Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original characters, content and ideas of this story are mine.

Chapter 16

Sudden Moves

JPOV

"James you disappoint me, you said you had the money to cover this bet and all the past bets you still owe me money for and I don't like being lied to."

"I'll have the money Laurent…I just need a little more time."

"You owe me over $200k and I will not continue to wait for my money without you suffering the consequences! Do I make myself clear? You've got thirty days to come up with my money and if you don't I. Will. Kill. You."

"Don't worry I will get your money."

I quickly dialed Lauren's number after hanging up with Laurent

"Hey James what's up?"

"We have to find a way to get that money from Bella soon. Laurent is becoming very impatient, but he at least gave me another thirty days."

"It's just hard when we are out to get her to talk about just how much money she has because Bella doesn't really drink a lot and every time I invite her she invites Jessica and you already know she would never go along with this."

"Well I'm taking her to dinner tonight and I'll see if I can get her to go back to my place and stay with me. If I can get her comfortable enough to do that I may be able to get her to talking. If I can get her to trust that I can help her invest her money she may give me more info about the amounts and the bank she has an account with."

"Sounds like a plan, call me later and let me know if you get anywhere, but we may eventually have to slip something in one of her drinks to get her account information."

"Yeah I would rather not go that route but as time winds down we may have to."

I hung up with Lauren and went to get dressed so that I could meet Bella for dinner. Hopefully I could get her to drink lots of wine tonight, get the information I need and be through with this charade.

BPOV

I felt bad about the disagreement Edward and I had and I know he is just trying to look out for me, but who does he think he is telling me who to hang out with. I surely can't keep waiting around for him when he clearly has no interest in me other than friendship. I've been living with Edward for a month now and ever since that day I woke up in his arms, he has avoided any physical contact with me like the plague. Clearly he is not over Tanya, so he spends all his time working and expects me to sit around and wait for him. After getting dressed for dinner I headed downstairs to catch a taxi to Manhattan to meet James.

"Boy, you are certainly a sight for sore eyes you know that?" James said as he pulled out my chair for me at the Empire Steak House in Manhattan.

"Thank you and you look nice too." No comparison to my Edward, but hey they all can't be perfect.

"I took the liberty of ordering us wine, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, wine is good."

We placed our orders and while we waiting for our dinner James refilled both our wine glasses.

"Sooo, Bella have you given anymore thought to investing your money. I mean you certainly want to make sure that your financial future is protected."

"Yes I do want to make sure I invest my money into something that will bring me back more income. I want to open a book store within the next year or so that offers tutoring services to elementary and high school students in most cases for free. I have an attorney back home that I've thought of going with as my financial planner and Edward's father Carlisle also offered to have his financial planner meet with me but I haven't decided yet." I said taking another sip of my wine and noticing how chatty I had become. I probably should make this my last glass before I end up wasted.

"Well you know as I told you before I can certainly manage and invest your money to keep it safe and you wouldn't have to pay me thousands of dollars like you would with a financial planner or an attorney. I would just consider it a favor for a friend and your continued friendship will be all the payment I needed." He said giving me a flirtatious smile that caused me to blush a little.

All through dinner James kept refilling my wine glass and half way through my third glass I was feeling good enough to let him. He complimented me often and we laughed and talked about so many things and after dinner James invited me back to his condo. The logical side of my brain was screaming "GO HOME" but the part of my brain that enjoyed the flattery unfortunately was the dominant side tonight. Though I was enjoying my evening out with James, I have to admit it couldn't hold a candle to my cozy evenings with Edward and every once in a while my mind would drift home wondering what he may be doing right now.

"Here you go Madame." James said handing me yet another glass of wine.

"No James I really shouldn't trust me I've had enough."

"Aw, come on live a little I'm not going to let you drink too much."

I reluctantly took the glass of wine planning to do nothing more than hold it all night. After taking a couple of sips surprisingly the taste was better than at the restaurant and I soon found myself on glass number two making for a total of six for the night and well let's just say my good judgment was a bit cloudy right now. I excused myself to the bathroom to try and get myself together. I splashed cold water on my face not caring about the little bit of makeup I had on and as I looked in the mirror I realized I had drank way more than what my body is use to consuming. I felt uncoordinated and very light headed and knew I had to get home and to my bed as quickly as possible.

"Okay Bella get it together this is not you."

When I walked out the bathroom and back into James' living room he was picking up the contents of my purse off of his floor. He looked up with a startled expression when he realized I was standing there.

"Bella I am so sorry… clumsy me knocked over your purse and I was trying to put everything back before you returned… this is so embarrassing.

The odd thing was not that he knocked over my purse but that everything had spilled out which means it was unbuttoned and I don't remember opening my purse for any reason, but… I guess I did.

