…'Meyer' made the mold…but we are all here to break it…lol…

Chapter 2

EDWARD HEADED to the stock room and began stacking the final boxes onto the dolly. He was almost finished getting the store ready for the new school season. All the college students would be returning and the store needed to be ready. His dad owned the shop but had suffered a heart attack recently. Edward was helping out.

He'd grown up in this town, but had flown the 'coup, left for New York City, began working in a restaurant, and before he knew it, he had earned a degree and opened his first restaurant. Now he had two small ones under his belt and each was a hit with the sheik 'rich and famous' of the city. He still felt like the boy back home, but success and good looks had been good to him, especially where the ladies were concerned. He realized he had been the flavor of the month with most, but he didn't mind. He was a very busy man. Anyway, these big city girls always came up lacking in his eyes.

Blowing his hair off his eyes, he finished stacking the last boxes and turned around, heading past the front display counter and back down the center of the store. He passed by the oil paint isle and saw through the corner of his eye a very pleasant shape, and stopped dead in his tracks. There, on top of the stock ladder, bending forward and straining to reach across to the top shelf, was a woman.

Correction…on top of that ladder was a woman's ass! Jean-clad and very sexy. Heart-shaped and perfect. Just the right kind of curves a man could hold on to.

Nice!

His hands twitched a bit as he stood still and said nothing. Just stared, admiring her form as he quietly let out a low breath.

Her blue jeans were old and faded and hugged her perfectly, making him want to grab her hips and slide his hands down the back of her thighs and in between to feel her heat. Instant hard on.

Christ, what a sight!

It's not like he hadn't had sex lately, but his current New York girlfriend, Victoria Denali, was quickly approaching his list of people to not be associated with. It was just a matter of time. Edward had been here for two weeks already, and being separated from Victoria was the best thing that could have happened. It allowed him to get perspective of his life, get focused. There was no denying what he was focused on at the moment. He couldn't ignore that he preferred this full and lush behind to the tiny, flat rump of Victoria's.

Fucking sexy!

He rubbed his chest a little, clearing his throat, still admiring the view. "Can I, uh, help you up there, Ma'am?" The question came with a hint of amusement.

Bell gasped, "Holy shit!"

Turning too quickly, she twisted and lost her balance, falling sideways and then straight down. The jug of gesso she had been reaching for flew from her hand as she fell. There was a rip of fabric and then she landed flat on top of him.

Shaking her head, Bella realized where she was. On top of a very solid man, who now struggled for breath as the air had not-so-gently been knocked out of his airway. Their fall had been broken by a pile of cardboard boxes. She shook her head again and tried to sit up, using his chest as leverage. The man groaned in what she thought was pain, and panic raced down her spine. That's when she became aware of her legs. They were spread-eagled across his middle, and she could feel a hard bulge pressing right where it shouldn't be pressed.

Squealing in horrified embarrassment, Bella put her legs under her, trying to get up, but the gesso had spilled across the floor. Her feet slipped and she only succeeded in rubbing more intimately against him. He groaned again, this time a little more strangled. Reflexively, he reached for her, grabbing her hips, trying to give her more balance, or maybe trying to hold her in place. She had no idea really, but she had to get off of him now because…

…that felt so good!

Bella was stunned. Sucking in her breath and leaning forward, she pushed off his chest, jumped up and backed away to rest against the shelves, trying the catch her breath as she went beet red over her entire body.

Edward just lay there, trying to recover. He turned his head and stared at her flip flop-covered feet as he slowly and unsteadily got up, still trying to process the last sixty seconds (i.e., her body on top of his…straddling him…and his obvious reaction). Raising his gaze, he noticed her torn shirt hanging open, her breasts barely covered…and, yep…those were indeed some beautifully hard nipples she had, too. He could see them clearly outlined and he stared openmouthed. He groaned.

Why in god's name did she have to wear a white t-shirt? And fuck if those black-painted toenails weren't the sexiest thing he had ever seen!

She looked up, out of breath as she followed his gaze, then she shrieked as she grabbed her torn shirt to cover herself. Realizing that he was practically ogling her, Edward ran his hands through his hair and snapped out of his trance, running back to the storeroom to get a smock for her. He came back to where she was still standing, dazed, and he saw her face for the first time…her eyes.

Brown eyes…

Bella.

BELLA SWAN! This beautiful creature was his secret crush the last two years he had been in high school. Edward can't believe that this gorgeous woman is her. She had grown up quite sexy. He felt like biting his knuckle. He blinked as he stared at her, running a hand nervously through his tousled hair again.

