Thanks for sticking around, and to all who left me reviews. I love feed back! I'm going to take this moment to remind you all that this story is rated M for a reason. There will be adult language used and there will be at least one lemon in forth coming chapters. I can't stop anyone from reading, but those of you still living under your parents' rooves who are NOT supposed to reading this, please don't. I don't want to get you or myself into any kind of trouble. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, just messin with 'em.

xo

A

3.

Mike pushed the storm door open and peeked his head in the house. Seeing no one around, he threw his bags in and stepped over the threshold. Jake lifted his head from where he lay on the couch and woofed happily. He stretched his paws and jumped off, trotting over to Mike who crouched down and scratched his ears. He could hear a soft murmur floating down the hall and smiled to himself.

"Honey, I'm home!" he called. He heard the scrape of a chair being pushed out from the table and the soft thud of feet on hard wood. He stood as Rose rounded the corner, grinning.

"Mike!" she shouted and catapulted herself into his arms, almost knocking him over. He laughed and swung her around a few times before placing her back on her feet.

"Nice to see you too, Rosie," he laughed.

"I'm so glad you're home!" she kissed his cheek. "Where's Lauren? Still at her parents?" she didn't actually care, but had to make Mike believe that she did.

"Yeah, she'll be home-"

"Come on! There's someone I want you to meet!" she grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the dining room before he could finish.

It had been three weeks since Emmett and Edward had moved in next door. Rose had spent practically every day with them, showing them the sights in her tourist trap little town. She took them to the pier for soft serve, and to the demo derby at the fair in the next town over. She and Edward bonded over the demo derby, discovering that they both had a love for rebuilding old cars. He was quickly becoming a good friend, and she really enjoyed laughing and joking with him. Emmett fell all over himself to get her attention, and she thought it was cute the way he would get jealous when she was talking to Edward. He was spending the next three days visiting with family, and she and Edward were discussing restoring his hot rod over lunch. Rose yanked Mike into the dining room where Edward sat poring over the engine schematics and sipping iced tea. He looked up and smiled when they entered.

"This is Edward Cullen, one of our new neighbors," she announced, shoving Mike toward a chair.

"You'll have to pardon Rosie," Mike apologized, "She gets over-excited sometimes and forgets her own strength."

"So I've noticed," Edward extended his hand. "You must be the infamous Mike we've heard so much about."

"That bad, huh?" Mike shook Edward's hand as he sat down. Rose smirked at him and punched his shoulder, then sat at the head of the table.

"Not terribly," Edward shrugged. "She speaks very highly of you. You must be one hell of a guy." "Really?" Mike laughed as he stuffed a brownie in his mouth. "My Rosie had something nice to say for once?" he said through bites.

"Michael!" she scolded. "I know you have better manners than to speak with your mouth full!"

Edward looked from Rose, to Mike, and then back again. He looked once more at Mike and winked. Mike raised a knowing eyebrow and nodded slightly when Edward stuffed two brownies in his mouth. He turned back to Rose, who was at a complete loss.

"What are you - oh Edward that's disgusting!" she cringed as Edward grinned, chunks of half-chewed chocolate sticking to his teeth and lips. Mike burst out laughing and Edward swallowed his dessert and wiped his face with a napkin.

"I like him already!" Mike chuckled.

"Yeah," Rose remarked, "He's the funniest guy he knows." She pushed his shoulder playfully.

"Correction, I'm the funniest guy you know," he shoved her back.

They sat in the dining room for almost four hours just talking and catching up. Mike was also a car buff and soon they were all trading ideas on how to fix the hot rod engine and where the best places were to scavenge for parts. As Mike was giving Edward the number for his mechanic buddy up north, a knock at the door startled them. They both turned and looked expectantly at Rose.

"Don't get up guys, really. I'll get it," she said sarcastically and pushed back from the table. She sauntered down the hall to the sound of their laughter and shook her head as she crossed the living room and opened the door. She squealed when Emmett stepped through and scooped her up in a crushing bear hug.

"Put me down, McCarty!" she giggled as he swung her around. He placed her back on the floor and held her to him with one arm tucked firmly around her waist.

"I thought you were visiting your parents!" she exclaimed, studying his features. She hated to admit it, but she really had missed him.

"Decided to come back early," he smiled, gazing into her violet-blue eyes. He started to lean in and she shifted uncomfortably. He let her go and she stepped back, nervously tucking a hair behind her ear. He cleared his throat. "So, who's car is in the driveway?"

"Oh…oh! That's Mike! Come on, you have to meet him!" she slipped her hand into his and brought him back to the dining room. Edward and Mike were deep in discussion over what color to paint the hot rod when the other two entered. Mike looked up, a surprised expression crossing his face.

"Mike, this is Emmett," Rose began as Emmett extended his had.

"McCarty," Mike shook his hand. "You're the one on Angela's wall."

"Yeah, that's me," Emmett coughed, blushing slightly.

"Oh your sister is going to love this," Mike rolled his eyes at Rose, who held up a hand and was about to warn Mike not to say anything when the phone rang. Emmett joined Edward and Mike at the table and Rose jogged to the kitchen to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Rosie!" Bella greeted from the other end.

"Bells! I've missed you! What's up?" Rose chuckled when she saw Mike's head poke out from the dining room, a stupid grin plastered on his face.

"Why are you laughing? Is Mike grinning like a god damn fool again?"

"You know it, sister. You should really put him out of his misery," Rose prodded her cousin, who had a tendency to lead her best friend on.

