I would have met up with her again but that was months ago now, I think the Alice ship sailed without me aboard it and I can hardly help her rage issues, can I?"

"You could talk to her," Seth suggested. "Or get Penis Girl to talk to her? What about sending her flowers?"

"She's a florist. Sending her something that she spends all day looking at and working with might not have the same effect as it would on a normal girl," I reminded Jasper. "What if the flowers you got her weren't as nice as the bouquets she makes? She might question your taste or think you're a cheapskate. And worse, what if they're better? You might make her feel like she's an inferior florist and she'd hate you forever."

"It's a bunch of flowers, Edward," Seth said. "Do you talk to Penis Girl about shit like this?"

"No wonder she doesn't call you for sex," Jake added.

"Jeez, this was supposed to be boys' night," Jasper muttered. "It feels more like a group therapy session about our troubles with women."

"A.A," Jake chuckled. "Assholes Anonymous."

"That sounds like a whole different kind of support group," I said, and Jake laughed even more. "But I'm with Jazz, let's talk about something else."

"What do you think to the six of us renting a place for the summer in the Hamptons?" Seth asked. "Some friend of my dad has this amazing place right on the beach in Water Mill and he's over in Europe for the next eight months so he's said we can use it—doesn't want it sitting empty all summer apparently. All he wants is the money to cover the utilities and stuff. We can all go out there or we can take a few weekends to enjoy it on our own."

"I'll happily pay just to send Emmett and the snoop thief somewhere else. She can nosy in other people's rooms to her heart's content that way and I don't need to listen to them have sex," I said, and Emmett laughed.

"You're just trying to get rid of me so you can have loud sex with Penis Girl in our apartment because you don't want to invite her away for the weekend yet." He winked and then said to Seth, "But I'm in either way, it's a fucking awesome idea."

Jasper wanted in too and I knew Tyler would agree so the guys started planning which weekends we could all do. While they decided our schedule for the summer, I started to think how cool it would be to take Bella. I wouldn't ask her yet, but if things carried on going as well as they had done so far, I was going to have to drum up courage to invite her.

I had planned to stick to my guns and just have two beers but before I knew it, I was finishing my fifth. I felt a little bit of a buzz from it but knew if I stopped now, I wouldn't be left feeling hungover the next morning. Tyler still hadn't shown up, so I assumed Emmett had been right about him having a date or something and I just hoped that whatever he had he wasn't having it in our apartment.

The brief appearance of or something in my head made me think of Bella and slightly drunk Edward decided it was a good idea to drop her a text message; something sober Edward would spend hours thinking about doing before chickening out.

Hey, Penis Girl! What you up to?

I didn't have to wait long for her reply which made me even more happy I'd sent it.

Watching bad television and eating more chocolate than I should, what about you?

Just out with the guys. Not having nearly as much fun as I had last night.

Well you could try kissing them? That made last night very interesting x

I think I'll give that one a miss. Emmett is a brunette but not quite my type.

You're different today, are you drunk? You are drunk! Are you one of those people who goes out on a school night and still manages to get up for work the next morning?

Just a little bit to the first question & not usually to the second. I was just coming out for a burger and two beers but it ended up being no burger and about five beers. I'm just heading home now.

I left Emmett and the others and went back to the apartment, sober enough to text and walk at the same time, albeit with a little bit of a wobble.

Hope your little bit drunk doesn't mean you'll be dog rough tomorrow morning when I deliver the flowers? I'm planning my outfit, hair and makeup as we speak, I'm disappointed you're not doing the same?

I chuckled to myself.

Yes, it's a tricky choice for me. What colour tie? Short or long-sleeved shirt? Don't get me started on my hair! Do I go for the haven't bothered to brush it look or the have bothered to brush it, but it makes no difference anyway look?

You wear a suit? Interesting.

What did you think I wore?

I don't know, you said you were an IT geek.

Is there a uniform for IT geeks? I might have to get me and the guys who work for me one if there is?

I really like a little bit drunk Edward, he's spunky and even funnier than usual. I thought you might have started worrying and thinking about tomorrow—which you shouldn't do of course. I'm really looking forward to seeing you twice. So, you do wear a suit?

I was smiling like an idiot for the entire walk home and I was relieved the apartment was empty when I walked in. I'd have been in for a world of pain from Tyler or any of the other guys for that matter, when they saw just how goofy I was acting.

