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Chapter 7 - Getting a Clue

That night after the kids were settled in bed, Bella caught my arm in the hallway as I headed to my room. "Edward, do you mind if we talk for a minute? I can make us some tea," she offered.

I considered asking her if it could wait until tomorrow, but then I saw her cheeks redden and her eyes looked glassy, like she was upset. I decided it was best to get things settled with her now. I didn't want to risk her leaving us. I had rather enjoyed her cooking and cleaning. She made my place feel like a real home and I very much enjoyed having her and little Ara here with me.

"Okay," I conceded, but her tight smile didn't ease the tension.

"How about we get ready for bed and meet back in the kitchen in ten minutes?"

I agreed and headed to my room. I considered putting on my overcoat, but my robe caught my eye. I thought about her reaction and wondered if I should put a shirt on this time. I stood in front of the mirror and I didn't see anything appealing. I still looked like the wiry, although no longer spotty-faced, geek freak that I had always been. I shook my head confused and afraid she was just messing with me. I didn't want to get hurt again. I didn't want to do this. I had so much to lose this time. Maybe if I just gave her a raise she would leave me alone. My money was really all I was good for and Timmy was worth whatever she wanted. His happiness was worth it all. I pulled on my one t-shirt and tied my robe shut tightly.

I made my way down the hall and stopped when I reached the kitchen door. Bella had her head down and it took a moment before I realized she was crying. I didn't understand why she was crying. It made no sense. I saw her glance at the kitchen clock and pull out a tissue, quickly wiping her face clean. Once she was done, I stepped into the room and she gave me a fake smile and pushed a cup of tea toward me. "Thank you for coming to talk to me, I know you're tired. I just needed to speak to you about what you overheard."

I nodded watching her carefully, trying to read her but falling flat.

"I'm sorry I spoke about you like that. It was very inappropriate of me to do so at your workplace. It's obvious that you're not interested in me and it was very crude of me to make comments to our mutual friend. I hope you can forgive me and please reconsider firing me."

She thought I would fire her? I looked at her confused, "Why would I fire you? Timmy loves you and you do a great job."

She let out a relieved breath and seemed to be fighting back more tears.

"Besides, Bella, you have nothing to worry about. We wrote that if I didn't think it was working out, you would still get a year's worth of payment and boarding, just as if you lived here."

She frowned and looked down at her tea. Was this where she would ask for more money?

"Do you need more money?" I asked, "Because your services are worth far greater than I've been paying you since you've taken on caring for Timmy."

"I, um, no," she sounded confused. "Aren't you upset with me?"

I rubbed my neck, trying to figure out this mess and still not finding any answers. Bella was utterly baffling. "Look, Ms. Swan, I have no idea what you want from me. I'm at a loss on what I can offer you other than more money. You don't need to play games or say mean things to get me to give it to you. If you need something, just ask," I said bluntly because I had no idea how else to say it.

"Mean things? When have I ever said anything mean?" she sounded shocked and I didn't know if she was faking. I was not going to play her game if she was, so it was time I made that clear.

"I know you're not attracted to me. No one is ever attracted to me. I have nothing to offer other than money and I refuse to get involved with anyone for that reason. If you need money, I'm willing to pay you more because you offer me invaluable services and are worth more money. I don't know what it was you were playing at when you pretended to get all worked up, but there's no need for that so just stop embarrassing yourself." I stood up abruptly and stalked out of the kitchen. I didn't want to discuss my inadequacies any further.

I didn't make it to the hallway before I felt her hand on my arm and she yanked me around harshly. "Embarrass myself?" she snarled and then slapped me. "You asshole, how dare you try and make me feel like a slut." She stomped on my foot and stormed to her room and I still had no idea what the hell was going on in that woman's head.

I decided to give Ben a call because he knew women better than me; at least I hoped he did.

When he answered the phone, he just sighed.

"Ben?" I asked confused wondering if he was really there.

"Dude, I don't know what you did, but it can't be good. I can overhear Bella and Angie's conversation and from this side, I can tell you, you're in trouble, my friend, very big trouble."

"What? WHY? What's going on?" I was really getting frustrated now.

"Man, what did you say to her? I can hear Angie getting all ghetto and saying 'Oh, no he didn't' and swearing. She's even waving her hand around. You better watch your back the next time you see her."

"I didn't do anything! I offered Bella more money and told her to stop acting like she likes me. I don't want to deal with that again, Ben. I can't do it again so she just needs to stop."

I heard him groan. "Edward, I'm sorry, I'll talk to Angie and maybe she can smooth things over with Bella for you, okay?"

I looked down the hall at Bella's door and started to worry that she would leave me. I hated for her to know of my humiliation. I glanced at Timmy's door and knew he was worth it. "Fine, see if you can fix it. Let me know how it goes," I said defeated and hung up.

I went to bed with my phone sitting next to me just in case Ben called back, but he didn't. I was fast asleep when I was woken up by a light knock on the door and wondered if Timmy was having a bad dream. "Come in."

