What were we talking about, again? How super you are? I think so. Your love is perfect. Thanks for sticking around.

Blind Ambition – Chapter Twelve

"So, this is it, huh?" Edward asked quietly, his hands stuck in the pockets of his workout pants.

"Yeah, I guess so," Leah answered. She took a deep breath and let her eyes wander over his lean body, currently covered in sweat from his time on the treadmill.

"Do I need to sign anything or…"

Leah laughed. "No, Edward. Everything is taken care of. You just need to…keep it up, you know?"

Edward nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. Yeah, I will. I won't let you down, Doc."

"I know you won't." She smiled and clasped her hands behind her back, forcing herself not to throw her arms around him just to feel his body against hers.

It had been a week since their coffee "date", and it was all she seemed to think about: how he smiled when he talked about his family, the way he tapped his fingers on the table, how it felt like he was looking completely through all of the walls she had put up, even though he couldn't technically see her.

Suddenly Edward grinned and turned around. Leah followed his gaze and watched as a tall, dark-haired man made his way to Edward and wrapped him in a hug that lifted her patient off his feet. She watched them interact for a moment, feeling herself smile. The two men had the same color eyes and strong jaw. They were both tall, though the dark-haired man was much bulkier than Edward's lean build.

Edward pulled away and took the man's face in his hands.

"I missed you, you asshole," Edward whispered.

"God, you're ugly," the man replied.

Edward laughed and hugged the man again, before turning to Leah.

"Sorry, Doc. This is my brother, Emmett." Edward's smile was blinding as he introduced his brother, and Leah couldn't help but return it.

"Doc? So, you're the one responsible for getting this jerk back on his feet? We owe you," Emmett told her, holding out his hand. Leah shook it with a glance in Edward's direction.

"It was my pleasure," she replied.

Emmett smiled and wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders.

"That's good to hear, because I grew up with this kid and it was pretty awful."

Leah laughed and shuffled her feet.

"No, he's great," she said quietly and her face began to warm.

Meanwhile, Edward beamed beside his brother, like hearing her say that was the highlight of his day.

Emmett stared between them before clearing his throat and clapping Edward on his shoulder.

"Jasper said if I don't bring you to the store immediately he'll tell Alice on us both, but I'm not really that scared of either one of them. So, lunch first?"

Edward laughed, "You aren't scared of Alice?"

"I've been living in a war zone for six months," Emmett deadpanned and Leah snorted quietly, bringing both of the men's attention back to her.

"I'm sorry. I've just…I've met your sister," she explained, trying to regain her composure.

"Tiny but mighty," Edward said with a rueful smile. "That's Alice."

"But really, I've been living off MREs for a while now and I could really use a beer and some cheese fries, so let's get this show on the road," Emmett said as he picked up Edward's bag and turned to Leah. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Clearwater. Thank you, again." He held out his hand, his bright eyes locked with hers like he was trying to communicate something to her without Edward knowing.

"Oh!" Emmett cried with a glance in Edward's direction. "We're going to Collins' tonight for a little celebration, why don't you join us? You can tell me all about what a pain in the ass this guy's been."

Leah's eyes widened at his forwardness, but the urge to be with Edward in another setting was too appealing to say no.

"Okay, sure," she muttered with a nod.

"Really?" Edward raised his eyebrows as he slipped on his sunglasses.

"Really," she repeated.

"Cool. Em, I'll meet you at the exit, okay?"

Emmett took his cue to leave, but not without giving Leah a subtle wink that made her cheeks burn even more.

"I just wanted to say thank you. I literally wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you," Edward said quietly, once his brother's footsteps had faded away.

Leah swallowed the lump in her throat and reached out to take his hand in hers, ignoring how well their palms fit together. She tried to think of something to say, but all words failed her in that moment. So, instead of speaking, she tugged his hand and pulled him against her. Edward stumbled at first, but gripped her hand tightly and let his other arm slip around her back once he gained his footing back.

He felt her sigh against him and he breathed her in: vanilla again and the scent of the gym, something that had become so familiar and comforting to him.

"Thank you," he said again, softly against her hair.

"You're welcome," she whispered just as quietly.

"I should go."

"Probably," Leah replied. "Oh, Edward?" She called as he started to walk away.

"Yeah?" He turned, smiling.

"How did you know it was your brother walking in?" She bit her lip as she asked, but Edward only smiled wider.