Maybe a teeny bit of panic and worry setting in but in a good way I promise! I'm really looking forward to seeing you twice tomorrow too. Yes, I wear a suit… but I'm an IT geek remember, not a style icon and I HATE the suit. The jacket comes off within the first five minutes unless I absolutely have to keep it on. You're weird about the suit ha-ha

Not weird about the suit just interested to see you in a suit. I've told you before, you underestimate your hotness. Really sorry, but as much fun as this is, I have a super early start! I really need to get to bed or I could oversleep and miss seeing you in the suit. Trust me I don't want to miss that! X

It's probably wise anyway, I'm quickly sobering up so nervous bumbling Edward is clawing his way back to the surface. See you tomorrow… twice x

Can't wait, twice! FYI, I adore cute, bumbling Edward just as much as little bit drunk Edward. Goodnight x

My face hurt I was grinning even wider and even when I was laid in bed half asleep, I was still grinning. It had been just over two weeks since I met Penis Girl and I was completely hooked.

The next morning my mood had not dropped even an inch and instead of the nerves of dread and anxiety thinking about seeing Bella at work, I was excited nervous which felt great. I fussed over which tie to wear and then laughed at the absurdity because they were all normal, business-appropriate ties and I doubted any of them would make a significant difference to my appearance. That being said, I still grabbed two spares to take to work with me… just in case.

I saw Jasper talking to the girl on reception when I arrived and there wasn't a hint of a hangover on his face. He jogged over to the lift and rode up to our floor with me.

"I'm impressed, you look human," I teased. "I had more than two beers and left before you, so I expected a lot worse this morning—I was looking forward to subjecting you to James for the afternoon."

"I left about twenty minutes after you did," he said. "I confess to a little bit of a sore head this morning but nothing some aspirin and a coffee wouldn't cure. I left the others still planning our entire summer out at the house."

"Should be fun," I agreed. "Just don't make big plans for the weekend we have the summer event. If I have to be there so do you."

"Difference being people will notice if the host doesn't turn up… they ain't gonna miss a lowly IT analyst like me." Jasper smiled. "If I had to choose between a work party where I have to dress smart and behave myself or go to a house on the beach and have some fun with my mates—let's just say I have my swimming shorts out already."

"Thanks for the support," I muttered. "I might work an IT angle into the plans and submit it as compulsory overtime. That way you have to be there but don't get to enjoy the free bar."

Jasper just laughed, he knew I wouldn't go to that extreme and I knew he'd be at the summer event if I asked him seriously.

Tanya was sitting at her desk smiling smugly when I arrived, and as I opened my mouth to ask her where my coffee was, she inclined her head towards my office and sure enough there was a cup sitting on my desk.

"Thank you," I said, and she stood to follow me into my office. I stood behind my desk and frowned. "The coffee was supposed to be a thank you for letting you leave early yesterday. If you're following me about this early it means you want something, so technically you need to have another token of—"

A bag containing a croissant was thrust in my direction and my frown became a scowl.

"Shit," I grumbled, and she laughed. "What is it now? I'm in a really good mood and you are on the brink of ruining it."

"Nothing major really," she said casually, and I looked at her skeptically.

"Then why the bribery goodies?"

"Can you do me a non-work-related favor?" she asked me. "So, you know about my dirtbag ex-husband?"

"Only what you told me," I reminded her, and she smirked. "So, I have a very one-sided basis for my knowledge."

"It's the only side that matters," she scoffed. "He's my ex and he's a dirtbag—simple."

"What do you need?" I asked her and she smiled.

"It's been months since the divorce was final, we were going to sell the apartment but then he wanted to buy my share. Basically, I've been stuck living there while he tried to find the cash. Well he's finally admitted he can't afford it, so we put it on the market and accepted an offer last week. I've found a new place literally a few buildings down the street, so rather than pay someone else to move my stuff I'm doing it all myself. I was just wondering if my amazing boss and his amazing friends might help me move a few heavier things?"

"That's all you wanted?" I laughed and sighed with relief. "Yeah sure, just let me know when you need us, and I'll rally the troops."

"Thank you, Edward," she said, grinning and then saw me put the two spare ties in my desk drawer. "Why do you have extra ties?"

"In case I get one dirty or I forget one… just better to be organized," I said trying to sound casual but clearly, I failed.

"Yeah right, you mean you were having a moment trying to pick which one and decided to bring all three in case you changed your mind?" Tanya asked knowingly and I nodded. "She's really something this Bella, huh? She's got you all up in knots… in a good way."

"She may or may not be part of the reason why I worried about a tie for the first time in my life." I rolled my eyes. "As if I don't fuss over the stupidest things anyway, I just had to add one more thing to the list."

"Your little eccentricities are sweet, don't stress over them. Show me the other two?" She looked at the two in my hand and then my current tie choice before nodding. "Nothing wrong with the one you're wearing. Right, enjoy your coffee and I'll let you know as soon as reception let me know when the flowers are here. I can't wait to meet her."

