To celebrate this story reaching 100 followers I thought I'd treat you to a new chapter. This chapter is a bit different to the rest, so I feel a bit nervous about, so let me know what you think - good or bad :)

Chapter 9

I confirmed our next session date and time with Jasper and then showed him out, before I collapsed onto the sofa suddenly drained of all my physical and emotional energy.

"God, this boy is gonna be the death of me," I chuckled to myself.

"Difficult session?" Alice asked from behind me, making me jump.

I clutched my hand to my suddenly beating heart and laughed, "God, Ali you scared the shit out me then."

"Sorry babe," she said, plopping down next to me on the sofa.

"Sorry what did you say Alice?"

She looked at me and laughed. "Jesus Bella you really are spacey sometimes. I just asked if it had been a difficult session, you look kinda drained."

"No, not difficult. It went really well actually. It was just very emotionally draining, but we made some really good progress today."

I smiled to myself thinking about the kiss and then I had to physically stop myself from touching my fingertips to the place where our lips had touched. Thinking about our kiss caused a delicious warm feeling to spread through my body again. I looked at Alice and she was still looking at me expectantly, obviously waiting for me to continue. So bringing myself back to the present, I told her what had happened in the session. Starting with Jasper showing me his paintings and then onto his breakdown and what he'd told me about his mother and his childhood. I paused slightly before finally telling her about the kiss. I knew it was very soon for that sort of physical contact when a client was as fragile as Jasper, so I was kinda worried what her reaction was going to be. As I predicted Alice was shocked that we had progressed this far already.

"It just felt right," I told her in explanation.

"Did you talk about it afterwards?"

"Of course we did," I answered sharply and a little too defensively.

"Okay, okay babe. I was just asking," Alice added, holding her hands in front of her.

"Sorry," I sighed. "It's just been a really emotional session."

Suddenly Alice's face lit up and I could almost see a light bulb appear above her head. "Why don't we go and get something to eat and maybe have a couple of drinks, and let off some steam?"

"Yeah, that's an awesome idea actually Alice," I beamed, before adding. "Just give me an hour to run home and change."

"Okay, how about we meet at that little Italian place just down from your building?"

"Don't you wanna get changed?" I asked Alice, before realising that it was a silly question, as she was already dressed like she'd just stepped off the catwalk at New York fashion week.

"No, I'm good. I'll just finish off with some paperwork I need to get done and meet you there."

I said goodbye to Alice and excitedly rushed home. It had been too long since Alice and I had hung out and had some fun together, we were always so wrapped up with work. I had a quick shower and then gave my long brown locks a quick blast with the hair dryer. I never wore much makeup, but I put a little on, as I wanted to make a bit of an effort tonight. I wasn't really into my appearance like Alice was hers, and I knew my lack of interest in fashion and makeup drove her mad. Don't get me wrong I liked to look nice but comfort was always my number one priority. Also in my line of work it was important that I didn't look intimidating, my clients needed to feel comfortable when they were with me, so power dressing wasn't my thing.

I stood in front of my closet, looking through my meager collection of clothes, for far too long. I just couldn't make a decision today. Then I heard my phone beep from my bed. I went over to retrieve it and saw it was a text from Alice.

Just wear the red dress that I got u 4 Christmas & stop standing there debating what 2 wear. C u in 15 mins. A

I laughed to myself, that girl really was god damn psychic at times. I texted back, telling her I would see her soon, and then got the dress from my closet. It was way dressier than I'd planned for tonight, but I didn't dare argue with Alice when it came to clothes. I slipped into it, pleased that I'd got waxed this week, and looked at myself in the mirror. What I saw didn't look too bad, I just hoped that I wouldn't feel too over dressed.

Looking at the time, I realised that I needed to hurry or I'd be late, and I didn't want to leave Alice stood in the restaurant alone. So I quickly grabbed my purse and keys and headed out the door. The restaurant was literally a two minute walk away from my building, so I arrived just as Alice was getting out of a cab.

"Good timing," Alice stated smiling, while looking me up and down. "Nice dress," she smirked.

"Why thank you, I happen to know a girl with impeccable taste in clothes and she picked it out for me," I answered with a giggle.

"Come on you fool," she said, linking her arm with mine. "Lets go eat some good food and drink some nice wine."

After we'd had a delicious meal and shared at least one bottle of wine, we decided to walk a couple blocks to a new bar that Alice had heard was nice. After a block I began to regret letting Alice choose my outfit, as I never usually wore heels and they were already killing me. But I was also feeling a bit tipsy, so I couldn't stop giggling.

"This is it," Alice squealed, dragging me by the arm into the bar. "Soooo, I heard this place is full of hot men in suits coming for a drink after a day at the office," she slurred slightly into my ear.

Neither of us drunk very often, so we were both total lightweights.

"Lets get a cocktail," she said excitedly.

We got our drinks and found ourselves a nice booth in the corner where we could talk privately but still see what was going on in the bar.

"Soooooo Bella, anyone take your fancy?"

I giggled and looked around, it would be so nice to just have a normal date with a guy. Maybe the way I had been feeling towards Jasper was because I hadn't had a real relationship in so long. I knew I looked hot tonight, so I decided that I just had to go for it.

Laughing, I said to Alice. "Find me a man."

Giggling excitedly she scanned the busy bar.

"I'm looking, I'm looking, but I don't see anybody hot yet."

She sighed and flopped back in her seat. "I think I've been spoilt by the gorgeous specimen of a man that is Jasper Whitlock."

"What!" I almost yelled at her, as a mix of strong emotions coursed through my body. Shock and jealousy being the strongest.

"Oh Belllllls, lighten up," she laughed, hitting my arm, before collapsing into a fit of giggles.

"You'd have to be a nun not to think that guy is damn hot. It's clients like him that make me wish I did your job."

I scowled at her, really not seeing the funny side and suddenly feeling very defensive.

"Well I don't see him that way," I stated with a straight face.

"Bullshit!"

"No it's not," I said firmly.

She grabbed hold of my face and pulled me really close to her face.

"Bella Swan look into my eyes and tell me that you're not really looking forward to fucking this guy," she slurred in a stupid voice, before letting her head fall onto the table and laughing hysterically.

I was so shocked that I was speechless, the rational side of me knew that she was just joking but the rest of me was sent into pure panic mode.

"Of course not...its not like that...how dare you say that," I spluttered.

Alice lifted her head up off the table and threw herself at me in a semi hug.

"Oh my little uptight Bella, I'm only joking," she laughed. "We clearly need to get some more alcohol into you, and lucky for you, I'm buying."

She got up then and trotted over to the bar. I scrubbed my hands over my face and tried to pull myself together. What had gotten into Alice, she never talked like that about clients. This made me worry even more that she had sensed some of my inappropriate feelings towards Jasper. Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly realised that it had been at least ten minutes since Alice had gone to get drinks. I stood up from my seat and tried to look for her amongst the many people in the packed room. I spotted her stood at the bar, obviously flirting with a tall attractive looking guy. He was just Alice's type and I was glad she'd found something to distract her from our previous conversation, hopefully she wouldn't even remember it in the morning. I started to make my way over to her, but then my heart nearly stopped when I spotted a familiar figure across the room.

Jasper!

So hope that made you laugh a little :) I enjoyed writing it. Just a warning, this is my last pre-wrote chapter, so updates won't be as quick but the next chapter is wrote, I'm just tweaking it a little. From now on updates will be weekly xxx