I noticed that he would get this little twinkle in his eye when he laughed...I mentally noted that twinkle was another thing to add to the list of reasons why I needed to make him laugh like that as much as possible. I didn't know how much time I would get to spend with this gorgeous man, but I intended to maximize what little I had.

Chapter 5

"So, how long have you owned the flower shop?" He asked, once we had polished off the pizza.

"Oh, I don't own it. Just work there, for about ten months now."

"Do you have some sort of flower arranging degree?" He asked, smiling.

"Ha ha. No, but I do have one in English."

"English, wow. So do you plan on doing something with it or just using that talent for writing gift card sentiments?"

God, he's cocky.

"For your information, Mr. Know-It-All, I have been thinking lately about doing something with it. I just haven't decided exactly what yet."

"Well, do you want to teach? Or report? Write?"

"I'd like to write ideally, but I haven't written anything substantial in years."

"Why not?"

"Not inspired, I guess." That was honestly the truth, as annoying as it was. I just couldn't seem to get motivated at all.

"Need some...inspiration?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me and grinned.

Augh, this guy is killing me.

"Maybe," I said, trying to be coy.

He smiled again, that sexy crooked smile I had grown very fond of in a very short period of time, and I had to try to focus once more. I decided to turn the conversation around to get the spotlight off of myself.

"I may just work in a flower shop and have a four year old degree that I've never used, but we can't all decide we want to be lawyers and be great at it and happy with that." I gestured at him with my hands.

"How do you know I'm a great lawyer? I might really stink at my job."

The idea of this man not excelling at everything he tried never once crossed my mind. "Do you?"

"Well no, I am a damn good lawyer," he said, smiling so big I got to see his teeth for the first time. They were very straight and white, but not blindingly so.

"If you do say so yourself?" I joked.

"I think I just did," he laughed. "I don't know that it necessarily makes me happy, but I am good at it."

"You're not happy, really? But you've got your well paying job, shiny Volvo, swanky condo..."

He rolled his eyes at this point. "Bella, it takes more than material things to make someone happy. To make me happy."

I had to finish. "You've got all of that, and let's not forget all the women that you send flowers to... I would think that you'd be happy as a clam." It came out sounding a little harsher than I wanted, and I wasn't sure why the idea of him seeming to have everything all figured out bothered me. I frowned, and put my head down.

"Bella."

"Hmm," I muttered without lifting my head up.

"Bella, look at me. Please."

I raised my head, and was met with an intense gaze.

"The only woman I'm interested in right now is you."

I probably would have blushed for the hundredth time this evening, but I was completely taken off-guard by this statement. Sure, I knew it was the sort of thing he'd probably said a dozen times before to countless other females. Looking into his smoldering green eyes, though, I would have sworn that he had meant it only to me. He took my hand in his on the table and gently started to rub circles on the top with his thumb. I shivered slightly at his touch.

"Hey guys, here's the bill. Just pay whenever you're ready."

A slip of paper in a tray was dropped down right next to where our hands were. Edward jerked back in response, and I did the same. Damn Kyle, way to ruin the moment.

I went to get my wallet out of my purse, but Edward already had his fancy platinum card out to pay. I opened my mouth to protest, but he wouldn't hear of it.

"No, let me get this. I'm sorry I frightened you earlier; it's the least I can do."

Well, when he put it like that.

I nodded and thanked him, and we chatted for a bit until Kyle came back with the receipt for Edward to sign.

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Cullen. You all come back and see us again soon."

"So, are you ready to go, Bella?"

I thought about it for a minute. My head was telling me that I was very ready to go home, to get away from this smooth playboy. My body was saying something else entirely. Rather than try to pick between the two of them, I just nodded.

We both got up to leave and he walked to my side, pressing his hand against my lower back. Butterflies filled my stomach at his touch. My god, no man has ever had this effect on me. A simple touch, a look, even just saying my name, and he had my heart jumping up into my throat. I guessed his magic was working after all, as I seemed to be completely under his spell.

He opened the door out of the restaurant, and again at the passenger side door of the car. As I was buckling up and waiting for him to get in, my mind was spinning a mile a minute. I really had no idea what to do next.

He finally got in and said, "It's still early, so how about you come see my 'swanky condo,' as you called it? I have some more wine there, too. I know you like red now."

I must have mulled it over a little too long, because then he said, "Or, I could just take you home if you want."

As good a time as I was having, and as much as my body was screaming at me to go with him, my head knew what I had to do. I knew deep down how this sort of guy worked. I had managed to keep my dignity until now, but to go back to his place, which I was positive was some luxurious condominium with wine and probably a black leather couch? I just couldn't take the chance. I nodded again, still unable to form words.

He sighed. "Okay. Where do you live?"

I told him the address, and we rode in silence. Not an uncomfortable one by any means, but silence nonetheless. He pulled into the empty driveway, turned the car off and said, "I'll walk you to your door."

I got out, and we walked together. We reached my front door, and I felt like I had to say something, anything, to make sure this evening hadn't all been a figment of my imagination. I unlocked the deadbolt with my key, and then turned around to look at him.

"Thank you for an interesting night. I had a good time."

"It was my pleasure," he said, seeming to genuinely mean it. "I enjoyed myself, too."

I smiled.

"You have my numbers, call me some time."

I nodded and looked down, sad that the night was coming to an end even though I knew it was probably for the best. I felt two of his fingers on my chin lifting my head up, and the next thing I knew, he was coming in for the kill.

Dammit, I didn't see this coming at all! Before I could try to get away from what would almost certainly be the death of me, his lips were pressed against mine. I instantly forgot everything. The mix up at the store, the many women he had sent flowers to, and especially how I was too smart to fall prey to this roving wolf of a man. All of it was erased from my mind by one gentle kiss.

He slid one hand up behind my neck while kissing me, and I found myself doing the same to him. His hair was cropped short off of his neck, and incredibly soft. I ran my nails through the lower part of his hair, eliciting a soft moan from his lips. And then, all too soon, we broke apart. I dropped my hands regrettably to my side, and he slid the hand previously on my neck to my shoulder. The other still cupped my cheek.

He looked at me intently and said, "Sweet dreams, Bella."

I still couldn't speak, so I just nodded my head once. He turned and started to walk back to his car. My lips were still tingling from the contact with his. I put my fingers up to my lips and could feel the tingle transfer to them. "Wow," I said softly under my breath.

Stop him! Wait, my mind wasn't saying that. I think that it came from much lower….

"Edward, wait!" I cried out, a little more desperately than I had intended.

He spun around. "Yes, Bella?"

"Would you like to come in for some coffee or something?"

There was a pause. "Are you sure?"

I nodded, excitedly.

"Yes, that'd be great." He smiled brilliantly and walked back to me.

I turned the knob and let him walk in first, following close behind him. I really must remember to thank Alice for spending the night at Jasper's tonight.

I was going to hold off until tomorrow to post this, but I thought I'd go ahead and do it as a treat to those of you that were nice enough to review and message me. Thanks so much to you all, and I hope you like this chapter. Next chapter is going to get a bit more steamy. Or maybe a lot more. ;)

Thanks again to my great beta!

Reviews are excellent!