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

Chapter 8

HAVING SPENT the better part of the morning windsurfing, Edward sat on his board, looking out at the people covering the man-made beach. He had never seen such a crowd here before. Of course he hadn't been here in a decade or more. It's no wonder things were different. Bella was different, too. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. Hell, it hadn't even been twenty-four hours and he was lusting after her like she had been stringing him along for months.

Fuck!

He had to break things off with Victoria ASAP! But that was a situation he would rather run from than face. She was not going to take it well. And he needed to be prepared for an attack of some sort from her. Unless…

He would have to work fast!

"Oh, Edward." Someone sang-song his name.

Instantly he was taken back in time to a place he didn't want to revisit. He cringed as realization struck, "Oh, Eddie Baby…over here, it's me…Lauren…Lauren Stanley!"

He finally saw her, jumping up and down and waving at him to see her.

Oh fuck no…

He dropped his chin to his chest, thinking this was the last person on earth that he wanted to see. "Oh, Eddie…" He looked up at her through his long wet lashes. She waved and jumped up and down, then started running down the beach in his direction.

There was nowhere for him to hide. He reluctantly waved back, as small a wave as he could muster.

"Hey, Eddie, I just knew I would run into you one of these days. And to think it would be at our old stomping ground, too!" Lauren waived again, this time like she was waiving to her lost lover.

Shit!

Maybe he had stayed in this town too long already.

He looked up and she was still there. Her fake blonde hair and her fake big boobs. She hadn't changed at all from the looks of her. Overly accessorized and making a spectacle of herself. She had an entourage with her, too, from the looks of things.

Disgusting!

He began slowly paddling his way towards her, wishing he were anywhere but there.

"Hey there, baby! I knew we would meet again!" Lauren jumped up and down as he approached. She looked at him like he was her first meal in days. She continued, almost yelling, "We'll have to go to dinner tonight, your treat, and catch up on all those years we missed together. I know this wonderful little place, fine dining of course, that will give us plenty of privacy to get…reacquainted," Lauren smiled and rushed to the edge of the water and away from her troupe.

Reluctantly getting off his board, he walked out of the water and greeted her with an awkward hand-shake. Obviously this wasn't to her liking. The next thing he knew, Edward was being grasped fully around his middle by his ex-girlfriend, who evidently didn't remember that their breakup had been a very bad one.

The feel of her skin made him cold and nauseous.

"Lauren," Edward began, grasping her arms and carefully disengaging her from around his waist, "I, uh…how have you been? I was just getting ready to pack it up for the day, uh, so if you don't mind…it was good to see you…" Edward turned to leave but Lauren jotted around him, effectively stopping his retreat.

"Oh, Eddie. You wouldn't leave a girl stranded at the beach now, would you? And besides, I am not taking no for an answer!" As she said this she ran her finger down his still wet sternum, making him shiver with revulsion. "It will be just like old times. We can eat a wonderful dinner," she batted her eye-lashes, "and then get close and personal."

Fuck that!

How was he going to get out of this mess without bursting her bubble? What he really couldn't understand was how could there even be any bubble. She had accused him of cheating on her their Freshman year at college with a classmate of his and had caused such a scene in public that he had ended up yelling at the top of his lung that he despised her and didn't know why he had ever thought they were compatible. Lauren had yelled back that she only dated him in high school because he was a jock and that his brain was clearly well below par for the course.

Looking around as if he was trying to find the right words laying on the beach somewhere, he gave up and finally said the first thing that came to his mind, "Look, Lauren. I really am late for…for…"

He stopped talking as he saw something, or someone, familiar down the beach. That someone had a sketch pad and a big sun hat and was watching him and Lauren with mild interest along with everyone else on the beach.

Bella.

He grinned like there was no tomorrow.

"…I, uh, I'm late for my, uh, fiancé! Yeah, that's it! So, you see, we can't possibly have dinner this evening because I am having dinner with her…uh…every night for the rest of my life."

Edward heaved a relieved sigh. He couldn't believe that he had said such a thing, but desperate situations brought desperate answers.

Lauren froze at his words, dropping her hands to her waist in tight fists. She had the distinct feeling that Mr. Eddie Cullen was lying to her just to get rid of her.

We'll see about that.

She just knew that their destinies would be intertwined again.

Oozing with niceness, she said, "Oh, really! Well, I don't believe you. I mean, if you are engaged then where is she…" she glanced down at his ring finger, and then raised her eyebrow at him, "…and where is your engagement ring? If you were my man I would never leave your side. You're just trying to get back at me, Eddie." She put her hands back on his chest and leaned into him, making Edward squirm in distaste.

