I know it's starting off slow but I hope you will continue to stick it out with me as the friendship between Blackwater grows into more.

All characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer.

FOUR

Leah woke up the next morning at five thirty with a slight headache. She'd never had more than two glasses of wine, and had taken aspirin before bed, so it was nothing that more pills and a cup of coffee and a bagel wouldn't cure. She did a quick run on the treadmill before getting ready for work to sweat out the alcohol and get her body awake and ready to start the day. Leah had to admit that she'd had a fun with Donna and her friends last night. It was something that she'd needed to do instead of sitting home crying over Sam. She decided to get Donna a gift card for something nice as a thank you.

She made it on time for her seven thirty appointment, an extraction for a school teacher Mrs. Alderly. "Are you sure you'll be okay going to class after?" Leah asked, knowing how the throbbing pain could be a bother. Talking too much could make it worse.

"I didn't arrange for a substitute so I need to be there. Just give me something for the pain and I'll be fine Dr. Uley."

"Okay then." Leah wrote the prescription and bid her patient a good day.

The rest of the morning went quickly and she found herself in need of a break. Usually she ate a quick lunch lasting no more than fifteen minutes so that she could keep her appointments on schedule, but today she felt to take the lunch hour that was allotted for some fresh air and a little walk. Taking a proper lunch hour would be a respite to clear her head of Sam and Jacob, if she was being honest. She couldn't stop thinking about Sam's official removal from their home – or how sexy Jacob was or how he'd made her body tingle. He was a nice guy. Not once had he made her feel like he was simply after her body even though he clearly checked her out. Hell, she'd checked him out too. There was definitely a mutual attraction there and it was messing with her brain. Sometimes she didn't know if she was hurting or horny. How could one possibly be both and stay sane? It was certainly an uncompromising position to find herself in.

Leah gathered her bag and coat and decided to make a trip down to the deli. She stepped out into the main office to tell Sheila that she'd be back, and also to take her secretary's order if she wanted anything. Her dental assistant Megan always brought her own lunches as she was a strict vegan.

"Hi Sheila, I'll be going to the deli. Want anything?"

Sheila looked up at her boss and smirked. "Uh, I think I'll just order up, you go and enjoy yourself."

"Are you sure? You don't need to bother with a delivery fee If I'm already going," Leah couldn't understand why Sheila was looking at her like that, or refusing to order her lunch.

"You have a visitor Dr. Uley, and I think he means to take you to lunch himself."

Leah stilled as she processed the woman's words. "What?" she hissed, afraid to even look up and see who was in the waiting for her. Her first thought was Sam, but that couldn't be right?

"A Mr. Black?" Sheila quirked an eyebrow, as if asking who he was.

Leah gulped and looked up. Sure enough Jacob Black was sitting in her waiting room, staring directly at Leah with a very hopeful, and endearing expression. Leah released the breath she was holding. She couldn't help but offer half a smile and wave hello. Jacob immediately rose from his seat, seeming to take up the entire width and height of the room with his massive frame and threw down the magazine he'd been reading. He was wearing blue jeans and his work shirt which was a pale blue and had buttons down the front. His long hair was tied back and he was over all very neat.

"I'll be back in an hour Sheila, uh, hold all my calls and uh, yeah…be back."

"Okay Boss, have a good time," Sheila sang after her as Leah slipped out of the room and went around the counter to where Jacob was waiting.

"I hope it's okay to show up like this, I wanted to call but honestly, I just uh, didn't have the guts. I figured if I showed up you couldn't say no to lunch?"

Leah smiled at Jacob's nervous explanation. He was totally adorable. "This was a surprise Jacob, but it's fine. I was just heading out for lunch actually so I guess you can join me."

Jacob exhaled in relief. "Thank God," he whispered before gesturing towards the door.

They walked down the stairs and out onto the main street without speaking, then Leah turned to him and asked what he had in mind for lunch. "I can't go too far or I'll keep my patients waiting. I have about forty minutes."

"Ah, somewhere near is fine, I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing anyways, maybe make plans for something more official, like dinner?"

Leah watched him as they kept the pace towards the deli at the corner. She was a little surprised he asked her out before they even sat down to eat. "Dinner?" she echoed, unable to stop the excited tingle in her spine.

"Yeah, if you'd like, I mean?" Jacob responded nervously. "I was hoping we could…sometime."

