Title: Seven Minutes in Heaven
Author: Readingmama/Vampiremama
Beta: AcrossTheSkyInStars
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. No copyright infringement is intended.
Continuity: AH/AU
Rating: M
Thanks to everyone reading, reviewing, alerting and lurking. I appreciate you all. Huge hugs to my beta Acrosstheskyinstars and to Chartwilightmom for prereading.
Chapter 6
Bella rubbed the back of her neck as her eyes tried to focus on the spreadsheet she'd been staring at for the past hour. Nothing had been holding her attention, and the day was just getting started. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her chair back and got up, heading toward the door. She needed a break.
Seeking out the vending machine, she grabbed a bottled water and made her way to the break room. Bella hadn't had coffee since her last exam day in college. She had used it religiously for studying and staying up late, but when it was over, she had quit and never looked back. She had amazing will power, when it came to everything but men. It was days like this she wished she could just drink the coffee and forget about the men.
Bella found her thoughts drifting to Sam and their date that night. He was taking her to the race track, she'd never been before and it sounded like a fun first date. The excitement had been making each minute of her day drag on like an hour. Every time she found herself getting hyped up, she would talk herself down. Instant attraction did not equal long-term compatibility; hell, it didn't even guarantee short-term compatibility.
She had been very successful not comparing him to Edward yet, but the fact she made that realization told her she wasn't as successful in forgetting Edward as she thought. But the longing was gone; and as she sat and drank her water, she thought about how Sam's lips felt against hers, how his strong body smelled so good when he was up close.
"What's got you looking so flustered today?" Garrett asked, causing Bella to jump.
"Nothing," Bella mumbled, embarrassed.
"Oh right, you've got a date tonight," he replied, grinning. "That's the look Kate always gets before we go out, too."
Bella rolled her eyes at his joke, but chuckled. Her friend loved him but she was past that moony eyed phase and into the 'take off your pants, I wanna have sex' phase. It worked, and their dynamic was perfect for them. No one would chime in and call them the most romantic couple ever but Bella hoped one day to have something similar, and she smiled when she wondered if it could be with Sam.
Stop it, Bella, she chided herself.
~~7MiH~~
Bella thought she'd feel out of place without a hat, but it turns out the races didn't look at all like they did inMy Fair Lady. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, although she was having a great time and they'd just arrived.
There was an indoor and an outdoor section; the indoor having large floor-to-ceiling windows that let the customers see the track from tables, while the outdoor had stands more like a stadium. There were far more people than she expected to be there on a weeknight, but Sam was able to reserve a table for them.
"So how do I do this again?" Bella said as she looked at the race board.
"You pick a horse, you can look at their stats here," Sam said, opening their program and showing her the page. Bella looked at it and shook her head, not understanding what any of it meant. "Then you decide what kind of bet you want. If you want, you can just bet on if they win, or you can bet across-the-board and that means you will get money if they finish in the top three. The better they finish, the better you do."
Bella looked back up at the board and studied it for a second before she strolled up to the window. The pamphlet she picked up at the door had told her how to bet. "Emerald Downs, race number two, $20 on number six."
"Number six, Bella?" Sam said, coming up behind her, his program open in his hands, "He's not rated so good."
"But I like his name," she replied as she pushed her money through the window. A ticket came back out at her.
Sam chuckled. "I can't help but like a girl who cheers for the underdog. Gives me hope." He winked at her and then stepped by to make his bet.
"You don't seem like and underdog to me," Bella replied when he turned back to her, his bet in hand.
"And yet there is always another guy that comes in and sweeps the girl away on me."
"Telling me you were rejected for the bigger and better might not be the best wooing method."
"Hey," Sam said, raising his hands, "no one said anything about bigger."
Bella looked at him incredulously and then they both burst out laughing.
About forty minutes later, Bella sat counting her winnings smugly as Sam chuckled and shook his head at her.
"Beginners luck," Sam warned.
She tucked the bills into her purse and slapped her hands together. "So what now, do we make more bets?"
Sam smiled like he was the one who won the prize and happily escorted Bella back to the ticket counter. They placed a few more bets, ordered some food, and spent the night talking. Sam's wit captivated Bella, she could tell already that she really liked him and he seemed into her as well. For the first time in years she felt like a normal girl, able to date without a cloud hanging over her.
~~7MiH~~
Sam kissed like a gold medalist. Bella had never kissed a gold medalist but she assumed that if kissing was a sport, Sam would easily win gold for his skills. He had that perfect combination of firmness and wetness so many men just couldn't quite master.
His lips made her heart beat faster and her toes curl in her sensible but fashionable shoes. She pulled him closer as he expertly maneuvered his tongue passed her lips.
She needed a moment to catch her breath after the kiss was over, knowing that if she spoke before she could think, she would invite him in, and she wasn't ready for that yet.
"That was fun," Bella said.
"It doesn't have to stop," Sam replied with a smile, his large hand cascading over her hip and around her back.
Bella's mind followed his line of thought and a whimper escaped her mouth. "Tonight it does," she muttered apologetically.
Nodding, like he expected that answer, Sam leaned and kissed Bella's neck, whispering against her skin, "When can I see you again?"