Grabbing her wrists and removing them a second time from his body, Edward said, "Look, Lauren. I don't have time to convince you, so I'll make this short and sweet." Taking a deep breath, Edward looked back to where Bella lay reclining under a tree, and pointed, "She's right there, and I'm afraid that I have to be going now…" Edward turned around and grabbed his board, heading down the beach toward Bella.

Please, God, don't let Lauren follow me.

xxCSxx

UNDER THE shade of her favorite tree, Bella sat quietly, sketching the water and the people enjoying it. It had turned out to be a relaxing, lazy Monday morning. Tanya had called early to let her know the girls were doin' fine. Of course she really wanted to hear all the juicy details of last night with Mr. McKiss Me, but Bella wasn't quite in the mood to share her evening yet. She was still a little confused and upset as to how she had let her guard down so easily.

It was just like she was back in high school and she couldn't quite hide her attraction for him. Lord!He was handsome…and sexy…and…and off limits! She shouldn't be having any sort of thoughts about him now. She knew he was a player…had heard it first hand from his mother even!

If Bella knew what was good for her she would hide in her house until Edward left town and headed back to New York.

But tonight was the showing at the diner. She couldn't hide even if she wanted to. And Edward's parents would be there, too.

What if Edward showed up unexpectedly?

God, please let everything go smoothly.

It wasn't very often she got a showing, and to have him there would be awfully nerve-racking. But who was she kidding. There was no way on earth, just because she had run into him twice yesterday and he had stolen a few kisses from her…okay, okay, it was way more than a few kisses and they weren't really stolen…but it would be utterly absurd to think that she would run into him again.

But something deep down inside made Bella wish he'd come looking for her and…and, just fucking do something…but what?

He had smelled so good.

Spice. Like her grandfather's Old Spice soap.

She closed her eyes and let the breeze wisp through her loose hair, softly stirring them to motion. She could hear a commotion off in the near distance and tried to ignore it…which became impossible.

Sitting up straight, Bella glanced down the beach, frowning and squinting. Then she saw a large male form jogging towards her.

She couldn't see clearly.

He appeared to be dragging a surf board type structure behind him…and there was someone following him…intently trying to keep up.

Her eyes bugged out.

Oh, God! Why this, why him, why now?

As Edward approached Bella, he took one long look down her curves. Man, she took his breath away. Her bikini was just right for her figure, covering all the important parts and letting him see most of everything else. The gold and brown fabric enhanced her healthy frame and the ties at her hips caused X-rated thoughts to rush through his mind.

Her sunhat was the perfect choice for her introverted self. It provided complete shade from the sun as well as hiding her from prying eyes, or so she probably thought. How could anyone possibly ignore how stunning and sexy she was?

This is going to be fun…

Smiling to himself, Edward continued to jog towards Bella, shaking his hair back and forth to get rid of the excess water, trying to catch her off guard a little.

He had a very healthy body and had enjoyed a woman's admiration more than once.

He hoped that would work on Bella.

Clearly realizing that it is Edward running towards her now, Bella's mouth dropped open and her heart skipped a beat.

Does he fucking do that on purpose!

Where the hell did he come from?

Pure male sexuality rippled off him. His torso was so perfectly formed she almost winced at his beauty. He was so damn sexy! His small matting of chest hair was just thick enough to tease her fingertips into itching awareness. She suddenly wanted very badly to run her fingers through its texture…and maybe pull…

And, holy shit look at that sexy as hell B! His swim trunks hung so freaking low it was almost obscene…

Her thighs clamped together.

Don't look at the happy-trail…don't look!

Oh, god…I looked at the happy-trail…

Forcing eyes up, she looked at his face and noticed that he was motioning with his eyes pleadingly for her to look behind him.

What was it with all of the eye-motioning lately?

She peered around Edward…but not before admiring those strong thighs of his...

"No…it can't be you…," squealed a voice so shrill with disbelief and horror, there was only one person it could belong to…Lauren Stanley.

Bella thought that her morning couldn't possibly be more wrecked.

Looking back at Edward with angry eyes, she hefted herself up, showing him through with her body language just how pissed off she was! How could he be so stupid as to bring Lauren Stanley within fifty feet from her? The idiot obviously had no sense at all.

"Hey there, Honey." Edward saw Bella's response and tried to be as fiancée-ish as he knew how, "I thought you were going to wait for me over by my trailer?" Edward said loudly as he came up to her. Panting a bit, he reached for her and pulled her to him, planting one wet kiss right on her neck, making her squeal unexpectedly.