I was surprised to see Bella slip into the room. I looked up at her confused. Her face was covered in tears and she still seemed to be crying. I wondered if she needed help and quickly assessed her, looking for blood or injuries. I was in the middle of doing this when she rushed the bed and jumped on me. I sat up, trying to keep her from kneeing me as she straddled my lap. Her arms were around my neck and she was sobbing hard into it. She obviously needed comfort and I wondered if she'd had a bad dream. I held her, rubbing her back lightly and trying to offer her some comfort, not knowing what else to do.

Then I felt it, her lips on my neck and then my cheek. I pulled back confused, not knowing what she was doing, but before I could say anything, her lips were on mine and she was kissing and teasing my lips with her tongue. I puckered a little, still confused but afraid she would freak out again if I didn't kiss her back. Her hands went to either side of my face and then she kissed down my chin, under my jaw, and around my neck to my ear again. I was starting to feel a little self-conscious because my body was really starting to respond to her and she was sitting right on top of it.

Next thing I knew, she was shoving me back against the bed and kissing down my naked chest and I was trying to decide if I was happy about having taken my shirt off before bed or insecure. She could see me in all my scrawniness.

She bit my abs making me jump a little, and then I was shocked at what she did. All I could say was she must have planned this because when she bit my abs making me jump and lift my body, she yanked my sleep plants and boxers down. I was about ready to shove her off of me, not wanting her to make a fool of me, but I was stopped in my tracks when her hot mouth was on me. I moaned and tried to pull myself together. I half expected her to bite me. I was looking down at her in shock and awe. She had worked the buttons open on her sleep shirt and was pulling it off. I was looking down at her naked shoulders, her breasts pressed against my thighs, and I quickly lost it, grunting like the inexperienced nerd I was.

When she sat up, I pulled away quickly, pulling the sheet around myself before she could comment on how quickly I went off. I closed my eyes and hid my face in my knees.

"Edward?" I heard her say my name, but I didn't look up. "Oh, my god," she whispered. I looked up at her and saw her looking at me wide-eyed with her hands over her mouth. She shook her head at me, obviously appalled.

I looked away ashamed.

"Edward," she whispered and I felt the bed shift, "I'm so sorry, I didn't even take into account that you wouldn't want me. I'm so sorry, please," she looked so ashamed as I peeked at her, "Please, Edward, forgive me," she moved closer and gently wrapped her arms around me. I didn't push her off because she was crying again and I had no idea what the heck was going on. "I just wanted you to feel wanted. I wanted you to know that you're amazing and beautiful to me and so sexy. I'm so sorry. I obviously crossed a line," she sniffled into my shoulder, "Please don't make me leave."

I finally got up enough courage to look up at her face and she looked as if she was begging me for something. She said that I was amazing, beautiful, and sexy. I was searching her face for some sign of deceit, but I saw none. I tried to figure out what Angie might have said to her to make her act like this and realized it was pity. I looked away again. "You don't have to lie, you can go, I'm not mad," I said more to my knees than to her.

"Oh, my beautiful man, what have they done to you?" she said more to herself than me. She surprised me by wiggling her way behind me and under the covers. Her shifting on the bed kind of tipped me over and she just curled around me and kissed my shoulder. "I'm not leaving until you believe me."

I looked over at her and she smiled at me. I unwound myself and she snuggled into my arms. I was shocked looking down at this beautiful woman and she smiled up at me and placed a soft kiss on my chest. I searched her eyes and didn't see any pity, just a hint of mischief. Her little smirk made me smile and then she was up and on my lips, but this time I was kissing her back and she was moaning and grinding against me.

I didn't know when, but she had lost her sleep pants and her underwear was hot and moist. Her hand moved mine to her breast and my eyes widened. I had never done anything like this with a woman, ever! The most I had ever done was kiss Jane, but that was more to my begging for obvious reasons. She thought I was a freak and was just using me. This, what Bella had done to me, the way she was moving over me and running her lips all over me, was different. I had never experienced anything like it and it was amazing. I waited for the other shoe to drop, for her to poke fun and laugh, but she didn't. She just seemed to get more worked up. I think I was finally starting to understand. She moaned my name softly in my ear and I felt her shifting her hips and felt her naked body press against me.

I had never had sex and I wondered if that was what she wanted from me. I was scared because I knew if I did this, I would never be the same. I knew I would end up wanting her for the rest of my life. Before I could say anything or stop her, she sank down on me. I threw my head back as my eyes rolled up. I was grunting trying to hold back as she moved over me, but when she leaned down and started kissing my neck, I couldn't hold back. She suckled my ear, "I love you, you sweet, beautiful man, so much."

I finally gained enough control of my body to look at her. She said she loved me. I didn't understand how this had happened. How she could love me or want me. There was usually some sort of courting ritual required that I was horrible at, but we hadn't engaged in it, and yet here was this beautiful woman resting on my manhood, completely spent from her activities, saying she loved me. I could only hope she truly did because god help me, I wanted it to be true.

She grabbed some tissues from the nightstand and cleaned us up and then snuggled down into my side, resting her head on my shoulder. She closed her eyes and I realized that she was going to sleep next to me. I was in awe as I took in her flushed checks and soft brown hair. I studied her eyelashes and how they rested on her cheeks and the sweet, soft smile resting on her lips. She was beautiful and I hoped now that she was mine.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review!