Chapter 7: The Cocky bastard has a heart?

Fuck! Bella was ignoring me, like the damn plague. She wouldn't take my phone calls, answer my texts, and if that wasn't bad enough, she had most of the flowers and candy I sent to her sent back to me. Since Bella's birthday was coming up, I decided to wait to give her the car until then, I was sure she probably wouldn't accept it anyway. But I wasn't taking no for an answer, she was going to accept that fucking pink Kia Soul, that I had painted specially for her, it was sitting in my garage at home, just waiting for her. I had to admit it looked good with my other cars, in my garage.

I had to take matters into my own hands, if I was ever going to see my virgin again. I couldn't believe, I hadn't talked to her in three whole damn days. I sighed, as I sat in my office, fucking sulking.

"What the fuck are all these flowers doing in your office? Guys come look at this," Sam said calling all the guys into my office, during lunch time. I rolled my eyes, this was the last shit I needed today.

"Jake man, are you actually chasing this virgin, man? That's a big fucking no-no! If she doesn't willingly hop in your bed, with you being the rich, sexy bastard you are, kick her scrawny ass to the curb." Paul said.

I flinched at him calling her a disrespectful name. Why the fuck did I care so much? I tried to shake it away. But I couldn't, Bella didn't deserve to be talked about that kind of way. I just hoped they didn't see me flinch.

"You've turned fucking soft on us," Embry added, laughing. The guys agreed with him.

"Did you just fucking flinch man? Are you growing feeling for this girl?" Paul asked. "Remember we don't do that love shit!"

Damn they saw.

"I'm not turning soft, I'm the same old Jake dammit! I just want to be the one guy who gets to crack the virgin, anything to get in her pants, right?"

"But flowers and candy? Who does this shit? Certainly not us." Quil said, helping himself to the chocolate that was on my desk.

"There has to be stipulations on anything," Paul added.

"I think its sweet, Jake deserves to be happy. He's been with enough sluts for a lifetime." Collin said.

The guys groaned at Collin, hurling insults at him like 'softy' 'mama's boy' 'pansy' 'pussy.'

"Oh shut up Collin with your soft ass!" Paul said slapping him in the back of the head.

"Collin's sort of right, I'm tired of all these easy sluts, who jumps when I say how high, Bella is a challenge."

More groans from the guys, however they knew not to disrespect me or I would kick all of their asses.

"Who wants a challenge, when you can have it easy?" Quil said.

"And when was the last time you got laid Quil, I'll wait."

His russet skin twinged red.

"That's what I fucking thought," I smirked.

"Well I don't blame Jake. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on that sexy little virgin either," Sam said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "She's mine," I said through clenched teeth.

"Well Jake, when you're bored with her, have her swing my way." Sam said.

I wanted to punch the fuck out of him, how fucking dare he? I growled, and the guys stepped back.

"She is hot, but is she hot enough to buy flowers and candy for?" Paul asked.

"Oh shut it fuckers," I said annoyed. "Now get the hell out of my office before I dock your pay for two weeks." They flew out of my office before I could blink, each taking some candy with them.

Bella was driving me fucking nuts, she was all I thought about. No matter how hard I tried to think of something else, she was always on my mind. I tried to think of new ways, to show her I did sort of care about her. When she said she wasn't going to make it easy she fucking meant it. I called Angela to see if she could help me out, I got Bella's work schedule, and since she told me not to come to her school again, I was going to do the next best thing. Wait for her until she got off work. Luckily, Bella's car was under the weather -all the more reasons to accept her brand new Kia Soul- so she would have no choice but to ride with me after work.

The day wore on, and I threw myself into work, like I did everyday. But for some fucking reason, I couldn't concentrate, no matter how hard I tried. Fucking virgin. The day was finally over much to my relief, and I hopped into my yellow Audi R8, and flew to my house. I did the usual, and after my shower I threw on some casual clothes Rosa laid out.

