Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to my FABULOUS co-authors, Forks1 and mommyofboth, you make this story even more fun to write! Thanks to our mystery beta! And a HUGE thanks to qjmom for her continued support!! And a HUGE thanks to qjmom for her continued support! We appreciate her!!!

Secrets by Heartbroken1

Chapter Seven - He's Sorry

I'd successfully left Anthony in the restaurant, but that didn't mean he'd left me. He was with me constantly. In my thoughts, in my dreams, and, damn him, he was slowly worming his way into my heart.

Dammit!

I hated the vulnerability that man brought out in me. He wouldn't be back for days yet and my body ached for his touch. The flowers were beginning to wilt, but my need to talk to him was growing with each passing minute. I'd even talked myself out of calling him more than once.

He'd said that he was unreachable, but I wanted to at least hear his sexy voice asking me to leave a message.

"Oh, just call him," a familiar deep voice instructed with a snort. "Then maybe you can put that damn phone down."

I looked up to see Jacob strolling into the family room holding a bowl of popcorn. "Am I that obvious?"

He laughed. "I hate that you're pining for this guy, Bells. He's married…and that's bad. But, good hell, you've never listened to my opinion on guys before. If you did, you'd be sleeping in my bed every night," he added with a wink.

His teasing did exactly what he knew it would. I pressed send, and waited. My heart jumped when a new calltone began to play…

I'm here without you, baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you, baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you, baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight, it's only you and me

Then his voice said, "Can't take your call, leave a message."

The beep came and, unsure of what I should do, I said, "I'm just thinking about you." It sounded lame, and I cringed, wishing I could bring myself to delete it. I wanted him to know that I'd called, that I'd missed him.

"That was lame, Bells -- seriously lame," Jacob noted as I disconnected the call.

"Shut up!" A pillow punctuated the statement as I threw it across the room. It made a direct hit, sending popcorn flying in every direction.

"Hey!" He feigned anger. "I worked really hard on that."

"I'm sure the microwave has cooled down enough for you to pop some more."

"It was the last two bags." His eyes narrowed and he stalked toward me like a predatory animal. His fingers curled at the ends as his lips pulled into a mischievous smile. "You owe me, Bells."

I jumped up and raced around the couch. Jacob launched himself toward me, vaulting over the obstacle between us with ease. His fingers started their assault as soon as they touched my skin, tickling me until I crumbled to the floor.

"Jake, stop," I managed to gasp through my giggles. "Get…off…me."

"You spilled my snack. I guess I'll just have to eat you instead." His teeth nibbled my ear.

"I don't feel like being eaten tonight."

He laughed, his fingers still working on my ribs.

"But…I'll make it up to you."

His tickling ceased and he looked into my eyes. "I'm listening."

"I'll get you some more popcorn if you'll promise not to touch me again tonight."

His eyes twinkled as he contemplated my offer. "Deal. If…"

"I'm listening," I repeated his phrase.

"No more moping over Tony. There's nothing you can do 'til he gets home anyway. Besides…I'll bet he found someone who is willing to be his whore." Jacob's laughter filled the room as he climbed off me and offered a hand.

"Oh, shut up," I told him, slapping his hand away and getting to my feet by myself. "I should have never told you that."

A few minutes later, I stood with purse and keys in hand -- phoneless. "Do you know where my phone went?"

He looked up from his position on the floor amongst the popcorn with his weapon of choice in hand -- the DustBuster. He shook his head as he shoved his fingers between the cushions, coming up empty.

I knelt down next to him and searched under the couch. "Ah ha!" The phone was open, but I closed it quickly and dropped it into my bag. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Get the good stuff, Bells. None of that low-calorie, no taste crap."

The small grocery store was quiet, nearly empty as I made my way to the aisle where the popcorn was kept. I picked a box of popcorn with the highest caloric count possible and headed to the checkout.

"Is this all for you?" The girl had her blond hair pulled into a ponytail and her young face was much more stressed than it should be for her age.

"Yes, thank you." I swiped my debit card and was quickly on my way toward the car. My phone rang and a patronizing smile pulled at my lips. "Yes, Jake?"

"Not Jake," the sexy voice that I'd been missing said.

"Anthony," I squealed. So much for playing it cool.

"I got your messages."

"Messages? I only called… shit."

He laughed. "Yeah, I kinda felt like I was interrupting an intimate moment on the second one."

"It wasn't… See, I spilled…"

"It wasn't an accusation, Bella, just an observation." He cleared his throat. "I'm glad that I'm not the only one that's hating the distance between us."

"Speaking of which, I thought your phone didn't work internationally." Who was being accusational now?