"I feel like I'm introducing her to my mother," I said and then quickly backtracked. "I didn't mean because you're older or anything, Tanya. I just meant… well… shit… um… sorry."

"I'll let that one go," she retorted and closed the door behind her a little harder than she usually would.

I tried my hardest to get on with my work and not clock watch but failed miserably. I think the longest I went was four minutes between time checks and I groaned at just how sad the high level of my excitement was simply to see her.

A little after ten Tanya poked her head around the door and smiled. "She's on her way up as we speak."

"Shit," I said to myself and then shouted to Tanya, "Do I meet her at the elevator or wait here? I don't want to look desperate or ready to pounce on her the second she steps off the elevator, but I don't want her to think I couldn't care less about her being here either?"

"Calm yourself down, Edward," Tanya said barely containing her laughter. "Just go and meet the girl, she wasn't offended when she found out I'd hunted her down so why would she bother if you meet her at an elevator?"

I nodded once and hurried out of the office. As I rounded the corner to the elevator Bella was already stepping out into the lobby area of our floor, I could barely see her face for the bouquet of flowers in her hands.

"Hi, Bella," I said quietly, and she craned her neck to the side, smiling. "Can I take those?"

She was wearing black jeans and a black shirt with a flower logo on it and her hair was just pulled back, nothing fancy but she looked just as cute and sexy as she did when she was dressed ready to party.

"I can take them to whoever they're for or are they for you?" she asked. "You look good for a pregnant woman called Lauren."

"If I keep eating pizza and drinking beer like I have been the past few days, I may very well have a bump to rival most pregnant women," I joked. "But sadly, I'm not about to give birth; they're for a girl in my department."

"Better show me where I'm going then," she said.

Tanya was gawking as we walked around to my office and she dashed towards Bella as soon as we were close enough to talk to. "You can leave those here; I'll give them to Lauren once I've sorted the other gifts out. These are beautiful—thank you."

"I just deliver, my friend Alice is the magician," Bella said happily. "But I'll be sure to pass your feedback on."

"Tanya this is…" I started to say.

"Like you need to introduce me," Tanya scoffed and shot Bella a warm smile. "It's lovely to meet you, Bella and just to avoid awkwardness in case Edward hasn't been gushing about his awesome assistant—I'm Tanya."

"I think your name came up when I told her about someone stalking all the florists in New York," I said to her with a wink and Bella laughed.

"You stalked well," Bella told her. "If I ever have any stalking needs can I call you?"

"Absolutely," Tanya said. "I need to get back to work. See you soon, Bella."

"I need to get back to my deliveries," Bella said with a pout. "Still on for dinner later?"

"Absolutely," I said quickly. "I'll take you back downstairs."

"Yep, it's a challenge working out how to make an elevator take you where you need to go. You'd think they'd just put a button on a control panel that you need to press… oh wait a minute." Bella laughed. "I'm kidding, a few more minutes in your company is always welcome."

"Snap," I said. "What time works for you later?"

"We start early and finish early so I'm usually home by four thirty, I just need an hour to make myself look human so whenever is best for you."

"Yeah, because you look very unhuman right now," I teased. "I don't usually leave until around five thirty, could be a little later tonight I have a meeting at four."

"Forgive me for being pushy here but shall I just meet you downstairs when you finish?" she asked with a shrug of her shoulders. "We're usually in the store by five thirty each morning so the earlier the better for me and your office is close to some great places to eat—seems silly for you to go home to just come back again.

"You don't expect me to pick you up at your apartment with a bunch of flowers?" I asked lightheartedly and she pulled a face.

"I spend ten hours a day with flowers and Alice always has them around the apartment if she has a big job to finish. Please never bring me flowers, I might hit you with them." She stepped closer to me as the elevator neared the lobby and put her hand on my arm. "I like you; you seem to like me. I don't need the chivalrous stuff, that's not me. I have no problem meeting you here later so we can get a bit longer to spend together. Plus, you look good in a suit so if I meet you from work the chances are, I get to stare at you in it for longer."

"I may never take the suit off now I know that," I said and we both laughed. "Just ring me when you're almost here, if I'm running late you can come and wait upstairs rather than out on the street? Tanya usually stays until I'm finished anyway so you'll have someone to chat to."

"Sounds like a plan to me," she said happily. "Anyway, back to work for me and from Alice Brandon at Forget Me Not Flowers, thanks for using us for your flower needs."

I lingered in the lobby until she was out of sight and then headed back upstairs trying to think of reasons why we might to need to have flowers delivered every morning.

Thanks for reading! Progress is slow right now but bear with me and I will update as soon as I can!

Stay safe xx