Author's Note: The response to this story is awesome, thank you so much. Also, this one is a little longer than normal to make up for the cliffhanger in the last chapter.

Nice reviews are better than chocolate, unless maybe you're licking that chocolate off someone.

Sixteen

I managed a wide eyed, but happy expression. "Hi." Do I hug him? Shake his hand? Jump him? I thought we were meeting at the hotel?

Edward took a step forward and leaned down, brushing his lips against my cheek. He smelled like a mix of coffee and something I couldn't name; I tried to commit the scent to memory. "I know I said I'd meet you later on, but…" He looked a little shy all of a sudden.

"Hey, Cullen!" Alice smiled, "well we're happy you're here. I hope you don't mind that we look like bums," she gestured to herself and me.

He smiled warmly, "you look great." Edward turned to me, "both of you."

I swallowed, "yeah…well thank you, and for freeing my suitcase."

"Anytime, so, can I help you ladies with your bags?" Unbeknownst to me, Alice had grabbed both her suitcases while I was swooning over Edward. He reached for the handle on mine and Alice handed him two garment bags and a huge suitcase; her things for the show had been shipped on ahead and in theory, were waiting for her in a studio space she'd rented. Angela had flown in two days earlier and it was her job to unpack and organize everything, poor girl.

I didn't know how he did it, but Edward kept hold of everything. "So, taxi?"

I nodded, but Alice interrupted before I could actually say anything, "actually, I have a driver. There he is!" She waved in the direction of a middle aged man in a suit; he held a sign that read "Alice Brandon" on it. He started walking toward us and we met him halfway; he took the garment bags and our carry-ons, leading us outside to the waiting town car.

Alice walked in front of us, giving Edward and me a modicum of privacy. He leaned down to me mid stride, "Alice sure knows how to travel." I felt myself consciously leaning closer to him.

I nodded, "she appreciates the finer things in life."

Our driver loaded our belongings into the trunk and then opened the door for us. Edward looked like he was about to say goodbye, thankfully Alice seemed to notice. "You're coming with us."

"Oh," although he knew how she was, he still looked surprised by her forwardness. "Ok." He looked pleased as he followed us into the car. He chuckled, "am I going with you to the hotel?"

"Yes," Alice said matter-of-factly.

We got a luggage cart was pushed to our rooms by a bellman (Alice got two rooms, saying I would need "privacy" eventually). He led the way down the hall as Edward walked just slightly behind him. Alice nudged me, "I see you checking him out," she whispered. I gave her a withering look, but she just shrugged. "You can deny it all you want."

I shushed her, but didn't say anything. She was right; we had a really nice view. I could feel my face blushing crimson the more I thought about it. "Here we are," the bellman said, turning to us as he got to the first room, ours were next to each other. I saw Edward turn and notice my face, but he didn't comment. Alice unlocked the door and we followed her inside. The room was a mix of white and a color that, to my dismay (or heightened pleasure), could only be described as coffee. There was a large window that looked out to the city below, and a sitting area near the bed.

Alice kicked Edward out of the bedroom, telling him it was time for the both of us to get ready, and sent him to her room. Originally, he was going to hang out there until I was ready, but he decided to go back to his apartment to shower and change.

It gave me a lot of visuals.

We asked him where he was taking me, but he wouldn't say, instead giving me the small clue that we would be outside for part of the night and that he'd be back in a couple of hours.

Immediately after he left, Alice pulled three outfits out of one of the garment bags. I jumped in the shower while she took her things next door to her room, my stomach fluttering. Was this a date? How dressed up was I supposed to get? And – wow, he was good looking. As in, all the way, up and down, good looking. As in, be still my heart, be still my libido, good looking. I hoped Alice would be able to work her magic on me enough that I wouldn't look quite as out of place standing next to him. Once I was out of the shower, I put on some lotion and re-brushed my teeth.

"Keep your towel on," Alice called through the door before opening it. "Here, they're La Perla." She handed me a matching bra and underwear set; I could already feel the flush.

