Chapter 6 – If Ever I Could Love
I wonder if you feel, the same way that I do, if ever I could love, I think it could be with you – Keith Urban
After applying a double coat of gloss to her Easy Breezy Beautiful lips, Bella grabbed her black quilted Chanel and walked out of her bedroom.
"B you look stunning," Alice said turning in her seat at the wooden kitchen table. She had to raise her head up to see over the stacks of model identification cards. Alice tended to take more work home than Ryan Seacrest.
"Are you sure?" Bella said insecurely. It was more out of character than Chris Brown pleading not guilty. Bella was never second guessing when it came to clothes.
She knew her black three-quarter sleeved Zac Posen belted tunic synched her size 2 waist and sparkled in the right light. She knew her black Nanette Lepore pumps elongated her slim legs, and that her long hair looked silky smooth falling in soft waves down her back.
So why did she have the same feeling in the pit of her stomach like she did when she interviewed with the Dean of Admissions at Princeton?
"Yes, and don't even think for one second about throwing a pair of skinny jeans under that tunic, it's perfect!" She said smiling at her abnormally insecure friend.
"Thanks. I guess I'm just a little nervous," Bella said. "I haven't gone a date in what, four years?"
"Well don't be. You could put Leighton Meester to shame right now," Alice said trying to be as supportive as possible. She was so happy Bella was going on a date because it meant she was moving on, or at least trying to.
The girls were interrupted by the buzz of their doorbell.
"Eight o'clock. Right on time," Alice said nodding in approval and getting up from her seat.
After smoothing out her tunic one last time, Bella walked over and opened their door.
"Hey," Bella said smiling. When she met those jade eyes, a familiar tingly feeling rushed through Bella's core.
"Hey, you look gorgeous," he said as his eyes trailed down Bella's slender body.
"Nice to see you again. I'm Alice, one of Bella's besties," Alice said from behind Bella effectively breaking up their little moment.
"Edward," he said shaking her hand.
"Dark blue Victor Gelmaud crew neck over top of a Tim Hamilton T, and dark washed Diesels. Nice work, I approve," Alice said turning in her 'indoors only' special addition purple UGGs and walking back to her work.
Rolling her eyes, Bella stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
"How did she do that?" Edward asked astonished as they walked into the elevator.
"It's like a weird sixth sense we all have," Bella said giggling. She wasn't going to lie; they could identify Citizen from True Religion any day.
As they walked out of Bella's building, she could have sworn that Thomas glared at Edward. He was a little protective of the girls.
"Do you mind if we walk? My apartment is actually only three blocks down," he said pointing down the street.
"Sure," she said, it would be more time they could spend together
Edward's apartment was about half the size of Bella's lavish penthouse, but when she saw his kitchen she almost lost it.
"Ehmygosh, you have a Viking 30! These just came out!" Bella squealed dropping her bag and running her hand across the stainless steel knobs. Edward's laugh and crooked smile brought Bella out of her insane antics.
"Yeah, I have some pretty good connections," he said smiling at her.
"This smells amazing," she said, pointing to the brushchetta that was lying on the wooden cutting board on his granite countertop. "Do you need any help?"
"Nope, you are not allowed to help tonight. There are some stools over there though," he said pointing behind the counter. The edge of counter was raised with two metal stools under it so people could sit, almost bar-like.
After sitting down, Edward leaned across the counter and placed a glass of red wine and the plate of brushchetta in front of Bella. "You really do look beautiful."
"Thanks," Bella said felling the blood in her body rush to her face. What? When was the last time she blushed? Isabella Swan doesn't blush!!!
"So what do you like to do?" she said.
"Well besides making you blush, I used to play soccer in high school and cooking obviously," he said making Bella blush even harder, as he placed a pasta bowl on the stove.
"When did you know you wanted to be a chef," Bella asked trying not to go into reporter mode.
"Well, my grandfather started to teach me when I was old enough to hold a spoon. He used to call me his little protégé," he said laughing. Oh how Bella loved that laugh.