I tried to take my mind off of Virgin, by looking over the business numbers of my other garage shops I owned outside of Seattle. If business kept up like this, I would be able to expand all over the United States, in a few years. I would have to schedule a business meeting soon, to visit all my shops along the west coast, and hopefully I would have my mistress by my side, when the time came. When I got finished looking over the numbers, and writing out some boring business shit, it was about time for me to pick up my virgin. I flew to the car, where it was already cranked and ready to go, courtesy of my butler. I quickly drove off. I stopped by a familiar place, and got Bella a little surprise.

I arrived at Newton's Sporting goods store in no time. What the fuck? I felt a weird sensation in my stomach. Like I was anxious, excited, and scared at the same time. Hold a damn minute. Was this what the fuck nerves felt like? Oh fuck no! I was just coming down with a stomach bug or some shit, that had to be it. Jacob Black doesn't do that shit. I would have Rosa concoct me one of those Mexican herbal remedies, that tasted horrible, but would get rid of whatever the fuck this was going on in my stomach. Because Jacob -sexy ass- Black doesn't get nervous.

I took a deep breath before, walking into the store. It was devoid of customers. I walked a few more feet into the store. There she was, dressed in her favorite color pink, her hair tied tightly in a pony tail. She had her back turned toward the door. She heard the door bell that was attached to the door, and she said. "Sorry but we're closed." Without turning around. She was stocking something.

"Bella…" I said huskily.

She stopped in her tracks, and dropped something. "Jake, don't…." She said. "Not tonight, I don't have the energy…."

"Don't what? You said show you? I've been trying to do that."

She turned around suddenly. "You think sending me flowers and candy is showing me? You think that's showing me?" She asked her eyebrows pinching together.

So fucking adorable.

I didn't know what to say. "I hope so.. no one can resist flowers, and candy right?"

"Well you hoped wrong, now if you would please leave sir, we're closed." She said coldly.

"Bella…" I said. "I never send a woman flowers or candy..."

"Gee, I guess I'm lucky." She said sarcastically. "Now, Mr. Black, I said we're closed."

"At least let me drive you home, I don't like you being here all by yourself." I said.

"I can take care of myself, Jake."

"I know, you're not going to make it easy, but when I'm trying here, please don't turn me down. You have to play fair."

She smirked. "It's not a game, and why should I when you don't?"

I played innocent. "What are you talking about?" I shrugged.

"Oh you know what I'm talking about, no more kisses until I ask for them."

"Oh so you're going to ask?" I asked her smirking.

"Its not a guarantee, so you can wipe that smirk off your lips."

"But you're not closed to the idea? That's a plus."

"Kiss me again without permission Mr. Black, and you'll get pepper sprayed. My daddy's police chief, so he taught me a few things." She said.

"So I'm dating a police chief's daughter, that doesn't sit well with me..." I groaned.

"It shouldn't, he's very gun happy, break his little girl's heart and he'll shoot you right in the-"

"Bella…." I interrupted, and she turned pink. "Let's not get naughty, unless you're ready to pet…."

"Jake! I'm sorry I even opened that up for discussion, totally my fault."

I smirked. "As long as you know."

"For your FYI I don't plan on breaking his little girl's heart." I smirked.

"Hmmm." She said. "Sure."

"You ready to go?" I asked, putting my elbows on the counter.

"Almost, let me just file a few things, and I'll be all set."

"Sure, sure." I said.

She fluttered around in the back of the store. "How'd you know I would be here anyway? You stalking me again?" She asked from the back, her voice sounding far away.

"You wish. Your friend Angela she's kind of on my team. Team Jacob, the team everyone should be on."

"I'm so gonna kill her…. What do you do to my friends? They turn into mush around you."

"I call it the Jacob effect." I said. "Work's like a charm on women."

"Too bad I seem to be immune." She mumbled.

"I heard that, and not for long." I smirked.

"Is that a threat or promise?"

"Both." I laughed.