Shit, there is gesso in his hair now…

He remembered her sitting across the classroom during art class. She'd been quiet, a loner. He had always liked watching her. She seemed to only be interested in her art, and not interested in stuff like gossiping or being popular. He had been very popular; a soccer junkie and that was why he had never told anyone about his crush on her. His friends would have made fun of him. And, of course, he'd had a girlfriend then, too. You know, the popular type that put out to get in with the 'it' crowd.

Edward was speechless as he stood staring, his eyes darting back and forth from her eyes to her chest. She fucking blushed...she blushed! He also noticed that she wouldn't look at him. As much as he was enjoying the view, he did a mental shake. Reaching for a hanging smock, he let out his breath and moved quickly around her hip to the back of her, seeing that delectable ass once again.

Jesus!

His groin throbbed. He couldn't help himself, and he said smiling, "You know, there're better ways to ask for help…but anytime you need someone to break your fall I'm available,' and he moved in closer, circling his arms around her waist, and pulled the smock up her arms.

Bella froze when she heard his voice again.

No. It couldn't be. No…no no no.

It was!

The one guy who had invaded her dreams from puberty to the present. The one guy that she had fantasized about repeatedly over the years…

…Edward Cullen…

…graduating class of '93. He had been two years ahead of her in school. The 'it' guy all those high school hussies had lusted after and chased. She and Edward had shared their art class together her freshman and sophomore years.

Bella was instantly mortified and stiffened with awareness when he reached around her. She could feel him, too…his heat. Somehow she managed to slip her arms through the sleeves of the smock, as he tied the laces at the back.

Edward took his time, dipping his nose near her neck and breathing in her scent. Mmm, vanilla! His head reeled a bit. She was intoxicating.

Bella tried to move away but couldn't. He was still holding the strings to the ties in back. So she blurted, "Jeez, you really scared the crap out of me, you know! Next time do me a favor and cough or something!"

She turned around then and couldn't help looking up and right into his eyes. "Edward…" She barely whispered the words out.

Startling green, just like she remembered. Hypnotic.

"Um…uh…uh, thanks for catching me. Um…I could have really hurt myself if you hadn't been there to break my fall." And he looked back at her, as if he was surprisingly amused, staring at her face, her hair, and then slowly down her body.

Is he checking me out? He's checking me out!

Already on edge, she said reflexively, "You know…um…that was embarrassing, so, if you could back up a little and give me some space…!" Her back was practically pressed against the shelf behind her. He was still so close she could smell him, masculine and very earthy, making the hair raise up involuntarily on her arms.

He didn't move.

Goddamn, is that a heart tattoo on her breast?

"You have really grown up...Bella." His eyes sparkled as he smiled, continuing, "Did you think I wouldn't remember you? Two years of Mr. Reinhardt's class is pretty hard to forget, right?" He looked back up to her eyes and backed away, only a little bit, allowing her some room. She was looking down now, squirming. "He was always a bit smelly, wasn't he?"

Bella smiled at that and bit her lower lip, remembering clearly. "Yeah, he definitely was. H-how have you been, Edward?" She stammered out, nervous as hell, "Last I heard you were living the big life in New York City." She didn't know what to do with her hands, so she wrapped her arms around her middle. "Um, I heard you opened a little restaurant or something." He was still smiling at her in that amused way from before.

He shifted his weight, resting his arm on the shelf, making him look so damned sexy and male.

She needed some water!

"I'm flattered, B! You…ah…you been keeping tabs on me?" His smile was huge as he watched her get even redder. "It's no big deal really. It pays the bills. And every story has pit-falls." Edward could not stop looking at her curves. She could really fill his hands. He grinned as he continued, "How have you been, Bella Swan? Looks as though you've kept yourself sane…and healthy," he said looking appreciatively down her body again. She was fucking beautiful, without the muss and fuss. The image of her up on the ladder shot lust straight down to his semi…and he twitched.

Ego much?

"Hey!…Edward!…My face is up here!" she said, pointing up. He was practically salivating at her. The nerves in her middle clenched at the thought of him, Edward Cullen, checking her out. He obviously was! And she was, too…checking him out…and boy did she like what she saw. His face had filled out and his hair was a darker shade of that crazy color only he seemed to have...and still wildly out of control. He still had that strong jaw line, too. His Stone's t-shirt stretched tight across his chest, the wet gesso soaking through and sticking to him. Bella's mouth watered at his muscled torso. His waist was narrow and hard, the kind of hard that made a woman want to wrap her legs around him. She looked back up to his eyes. He was still watching her…like the devil who knew all her secrets. Like he had caught her staring and knew she liked what she saw. Her nipples throbbed.

God, he's beautiful…and dangerous…

She knew he led a big life and she was just a girl back home. And, he seemed too aware of his effect on women. She cleared her throat and shifted on her feet, not wanting him to see her roaming eyes, "In your dreams city boy. This is the only supply store in town and you know it! Your parents talk about you nonstop," she lied.