"He owned the restaurant, so I would help out after soccer practice. He changed the name to Nipote which is grandson in Italian before he died. I guess he always knew I would take it over one day," he said with a shrug.
The evening continued effortlessly. Bella noticed how easy it was to talk to Edward, like she knew him her entire life.
A strange sensation overwhelmed Bella while she watched Edward cook. He was so sure in every movement, every cut. He was even hot x 10 when he flung his white hand towel over his shoulder.
"Have you ever had banana flambee? Edward asked after they had finished eating.
"No, but I saw Emeril make it once. Does that count?" she asked jokingly.
"Well we're just going to have to have that for dessert now aren't we," Edward said taking out a clean wooden cutting board and paring knife.
After cutting the bananas, Edward added them to the sugar filled sauté pan.
"Watch this," Edward said smiling. Knowing that this was part of the show, Bella leaned into the countertop like she was at the World Series.
Stepping back and tilting the pan away from his body like a professional, Edward added the rum to the corner of the pan. Bella had to remind herself that a flame was suppose to explode out of the pan when the fire came very close to Edward's face.
"Show off," Bella fake coughed as Edward swirled the fruit around in the pan with just the flick of his wrist.
"I have to show off in front of you," he said turning to wink at her.
After scraping the last drop of the banana/ice cream mixture, Bella breathed out in content. She would definitely need Rosalie to make her run more tomorrow.
"How was it?" Edward asked sitting next to her. It was then that she noticed their close proximity. Her freshly waxed legs were crossed gracefully at the knee and were pressed against his jean-covered knee.
When Bella looked up through her long lashes, she saw Edward staring longingly towards her.
Was she ready for that? It had been, what a week, two? Was that enough time? No mater how much she loved that smile, how long had she really known the guy?
But when her amber eyes locked with his jade eyes, she felt safe. At that moment, she knew that he wouldn't hurt her. It was comforting.
Leaning farther, Edward tucked strands of Bella's dark hair behind her ear and let his hand rest at her jaw.
Bella let her instincts take over as her eyes fluttered shut. Tilting her head up, she finally reached her destination.
Pressing his soft lips to hers, goosebumps ran through her body. She was thankful that they were both sitting because his sweet, gentle touch made her knees wobble.
Before opening her eyes, Bella pressed her smooth forehead to his. She didn't want to let go of the moment, the feeling of being connected.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a smile on his face as he slowly opened his eyes.
Smiling her most alluring smile, Bella breathed, "delicious."
Rosalie was so excited for Bella she practically bounced into her office in the morning. The girls were on a three-way call while they traveled to work. Apparently it was the 'best date in the universe.'
"Miss Hale, some flowers came in for you this morning. They're on your desk," said Rosalie's middle aged Better Home and Gardens reading assistant.
"Thanks Cindy," Rosalie shouted over her shoulder. She was hoping to the fashion gods above that it wasn't from one of the flirty managers. He had been trying to ask Rosalie out for the past month. What was his name? Mick? Or was it Mike?
Slipping inside the door, Rosalie saw the glass vase full of white and pink lilies.
Placing her forest green Stella McCartney on the corner of her polished desk, Rosalie opened the card…
Love the nickname, Thanks for your help yesterday.
Call me if you're free for dinner.
-Emmett
301 673 2962
Rosalie spent the next five hours trying to finish the last of her performance reviews. To say that she was distracted was an understatement. Every time she breathed in the sweet lily fragrance she thought of him. His smile, his laugh, those piercing eyes.
She didn't want to be desperate. So that meant as painful as it was, she would have to wait to call him. Plus she had enough work to keep her busy until lunch. Yes, lunch. That's when she would call him.
Deciding to put herself out of her misery, Rosalie took a deep and cleansing breath and picked up the floral scented card to dial his number.
In through the nose, out through the mouth
In through the nose, out through the mouth
"Emmett McCarthy," said a deep voice.
"So I'm sitting here writing performance reviews and I'm starting to get kind of hungry. What do you think this girl should do?" she asked innocently.