"No don't worry about it" I said bending down to pick up some of my makeup that was still on the floor.

"Let me get you another glass of wine."

"No!" I shouted a little too loud. Another tell tale sign of how drunk I was. "I mean I really should be going."

James walked over to me and placed his hands on my waist and pulled me to him. He then started kissing down my neck and while James with his tall slightly muscular build, blonde hair and ocean blue eyes was definitely eye candy for lots of women, at that moment, in his arms, smelling his expensive cologne, feeling the warmth of his soft kisses against my skin which should have drove me crazy and made me crave him more, the only thought in my mind was a set of emerald green eyes and a crooked grin that I had undeniably fallen in love with.

"James listen, dinner was wonderful and I truly enjoy your company but it's very late or early depending on how you want to look at it and I need to get home."

"You could always stay here; I promise I'll be a gentleman." He said holding both hands up in the air.

"That's a very kind offer James, but I can't."

"Can't or won't?" he asked looking disappointed.

"Tomato, tamoto" I said with a chuckle

"Alright, I'll take you home but can I at least see you tomorrow."

"Actually I have some things I've been neglecting that I have to catch up on like laundry, but I will call you."

James drove me home and before getting out of his car I gave a friendly peck on the cheek. I can tell he wanted more but it was all I could offer. I walked in the house to find Edward still up watching TV which surprised me considering it was 3am. After removing my heels I walked over slowly and stood by the couch and when he looked up at me with those green eyes that I had been thinking about all evening I knew that I had fallen irrevocably in love with Edward.

"Hi" he said looking up at me and then turning back to the television.

"Hi" I said taking a seat next to him on the couch.

"How was your date?" he asked never looking back at me.

"It was… nothing to talk about really."

"Well I'd say there should be a lot to talk about considering it's after 3 o clock in the morning and judging by your eyes, you're drunk." He said staring in my eyes intently.

"I am not….drunk." I said trying to control my slurring because though he was right I will never admit this at least not right now.

"Uh huh, so is that why my front door is still standing open?" he said folding his arms over his chest and cocking his eye brow.

I gasped as I whipped my head around only to see that I had come in and left the front door wide open. Too embarrassed to turn back around and face Edward I tried to get up to go close the door only to lose my balance. Edward was in front of me in a flash to steady me and sit me back down on the couch he then went and closed the front door while I buried my face in my hands.

"Hey, you okay?" Edward asked kneeling down next to me placing his hand on the back of my neck causing shivers to go down my spine.

I shook my head too embarrassed to look up and see the disappointment in Edward's eyes. So I kept my head down and allowed the hot tears to soak my hands, but Edward wasn't letting me off that easy. He lifted my head up by my chin and when he saw the tears on my cheek he pulled me into a tight embrace and that's when the water works began.

"I… I'm sorry Edward…I just had a little too much wine and this is not me." I said hugging him back and burying my face in the crook of his neck and as I let the tears flow I could feel Edward rubbing my back, then kissing the top of my head and it felt so right. His scent was intoxicating and his touch was staggering and as I lifted my head finally and looked into his beautiful green eyes I saw something I had never seen there before, pain.

"Bella you don't have to apologize to me, I'm so sorry for upsetting you."

"No you are absolutely right I did have too much to drink and I don't know what I was thinking about staying out with James like that."

"Hey you're an adult and you have the right to have fun every once in a while, I… mean who am I to get angry about it?" he said holding my face between his hands

We were silent and the only sounds were from my sniffles and my eyes flashed to his lips and suddenly I was very aware of our close proximity. My heart started pounding and my thoughts were cloudy as Edward leaned forward and placed his forehead against mine and I closed my eyes. Without looking up I wrapped my arms around his neck and through caution to the wind.

Bella, open your eyes." Edward whispered and when I did his soft lips brushed over mine very lightly at first and then as if looking for my approval he looked into my eyes and when his lips touched mine again it was more urgent and I could feel heat coursing through me as our lips moved together in perfect synchronization. Tenderly he sucked on my bottom lip and I could not help the groan that escaped. One moment I was on the couch leaning into Edward's touch and the next in one single motion he had me in his arms carrying me never breaking our kiss. I relaxed against his body and allowed myself for just once to let go and feel instead of thinking, because I could not deny that even in my most sober state of mind there is nowhere else I'd rather be than in Edward's arms. Edward broke the kiss and looked down at me with dark eyes.

"Stay with me." He whispered against my cheek and all I could do is nod.

A/N: Thank you for all the story alerts and reviews I truly appreciate them and guys don't worry about James because after all this is a Bella & Edward story and I truly believe in HEA's. Please leave me your thoughts and reviews are the best!