"You bought me underwear?"

"I had a feeling your things didn't match; you never know what might happen tonight," she grinned wickedly as I pushed her out the door. The bra was lacy and light pink; the underwear was actually what Alice referred to as a "boyshort"; I don't know, but they were nicer looking than a thong. After I had them on, I wrapped the towel around myself again and stepped into the bedroom. "Here, put this on."

"Jeans!" I smiled and pulled them on; they were nicer than any of mine – a slim fit and a very dark blue. She handed me a simple, sheer white shirt with a wide cut neckline that, when I put it on, skimmed around the outside of my collarbone.

"There's a jacket too, but we can wait until you're finished getting ready for that." We went back into the bathroom and I put my hair up in a towel to keep my shirt from being soaked. Alice had to jump up onto the counter in order to be the right height to do my make-up. I felt a little silly about it; she was always getting me ready. When I asked her if she minded, she said it was fun, that she liked me being her doll for a little while. She skipped foundation, thank goodness, and instead put on a bit of eye make-up and added a tiny bit of rosy pink colored blush to my cheeks. "There," she said when she was done, "you have that roses and cream thing going on now." She dried my hair in such a way that it looked fuller; it cascaded down my back in smooth waves.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked nice, almost nice enough to go out with Edward without feeling self conscious.

Ok, who was I kidding? I knew I'd still feel that way.

Our phone rang and Alice answered, she said a quick thank you and hung up. "He's waiting for you in the lobby. Here's your jacket." She started handing me things, first a deep brown leather jacket that I slipped on and then some patent flats in the same shade. I was grateful they weren't heels; I wasn't ready to embarrass myself that much on a first date. Date?

I bit my lip, "how do I look?"

Alice was practically bouncing, "beautiful! Now go have fun and I want to hear about everything." She did that mischievous grin that she did so well and I flushed. "None of that," she kissed me on the cheek.

We said goodbye and I made my way to the elevator, attempting to give myself a pep talk. It would be ok. What's the worst that could happen? Let's not go down that road. Things would be alright; he must like me somewhat to go to all this trouble.

The elevator doors opened and I stepped out into the lobby. I spotted him right away; he was sitting by himself on a couch, his body turned toward the elevators. Edward looked good. He had on a lightweight dark grey jacket with the color turned up and a black t-shirt underneath; it had writing on it, but I couldn't tell what it said. His jeans were the same color as mine. He smiled crookedly when he saw me and I actually stopped walking for a second. His expression looked almost…hungry? That was the only way I could describe it.

Edward stood up and walked over to meet me, his pace quick. Belatedly, I smiled back at him and he swept me up in a hug that would have startled me had it not been such a turn on. You're turned on by a hug? Yes, shut up and enjoy it. I put my arms around his middle; his body felt strong under his clothing. I suppressed a pleasurable shiver. "I wasn't sure if Alice would approve if I'd done this at the airport," he said in my ear before letting go.

I let out a little laugh, "she probably wouldn't have minded too much; she really does like you."

Edward did the lopsided smile thing again and I felt a warming twist in my stomach. He motioned toward the exit, "shall we?"

I nodded and felt his hand touch the small of my back as he led me into the warm early evening air. The city was bustling, but the pace wasn't so far off from what I was used to in California. Things had a different atmosphere here though; it didn't feel as flat to me. I hadn't noticed it the first time I was here. "So," I said, stealing a glance at him, "will you tell me where we're going now?" His hand hadn't left my back; as a matter of fact, it seemed to be drifting toward my waist.

"Well, I thought we'd start with dinner. The airplane food couldn't have been that appetizing," he said, our eyes meeting momentarily.

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until he mentioned it; my stomach felt totally empty. We walked for another minute in silence before Edward reached his arm out to hail a cab. One stopped on his second try and he let me in first; I slid across the seat for him. "45 East 22nd, near Broadway please," he said to the cab driver who took off like he was the only car on the road. It didn't take long to get to the restaurant.

