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16
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Ready set let's roll,
Ready set let's ride
Get your little fine ass on the step
Shimmy up inside,
Just slide girl by my side girl
Yeah, we can run this town
I can rock your world
We can roll 'em down fog 'em up
Cruise around get stuck pedal to the metal
'Till the sun comes up
I made a deal with the man on the moon
He's gonna put in some overtime, we've got all night
Ready set let's roll
Ready set let's ride
-Ready, Set, Roll- Chase Rice
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Paul sighed and shook his head. He'd been in town to run a few errands for Josh when he saw Edward yet again harassing Bella. Sam would be pissed if he saw it. He pulled out his cell phone and called Jared instead. A smirk graced his lips as he waited, anticipation making him giddy.
"Hey, Paul.. Man… Kim is pissed at you right about now." Jared snickered.
"The hell for this time?!" Paul huffed.
"I promised to watch a movie with her... then you called."
He rolled his eyes. "In other words, you shoved your man card into her purse and let her cry on you while you're forced to watch another chick flick?" He teased.
Jared rolled his eyes even though Paul couldn't see it. "She happens to like this movie, and if it makes her feel better, I'm all for it."
"Whipped… so whipped. Anyways do you still have the video from last week of the resident pussy boy?" Paul wondered.
"Yeeeeah…. Why?"
"He's gonna get a dose of what it means to mess with Sam… again." Paul mused.
Jared stiffened, something Kim noticed. "Is Bella alright?" He asked rubbing Kim's arm to let her know it was ok.
"Yeah, Edward's messing with her again. She just walked back inside, if he follows her- yup I'll talk to ya later." Paul said hanging up without another word of explanation.
Edward pulled on Bella's arm trying to stop her before she was able to get too far away. "Please, Bella, just talk to me. Won't you even do that much?"
"Hey, Bella… Copper top buggin you?" Paul asked while cracking his knuckles.
Bella sighed. "Hey Paul."
"We're talking, if you don't mind. I'm sure one of your horses needs to be trained or something- not that you'll win this year anyways." Edward hissed.
"Edward! That was uncalled for and I don't think your father would appreciate you talking to someone that way." Bella frowned.
Paul shook his head. "You don't have to defend him Bella. He doesn't have the smarts to keep his mouth shut either way. And without his cousin here to help him out, he's easy pickins'." He warned.
Bella sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Edward, look… I'd buy into you wanting to stay friends if there was any truth to it. The fact is, you're jealous. And no, I'm not saying that to sound conceited. From what I hear, you have a child on the way! You have your moments where you can be an ass but surely you'll do what's right by your child… won't you?"
Paul scoffed and rolled his eyes when Edward sneered at him. "Of course I will, but I do want to talk to you. In private if we can."
Bella tilted her head towards the sky and sighed. "If I give you five minutes will you leave me the hell alone?"
"I promise." Edward nodded.
Paul rolled his eyes. He didn't say anything, but he knew that somehow Edward would try anything to have Bella back in his arms.
"Paul, can you wait here? I'm going over here by the oak tree. If I start walking this way and he follows…. I give you permission to kick him or something." She sighed.
Paul smirked. "With pleasure!"
"Charming." He spat. "You're confidence in my self control astounds me Isabella." He mused when they were alone.
"Bella." She corrected automatically. "Now what do you want?"
"I miss you. I keep thinking about it. Lauren isn't you. Emily wasn't either, nor was Tanya. They have nothing on you. I just want a chance again. Please, is it that much to ask?" He asked her trying to touch her face. He frowned when she backed away. "Lauren told me she would be getting an abortion.. She doesn't want to be a mom this early on, and I don't want to be a dad."
Bella was horrified. "How can you be happy about that?!"
"It leaves me free." He shrugged.
Bella shook her head. "Your five minutes is up now. Don't bother coming back around, Edward. I'm through telling you. Come back again, I'll get my dad to issue a formal restraining order against you." She warned before walking away leaving Edward stunned behind her.
"You alright? Should I call Sam?" Paul asked when he saw her tears.
She shook her head. "No, don't bug him. I'm sure he's busy. Otherwise you'd be back on the ranch and he'd be the one running the errands." She grinned.
"How'd you know?" Paul asked.
Bella nodded towards his truck. "The stuff in the back is brand new. I'm guessing y'all have a fence down which means Sam is gonna be busy later on too. So I'll just talk to him later."