"I can check my messages from Greece. I don't even want to think about how much this call is costing me." His laughter was relaxed as it wafted through the phone, helping me relax as well.

I slid into the comfort of the driver's seat. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't…"

"Bella, stop. I called because I miss you. It's stupid, but you seem to be all I can think about."

The smile on my lips was unavoidable, as was the tingly feeling that bubbled through me at that knowledge. "It's not really as stupid as you might think since you're on my mind a lot these days."

"Good to know."

Muffled talking sprang up in the background. "Hey, I've got to run. I'll call you again as soon as I'm back in the states."

"I look forward to it." Seeing him again was all I could think about.

"Goodbye, Beautiful Bella. Don't spill Jake's popcorn again." I could hear his smile. "I don't like the thought of his hands on you."

Can you be happy and annoyed at the same time, by the same comment? Yes. Yes, you can. "I think it's a little early in our relationship for you to be deciding the who's and how's of what I do with my time. Besides I'm not the one who's married." Venom dripped off the words and I should have regretted my tirade, but I didn't.

"You're right," he conceded, "I'm sorry. It's just…" He paused.

"Just what?" I spat.

"I promised to be honest with you and I… Well, I want to be the man who's making you laugh like that."

"Jacob is a…friend."

"A lover?"

"Sometimes." The revelation was out of the immense irritation his possessive side brought out in me.

He was silent, except for his slow steady breathing.

"Just being honest," I announced flippantly.

"Touché." He sighed, his breath was an exaggerated whoosh through the phone. "Doesn't mean I have to like it," he muttered.

"Nope. Not anymore than I like the thought of your hands on your wife." A shudder ran down my spine as the thought began to take hold.

"It sounds like we have a lot to discuss when I get home." More masculine mutterings could be heard on Anthony's end of the line. "I really have to go."

I attempted a pathetic laugh to ease the tension. "Just don't go falling for some Greek Goddess."

His voice was smooth as silk as he said, "Your beauty puts Aphrodite to shame. You have nothing to worry about, I only have eyes for you."

Jacob was sitting on the couch when I walked in the door. "Took you long enough. I was just about to send the Sheriff's Posse out to look for you."

"He called." My cheeks burned with the heat of a blush. "He called from Greece. Long distance from Greece had to cost him a pretty penny."

"Careful, Bells." Jake's voice was low, worried. "He's married. Don't get your heart too involved until…"

"I know. It's just…" I let the thought trail off. There was no excuse for feeling the way I did about a married man. He'd been honest about it, but there was still too much I didn't know about the man -- too many secrets.

The doorbell rang and both of us jumped. "Are you expecting someone?" Jake asked.

"No." I walked toward the door, checking the peephole first. My teeth sunk into my lip to keep from laughing. "Hi, Grace," I said as the door revealed her standing on the porch with perfect hair and makeup and an outfit that looked like something out of a Victoria Secret clothing catalog.

Her eyes looked around me, searching for the real reason of her visit. "I thought you might need these files." She handed me a stack of paperwork.

"Thanks, but you didn't…"

She brushed past me. "Um hum, yeah," she muttered before her voice jumped an octave. "Hi, Jake."

"Grace," his voice was even deeper, sexier than normal. "You look great! Are you going out tonight?"

"Thanks, no. No date tonight." She began fidgeting on her stilettos. Her eyes were locked on Jake's as he stared at her, looking all love struck.

"So, um, I'll get that popcorn," I volunteered.

Neither of the other two people in the room even acknowledged that I'd spoken, nor that I was even present in the room -- or the house. They only stared at each other, smiling stupidly.

Two hours later, the movie credits rolled. Grace was asleep, snuggled into Jacob's side and Jake was snoring softly with his arms around his sleeping beauty, his head resting on top of hers. I spread a blanket over them, not having the heart to wake them, and turned everything off on my way to bed.

Anthony was in my thoughts and eventually in my dreams, letting me experience how wonderful his delicious taste, his mind-numbing kisses, his sensual touch would be.

When I awoke the next morning, the sheets were curled around my legs, binding me to the bed. My dreams had brought me to climax once as the erotic images of the man that wouldn't leave my thoughts taunted me with his body. I stumbled from the bed to the bathroom, turning on the water and stepping under the spray. The hot water of the shower caressed my skin and again my mind pictured Tony's strong hands replacing my own.

I sighed, wishing he were here, that we could talk things out. If this was a one-way road to nowhere I'd rather know now. My heart was already falling for him, despite everything my brain was saying, and time was fast becoming an enemy.

The couch was unoccupied and I couldn't help but wonder where Jake and Grace had gone. My lips pulled into a smile as Jake stumbled into the kitchen behind me.