We stepped out in front of a quaint, little place with a name I couldn't pronounce. "Italian, ok?" He asked before he opened the door for me.

I nodded, still unable to form thoughts coherent enough to speak them.

Edward seemed to know the people working there and we were seated in no time. He leaned down to me, "I worked here when I first came to New York." His warm breath so close to my neck made me shiver. "So, what's Alice up to tonight?" He asked as we sat down at a small round table; I think he could tell I didn't feel comfortable yet.

I cleared my throat. "She's having dinner with the stylist for her show and she mentioned going by her studio space. Angela has been there setting everything up for her since Thursday."

"All by herself?"

"Yeah, but Alice is paying for everything and she put her up in the same hotel we're in, and I think she raised her pay, so Angela doesn't mind. She has the work ethic of…well I don't know who." I smiled part way. "Speaking of which, how's the addition going?"

He tilted his head thoughtfully and I wondered what he was thinking. "The exteriors are almost done; I can take you by it some time if you'd like."

"Sure, I'd like to finally see what it looks like. I remember when you first landed the account." It was the same day he found my letter; we both grinned at the memory.

He reached his hand over the table and brushed his fingers feather light over the top of my hand, "that was a good day."

Edward was flirting with me. Even I, ever the pessimist, couldn't deny it. I wasn't very good at this, but he didn't appear to notice. Our conversation sailed back and forth smoothly and it was much too soon that the check arrived. Edward pulled out a credit card to pay for it. "I want to pay my half." I said quickly, reaching for my wallet.

"It's ok."

"No, I'm not going to take advantage."

"Of what? My hospitality?" He grinned.

I bit my lip, "well, yeah."

"Trust me, you're not." He paused, studying my expression. "How about this, feel like going for a walk? We can work up an appetite for dessert and you can pay for that if you'd like."

I knew he was just placating me, but the thought of extending the evening was too tempting to pass up. "Ok."

His arm slipped easily around my waist and I was suddenly very aware of every place we were touching – my shoulder against the space just under his arm, his forearm around my back, his hand on my side. "I had a place in mind, if that's ok?"

I nodded without asking where, instead taking in my surroundings. It had gotten dark while we were eating, but people still hurried about as if it were daylight. We kept a very leisurely pace; it relaxed me enough that I couldn't care less where we were going. After a few minutes we passed the same park I went by the first time I came to New York. The gate was tall and it looked almost deserted inside. I still didn't know what my connection was to this little square of building surrounded land. "Would you like to go inside?" Edward asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"What? Yeah, but I thought it was private?"

"It is, I have a key," Edward smiled slowly, his eyes warm.

"You do?" I tried not to sound too eager.

He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket, "yes. Shall we?" He reached his arm out for me to take, separating a gold colored key from the rest.

It seemed quieter in the park; everything was muted around us. I could see one other couple walking along a pathway, the man's arm over his companion's shoulder. Edward moved his arm around my waist again and we walked in no set direction. "I'm glad you're here," his voice was low, mellow.

I leaned my head to rest on him, "I am too." We walked to a narrower pathway with trees on either side; Edward stopped walking and turned me to face him.

I had a feeling it might be coming, but it was nothing like what I could have prepared for. His hands were gentle as they reached up to touch my face, his thumbs moving over my cheekbones. He looked right into my eyes as if asking for permission; I took a step closer in answer. He moved one hand from my face, trailing it to my waist.

My lips, slightly parted, met his and everything faded away. He was soft and strong and tasted like something sweet. I reached up to touch his neck with one hand, the other grasping onto his jacket for support. I smoothed my fingers along his neck before wrapping an arm around him. He made a low sound in his throat and pulled me closer. We kissed until I thought I might collapse; my heart had taken on a frantic pace, my breathing shallow. He looked at me intently when we parted like he was waiting for the opportunity to kiss me again. My words bypassed that part of me that judged how intelligent they were, as they are wont to do, "what about…dessert?" I asked stupidly.

He lifted half his mouth in a grin, his voice husky, "I think you're it."