Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the positive reviews so far! A girl could get addicted to all the praise :-) Hope you continue to enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it x

CHAPTER 08

"Word of advice, Bella," said Rosalie several weeks later, when I was standing in front of the mirror applying the lip gloss she had lent me. I smacked my lips together and turned to her, with a smile.

"Go ahead," I said.

"Wear the blue dress instead."

"Really?" I asked, looking down at the red top and skirt I had put on.

"Yes, it suits you better. The skirt and top are nice too, but maybe for a different occasion."

I rolled my eyes. Alice had taken Rosalie and I shopping earlier, as she had promised us a night out the next time we weren't working. At first I had been reluctant, but Jacob had reported that James and his cronies were gone. No one had seen them since that fateful night in Twilight and the dreams I had been having had faded too. I changed quickly and Rosalie smiled.

"You picked that one yourself right?" she said.

"Well with Alice's help, of course."

"Of course," echoed Rosalie and grinned as Alice came through the door without knocking.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Just a small bistro I know. They do good food," she replied. We followed her out to the waiting taxi and I stared open mouthed when we pulled up outside the bistro. It was quite exclusive, with a veranda outside hung with twinkling fairy lights and vines. Inside the tables were small and the decor traditional French. We were shown to our table and Alice ordered a bottle of sauvignon blanc. As we sipped wine, I looked through the menu nervously. My high school language classes didn't help me too much with the all French menu. Alice ordered for the three of us though, which alleviated my concern. The food was beautiful and we chatted easily, mainly about Emmett and Rosalie's relationship.

"That was a lovely meal, Alice," I said, when our table was cleared. She had made it clear that the meal was her treat, despite mine and Rosalie's protests.

"Of course. Now, I think we should head to Bar Angelus. It's a very nice little bar that serves the best cocktails. Come on." She grabbed our hands and led us out onto the street. It was a fine evening and the moon was full overhead. Alice glanced up at it and then sighed, contentedly, as we reached the bar. The security on the door greeted her warmly and admitted us quickly. She led us to a table and we sat down as a waiter came to serve us. I looked through the cocktail menu and then ordered a Mai Tai. As we sipped at our drinks we giggled about some of the other people who had come in, in particular a group of young men who had been openly watching us since they arrived. One of them finally plucked up the courage to come over.

"Excuse me, I just wondered if you ladies would like a drink?" he said, a little nervously. We giggled and looked at each other.

"No, they wouldn't," said a cold voice and I looked up to see Mr Hale standing there, flanked by Emmett. The young man slunk away, quickly.

"Jasper! What a lovely surprise!" said Alice and looking at her flushed face I knew she meant it.

"Alice. Rosalie. Isabella." He nodded to each of us in turn and then took a seat. Emmett slid into the chair beside Rosalie and grabbed her hand quickly before Jasper could comment. "Are you enjoying your evening, ladies?"

"We were," said Rosalie, pointedly.

"You have something to say, sister?" said Jasper, directing his gaze to Rosalie, who met it with a challenging glare.

"Only that we were having a girls' night out and now you've kind of gate-crashed, brother."

"You're not glad to see us?" said Emmett, looking deep into Rosalie's eyes, making her blush. She leaned forwards and kissed his lips.

"I'm pleased to see you," she replied.

"Ah, young love," said Alice, dreamily, while Mr Hale rolled his eyes.

"Edward, you made it!" said Emmett, suddenly getting up. I looked up to see Emmett pumping Mr Cullen's hand and flushed. I had successfully avoided him after the embarrassing episode in my bedroom, only glimpsing him occasionally in the bar at night. I felt my heart rate accelerate and Alice half turned to look at me, almost as if she had heard it.

Mr Cullen slid into a seat opposite me and his eyes found mine, but I ducked away before he could hold my gaze. The conversation bubbled around me, but I couldn't focus, feeling him watching me. Suddenly it was too much and I sprang to my feet. The others looked at me, puzzled and I forced a smile on my lips.

"I'll be right back," I said, then headed for the ladies room as quickly as I could. Once inside, I took a few cleansing breaths. My head was spinning a little from the alcohol and from Mr Cullen's sudden presence. I splashed some water on my face and then steeled myself to return to the table. When I came out, he was waiting for me.

"Isabella," he said.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"You were taking a long time. I wanted to check you were alright," he replied, smoothly.

"Fine, thank you," I said, quietly. "But I might head home. I think I had too much to eat and drink."

"You are not going on your own," said Mr Cullen, firmly. "I will escort you."

"Maybe I'll just wait for the girls," I muttered, going to walk away from him. Mr Cullen reached across and took hold of my arm. A look of irritation flitted across his face.

"Isabella, what is your problem with me?" he asked.

"Problem? I don't have a problem," I said. In truth, he made me very nervous. For the last few weeks, while I had avoided his physical presence, he had consumed my thoughts. And I had had some very disturbing dreams about running my fingers through his mess of bronze hair, feeling his lips pressed to mine, as his hands ran up my back. I had a major league crush on my boss and I was well aware that that was not a good thing.

"Then why have you been avoiding me these last few weeks? Even tonight, away from work, you treat me like some sort of... pariah! What have I done to upset you so much?" He ran a hand through his hair and I watched it, biting my lip. "Is it because I told you that you were sacked? I didn't mean that; I just said it in the heat of the moment and I thought we had sorted it out. Or did I do something else to offend you?"

"I... I guess sometimes you're just a bit... confusing," I eventually managed to stammer.

"Confusing?"

"Just, I never know where I am with you. Sometimes you look at me like you really hate me and I don't know what I've done wrong..."

