Chapter 4
Damon POV
Damon couldn't believe he was sitting beside Bella. There was a gentleness about her that made him feel like they were alone; she helped him ignore the cameras looking at them from every possible direction. Everytime he breathed the faint smell of Bella's strawberry shampoo along with the fresh air was invaded his nostrils and was about to turn Damon's teeth to fangs.
Get a grip, Salvatore, the whole damn world is watching.
He glanced down at Bella's crossed legs and watched Bella swing a foot nervously back and forth while she spoke in that lovely soft yet strong voice of his. He had a feeling Bella was as nervous as he was, but other than that swinging foot, she was keeping it together quite well.
When he realized the younger woman had quit talking, he looked up from that swinging foot to those stunning brown eyes and realized that Bella was looking at him with an expectant look on her face.
Shit. Bella must have asked him a question.
"I'm sorry…what did you say?"
Bella smiled a patient smile at him.
"I said why we are here? I know this is remote but..."
Bella's cheeks flushed a deep rose and he looked down at the wooden deck.
"It belonged to my family. I thought it would be better to do this reality thing here instead of some fancy hotel"
Bella's foot stopped swinging and he reached his hand over to Damon's arm and patted him gently.
"It's really beautiful and so serene."
Letting a deep breath out she leaned her head backwards on the wooden chair, her eyes closed with her dark eyelashes making a contrast to her pale cheeks.
"Come on, Bella. Let me show you the rest of the house and where all of the cameras are. Do I need to show you how to put your microphone on?"
A flash of what looked like disappointment clouded Bella's face before she stood and followed Damon inside the house.
"Thanks, but no thanks. Someone from the network showed me how to properly put it on when I left LA"
Damon walked through the front room and kitchen, pointing the cameras out along the way. When they reached the bedroom, Damon reached over and turned on the light. He heard Bella's sharp intake of breath and figured he must have noticed that there was a huge king- sized bed that they must share.
"Umm…Damon? Isn't there a roll-a-way bed or cot somewhere? I know we're supposed to share a room, but I didn't realize that they wanted us to share a bed."
Damon looked behind him at Bella's mortified expression and fought the ridiculous urge to giggle. Bella had the same reaction he did when he found out the same thing.
"Sorry, Bella. It looks like we'll have to share the bed. I promise not to hog the covers or snore too much,"
He tried to joke. Bella looked at him with her big brown eyes and gulped visibly. Other than the sleeping arrangements, the bedroom really was made for comfort. The big four poster bed was soft and comfortable looking. It had several throw pillows all done in earth tones that accentuated it perfectly. Off to the left side of the bed was a huge picture window overlooking the forest and the mountains that surrounded them. There were soft throw rugs thrown on the pine wood flooring and a big entertainment centre that housed a large flat screen television.
Beyond the bedroom was the large bathroom with double sinks, a huge sunken porcelain tub and a shower big enough for several people.
Bella looked overwhelmed. She glanced around nervously at the bathroom and his gaze would dart back and forth from the bed to the floor.
"I thought you said this place belongs to you, why isn't there another bedroom?"
"There still is. A nice big room with a bigger padlock on it"
Damon explained exasperated. Not with Bella of course but with the show, he really should have compelled the suits into using both rooms. In fact he should have just read the contract!
Bella took a deep breath as she clenched and unclenched her fists for a few moments before deflating.
"I guess I'll unpack then"
She stammered out and practically ran from the room. Damon stood there for a few moments, and then followed Bella out the front door thinking she might need help. Noticing the red Volkswagen Beetle he grinned. The car really suited Bella.
"Cute car"
"Thanks, a friend helped me restore it, I won't go anywhere without it now"
Damon glanced at the red car's pristine white interior and smiled with approval. It looked like Bella enjoyed restoring and driving the oldies but goodies, too. Bella closed the car door and walked back into the cabin. Damon watched that sexy ass disappear into the cabin and groaned.
It was going to be a long eight weeks.
Bella POV
Bella almost felt overwhelmed with nervous energy. She practically jogged into the huge bedroom she was supposed to share with Damon and set her computer bag beside the entertainment centre. She watched Damon walk smoothly past her and set the light purple duffle bag on top of the dresser.
Although the network had already picked up most of her things a couple of days before, Bella still had a few things he had needed to bring with her, personal-private things, toiletries and whatnots.
"So, um…are you hungry? I could scrounge through the kitchen and whip us up something to eat"
Damon looked at her and nodded. Just then she heard a loud rumble come from Damon's direction who smiled sheepishly.
"I guess I'm a lot hungrier than I thought."
Bella grinned at Damon and found herself relaxing again. Walking past Damon she pulled her long hair in a messy bun securing it in place with the bright orange rubber she had in a pocket and went to the kitchen.
The fridge was full so she pulled a package with chicken breasts. From the large pantry she grabbed a few more things including potatoes. Cooking always calmed her so she busied herself with it and tried to ignore the black clad, sexy man behind her.
"Do you need some help?"
Damon asked from across the kitchen. Bella shook her head.
"Thanks, but I got it under control. Why don't you pick some music?"
She tossed over her shoulder and breathed a sign of relief when he left the room. As she unconsciously repeated the same baked potatoes and grilled chicken menu she had served on the first night in any of her visits to her parents or the house she rented with Jess and Ang she let her mind go over her life.
More importantly her love life.
After six months of bliss Edward, her vampire boyfriend, had broken things up with her a few days after her eighteenth birthday. Three months of moping later she had found two half dead motorcycles. Those motorcycles put her on the fast track for recovery. She had taken them to her childhood best friend who fixed them and gave her lessons on how to ride a bike. In return Bella gave one to Jake.
Just when everyone, including them, thought they'd begin to date Jacob exploded in a huge wolf. She had never paid enough attention on the legends of his tribe, who would considering she was interested in her boyfriend's vampire status at the time, but here Jake was in all his furry glory.
That didn't stop them from being friends though even if it did push her into the arms of Mike when Jake spent a weekend ignoring her. When it was time for college Bella had managed to score a scholarship from Stanford University and moved on campus with her two best friends. Jessica Stanley and Angela Webber. The three had grown close during those four years and had even decided to room together after college.
While Bella had never told anyone, and certainly not the wolves, she had seen Edward one night. She had gone swimming alone and when she had left the cool September water he was there sitting next her discarded towel. He had finished her sandcastle.
They had spent the night together. They talked all night. He explained why he left her, it was for her safety. She had wanted to argue but deep down she agreed. What they had was puppy love. When he kissed her forehead and left she saw there was something in the top tower of the sandcastle gleaming under the moonlight. A charm for her bracelet in the shape of a book. if you looked closely you'd be able to read the title 'Romeo and Juliet'.
A week after that, Jake had come for a visit and bam, he found his true love in the form of Angela's journalism teacher. Bella had mocked him endlessly with his 'age is just a number baby' line for that but agreed to fake-date him till he manned up enough to talk to the teacher, who was very flattered, very married and sent him away.
Her life had certainly been interesting so far!