"Morning, Jake."

He rubbed at the stubble on his chin, then raked his fingers through his messy hair. His bare chest heaved with his deep breath. "Morning." His voice was rough.

"I see you made it to bed last night." I poured myself a glass of orange juice and watched him carefully over the rim as I took a sip.

"Yeah, no thanks to you," he grumbled.

"Ah, come on, Jake. You two looked so cute, cuddled into each other. I thought about taking a picture, but worried that the flash might wake you. She really…"

"Morning." Grace's cheerful voice cut off my sentence. She was wearing Jake's missing shirt, that fit her like a dress. Her eyes filled with love as she looked at Jacob, seeing only him.

His face lit up and he ran another set of rough fingers through his hair. He cleared his throat and smiled. "Morning, Grace. I hope you slept well."

She winked and their gazes locked on each other. It wasn't as though I'd been noticed by her, I'd disappeared into the background again, becoming the proverbial fly on the wall. "I have never slept better in my life," she sighed.

"I know the feeling."

Hey! It was silly to feel offended by his comment, but how many times had he slept with his arms around me?

I swallowed the last of my orange juice and cleared my throat. Grace startled and looked at me, mortified. "Oh, Bella," she said breathlessly, her eyes darting to me, then shifting nervously to Jacob. "I didn't realize…"

"It's okay, Grace." I smiled at her, then glared at Jacob. "Don't screw things up with her. She's the best assistant I've ever had."

Grace was still stammering when I walked out of the kitchen, giggling to myself. Seeing Jacob with other girls had always bugged me in the past, made me jealous even, but with Grace it was different. They were perfect together. It did mean, however, that I would have to find another way to scratch my itch…

I hope Anthony will be up for the challenge, I thought with a smile.

The morning was uneventful, even when Grace strolled in with a permanent blush on her face. "We didn't do anything," she excused the fact that she was wearing my roommate's shirt this morning.

"Grace, look, I don't care what you were doing. It's none of my business. He's my best friend and if you make each other happy, then I'm more than happy for you both." It struck me in that moment that I meant every word.

The door to the office opened and a spring bouquet strolled in. "I'll sign for those," Grace announced before the flowers had even spoken and I retreated into my office to start my day.

A few minutes later Grace walked in carrying the flowers. "Here you go," she said as she sat them on the desk, "Who are they from?"

The smile on my lips was threatening to break my face, my heart was thumping wildly in my chest as I slid the note out of its holder. I recognized the handwriting as soon as the card was out of the envelope. "Um, these are for you, Grace."

She let out a squeal and snatched the card from my fingers. "Grace, I had a great time last night," she read the chicken scratch aloud, "Can't wait to do it again. Love, Jake." She clutched the note to her chest and sighed. "He is so sweet. I really like him, Bella. I hope that's okay."

"Of course, it's okay."

Grace took her flowers and left the office, only to return a few minutes later -- with another bouquet of flowers. "These are for you," she announced, sitting them on my desk.

The card was typed, the order having been place over the phone.

Bella,

I'll be home this afternoon.

I can't wait to see you.

Dinner?

I'll call you when I'm on the ground.

Love,

Tony

My reaction was similar to Grace's and I couldn't help the cringe at being so guy crazy. Anthony had that effect on me though. Squeezing my eyes closed and taking in a deep breath were a vain attempt to compose myself.

I filled the slow-passing minutes with phone calls, paperwork, and trying desperately to keep my mind focused on anything other than the mysterious pilot who wouldn't stay out of my thoughts. I waited impatiently for the phone to ring.

But a watched pot doesn't boil…

And the Samsung Instinct sitting next to my computer was refusing to ring.

"No call, huh?" Grace asked as I looked at the phone for the thousandth time since the arrival of the flowers only a half hour ago.

"No," I groaned.

"He'll call," she assured me. "A guy doesn't send flowers saying he'll call and then not call." As if to prove Grace's theory correct, my phone rang. She grinned. "See, I told you."

I gave her a cheeky grin. "Hello?"

"Bella, it's so good to hear your voice."

"Anthony." His name crossed my lips in a breathy whisper.

He chuckled. "I've missed you, too. Hey, I'm home, back in the valley. But I'm going to have to postpone dinner. Something has come up. It kills me that I can't…." He let out a frustrated breath. "Are you able to catch an early lunch?"

I glanced at the clock. "Now? It's 9:30."

"Okay, so maybe it'll be breakfast." He laughed, but it sounded forced. "I'll meet you wherever you want, just name the place. I want to see you."

"Where are you?"

"I'm literally stepping off the plane in Sky Harbor."

"How 'bout The Pointe at South Mountain off of Baseline and the I-10, in forty-five minutes?"