"I guess its a good thing you showed up, or I might have had to hitchhike home."

I gasped. "Bella that's fucking dangerous! Don't ever do that shit." I snapped. I couldn't even imagine her doing that shit, made my stomach fucking turn. I chalked it up to it being that stomach bug, I was feeling earlier.

"Relax, I'm only kidding."

"You should bring your truck down to my shop, let me take a look at her. Free of charge."

"It's a 'he' and did you not forget I'm a car expert? My baby is on its last leg, I don't think there's much left to do to her, I've tried everything."

"At least let me look at it anyway. I am the best around."

"If you insist Mr. Black."

After a few minutes she was ready to go.

I escorted her to the car after she locked up. "O-M-G! An Audi r8, what the hell? That's beautiful, Jake! I love the color too." She giggled. "You and your cars."

I laughed. "You like? Another one of my babies."

"You have nice taste in cars."

"I have nice taste in more than that Bella." I said.

She blushed, I opened her door for her, and she got in.

"I got you something," I said once we were both inside.

"Oh please not more flowers or candy." She groaned. "I've had enough for a lifetime." She teased.

I chuckled. "No Bells," I pulled a bag from the backseat.

She gasped. "Jake," She said, squealing. "The best burgers around! I knew you would be hooked on them." She grinned.

I brought her food from the burger joint we had on our first date.

"Ohhhh Jake, its delicious, and still warm." She said taking a huge bite out of it.

"I made them get it extra hot, just like me."

"Cocky." She tsked.

"That's my middle name babe."

I smiled as I watched her for a moment. "They are good, huh?" I said.

"To be filled with calories, and disgusting preservatives, I guess they aren't so bad." She said mirroring the words I said on our first date.

I smirked. "That's the best part." I said mirroring her words from the first date.

"Touché." She smirked.

"Bella, slow down," I chuckled watching her devour the burger.

She chuckled. "I'm starving, I've been on the go all day, I hadn't had a chance to stop and eat."

I frowned. "You mean to tell me, you haven't eaten all day?"

She smiled sheepishly. "Yes."

"That's not good for you. You need three meals a day woman."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious. I'm going to have to start bringing you breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Whatever, Jake. I'm a big girl."

"I know you can take care of yourself," I finished for her.

We finished our burgers, and I drove toward her apartment home.

"This is such a smooth ride." She commented. "The engine practically purrs."

I grinned at her. "I bet I can get something else to purr."

"Jake!"

"What? I was just talking about a kitty."

"Oh."

"Your kitty."

"You are so unbelievable."

"That's what they tell me. The other half of me, is more unbelievable."

"What am I going to do with you?" She asked.

"I say, fuck me senseless."

"When will I see you again, Bella?" I asked, once we were sitting outside her apartment.

"I'm sure you'll think of something, you always do." She said. "You figure it out. If you want me, figure it out." She said.

"You're a piece of fucking work." I said.

"That's what they tell me." She grinned.

I smiled at her.

"Thank you." She said.

"For what?"

"For thinking about me, getting the burger, and even remembering my favorite flower. I didn't think Mr. Cocky could hear anything other than what was said about him."

"Hey babe, I happen to listen a lot, even when its not about me."

"Whatever. Little things like that will earn you a few points." She said.

"Oh really? How many points, are we talking? Can we slide into second base?"

"Don't push it,"

"Or if you want to go straight to the home run, we can do that too."

"You still have your work cut out for you, Mr. Black."

"I know." I grinned. "Do I at least get to kiss you now?" I asked.

"What did I tell you?" She snapped playfully. "I'll tell you when you get to kiss me."

"Yes ma'am." I said obediently.

"Jake…." She whispered.

"Yes?"

She was about to finish her sentence, but the shrill ringing of her phone in her purse, stopped her right in her tracks. She snapped her mouth closed quickly, and her expression turned panicked. She reached down to grab her phone, she fumbled around for it in her purse.

