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oOo
Okay, she had so far managed to bring her ex into the conversation, and she had just basically admitted that she liked Edward.
As in, "I've always liked older men."
Bella's face still was as red as a tomato as she studied her nails, deciding they could do with a makeover later today.
"You do, huh?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. Why did he always pretend to be shy and sweet, when, in reality, he clearly was the devil?
She bit into a cucumber sandwich and tried to will her blood to leave her face again.
When she dared look up again, her eyes met Edward's, who was wearing a thoughtful, guarded expression.
He smiled when she looked up.
"Can I take that as a compliment? I mean, you said older, not old, right?"
And her cheeks flushed again.
"I… I didn't mean…"
"It's okay, Bella."
He reached out and touched the tip of her pinkie finger with his.
"Do you like the sandwiches?"
She nodded.
"My mum loves to make them for Sunday afternoons," he said. "And she sometimes insists we all come and join her and Dad."
"I go to my parents for lunch on Sundays," Bella replied, slowly emerging from her mortification.
"Another thing we have in common, it seems," he said gently.
"Are you going tomorrow?"
"Yes. My sister already called me two times to remind me."
"Are you prone to skipping?"
He shrugged, but didn't reply. His fingers were drumming the table for a moment. It reminded her of their last meeting on Monday, when he'd done the same, standing behind her in the queue.
"Do you want to head back and see more paintings?" he asked abruptly.
"I don't know. It's been a lot of input. Maybe we could continue this some other time?"
"I would love that." His voice was slightly hoarse.
"I really enjoyed myself today," she said.
"So did I." He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
Bella wondered what he would be doing tonight. Meet friends? Paint?
She wasn't going to ask though. She'd already made enough of a fool of herself.
.
Edward insisted on paying for their tea, and he helped her into her coat as they collected them at the cloakroom. It was almost dark when they stepped out into the cold. Without the warmth of the sun, the air was biting. Bella shivered.
"How are you getting home?" Edward asked.
"The b-bus."
"Where d'you live?"
"Fulham."
"Bella, that's…" He shook his head.
Bella shivered again. She hated that she always felt the cold so easily. It came with a weight of one-hundred-and-two pounds.
Suddenly, Edward wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her down the broad staircase. Once they were at the bottom, he held out his hand, and only a few seconds later, a black taxicab stopped at the curb. Edward opened the door for her and hurried around to the other side.
"Hi, going to Fulham," he informed the driver as he closed the door behind him. "And could you please turn up the heat?"
oOo