Wanting to make him a bit uncomfortable too, she raised up onto her tiptoes, looking over each of his shoulders exaggeratedly. Obviously seeing nothing, she lowered back down, and said bluntly, "I half expected your entourage of women to be following in your wake! But that's why I haven't ever seen you in here. You've just been too busy to come back home for a visit."

His parents had not spared a single detail from her. Bella was their favorite customer. They were always trying to get her to go out on dates. The trouble was that Bella already knew every available bachelor in town and not one of them was appealing.

Fuck, she's cute…

…adorable even, trying to put him in his place. He reached up and touched a fingertip to her hair, saying teasingly, "Well, I can see that mom and dad have told you too much. Come on B, you can't be jealous of my past. I mean, I know you had a crush on me in school, and that was a long time ago, but please…if you feel so left out why don't you just kiss me now? I know you have wanted to do that since high school!"

Her eyes almost popped out of her head as her jaw fell open, and Edward laughed, moving a bit closer again. He liked crowding her and he remembered how he had liked doing the same thing to her all those year ago in school, despite his girlfriends. She had always been a delight to him and he knew that he didn't deserve her interests back then…and certainly not now.

My, but she was sweet, though. He glanced down at her tattoo again. It couldn't be any bigger than the tip of his tongue. He licked his lips.

Gasping at his words, Bella stammered on, "You jerk! I'm not that kind of girl. You know that and besides, I'm not your type. I actually have standards where you seem to have none." Her voice had risen and she glanced around nervously to see if anyone had overheard them. It seemed that they were the only ones in the store.

Oh yes indeed. Edward Cullen was still trouble. She needed to get out of there before she embarrassed herself any more. It was getting late, too. The girls and Tanya had been at the park a long time now. And she was going to have to walk back there in her ripped shirt!

She is so keeping that smock…

"And on that note…it was really nice to see you again," Bella said as she ducked under his arm and began backing away from him towards the front of the store. She continued vaguely, "I, um, have to get going now. You know…more important things to take care of, less people like your perverted self to fall on top of..." She stumbled a little on her way toward the front door.

Her sarcasm was light but he knew what she was doing.

"Oh, and uh, have a good visit home! Hope Mr. Cullen is doing better and please tell your mom I said hello!" With that she turned and headed quickly out the front door of the store, knowing she'd probably never see him again.

Edward watched her go, surprised that she was leaving so quickly to be honest, and surprised that he was very glad to have run into Bella Swan again. Damn, that ass could move.

He could still feel her weight on top of him like it was stamped into his body. He throbbed again just remembering the smell of her. She was so different from the fast girls he was used to, but he couldn't deny his reaction. And that tattoo! He wanted to taste it.

Edward turned and started to clean up the mess. There were crushed boxes and spilled gesso everywhere. His mother came in from the back.

"Who was that Edward? Was that Bella? Is she alright? Looked like she was upset or in a hurry!" Edward was the spitting image of him mom, except he was well over one foot taller than she was.

She and his father had been the sole reason he had moved to NYC. They had worked too hard to raise him and he wanted to return that love. They had been married young…each one only being 18 then. He couldn't help but feel like they had missed out on exploring their life together as a young couple before he came along. But they had nurtured and cared for him well, and he was determined to reciprocate.

He couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, it was." He pinched his ruined t-shirt between his fingers, pulling it away from his skin and let it slap wetly back against his shin. "She, uh, had a bit of an accident here and I was…helping her. Nothing to worry about, mom."

But his mother, Esme Cullen, being of sound mind and clear as sky vision, couldn't help notice the way her son smiled and stared back toward the front door where Bella had just left. She wondered if there was need of a little harmless scheming. She knew her son's current love-life, if that's what people were calling it, was not the kind to encourage a young man to settle down. And settling down was exactly what he needed.

"Honey," Esme said," I think you should go on home now to rest. And don't forget to come back and close the shop later for your father. About 7 o'clock, okay?" Innocence was the picture of her expression then.

Running a hand through his messy hair, Edward looked back at her, "Alright, mom. But make sure dad doesn't lift any of the heavy stuff. And I mean like over 5 pounds heavy. I saw him lifting the paint cans to move them. Don't let him do anything like that yet, please!" He kissed her on the check and turned to go, stepping right into the messy, spilled gesso, forgetting it was still there and smiling at the cause. "I'll…um…clean that up before I leave, of course."

Esme just patted his check.

a/n…hello to all…thank you so much for reading this story of mine…hope you are still interested after chapter two's event…and any criticism good or bad is welcome…please…

*prays to the fanfic gods for continued interest*

*oh, and flashes him too because he is a fanfic god after all*