"We were kind of in the middle of something," I said to her, fucking annoyed, she was this fucking close to asking me to kiss her. I had her right where I fucking wanted her.

"I need to take this, its my grandmother's ring tone, and something could be wrong." She said, her eyes wide as saucers. "Hello?" She said timidly into the speakers, somehow her fingers found themselves wound around mine. I ran circles around her hand soothingly. "What? Is she going to be okay?" She said in a panicked voice. Her grip on my hand tightened. "Oh goodness, I'm on my way." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I need to go." She said, reaching for the door handle.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"My grandmother fell, she's hurt her back, I need to go see her. I'll have Jessica or Angela drive…"

"They're both at work Bella, no telling when they'll be home. Let me take you, please." I said.

"No, Jake, you don't have to, I don't want to be a burden, and inconvenience you, I can call a cab."

"You're not a burden. I know I don't have to but I want to, please let me do this. Let me show you, Bella."

"Why Jacob? What's in it for you?"

"I want to make sure you're alright, okay?"

"Fine, I don't have time to argue with you, we need to go right now." She said.

"Let's go," I rumbled the engine and took off. Bella called Angela, and Jessica while they were at work, filling them in on what was going on.

She started sobbing shortly, after she ended her call with her friends.

"Its okay, honey. Everything is going to be okay."

"You don't know that." She said, her breathing erratic, it was hard to make out what she was saying. "I can't lose her, Jake."

"You won't, everything is gonna be okay." I said. I reached over to wipe her tears away. She laid her head on my shoulder, and I patted it gently.

I held her hand, rubbing it gently, she didn't flinch or pull away she let me. I said soothing words to her, and she nodded gratefully.

"Relax, Bells, breathe." I said.

We both jumped out of the car once we got to her grandmother's nursing home. Bella tripped getting out of the car, but luckily, I caught her before she fell. "You okay?" She nodded, and we both took off into the home.

"I'll be out here, waiting for you, okay?" I said reassuringly, once we were inside the waiting area.

"Will you, please-come back to see her with me?" She asked quietly. This was the first time I had seen her venerable, she was truly scared. I couldn't really blame her. Losing people you loved or finding out they were hurting, was fucking hard. I had always seen her hard, no nonsense, type Bella, so seeing her like this was mind bottling.

I hesitated, for a moment. "Sure, sure." I said relenting, as she led me down the hallway, wrapped securely in my arms, she snuggled closer to me, the closer we got.

She took a deep breath before entering her grandmother's room.

There was a nurse standing over her grandmother, checking her. Her grandmother was asleep, she looked very pale, and looked to be in a lot of pain. Fuck, she didn't look good at all.

"Is she going to be alright?" Bella asked, the nurse, as she ran over to her grandmother looking her over. She rubbed her grandmother's hair soothingly, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "She doesn't look so good." She commented.

"She had a nasty fall today, somehow she slipped. Her doctor came in to look her over today. And, I'm sorry to tell you this, but her back will need to be operated on."

Bella gasped, tears slipping out of her eyes. I wrapped my arms tightly around her. She fell into my embrace, and clung to me.

"I don't have the money to pay for an operation." She said, hysterically.

"Without this operation, she will not be able to walk again." The nurse said.

"Oh my God. What am I going to do? I can't affor-"

"Bella, please breathe. Relax."

"How the hell can I relax? My grandmother's not going to be able to walk again," She snapped, snatching away from me.

"She will walk again." I said.

"How Jake?"

"Because I'm going to pay for it."

She stared me in my eyes. "Jake, I can't ask you to do this." She said shaking her head furiously. "I can't accept your money."

"You didn't ask me, I'm volunteering. I know how much your grandmother means to you, Bella, and I want to do this for you."

"NO Jacob!" She said forcefully. "I can't accept it."

"Why Bella? I want nothing in return, I just want your grandmother to be alright."

"Like hell, you want nothing in return."