Bella instinctively tried to push him away. But he was ready for that and put his arm around her back and grabbed her hip, pulling her snugly to his side and getting her warm dry skin wet in the process.

He leaned close and whispered, "If you were ever my real friend, Bella Swan, you will have no problem pretending that you are my fiancé right now, alright? Whatever happens next just don't forget that we are friends!"

Then, pulling her tight to him, he turned them suddenly and they faced Lauren, together.

Bella was stunned and speechless, still feeling his lips where they had kissed against her neck. She thought she must be losing her mind.

Edward was smiling widely, not really knowing or caring what happened next, just loving the feel of her sun-warmed flesh pressed against him.

Lauren looked like she had a foul taste in her mouth.

"Lauren, you remember Bella from high school, don't you? We've, ah, been together for some time now."

"Hey." Bella gave a little wave.

"Yeah…" Lauren frowned.

Edward ran his hand down Bella's hip possessively, suggestively, trying to show Lauren just where and with whom his interests were focused. "It seems that I just couldn't forget her after high school…even in the Big Apple. She made it hard on me though, right love?"

Edward bent and picked Bella up around the waist, making her squeal as he swung her around once. Lauren's mouth puckered in distaste.

Putting Bella down but keeping his arms around her waist tightly, he continued mischievously, taking note of Bella's pale face and wide eyes. "Oh, sweetheart…I know you're tired after last night but at least say hello to our old schoolmate."

Edward smiled widely, insinuating to Lauren just what last night meant by moving his hands to Bella's lower back and hip, massaging lightly there as he pressed her practically naked body, for all intents and purposes, flush against his wet body.

Her vision blurred.

Speechless, Bella looked at Edward and then at Lauren, and strangely enough, somehow seeing the distaste on Lauren's face made Bella snap out of her trance. She would get back at Edward later, but right now, all she could think about was the satisfaction of getting a jab at Lauren for all those hurtful things she had done back in school. And she certainly did not want her in the vicinity of Mr. Kiss-Me-Cullen.

Her freak is so on!

Placing both of her hands on his upper chest, Bella slid her fingers slowly through Edward's chest hair and up around his neck and then looked straight into his surprised green eyes.

The contact of their bodies took her by surprise as she let out a small gasp. Breathless and pressed full against him she whispered loud so Lauren could hear, "Alright, sugar, as long as you promise a repeat performance…"

Edward reaction was instant, his body went still…in several places as his breath whooshed out of his lungs. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest were driving him crazy.

She caught him a little off guard.

Sneaking a side-ways glance at her nemesis, Bella stood on her tip-toes and began to place light, sexy little kisses all around Edward's parted lips.

His heart stopped beating.

He had the strongest impulse to throw Bella over his shoulder and take her to his car and have his way with her. Her naked, warm flesh was driving him mad and if he had to suffer much more of her soft, luscious body pressed against his then the whole beach may just get a glimpse of Eddie, Jr.

He had most definitely underestimated Bella.

Bella couldn't believe she was kissing Edward Cullen for the second time in less than twenty-four hours! Even in the presence of others she was not immune to the taste of him and how his body felt against hers.

Watching them, Lauren's mouth hung open in disbelief. She snapped it shut and cleared her throat, "Oh…" malice was thick on her tongue, "…my God! I can't believe it! Who would have thought the high-school hunk would be with the ugly duckling..." Looking down her nose at Bella, she sneered, "You know, I always figured you as being a loner your entire life, Bella, but it looks like someone has taken pity on you."

At that insult, Bella stopped her kisses and looked at Lauren, pretending to have forgotten she was even there still, "Oh, Lauren! I almost forgot you were there." She wrapped her arms around Edward's waist and pressed harder against him, trying not to succumb to old habits and flee…but also because she needed his strength to continue with this lie. Giving Lauren the once over, Bella said flatly, "I thought you would have trapped some poor fellow into marriage by now and be fat, barefoot and pregnant, with a herd of crying, spoiled kids swaddling behind you…"

Feeling Edward's chest tighten with mirth, Bella looked up at him, whispering for his ears only, "You better chime in here, buster, or you are going to regret this for the rest of your natural life…"

He didn't think he could ever regret those sexy little kisses or her body pressed against his. He was going to have a hard time focusing on anything else the rest of the day. However, at the feel of her soft foot digging mercilessly into the top of his own larger one, Edward decided this would be the opportune time to try.