"His footsteps are heavy and fast…and he's my brother." Edward shrugged. "I just know."

"Okay."

"I'll see you tonight?" he asked, and then chuckled at his own joke. "You know what I mean."

"Tonight," Leah affirmed.

xXx

Leah's hand shook as she reached for the door of the little pub and she silently chastised herself. She wasn't nervous because it wasn't a date- or that was what she kept telling herself. Besides, she didn't even want to date Edward.

Yeah, right. Leah rolled her eyes at herself and finally pulled the door open. She saw Jasper first and immediately felt calmer as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and steered her to the group without a word.

"Nice hat," she commented on his fedora which he tipped in her direction with a grin.

"Thanks. Alice hates it, but she's at home being pregnant, so here it is."

Leah laughed and shook her head, then stopped at the sight of Edward at the bar with a beautiful blonde woman. Jasper frowned and followed her gaze, while she tried to pretend she wasn't glaring at them together.

"Have you met Emmett's wife? I think she's the only one who didn't pick Ed up. I'll introduce you." Jasper gestured in their direction and Leah followed, feeling guilty for jumping the gun, and for even thinking there was a gun to jump.

"Hey, Doc," Edward greeted her as she and Jasper neared them. "I'm glad you made it."

He smiled at her, that smile that she had become accustomed to…the one that felt like it was just for her, and for a moment she forgot they were in a crowded place standing next to his in-laws.

Jasper cleared his throat and gestured to the blonde woman, whom Leah realized, was even more beautiful up close.

"This is Rosalie, the saint that puts up with Emmett's shit on a daily basis," Jasper introduced her.

"Oh, thanks," Rosalie replied dryly. "That's how I introduce Alice, you know?"

"As well you should. Good day," he tipped his hat and shuffled away, leaving the rest of them laughing after them.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Leah. I've heard a lot about you." Rosalie smiled warmly and shook Leah's hand, before slipping off the stool next to Edward. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find that pain in the ass husband of mine."

"Hi," Leah finally returned his greeting once Rosalie was out of earshot.

"Hi," he retuned, smiling again. "Sit."

She did, and ordered quickly a beer from the bartender, feeling Edward's gaze on her the whole time.

"How do you do that?" He asked quietly, leaning in closer to her.

"Do what?"

"Always manage to smell like a freaking cupcake!" Edward laughed and pulled away, carefully lifting his drink to his lips.

"You…think I smell like a cupcake?" Leah asked, bemused, and suddenly aware of how he knew she was close to him a few moments ago.

"Absolutely. Well, something vanilla. I guess a cupcake was just the first thing that came to my mind." He shrugged and she felt a smile playing on her lips.

And then the words, "I like that you know what I smell like," slipped through her lips before she could stop them.

Edward thought for a moment, unsure of what to say, unsure if he was ready to cross the line they'd seem to have drawn in front of them.

"I…I like it, too," he replied, but was interrupted by Emmett before he could elaborate or tell her that the smell was comforting to him, that it was his favorite, that it helped for the picture of her he had in his mind and she was beautiful.

"Hello, ladies," Emmett said with a wide grin as he pushed in between them. "Leah, I need to find Edward a woman."

"Um…what?" She choked on her beer and frowned up at him.

"Yeah. He's been single for too long-"

"A month," Edward interjected.

"Yeah, too long. So," he turned back to Leah, his eyes locked with hers like they had earlier. "You see any prospects?"

"Well, I guess it depends on what you're looking for." She returned Emmett's gaze until his face turned serious and she had to look away.

Leah was very aware of what Edward's older brother was trying to do, and couldn't decide how she felt about it just yet. She didn't know him like she knew Jasper and wasn't sure what his intentions really were. Also, she wasn't really sure how she felt about being set up with someone she'd been working with for months, especially if it were being done by his family.

"You know what," Emmett said after a moment. "I'm sure Edward is perfectly capable of finding someone on his own."

"Oh, you think so?" Edward teased skeptically. "I remember what I look like, you know."

Leah giggled under her breath and watched a coy smile turn up on Edward's pretty mouth.

"Yeah, but did you even brush your hair today?" Emmett joked and Edward shook his head. "Well, bro…I think the look is working for you," he stage-whispered before leaving them alone again.

"Is this look working for me?" Edward asked, giving her a lopsided smile which he hoped she returned.

"Yeah, it's working for you," Leah replied and turned on her stool until her knees touched his. "It's definitely working for you."