"I know its none of my business, but he's offering to pay for your grandmother. Put your pride aside, your grandmother needs this. This is very important, your mother's health comes first." The nurse butted in.

Bella glared at her. "You're right its none of your business." She said.

"Please let me do this, you can pay me back, if you want. You can just consider it a loan for now."

She hesitated. She looked at her grandmother.

"Okay," She finally gave in.

"Good." I said.

She stared at me, a hard look on her face. "Thank you." She said after a while, tears falling down her face.

"What is it, Bella?" I asked wiping her tears away.

"No one has ever done anything so important for me before. My grandmother means everything to me…. So thank you, so much." I held her in my arms for a moment. "I guess I'm in your debt."

"No you're not, forget all the mistress shit, I'm doing this for your grandmother, and you. You owe me nothing."

"Thank you."

"When do we schedule the operation?" I asked the nurse, while Bella went back over to her grandmother.

"The earlier the better," She said.

"Good, make it as soon as possible, money is not an issue, you give her the best care available."

The nurse nodded. "If you'll follow me," She said to me.

"Bella, I'm going to go take care of your grandmother's expenses, and get the operation scheduled, okay? I'll be back soon."

She nodded, "Thank you Jake." She whispered, as she quietly talked to her grandmother. "I'm going to read your favorite story grandma," She said picking up a book, starting to read softly.

I didn't know how to tell Bella this, but even with the operation, it didn't look like her grandmother would be around too much longer. But I couldn't tell her that, it would kill her, and I didn't want to hurt her. She knew she wouldn't live forever, but hopefully she would be around a little while longer.

When I came back into the room, about half an hour later, Bella, was fast asleep in a chair close to her grandmother's bed. The book she was reading clutched tightly in her hand.

"Bella, its time to go, honey." I said shaking her gently.

"Did you schedule the operation?" She asked.

"Yes, its in two weeks." I said.

"Good."

"We have to go, Bella." I said.

"I don't feel like walking, Jake. I'm so tired."

"I'll carry you," I said.

I scooped her up in my arms, and carried her to the car.

She was still sleeping when, we arrived back at her apartment. I found her key in her purse, and I carried her into her into the apartment.

Angela, and Jessica still weren't there, so I decided to wait with her for a while. I didn't want her to be alone in her time of need, she might wake up scared and disoriented.

I laid her in what I hoped my be her room. When I opened the door, and got a whiff of her scent I was right. Strawberries, and vanilla, assaulted my senses. Her room, was just like her innocent, sweet, with a hint of masculinity. Her walls were bright pink, pink hard wood floor, with pink cupcake sheets on her queen-sized bed to match. She had cupcake pillows all over her bed. She had a laptop, which sat on a green table, and a pink chair with cars all over it for her to sit in. She had miniature cars around the room, car magazines, and car posters, which was the masculine part of the room. She had a lamp in the shape of a car, and I smiled at how many layers made her up. On another wall were pictures of her and her grandmother, her dad, and her friends. Fucking scrawny Edwin, she had been talking to that day, with his terrifying green eyes was on her picture wall. I decided against tearing the picture down. Fuck! Was that her dad in his police uniform pointing his gun at the camera? He looked familiar. But definitely scary, he could shoot my ass.

I decided to lay down next to her until Angela, and Jessica showed up.

I moved a cupcake pillow that was poking me in my back, and got comfortable. I turned to face Bella, and I was taken aback by how beautiful she was. Her fell crazily around her face. Her pink lips were pursed. She looked so innocent, which she was. I kissed her lips softly, I couldn't resist. And moved her hair out of her face. All her worries melted away while she was asleep.

The bed was surprisingly very comfortable, and before long I was out too, the best sleep I had gotten in a long time.

A/N: Jake does have a heart? Hidden deeeeeeep under his layer of cockiness. I love this less cocky Jake. He's having to use his brain and think, because Bella's not settling for anything.

What you think about this chapter?

Let me know, I would love to hear from you.

-Rae