AH hell, she thought. He was expecting her to say no and honestly, now that he was in front of her reminding her just how gorgeous he was, it was the last thing she wanted to tell him. But she stopped herself from readily accepting his invitation. Leah felt it necessary not to let her attraction to him outweigh the reality of her current situation. She still had a lot on her plate emotionally and she couldn't just jump into anything so quickly. "I'm not ready to date yet Jacob. My divorce isn't properly final yet either. If you want to get dinner, it will be just as friends."

His face lit up with a huge grin that caught her off-guard. "That's fine with me. How's Saturday at seven?"

"I'll pencil you in," Leah joked as she opened the door and led the way to the counter. They wasted no time ordering sandwiches and coffee and Jacob found them a booth to the back where they could have a little privacy.

"I still can't believe you're here," Leah said nervously playing with her rings. It was an old habit that would very soon have to die.

"If I'm honest I'd have to admit that I haven't stopped thinking about you since we met. Seeing you last night, I just knew that I had to know you."

"Really? Why?" Leah couldn't help but feel extremely flattered.

"Lots of reasons really. You're very attractive Leah, you seem fun and nice, you're classy. I'm intrigued. And I know the timing's bad with your divorce and all, but I'm hoping you'll want to hang out sometimes?" Jacob sat back, clasping his sandwich as he gave her that pleading look again. Leah would definitely call it his puppy look.

"I see." She took another bite and thought about what he'd said, deciding to put off a direct response. "So you're single then?"

"Well, I got divorced kinda recently as well. About a year ago."

Leah blanched. "I'm sorry to hear that Jacob."

"Jake, call me Jake." Leah smiled at the correction and nodded. "She left me for someone else. She left US, I should say."

"What do you mean?"

"I have a seven-year-old girl."

"Oh, that's nice. You're lucky. I always wanted kids but it never happened." Leah was shocked to hear that, but decided that it wasn't such a big deal if he had a child.

Jacob nodded. "I'm sure you can still have a family one day Leah. You're young, life hasn't ended because your husband is an idiot."

Leah snorted but she couldn't help but smile at the compliment. She quite agreed in fact. Sam was an idiot if he thought Emily was better than her. "So it's just you and your daughter?"

"Nessie, and no. My father lives with us, he's in a wheelchair."

"Okay. So you…take care of them?"

"Yeah, I do. We take care of each other though, I guess. But I couldn't live without them. They're everything to me, yuh know?"

"Yes I know. I feel that way about Seth as well. And my Mom. My father died a long time ago so it's just us three."

"I know, Seth told me."

"Do you think he'd mind if we started seeing each other…as friends I mean?" Leah asked, quickly correcting herself.

"You know, I hadn't thought much of it before, but Seth knows I'm a good guy, so I think he'll be okay about it. If not, I'll just have to prove to him that I won't hurt you like your ex did."

"You seem quite serious, and you don't even know me."

"It's just a feeling. Like I said, I can't stop thinking about you and I want to explore any possibilities there are for spending time together."

Leah was taken aback by his forthrightness. He seemed quite comfortable with telling her exactly how he felt – that he wanted to pursue her, just like that! As flattered as she was Leah couldn't help but feel hesitant. "Maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up, I'm a mess right now Jake."

"And I understand that, but being alone isn't the answer though. Trust me. Just let me hang around, as a friend who knows exactly what you're going through."

"Friends." Leah stressed firmly, noting his intention to be persistent.

"Yes, a friend who can still take you to dinner though, right?"

Leah smiled at his persistence. "Right. Casually."

"Of course, we can go to a sports bar or something, it doesn't have to be fancy."

Leah nodded at the suggestion. "That sounds alright."

"Good."

They walked out of the deli and down the street side by side, and when they reached the door to Leah's office they turned to face one another.

"Thanks for lunch, I had a nice time," Leah told him.

"Sure? Cause I'm not sure you really did." Jacob dug his hands into his pockets and bounced on the balls of his feet. His eyes seemed to scan her face for a lie.

"Yes Jake. I'm sure." She smiled reassuringly, noting that he was rather cute when he was nervous.

"Good. Can I call you sometime this week?"

"Yeah, you can."

"Great! Okay, well thanks for not telling me no and enjoy the rest of your day then Doctor Uley," Jacob smirked more confidently and opened the door for Leah so she could ascend the stairs.

Leah playfully rolled her eyes and replied, "You too Mr. Black."