"Hate you?" He laughed, darkly. "Nothing could be further from the truth, Isabella. You fascinate me. I had seen you before that first night you waited on my table and I wanted nothing more than to have you at my beck and call. The first night you served me I had not f... I was unwell." He paused and I had a feeling he had meant to say something different. "After that, I tried to be genial, because I had seen how that group of idiots on the stag do treated you that night. I hated that they had made you cry."

"Why did you storm out the night I was attacked?" I asked, choosing my words deliberately and almost enjoying seeing him flinch at them.

"Because if I had stayed, I would have ripped Newton's arm off and fed it to him," he replied, darkly. I shivered.

"Oh." What else could I say to that?

"Isabella, he was having the most vile thoughts about what he was going to do to you and you had no idea. You just kept smiling and serving his drinks... I thought you were enjoying his attention." I felt some curiosity about his comment about Mike's thoughts, but it was over-ridden by my indignation at his closing remark.

"Enjoying Michael Newton's attention?" I laughed out loud. "The guy is a total jerk. I hate him and I am very glad he is banned from Twilight so I never have to see him again. Do you know he got Jess in trouble? Well of course you know; you had Emmett deal with her when it was him at fault. So much for looking after your girls..."

"Stop right there," he said, leaning in close to me, his breath on my face. "Jessica knew full well that she was breaking company rules when she invited him up to her room. I make no exceptions, Isabella."

"What if it had been me?" I asked, a little breathlessly. He got even closer and trailed a long finger along my cheek, making me shiver. His lips came so close to mine that if I had leaned forwards we would have been touching.

"If I caught you with a client in your room, I would deal with the client first and then with you. Personally." I shivered at his dark tone and tried to take a step back, but he held me fast, breathing in deeply.

"I wouldn't take a client to my room, Mr Cullen," I said, trying to distract him, as his face moved to my throat, agonisingly close to my flesh. He didn't respond and I shivered again, my hands starting to tremble. Mr Cullen straightened abruptly and looked down at me; his eyes a little dark.

"No, Isabella, I am quite sure you wouldn't. Go back to the table. I will get you a glass of water; you look a little flushed."

When I reached the table, I was surprised to see that Rosalie and Emmett were gone and Alice was standing beside Jasper, her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Bella, do you mind if I go back with Jazz?" asked Alice. "I'm sure Edward will take you home."

"No, of course not," I said, not feeling in a position to argue. After all she had paid for our evening and should feel free to go home whenever she wanted.

"Emmett took Rosalie back earlier. Think she'd had too much to drink. Night, Bella." Alice gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left me alone at the table. Mr Cullen appeared just after they had gone and handed me the water. I took it from him and sipped it, watching him nervously.

"The others have gone," I said, after a brief, awkward silence.

"So I see. Jasper had better look after my little sister," he said.

"Alice is your sister?" I asked. He nodded and I took another gulp of water. "Mr Cullen..."

"Edward," he said. "Please, Isabella, call me Edward. We are not in work after all."

"Edward." I tried his name and smiled, liking the feel of it on my lips. The expression on his face suggested he liked it too. "How did you know where we were tonight?"

"Alice likes to give me an itinerary of her plans, so I always know where she is. Makes her feel safe I guess."

"Oh. Why did you come?"

He shrugged.

"Jasper wanted to see Alice, Emmett wanted to see Rosalie and I wanted to see you."

I flushed, but he looked perfectly composed, as he leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs until his feet touched mine. A sense of warmth spread through me at his physical closeness and I couldn't help my lips curving into a smile.

"Why would you want to see me?" I asked, earning me a small smile from across the table.

"Because you are beautiful and very pleasing to the eye," he replied, flippantly. He laughed at the expression on my face. "And because I actually enjoy your company, Isabella."

"Bella," I corrected. "My friends call me Bella."

"Ah, I am your friend now, Bella?" he said, but his grin widened. I smiled back, a little shyly.

"Sure, we're not in work, like you said, Edward."

"Tell me then, Bella, what brought you to Twilight?" I looked across at him and sighed, not wanting to go down this line of conversation jus as I had started to relax.

"My friend Jacob brought me to meet Mr Hale and he gave me the job," I said.

"Bella, why were you looking for a job at Twilight?" The subtle re-phrasing of the question made me flush a little.

"Jacob had heard they looked after their girls. He's a good friend."

"Just a friend though, right?" asked Edward. I smiled at the hurried question.

"Just a friend," I agreed. "Jake and I grew up together. After my dad passed away, I had a difficult time and then I moved in with Jake for a bit before he found me the job here."

The heavily edited version of my road to Twilight seemed to satisfy him for now though and he simply nodded. I stifled a yawn and Edward smiled at me, sympathetically.

"You look tired, Bella. Would you like me to take you home?"

"Yes, please," I said, softly. I got up and he tucked my hand into his arm, comfortably and then led me outside. Unfortunately, as soon as the air hit me, the alcohol seemed to rush back to my head too. He led me to a silver Volvo and opened the passenger door for me. I settled in as he got in beside me.

"Put your seatbelt on," he said, as he sat down.

"Yes, boss," I giggled. He quirked an eyebrow at me and shook his head, but I still fastened my belt. Edward drove very quickly, but I felt completely safe with him, even though he occasionally seemed to spend more time watching me from the corner of his eye than actually watching the road. By the time we reached the apartment block behind Twilight, I was feeling very sleepy and more than a little intoxicated. Edward came round and opened my door for me and then placed his arm around my waist. He escorted me to my room, stepping inside behind me and closing the door softly.

"Be careful," I warned him, in a stage whisper. "If my boss catches you in here, he'll sort us both out!" I giggled again, feeling the alcohol floating through my system again.

"You need to get into bed, sleep it off, Isabella or your boss really will sort you out," he retorted, grabbing my arm when I stumbled trying to unfasten my shoes. Once they were off, I collapsed on my back on the bed, looking up at him, dreamily, before my eyes started to close.