Here is another chapter. And in case I don't get to upload another tomorrow, Merry Christmas ya'll lovely readers!

To my Beta, Sobriquet, Merry Christmas ma'am, I really appreciate you bein there

SM owns Twilight

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Chapter 16: His Choice

Rosalie told Emmett the news of her pregnancy and, according to her, his face lit up like a kid's on Christmas morning. They agreed to watch Alicen as long as I agreed to watch Jackson the following day so they could celebrate the good news.

I talked with Jasper all week and tried to convince him to tell me what he was planning for our date but he wouldn't budge.

I had just jumped out of the shower, put my robe on and was putting my makeup on when my phone rang. I smiled as I picked it up and butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I looked at the caller ID before pressing the answer button.

"Hey handsome."

I heard laughter from the other end. "Hey darlin'. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm almost done. Rose and Emmett picked Alicen up a half hour ago and I'm getting dressed right now. Where are you?"

"Drivin' around waitin' for you to be ready."

"Well, why don't you come here and wait for me in the house?"

"Good idea. I'll be there in a minute."

I hung up the phone and curled my hair a little bit, deciding to throw some of it up. Then I heard my doorbell ring. I walked towards the sound while tightening the robe around my waist. I opened the door and gasped, my heart thumping against my chest at the sight of Jasper in Wranglers and a suit jacket. He looked like a Southern gentleman, absolutely handsome.

"Howdy," he said quietly.

I smiled and moved aside for him to come in.

"Well, I feel overdressed, but you look fantastic."

I hit him on the arm. "I'm not done yet. I was just about to put my dress on when you interrupted me. Wait here and I'll be back in a second."

"Yes ma'am."

I ran into my room and threw on my burgundy sundress and shoes, emerging from the room in a few minutes. Jasper was looking at a picture of me graduating from college when I cleared my throat.

He turned around and stopped when his eyes found me. He stared, making my cheeks darken. After a couple of seconds he cleared his throat and walked towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. "You look absolutely stunnin' darlin', I love that color on you."

I blushed. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself, cowboy."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me. As it was heating up I pulled away. "If we keep doing that, we won't go do whatever you had planned."

"I'm fine with the alternative."

I rolled my eyes and reluctantly pulled away, grabbing his hand as I led him out the door, locking it behind me.

"So where are we going?"

"It's a secret."

"Are we going to eat?"

He nodded. "We're going to McDonalds."

"Ha ha. Very funny."

"Well, you asked." He opened the door and I climbed into his Dodge Ram. He shut the door behind me and ran around the cab to the driver's side and jumped in.

He drove around the city while we talked about nothing important. I loved how comfortable I was around him, even when we weren't talking. I could be myself and not worry about being judged. He was confident in himself. He handled things coolly. After what seemed like a good hour he pulled into a parking lot in front of this huge building.

He parked and jumped out of the truck and ran to open my door open for me, offering his hand which I gladly took. I didn't let go as we walked up to the building. The sign on the door said "Whitlock Music Industries" and I gasped. "This is your company?"

"One of the buildings, yes."

He led me through the door and gave me a tour of the place. The last place on the tour was his office. He opened the door and turned on the light, letting me walk in ahead of him. On a table in the middle of the room was a setting for two with a candle and a bottle of wine.

"Jasper, this is amazing."

"Thank ya. Have a seat, please."

We walked to the table and I sat down when he pulled the chair out for me. He took the wine bottle and opened it, pouring a glass for each of us. Then he went to the microwave and pulled out a container of food and set it down on the table.

I smelled the dish. "Mmm, mushroom ravioli. My favorite."

"I know. I asked Rosalie. I wanted to take you to dinner but I didn't want to take the risk of your lap getting an ice cold bath."

"That's really thoughtful, thank you."

"You're welcome darlin'," he said as he sat down across from me. "Dig in."

I put a spoonful on my plate and looked around. There was a bed in the far corner.

"Jasper, do you work late?" I asked nodding towards the bed.

He shook his head. "I traveled so much it was just easier to live here."

"This is nice."

"Thank ya, I designed it myself."

I smiled. His twang was doing crazy things to my stomach.

"Do you record here?"

He nodded. "I record some of my songs. Do you want to try?"

"Try what?"

He smiled a devilish smile. "To sing."

My face paled. "No, really. I'm not any good. Just the shower, remember?"

"Relax; I won't force you into doing it. But I would love to hear you sometime."

"Yeah, maybe."

"So what else do you have planned for tonight?"

"I'll show you when you're finished."

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Once we were done with our food we walked back out to the truck.

"Since you said you haven't seen one in a long time, the next thing I'm takin' you to is a movie and I'll let you pick."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

"Wow, how hard it must be for you to let me pick. I might pick the chick flick or the new action movie."

"It is. But I wouldn't mind a horror show; that way when you get scared, I'll be there."

I laughed. "What, are we in high school or something?"

"Cant stop a man from wishin'."

We drove to the nearest theatre in the city. We walked up to the front hand-in-hand and he waited patiently while I looked through the choices.

I sighed. "I really can't decide."

"Between what, darlin'?"

"The action movie and the chick flick."

"I thought you were joking."

I laughed. "I was, but now I really can't pick. What do you like?"

"I like the zombie movie."

I slapped his arm and put my arms around his waist, his reflexively wrapping around mine. "No horror movie. Maybe next time you can pick that."

He sighed. "Oh, I will. Don't you worry your pretty little head."

I smiled.