"Rose, well I'm so glad you called because I was actually planning on going out to eat at this restaurant I know. You wouldn't happen to be free tonight would you?" he said. She could practically hear the smile on his face.
"Yeah I'm free, what did you have in mind?"
"I'll pick you up at eight. What's your building number?"
After giving him her address, Rosalie spent the next hour jumping around in her room like she had just won the lottery. Needless to say, she didn't get any more work done the rest of the day.
She channeled IMan and went with a vintage cream colored mini dress paired with a black fitted Zara leather jacket.
Just as she was slipping on her Report ankle boots, she heard a soft knock on her door.
With one last shake of wavy blond locks, Rosalie turned away from the mirror and ran to the door.
Whipping the door open like a useless piece of fabric, Rosalie looked into the eyes she had been daydreaming about all day.
"Hey. You can come in for a second, I have to grab my bag," she said breathlessly.
As she walked, well more like strutted, to her table to grab her black Chanel, she could feel his eyes on her.
"You're so beautiful," he said as she walked back to him.
"You clean up pretty nicely yourself," she said smiling. Well nicely really wasn't good enough, more like godly. His D&G blazer hung over his broad shoulders, and dark jeans from his slim waist.
Dinner was perfect, of course. He did everything right, opening doors, pushing out chairs, being kind to the waiter, and ordering the best wine.
Oh how perfect he was.
He was taking her back to her penthouse.
Each of their long strides matched, so that every now and then their hands would brush together sending goosebumps up her arm.
The third time their hands brushed, Rosalie felt Emmett's fingers reach out to gently hold her hand.
Their hands connected and dangling, Rosalie couldn't help but smile. The moment was more perfect then Dan and Serena's first kiss in season one.
"So, what are you doing for your sister's birthday," Rosalie said trying to start conversation.
"She had some party last weekend so it's just going to be her and me and some Chinese food tomorrow. She'll probably make me watch the Devil Wears Prada again," he said laughing deeply.
"Oh I love that movie. Emily Blunt cracks me up every time," she said looking up at him.
"You should come. We always order too many egg rolls anyway."
"Sure," she said smiling brightly. She was happy about seeing him again, but was having trouble concentrating because his rough palm was still touching her smooth one.
When they rounded the corner to her building, Rosalie didn't want to go, didn't want to move.
"Thank you for tonight," she said looking up into his eyes.
"My pleasure."
She didn't want their date to end like all of the cheesy movies. But at that moment, all Rosalie wanted was her plump lips on his.
Taking control, Rosalie lifted her palm up to his face, rubbing her thumb against his strong jaw bone.
She wasn't really sure what happened after that because all that mattered was that his lips where on hers. He kissed her like a delicate flower, so soft and effortless.
It was sweetest first kiss she had ever had.
A tingle ran down her spine when he leaned in and whispered against her diamond studded ear, "Have a good night beautiful."
"Mother what do you want?" Rosalie yelled into her phone. She loved her mother, but calling her at five in the morning on a non-running day was insane. She needed beauty sleep too.
"Can't a mother call to ask how her only daughter's date was?"
"Not at five in the mor- wait how did you know I had a date? I didn't even tell Bella or Alice yet!" she exclaimed. What did her mom have a tracking camera on her or something?
"Your dad told me."
"What? How did daddy know?" she yelled. She didn't want her parents to know what went on in her personal life.
"Rose honey, you didn't think that boy would ask you out before asking your father first did you? I mean he's his boss," she pointed out.
As much as Rosalie wanted to be mad at her mom for getting involved, she couldn't because no one had ever been such a gentleman towards her in her entire twenty five years.
So...which one was your favorite??? A=Edward or B=Emmett.
For the next chapter, would you rather have Alice and Jasper flirt at a C=fashion show or D=photo shoot? I was planning on doing a photo shoot, but if you guys want another show just say the word!
To all my fellow Roman Catholics out there, happy Easter and God bless.
As always thank you for reading
xoxo
Lex