"I know exactly where that is. See you in forty-five minutes." I could hear his smile.

Carlisle called as soon as I hung up the phone, wanting to meet "really quick" on an upcoming development in the East Valley. Sitting in his office I was more than a bit fidgety, waiting for him to finish the discussion.

Twenty-five minutes later, I interrupted. "I'm sorry, Carlisle, but I have an important meeting in twenty minutes and if I don't leave now I'm going to be late."

"Of course," he said, piling up his stacks of papers. "The rest of this can wait."

"Thanks."

A quick call to Grace, for her to meet me with my purse, and I was headed toward the lobby.

"Have fun," she said as we made the swap. "Take your time."

"Thanks, Grace."

Anthony was waiting by his car when I pulled into the parking lot. He tipped his head in acknowledgement, a smile on his gorgeous lips. I eased my car into a spot, near his, and turned off the engine. My eyes closed and I concentrated on my breathing for just a moment, in hopes of calming my overactive heart.

The door opened and when I opened my eyes, his hand was extended. "Bella." His voice was husky and my heart thudded in my chest.

I slipped my hand into his and he helped me out of the car and into his arms. His chest was firm, muscular against my breasts. His arms tightened around me, wrapping me in an exhilarating embrace. His eyes twinkled brightly just before they drifted closed and his head lowered.

Warm, soft lips touched mine, gentle at first, then becoming more eager with each passing moment. I accepted and returned them with a matching fervor.

He pulled away, leaving us both breathless. "I'm sorry," he panted. "That is all I could think about while in Greece."

"It was better than my dreams," I confessed.

His lips formed an arrogant smirk. "You've been dreaming about me?"

"No."

"Honesty, please."

"Yes." My cheeks filled with heat as well as color I'm sure he could see. My eyes focused on my shoes.

Deep, heart-stopping laughter burst from him. A finger eased my chin up. "I love that you dream of me." He kissed me again. "If I'm honest, I dream of you, too."

"You do?" I squeaked.

He nodded, then kissed me again. "And that kiss was so much better than anything my imagination could come up with." His lips met the sensitive skin just below my ear and almost caused my knees to give out. "I can't wait to make love to you."

His confession broke the spell I'd been under, dousing me with an imaginary bucket of ice water. "I, um… I'm hungry," I said, breaking the embrace and hurrying toward the elevators that would lead up to the restaurant.

Anthony followed me, quietly, knowing what was best for him.

"Welcome to the Pointe at South Mountain. Would you like to be seated inside or on the patio?" the hostess greeted.

I glanced up at Anthony, deferring the question to him. "Outside," he answered. His palm was warm and strong on the small of my back as he guided me through the labyrinth of tables toward the patio.

The waitress took our drink orders and disappeared. I fumbled with my napkin, purposely avoiding the depth of the green eyes staring at me.

"Bella," he whispered, "I'm sorry."

"You seem to be saying that a lot lately," I spat.

His hand covered mine, stopping the nervous action of my fingers. "Bella."

Our eyes met and all the anger melted away. Dammit! I wanted to be angry at him, it was the only defense I had against what my heart wanted.

"I'." He squeezed my hand. "Bella, I am so sorry for putting you in this position. I know it must be hard for you." His fingers ran through his hair and heaved a sigh. "I've never been able to be completely honest with a woman in my life. But you, you're different. I want… I need to be honest with you, even if the truth makes you uncomfortable." He sighed again and closed his eyes, opened them and stated, "Bella, I'm falling for you."

Thanks to the Gods of Fate I didn't have to respond to his declaration. The waitress stepped up with our drinks and we quickly gave her our order, a Spanish Omelet for Anthony and Fruit Crepes for me.

"If you'll excuse me," I announced as soon as the waitress walked away, "I need to use the ladies room."

He stood and waited for me to leave before dropping back into his chair.

The bathroom was beautifully decorated which wasn't unexpected. I used the bathroom, washed my hands and stared at the woman in the mirror. "What the hell are you doing?" I asked my reflection.

Knowing that he was falling for me made my heart flutter, my pulse quicken, and scared the hell out of me. Never before had I thought I was capable of loving another woman's husband, but here I was. At least he'd been honest, right?

I pulled myself together and headed back to face whatever was coming next.

Anthony was standing when I rounded the corner. He met me halfway, taking me into a passionate embrace right in the middle of the dining room. "Bella, I have to go." He sounded a tad panicked.

"Is everything…"

"I'm sure it will be, but I have to go." With his hands on my upper arms, he squeezed them, then kissed me, hard. "I will call you. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too," I whispered as he left me standing alone, holding his credit card.