"Bella?" I heard a nasal voice from behind Jasper. I looked around his shoulder to see who it was.

"Oh, crap."

"What?"

"It's Lauren, this girl I grew up with. Just ignore her, okay?"

He nodded as she came walking over.

"Hey Bella, who's your friend?" she asked, her eyes running all over his body.

I stood in front of him to block her view. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just wondering what a hot guy like that is doing with you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Back off Lauren."

"Aw, Bella. Are you worried he might want me over you?"

"No, I'm not worried. This is more of a warning for you."

"Oh really? Why do I need a warning?"

"Because he's taken. Besides, aren't you suppose to be skanking on your friends' boyfriends?"

"What do you think I'm doing now?"

"Ah, but we're not friends so get lost." I turned back to Jasper and grabbed his hand.

"Ooh, so feisty. Glad something of that skank ass bitch best friend of yours rubbed off on you."

I turned back towards her and narrowed my eyes, releasing Jasper's hand in the process so my hands were free. "What the hell did you say?"

"You heard me. How's that bastard kid? I bet-"

I lunged and punched at her across her cheek before I felt arms wrap around my waist and pull me back.

Lauren put her hand over her red cheek and looked at me. She was shocked that I'd stood up for something. I thought about her words and lunged at her again. As I did Jasper pulled me back, turned us around and pulled me close, blocking my view while trying to simultaneously distract me and calm me down. "Ignore her darlin'. She's nothin'. Don't let her ruin our date."

I nodded and felt myself calm in his arms.

"Aw, how sweet," I heard her say.

I breathed in Jasper's smell and I felt myself calm further, I heard Lauren order her ticket. She was going to see the chick flick which made my decision easier. Then she turned around and addressed Jasper. "Care to join me? It'll be better than being with her."

"No," Jasper growled. Even though I couldn't see his face I knew he was pissed. "You won't be better than bein' with her. Nothin' will as far as I'm concerned. So how 'bout you get out of our damn faces?"

I heard footsteps walk away from us and I assumed she was gone. What she said hurt and I knew just then how Emmett felt when he couldn't kill Edward because I wanted to make Lauren pay. I just had to be the bigger, responsible, better person and not rip her a new one.

I pulled away and looked into his eyes and brushed away the hair that fell over his eyes. "Thank you," I murmured. He smiled encouragingly at me and I stood on my toes to give him a kiss.

He pulled away too soon for my taste and we got in line to order our tickets, his arm securely around my waist. He leaned down to my ear. "You know, I like this protective side that you have for me."

"You do?"

He nodded.

"That's good, because you're mine. And I do protect what's mine."

"As do I darlin'." He leaned down and kissed me.

We ordered our tickets for the action film but I couldn't really concentrate on the movie. I was too busy watching him out of the corner of my eye. I felt like I was in high school again. When he held my hand and absently traced circles on my wrist, my stomach did flips, and my heart skipped a beat when I caught him looking at me.

When it was finished and the lights came on he looked at me, his face full of amusement. "So how did it end?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

"Honestly, I was too busy watching you."

I blushed.

We walked out to the truck and he drove me home and walked me up to my porch. He stopped in front of the door and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush up against him.

"Sorry about that girl."

"Why are you sorry? You didn't make her come up to me and say all that."

"Yeah, but I still feel like I should apologize."

I looked up into his eyes. "Well on the bright side, at least a drink didn't get spilled on me."

He smiled. "Yes, I guess that makes me feel a little better." Then his face grew serious, "Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'll be fine. It just hurt for her to talk about my best friend and my daughter like that. I don't know what came over me."

"You were protecting those you love, which is very attractive. It makes me like you even more."

I laughed and hit his arm. "Thanks."

He smiled. "I'm just bein' honest."

"And I respect your honesty." I stood on my toes and gave him a kiss.

When he pulled away he cleared his throat. "I'm supposed to be performing Friday night. Do you want to come?"

"Yeah, I'd love to. What time?"

"How about I pick you up at seven? I'm suppose to go on around eight."

"Okay, I can't wait. I love hearing you sing."

"I'm glad to hear that darlin'. Why don't you invite Emmett and Rosalie?"

I nodded. "Okay, I'll invite Ange and Ben too. You'll have to meet them if you're gonna stick around."

"Sounds like a plan."

He brushed my hair behind my ear and caressed my cheek before putting his hand on my neck, pulling my face closer to his. I felt my heart beat loudly in my ears and my stomach jumped for joy. I reflexively closed my eyes and felt his soft lips on mine, kissing me with more passion than I had felt in close to four years. I couldn't help myself - I moaned in approval. I felt like a giddy teenager again, from my stomach to my heart. I felt gravity pull me to him and a spark ignite deep within me, stuff that I had only read about in books and never thought actually existed.

When I realized I needed to breathe, I pulled away but held onto him for balance.

"Whoa," he whispered, panting as hard as I was.

"I know."

"That was-"

"Shocking?"

"To say the least."

I smiled and he returned it, his lighting up his whole face.

"Well, I should probably go inside. I have a column due tomorrow that needs a few finishing touches. Call me later?"

"Absolutely. Good night darlin'."

"Good night cowboy."

I kissed him again and unlocked my door. I stepped inside and turned to watch him walk to his truck and once he was in he waved at me before he drove off.

I shut and locked the door and went to change before doing the final edit on the column.

Despite the Lauren incident, it was the best night of my life because as he was joking and lightening my mood something happened. In that instant, I fell in love.

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Wishin ya'll and ya'lls families have a good and Merry Christmas