"Hey, look, Lauren. It was nice running into you again, but I think it is time for my fiancé and me to head back to my place. After all, we have a long evening in store for us, so, ah…you know…" Edward let it hang in the air with that and, putting his arms around Bella's waist, he began to turn with her but was yet again stopped in his tracks.

"My, my," Lauren said, walking a circle around them, her anger at being rejected blatant. "I have to say that you two are just right for each other. One a pea-brained moose and the other his side-kick mule. I don't have time for this anyway." Trying to save face, Lauren poked her finger at Edward's muscular arm, saying with slanted eyes, "If you thought for one minute back there, Mr. Edward Cullen, that you were going to get into my pants again, you have got another thing coming!" Turning to Bella, she continued, "Hope you have a bomb of a showing tonight, you no-talent introvert!" With that Lauren put her hand up in the air, as if dismissing them from her presence, and headed back down the beach to where her entourage dutifully waited, walking so fast she kicked sand up her behind.

Edward couldn't help laughing now, and Bella took this opportunity the really smash his foot with hers.

"For fucks sake," he yelped, as quietly as he could. He didn't want their unwanted friend looking back in their direction.

Disengaging their bodies, Bella fumed, "How could you do that to me, Edward? I can't believe you are that stupid." She fumed. "Wait, actually I can believe it. And stop looking at me that way!" Edward rubbed his foot and smiled at her. The kind of smile that said he knew she was really on his team.

"Now, sweetheart, I know you are cranky from my lovin', but try to remember we have a big night ahead of us. That should cheer you up!" He laughed out loud at the expression on her face. Pure frustration and exasperation. It was almost too easy to get her goat. He couldn't help himself she was so damn sexy.

"Edward Cullen, if you think I enjoyed any of that, that…that LIE you included me in, you must be a pea-brained moose! Number one, I am a local and if word gets around you'll be up to here in trouble…and…and number two, I am a parent, a role model, and I cannot be setting that kind of example for my girls." Bella twirled around him and began furiously gathering her things.

"Someone I know could have seen us and asked my kids or Tanya, or even your parents about it! Did you ever think of any of that, Mr. No-Brain?" She was fuming and flinging sand haphazardly into the air as she furiously began to throw her things into her bag.

That stung and she was right. He hadn't thought about any possible repercussions. She had put a spell on him and he obviously couldn't control himself.

Bella started toward her car and Edward followed, not wanting her to be angry, "Look. I couldn't help myself, B. She just appeared out of nowhere and she was touching me and, and, well I panicked. I had to get rid of her and I saw you down here…it just came out." Edward could not help but smile despite her rage.

She didn't even turn around. Just continued on to her Jeep, throwing her stuff in the back-end.

Shit. She was really pissed! Edward put his hand through his hair, frustrated, and realized he needed a different tactic.

Gently grabbing Bella's arm as she stepped to open her door, he turned her and pressed her up against the side of the vehicle, holding her still.

"Look, I don't want you to be angry at me, B. I was in a spot and I made a mistake." Placing his hands on either side of her on the car to trap her, Edward looked into her chocolate brown eyes. "Can't you forgive me and try to see how it happened?"

She tried to push out of his arms, muttering, "I can't understand why you thought it was okay to tell anyone, let alone Lauren Stanley, that we are engaged." She realized that he wouldn't budge and stopped pushing against him, looking up at his face instead with pleading eyes. "People know me in this town, Edward!" She started to squirm and fight again, her body rubbing and bumping against his. He was not immune to it either, feeling his cock begin to get hard against her body.

Suddenly Bella stopped all movement completely. He knew she could feel it against her stomach. It was evident in the way she was breathing. He knew she was just as aware of him as he was of her. He smiled and thought she couldn't hide from him now.

"Bella, I'm sorry…I'll make it up to you, sweetheart, o.k.?" he said, placing his hands on her shoulders, still holding her prisoner with his body.

"Stop calling me sweetheart!" Bella shrieked.

Ignoring her he continued, remembering a part of what Lauren had said a moment ago, "Look. Let me help you at your showing tonight. And then I can take you out for dinner afterwards. It's the least I can do after barging in on your evening last night." He bent close then, breathing her scent, and continued, "And, who knows…maybe we can, um, work out our differences."

The arrogant devil!

He must think he had her wrapped around his finger now. Well, she would show him! She was not going to let any man force her life into disarray again. Especially not Mr. McStupid here. He had just done the most unbelievably unwise thing any person could do who knew her even just a tiny bit.