Bella shivered as his warm breath tickled her neck. "Kate, Garrett and I are going to Mickey's to check out the next band tomorrow night. Would you like to come with us?" Bella offered on a shaky breath.
"I'd love that." He kissed her again in a way that made Bella feel consumed.
Bella begrudgingly said goodnight after that, retreating into her condo as she heard the first sounds of thunder.
~~7MiH~~
After closing the door on Sam and subsequently resting against it, Bella needed a few long deep drags of air. Her breath was racing and it felt like she had just ran a marathon, the way her heart pounded in her chest. She had a hard time peeling her back off the door, worried that she might chase him down and invite him in if she moved.
Finally, a loud bang of thunder startled her enough to move. The bang, followed by a strike of lightning lighting up her room through the window, resulted in the sky opening up and the rain falling hard. The rain pounded on the glass in an angry way, causing Bella to desire the lights on right away. When she walked and flicked the switch, thunder roared but her lights stayed off. She flicked them down and up again, groaning when she realized the power was gone.
Bella grabbed her emergency flashlight from the stand by her door and made her way to the couch. She pulled her throw blanket over her and sat there with both hands holding the flashlight. It wasn't that she hated rain; it was the thunder that always made her uneasy.
The next eruption of thunder Bella could feel all the way in her toes, it sounded like a gun shot and it was followed by three loud knocks on her door. Bella couldn't help the scream that escaped.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Sam's voice called through the door and Bella felt herself relax.
Nearly tripping over the blanket to get to the door, Bella was able to gather herself enough not to tear open the door and fling herself into his arms. When she opened the door, he stood there with a concerned look on his face.
"Sorry, you startled me. Well, you and the thunder," she said.
"I got downstairs and the rain started. I was hoping I might be able to ride out the storm up here," he explained.
"Of course," Bella said, inviting him in, glad to have some company for the storm. "I don't have any lights, though." She held up her flashlight to show him in.
"Do you have any candles?" he asked.
"Afraid not. I'm not very prepared," she chuckled.
"Well, we don't need light anyway," Sam said with a wink.
Bella shifted, almost forgetting about the storm. "Am I going to have to tell you to behave?"
"I promise, only minimal funny business." He leaned in and his lips were suddenly on hers.
~~7MiH~~
Bella woke up with a smile on her face. She could still feel Sam's warm body even though he'd left hours ago after the storm had lifted. They had made out like teenagers, like how she should have been making out when she was a teenager. Sam was respectful but that didn't stop him from trying for more. It was the perfect mixture to make Bella feel desired and respected.
After a shower and a fresh application of makeup, Bella dressed for work and shoved another outfit in a bag for later. Kate was picking her up and then the three of them were going to dinner before meeting Sam at Mickey's to watch the band. Mickey's was not the place to rock out your pantsuit.
She boiled the kettle, making a tea for herself and an instant coffee for Kate in the travel mugs. She had her coat on and bag in hand when Kate buzzed up. Bella pressed the button to let her in the building but didn't bother waiting for her to come up. She locked her door behind her and went to meet her friend.
"You look perky this morning," Kate said with a smile as she took the coffee Bella offered her.
"And you look nosey," Bella replied with a smile, walking passed her and out to the car.
"Soooo, how was the date?" Kate asked once they were buckled in.
"It was fun. He's coming to see the band tonight," Bella replied, knowing that Kate would be fine with the extra guest.
"Fun? How fun?"
"Fun enough," Bella replied with a smile on her face that made her friend laugh.
"I'm really happy for you, Bella. I think it's great you've finally met someone that can make you forget about that Edward guy."
"Me too," Bella replied, "It's like you said, he's probably not the same person anymore. So why hold on?"
~~7MiH~~
Mickey's was far more packed that it had been the previous week. Garrett had heard some buzz about the band being incredible. Although looking around and seeing the mass of women in the bar, Bella wondered if they were there to see the band or one of the band mates. Mickey's didn't usually attract nearly underage women who showed more skin than not but the atmosphere was different tonight. Girls in crop tops and tiny skirts milled around, planting themselves on the dance floor and holding their positions as it came closer to the time the band was going on.
"Do these guys play naked or something?" Kate asked Bella and they laughed.
"And here I forgot my extra set of panties to throw," Garrett chimed in.
Bella scanned the room, and the moment she saw Sam, she could feel what it was like to have his arms around her. She'd never been with a man so muscular, every inch of him was toned and she liked the way that hardness felt against her softness. He was showing that hardness off in a fitted black t-shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Hi, Bella," he said, his deep voice dipping as he leaned and kissed her hello.
"Hi, Sam," she replied a grin on her face as he pulled back.
Bella was so entranced in conversation that she didn't even notice when the band took to the stage to set up; it wasn't until they played their first chord that she remembered why they were there. Lost in her conversation with Sam, she just raised her voice and tried to keep speaking but it became impossible when the scours of scantily clad women began to scream.
Kate leaned over and rolled her eyes as she yelled in Bella's ear, "What is up, it's not like these guys are that good?"
Bella had liked the song well enough so far but she knew there was more to it than the music so she stretched up on her seat to see the band. Kate did the same and then laughed.
"Oh, I get it now," Kate said, checking out the singer and lead gutarist. "He's hot."
"He's Edward," Bella said, the color draining from her face.