Finally! An update! Thanks for being so patient! Giant thanks to Paige and Sherry for being such wonderful betas!

"The hot July moon saw everything

My first taste of love oh bittersweet

Green on the vine

Like strawberry wine."

-Deana Carter-

BPOV:

I'm not one for losing my wits - all together, but Edward's the most enjoyable drinking partner I've ever had. He can really kick back and let loose and just enjoy the moment. With him, there's no yesterday, no tomorrow, it's only here and now. That's hard to find for some reason. It seems like everyone is are harping about their problems these days and never appreciating what they have in front of them. I suppose I shouldn't compare Edward to any others because he's nothing like the rest.

"How are you liking the Malbec?" he asks as he swirls the contents of his glass around and stares at me.

I chuckle at his fascination of watching me drink. It's obvious he's not a big fan of wine. "It's great," I say as I finish off my glass, "but I don't have much to compare it to."

"You're not a big fan of wine? I thought girls loved it."

"Well, I've only had the cheap stuff," I say honestly as I move onto my next glass. Usually, when it comes to wine I'd buy whatever was the cheapest at the supermarket. When I'd bartend, I'd usually stick to the mix drinks and beer selections. Same with the customers too, that's why we'd have so many old bottles of wine sitting around waiting for a couple to want a glass or two on their date. "I'm really spoiling myself today."

"You mean I'm spoiling you," he responds as he finishes off his glass, then moves onto his next with me. "Let me pay for today. With everything you've been going through it's the least I can do."

Does he want this to be - dare I say it - a date? I don't want to be presumptuous, but with the way he's been making eyes at me since we arrived here, I can't help but think this is slowly turning into something more. I can't begin to put into words how I feel about that. On one hand, I'd be delighted to go out with a man like Edward. He's funny, intelligent, and so attractive it actually manages to make me uncomfortable sometimes. I've always managed to hold my own when it came to men, but with Edward everything is so very different. He literally makes me feel nervous, something not many men can do. And when I say 'not many men', I mean the only man who's ever made me nervous was my father and that was certainly a very different type of nervousness.

"Do you know much about this one?" Our next glass is a White Zinfandel and I can safely say I've never tried it before.

Edward smirks at me and shakes his head. "I wasn't really listening to our waiter, to be honest. I was too busy staring at you."

I flush. "Are you flirting with me, Edward?"

"Bells," he answers with a wolfish grin, "if I was really flirting with you, there'd be no question in your mind. It's just hard to pay attention to anything else when I've got you around," he continues as he leans back casually in his chair.

Okay, now he's flirting with me. There's just something in his tone that makes me want to jump his bones. I'm beginning to wonder how much longer I'll be able to last with my vow of celibacy. So far, it's horrible. It wouldn't be so bad at all if it weren't for Edward. He's just too distracting for his own good and it'll be too hard to try to use a toy, knowing I've got the real thing so close by.

"I wasn't listening much either," I flirt back.

"Well, I'm sure it doesn't matter too much. Although, I guess we're missing the whole 'wine tasting experience'. Let's drink up and head out. I'm ready to see a movie and pass out in our hotel room."

I almost pout at his words. Passing out in our hotel room is the last thing I want to do, although I know it's what I should want to do. I don't want Edward to be a rebound, but my body is yearning for a physical relationship with him. My heart's drawn to me, while my brain has to be more practical. As one glass turns into two more, my inhibitions are becoming non-existent. By the time we leave the Grey Mule Saloon to head to a movie theatre to see what's playing, I feel flushed all over. I don't know if it's the wine, him, or a combination of both. Whatever the reason, I want to be near him. He holds my hand as he leads me out of the saloon and over to his truck. All the while, I pretend that we have something more between us. He makes it easy to play make-believe with the way he treats me; it's not hard to imagine him as my boyfriend. What the blazes are you thinking, Bella? Stop this right now! I can't and I'm not sure I want to.

He holds my hand atop the center console the whole drive over. I roll the window down and close my eyes, enjoying the cool air as night begins to fall. Twilight is easily my favorite part of the day because the sun isn't as unbearable and my skin can finally breathe. I sigh, and relax against my seat, letting the cool air drift over me.

"You look so beautiful like that, Bells."

I quickly open my eyes and find Edward staring at me. I flush, and run a hand through my hair to push it away from my face before sitting up straighter in my seat. "Like what?"

"So relaxed," he says with a shrug. "I haven't seen you this relaxed."

He's probably right. Running away from your wedding really takes it out of you. I've been so worried about my broken engagement and feelings toward Edward, I've been nothing but tense. Even when I've been enjoying myself. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can finally breathe.