Lauren Stanley, in the flesh…say no more.

Oh, man! Someone needed to smack him in his head for his brainlessness! And he'd made another crucial mistake. He'd gotten too close to this angry peacock and he was gonna get pecked!

Still trapped between his arms, Bella turned her head quickly and bit down on his earlobe, causing him to yelp in pain. She smiled sour-sweet and said, "Even if I did have a show tonight I wouldn't invite you if you were the last man in Texas. And besides, why would you want to be there anyway? Or are you just playing some cruel game with me. For all I know you and Lauren are in cahoots together."

She was on a roll now and there was no stopping her. "And, you are nothing but bad new…first you cause me to fall off a ladder, then girls-night gets ruined and my feast goes to waist, and now…now you have brought back all those unwanted feelings from high-school!" Looking at both of his arms crossly, she glared at him wordless letting him know that he should release her immediately from her prison if he valued certain parts of his person.

Sensing a serious change of mood, he conceded, but only a little, taking a half-step back and letting one arm fall down to his hip. Suddenly all pretenses were off.

Snorting slightly, Edward looked Bella dead in the face, his eyes flashing green sparks as he shifted his weight square in front of her. "I've had enough of your tough act, B. This is me, Edward. Remember? The boy who used to steal your cherry sours from your backpack in high school."

What?

Suddenly the wind in her sail disappeared. Dawning struck. "Um, what? Wait, that was you?" Bella exclaimed, sudden realization clear. Exasperated, she shrieked, "Do you know how many times I tried to figure that one out? Do you? God, I'm such a dork. How could I not know it was you? You must have gotten such a kick out of watching me react to that." Bella was furious. More furious than she had ever been before. Even more, she felt hurt knowing that he had played tricks on her. She thought it was Lauren this whole time. How could she ever have trusted him in school?

Seeing that wary glare in her eyes, he tried to explain, "That's not the way it was meant, B. I was just playing with you because you were interesting and nice and cool. Not because I wanted to be cruel." Edward was beginning to fume now, too. She was constantly trying to make him out as the bad guy. "I think you already know that, too, but for some reason you need to be mad at me. Well, let me tell you something. You are not so innocent yourself and I think we both know why you are trying to sabotage this," he motioned quickly between them, "thing going on between us!"

Her eyes popped wide open at that, and she repeated his words in disbelief, "This thing going on between us?" She was incredulous. He had the nerve to think he understood what she thought, what her life was like! "There is no 'thing' going on between us, Edward! We accidentally see each other a few times after how-ever many years…and you suddenly think that there is a thing between us?"

Now it was her turn to poke…right in his chest. "You need a reality check, bub." Bella stepped forward and poked him hard again with her fingertip, and Edward backed up a bit, completely surprised.

Ah, yes. He had completely underestimated her, no doubt!

Her eyes blazing dark fire, she said with confidence, "First of all, I'm not looking for any 'thing' going on between anyone. Number two, I would not be interested in you if you were the brother of Johnny Depp. And thirdly, I don't need anyone coming around here thinking he can be a hero or something like that, because that is abso-fucking-lutely NOT what I need!" Her hands were everywhere. "I'm sure you have plenty of New York girls to go back to, so don't waste my time anymore, Edward." She poked him hard again one last time, aiming for the same spot, and he had to rub himself where it smarted.

So…she was a force to be reckoned with!

They each just stood there, breaths huffing a bit, waiting for the other to say something. She noticed the way he looked at her, with something close to understanding in his eyes, and it scared her. She wanted to poke him twenty more times.

"Look, Edward, I am not looking for complications, and you, I think, are definitely a complication I can't afford. So, just, ah, forget about any getting together of any kind here. I don't need the hassle. Just stay out of my life and leave me alone."

With that, Bella turned and jumped into her Jeep, fastening the seat belt and left Edward standing there in the parking lot, somewhat bemused.

As she drove away, he felt the uneasiness in his heart. It was clear that Bella didn't think she needed anyone in her life. How wrong is that?

He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice; and he didn't like that one bit he realized. There was no doubt that he would be the man to break through her walls, make her feel like a true woman again, in every sense of the word.

First things first, though. He needed to find a copy of the Weekly Chronicle and then make a few important phone calls. If he wanted to make an impression on Bella the best way he knew how, aside from physical contact, he needed to network a little…

a/n…this chapter is my favorite so far for personal reasons, of course…let's just say that it mirrors a lot of what i experienced in the day…

…and thanks for reading…please leave a review…it help get the creative juices flowing you know…xxx jess