Paul shook his head. "You're right and wrong all at once." He teased. "We had a tree fall and take out part of one of the fences. But Sam isn't gonna be helping us. He's taking you out somewhere. And no I'm not sayin another word." He smirked.
Bella shook her head. "I'll see you later. My lunch break is nearly finished." She said before walking off with a tiny wave.
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Bella sighed when she saw Sam leaning against the door to her truck when she walked out of the library. She gave him a sweet smile and couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips when he picked her up into his arms. "Did Paul send you after me?"
"Nope. Jared dropped me off earlier.. Only been sittin here for bout five minutes or so." He said placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Why would Paul have sent me?" He wondered.
She thought about fibbing. But he'd find out later on anyways. "Edward started heckling me again. Paul came to the rescue on your behalf." She said handing her keys over to him.
Sam sighed. "Baby girl. You should have called me. I'd have beat his ass. It's the only way he's gonna learn."
She shook her head. "Nope. Then you'd be the one getting into trouble. I can only do so much if you fight in the open." She teased.
He laughed. "You're too much. You know that?"
"Sometimes." She grinned. "But I think you can handle it." She quipped.
He grinned in answer. "So… I have a surprise for you tonight."
"Oh? Are you gonna tell me?" She asked.
"Nope." He snickered when she pouted. "Just be ready to leave around seven or so, ok?"
Bella sighed. She'd have to bide her time until he came to get her. "Can I at least ask what I'm supposed to wear?"
"Jeans and a tee shirt. It's nothing fancy. I promise."
"Alright. I'll see you at seven then." She grinned. She didn't even question it when Jared pulled up in her driveway. She mused Sam must have told him when to be there for them to be so coordinated. She waved to both of them then headed inside to get ready. She couldn't wait to see what he had planned.
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Bella grinned and fussed with her hair when she heard the doorbell ring. She checked that she had everything in her small purse: license, chap stick, small hair brush in case Sam rolled the windows down, hair tie (also in case he rolled the windows down), cell phone and charger. She checked herself over one last time in her dresser mirror and smiled at her reflection.
Her jeans were worn but still fit snugly, outlining every curve she had. Her long sleeved form fitting tee shirt with its V-neck dipped just this shy of provocative yet concealing all at the same time. Even her boots boosted her a good two inches. She wore a coat of mascara and a coat of eye liner and nothing else. Nothing fancy- just her.
"Hey, Sam. You ready to go?" She asked walking down the steps.
"Oh wow…Bella… you look…."
"That bad, huh?" She teased.
Sam shook his head. "No! No, you look beautiful." He kissed her cheek and grinned when she blushed.
"I'll be home later dad." She said before she left.
Charlie only waved. She wasn't old enough for a set curfew anymore; there wasn't much he could do. He knew if she wasn't coming home she'd send a text or call if there was trouble. He'd raised a smart daughter who knew the in's and out's of how to defend herself and find a way to get help if there was trouble.
He should have been more concerned. He would have been if it had been anyone other than Sam. He trusted the boy- had known him since he'd been born. He wasn't worried. Sam said they would be safe. After all, it was only a picnic dinner by the lake. What harm was there in that?
Sam grinned and helped her into his truck, only stopping to offer her a brief kiss before closing the door and making his way to the drivers side. The truck was started, her hand was placed in his and comfortable silence filled the cab. At least until Bella started to fidget. Sam only laughed.
"Won't you at least give me a hint?" She asked with a pout.
He brought her hand to his lips and merely shook his head. "Relax. Enjoy the ride."
Bella sighed and decided to let it go. She snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder until she saw the familiar turn off to Tiger Bay. "Why'd we come out here?" She asked when he parked.
"I told you, I have a surprise waiting." He grinned. He turned the truck off, hopped out and opened her door for her before she had time to even ask him another question. He led her down a well worn path to an area close to the waters edge just as the sun had started to set.
"Sam, it's gorgeous!" She grinned.
He shrugged. "Yeah, well… you need some time to relax. It's nothing much…"
"It's awesome." She grinned. "Don't put yourself down just because it's not fancy. That's our ex's… I could care less about that… I told you already." She teased.
"Yeah… I know… I know…" He grinned, finally able to relax. "Come sit with me and relax."
She couldn't help but laugh. "If you insist."