"I guess it's the wine," I tease him.

"I guess, but it seems to be more than just that."

Well, being around Edward certainly helps my happiness. I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell him that just yet. "I feel like I can finally put the past behind me, I guess. Now that we're so far away from that town, my friends and family, I feel like I can finally think clearly."

"I feel you there," Edward comments as he pulls onto the highway. "I left El Paso so I could have some time to think as well."

"Think about what?" I ask, not wanting to pry.

"I don't know. I guess I just needed some space. I left to visit my friend that lives out-of-town and then ended up running into you… and now I'm in no rush to get back. If it weren't for my family, I don't know if I'd go back at all."

"Are things bad there?"

"No, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery. I love it most of the time."

"Change of scenery is definitely nice." I keep the conversation flowing, although I don't want to press him any further. "I spent so long looking at the same old thing I don't know how I survived. I honestly can't believe I stayed for so long. I was just waiting tables and working on my artwork, I could've done that anywhere."

"What kept you there then?" he asks as he gets off the exit, which leads to our movie theatre.

"I don't know," I say, wondering myself. "I guess I allowed myself to get comfortable and never wanted to see what else was out there. Sometimes, I thought about leaving the state all together. Luckily, it's big enough to travel around and feel as though you're somewhere else. Have you ever lived anywhere else?"

A giant grin breaks out on his face and he shakes his head. "No, I've never left Texas besides a few trips to Nevada and New Mexico. Every other state I've been to I've only seen from the inside of my truck while I was passing through. I've always wanted to travel, but I'm not sure I'd ever want to live anywhere else. This place is just like home to me. Plus, my entire career is here. I couldn't walk away from that. At least, not right now. I know I'll have to give it up eventually, but I always imagined I'd stay in Texas and help run my family's farm."

I could see him growing old out in the country. With a bunch of kids perhaps? Or maybe that's just my dream and I just happen to be including him in that fantasy. Although we barely know each other, I can easily envision an entire future for us. I don't know what that says about me. Maybe that's pathetic or downright scary on my part, but I just can't help it. I can imagine him, in a decade, with a nice beard, an incredible body, and a farm full of animals and a house full of kids to tend to. I can picture him sitting on the porch with a cold glass of tea after a long, hard day of work. I also can't help but envision myself in this fantasy - it is my own fantasy after all. I'd be by his side, taking care of him after a long, hard day's work outside. Then he'd spend the night in bed, taking care of me.

"What about you?" Edward's question pulls me away from my daydreaming before it can really heat up.

"What?" I ask, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.

He smirks and asks again, "What do you see yourself doing?"

"Well, I always wanted to be a painter," I say, feeling even more embarrassed. Whenever I've mentioned my artwork, I've always gotten a negative reaction. Not because it's bad, usually the negative reactions come from people who've never even seen my artwork. They just scoff at the idea of being an artist and say I should focus on a 'real dream'. Whatever that means. I guess the idea of making money from art isn't realistic to anyone. Maybe those people are right, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't give it a go. Perchance I'll go back to school one day and finish my degree so I can find a job that's more 'safe', like my mother puts it.

"You'll have to show me your art sometime, Bells. I bet it's amazing."

"I don't know about that." I blush. "That's one thing I regret leaving behind. I was in such a rush to leave town, I didn't even think about everything I was leaving in my apartment."

"Well, we can always go back and get it."

"I lived with my ex-fiance," I say with a groan. "I'm not worried he'll do anything to it, he's not that vindictive. I just don't want to face him. At least, not yet."

"We'll get it, Bells. I promise. We'll find a way to avoid any awkwardness," he says with a smile. He pulls into the parking lot of the local theater which looks nearly deserted and turns off his engine. "Let me take you to a movie and we'll forget all about our problems. Let's just enjoy the time we have now."

I smile at the thought. That's what I want more than anything, to live in the moment and stop worrying about the things around me that I can't control. I'm so worried about Edward being a rebound, I'm not following what my heart wants. What my body wants. And that's Edward, whether my mind thinks I'm ready or not. I'm not going to be able to suppress these feelings much longer. Especially after a day of him turning on his damn charm. I don't know if he's trying to charm me into bed, or if I want him so much it hurts, but whatever it is, I know something's gonna happen sooner rather than later.

A/N: I'll be posting inspirational pictures and teasers in my facebook group! I'm trying to get better about doing that, so if you haven't already, come join! I hope you all had an awesome October! I've been so busy, so it's nice to finally have some time to come back to my FF. See you next update!