"Yeah, I know. But it's so much fun watching him drool!" Bella laughed. "But seriously, though. What are you doing next week?"

"Not a thing," Rose answered. "Why?"

"Good. I'm coming up to visit. If I have to listen to more of that crap that Angie's been blaring twenty four seven, I think I'm going to stick a fork in my ear."

Rose laughed out loud as she rejoined the boys. Emmett looked at her quizzically and she shook her head and propped her feet up on the table. Mike beckoned her to give him the phone and she crossed her eyes at him and stuck out her tongue.

"What the hell's so funny?" Bella's question snapped her back to reality.

"Hmm? Oh nothing. You know that crap you were just complaining about hearing?" Rose looked directly at Emmett, whose expression had just faded from confused to frightened.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"They live next door to me," Rose cradled the phone on her shoulder and began to pick at her nails.

"Get. The. Fuck. Out." Bella exclaimed. "Really? Holy shit, Angela's gonna freak."

"You can't tell her," Rose admonished. " They're trying to remain anonymity or something like that."

"Uh huh," Bella chuckled. "How long do they think that's going to last?"

"That's what I said. But just promise you won't tell her, okay?" Rose waved off Emmett, who had begun to shake his head at her.

"Yeah, okay, I promise," Rose heard Bella close a door. "Hey, I'm in Angie's room and I'm looking at their album. So all three of these guys live next to you?"

"Nah. Just the big oaf and the lanky tall one," she smirked when Edward and Emmett both eyeballed her.

"Oh. They're kinda cute," she paused. "They single?"

"Yep."

"Fan-tastic," Bella hyphenated the word for emphasis. "Cause I'd totally do the scrawny one."

"Hey Eddie!" Rose laughed when Edward scowled at the nickname. "My cousin Bella wants to nail you."

"Don't tell him that!"

"Is she hot?" Edward quirked an eyebrow.

"Am I?" she shot back.

"Then I'm game if she is," he returned to the engine schematics, oblivious to the hole that Mike was glaring into the back of his head.

"I can't believe you just did that," Bella hissed. "You're so gonna get it when I come up there. But listen, I gotta run. I'm leaving in the morning, so expect me sometime tomorrow night."

"You're not taking that crappy old truck, are you?" Rose pursed her lips.

"Hey! I love that truck! But nah, she'd never make the trip. I'm taking Mom's car," Rose heard some rustling and heightened whispers. "Your sister wants to talk to you. I'll see you tomorrow. Here's Angie."

"Bye, Bells," Rose chuckled as her sister came on. "Hey, Baby Girl, how are you?"

"I'm great! I miss you Rosalie, when are you coming home?" Angela constantly badgered her to come back, and it broke Rose's heart.

"Christmas, Baby. Just like every year," she reminded her. "Listen, I have a surprise for you." she smiled sweetly at Emmett, who frowned at her in return.

"Oh, I love surprises!" Angela chirped. "What is it, Rosie? Tell me, Tell me!"

"You know that famous singer-guy that your always telling me about?" Rose snapped her fingers, feigning amnesia. "You know, What's-His-Name?"

"Who, Emmett McCarty?" the little girl asked.

"Yeah, that one!" Rose bit her lip and smiled as Emmett began to shake his head again.

"I'm gonna marry him, you know," Angela sighed dreamily. "So don't you try to steal him from me!"

"Oh I won't!" Rose laughed. "But perhaps you should tell him first…"

She handed the phone to Emmett, and the whole room could hear Angela squealing from the other end. He grimaced as he took the receiver from her outstretched hand and waited a full minute for Angela to calm down before putting the phone up to his ear. He had a brief conversation with her, wishing her a happy birthday and singing a few bars from their latest CD. Mike and Edward both ducked out before he finished, claiming exhaustion and the need for sleep.

"It was nice talking to you Angela…yes I hope we can meet someday too…I'll tell her, don't worry… bye now." he clicked the phone off and placed in gingerly on the table. He met Rose's bright, shining eyes, and found it hard to be angry with her.

"Angela says that you're the best sister ever, and she can't wait to see you at Christmas," he reiterated to her, then half smiled. "You know, that wasn't very nice."

"Angie thought it was," she shrugged, standing up. He stood up after her and frowned. "Oh please, McCarty, it was harmless. As far as she knows, you're just passing through. She doesn't know you live next door."

"Yeah, but still," Emmett cleared the plates from the table as Rose gathered the glasses. "That was kind of mean."

"How so?" she asked, walking to the kitchen and placing her bounty in the sink. He came up behind her and reached around to place the dishes in next to the glasses. He rested his hands on the counter beside her, trapping her in his arms. She turned around and he found his face just inches from hers. She placed her hands just outside of his.

"You didn't tell me you were going to do that…" he mumbled, staring at her lips.

"That's the point of a surprise," she whispered, eyes cast down.

"Yeah…" he trailed off, completely losing his train of thought. His heart began to thud as he slowly leaned in to kiss her.

"Emmett, what are you doing?" she asked softly, tilting her head back to catch his eye. He sighed and licked his lips.

"Nothing," he muttered, defeated. He stepped back from her. "I… I think I should go now."

"You're probably right," Rose watched him walk toward the door, shoulders slumped. "Hey." He stopped, but didn't turn around. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, sure," he answered quietly, then stepped out onto the porch. He closed the storm door behind him, then rubbed the back of his neck in frustration.

"Come on, McCarty!" he growled at the sky. "Get your shit together!"

He trotted down the hill and headed home.