My intention had not been to accost Bella against the washing machines, but when she turned to look at me, something in her eyes, her face, nearly brought me to my knees.

I'd only ever had one serious relationship, I liked to work, I liked to be single, I loved my freedom. But there, in that one moment, everything changed. I wanted her more than the morning sky wanted the sun to rise again.

Her cheeks were pink and she pulled at her lower lip with two fingers.

"Sorry about that." I lifted a strand of her hair from her shoulder and twisted it between my fingers. "Probably should have made sure we were alone."

"Probably." She whispered and looked down at her shoes.

Maybe I'd read her wrong, but I could have sworn she was on the same page.

I tipped her chin back so that I could see her face, "You okay?"

"Oh, yeh. Yeh, I'm okay. Just a little.. I dunno, shocked?"

"Shocked?"

Bella nodded her head and I stroked my fingertips across her cheek, enjoying the way her body moved closer to mine at the touch.

"I just didn't expect it to be like that."

"What? All mountains moving, fireworks and chills?" I smiled slowly.

"Yes. All of that." She eyed me speculatively, "Are you making fun of me?"

"Not all, Bella."

"Oh."

"Tell ya what, you meet me here, Monday night. Let's say, seven?" She nodded once. "Don't bring your dirty clothes." I laughed. "Just you."

"Okay. I can do that. But what-"

My finger rested against her lips silencing her question.

"I promise you the best laundromat date yet."

Bella laughed, her eyes sparkled in the halogen lights.

"You know, somehow I don't doubt that."

"Good." And because I couldn't stop myself, I leaned in and tasted her berry-sweetened lips once more. "And keep wearing whatever it is that you've got on your lips." I could hardly hear myself over the loud buzz of the washer, but again she nodded, her large brown eyes on mine.

"I should, um, probably do this." She pointed at the washer and I stepped back to give her room. This was going to kill me but I wanted it so bad. I wanted her. And I was willing to do it the right way.

The jeans she wore tonight had paint splattered across her ass and the backs of her thighs.

"You paint?"

Bella glanced at me over her shoulder, "No. Why?"

I pointed at her and shrugged, "You have blue and white paint on your ass."

"Oh!" She laughed and went back to moving her clothes to the dryer, "I was helping my mom paint walls at my parents' house. She is forever changing up her walls. And furniture. It's a miracle my dad hasn't cut her off yet."

"So, your parents are pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeh, I guess." Bella closed the dryer door, inserted her pay card and started the machine. "My dad is a chef, loves to cook, and loves to boss people around. At the same time, he's got his head in the clouds, a total romantic at heart, just like my mom." She grinned.

"And between the chef and the decorator came the vet."

"Guess so." She smiled. "And your parents?"

"My parents are crazy, like two teenagers still." We sat on the padded bench next to each other. "My mom is a designer. She loved handbags so much, she decided to create her own. My dad is a pediatric heart surgeon."

"Woah. That's impressive."

"He loves what he does, feels passionate about his choice in life."

"Any siblings?"

"No. Just me. I do have a cousin that I grew up with; Emmett is like a brother, we started the brewery together. You?"

"Nope. Just me. And unlike you, no cousin to call brother or sister."

"Well that's a shame."

"Eh. I was spoiled with love and cookies growing up, and I have a really great best friend. Rose and I have known each other since we were eight. Her dad was in the military and they moved around a lot. We stayed friends through letters and then emails and summer visits."

"That's cool."

"I think so."

And just like that, the time flew by and I was watching her walk off in the opposite direction down the sidewalk once more.