Rating: M

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer of Twilight fame, owns it all, I don't,

I just wish I did.

A/N…I can not thank LovinRob and Amandac3 for sticking with me. They have endured me bugging them and they came out smiling offering me the support I needed to get this done. Love you big.

CHAPTER 2

Edward

It feels good to be getting away finally. I've wanted to do this all winter, if for nothing more than to just turn it all off in my head. A few days away from the family and the business to ski a few runs is just what my body needs. I love my family, but sometimes I need to get away, to be alone with my own thoughts rather than someone else telling me what and how to think. It gets exhausting.

I had packed up my gear and headed toward the family condo at Squaw Valley to spend a few days on the mountain when I pull up next to a Tahoe SUV and see the prettiest girl with long sable brown hair laughing as she is driving down the road. What is she laughing at? I look in her car to see who she is with but don't see anyone in the backseat or up front with her either. She's happy and is enjoying just being. That's sexy, and I can't help but smile at that. I flash her one of my best smiles and practically run off the side of the road.

I jerk the steering wheel to the left and yell out, "FUCK… DAMMIT".

I straighten the car out and get back on to the road and out of sheer embarrassment, I hit the gas to get the hell out of there, but not before I see her covering her mouth laughing. If she wasn't laughing at me before, she definitely is now. No need to wonder anymore. I feel like a stupid teenager staring at a beautiful girl while running off the road doing it. "Great, Edward, just great."

I pull off in Truckee to gas up before getting off the highway toward Squaw. I go inside the store to get a bottle of water and to stretch my legs a bit. As I am heading towards my car I collide into the beauty that was driving the Tahoe SUV. I have to grab hold of her arms to steady her otherwise she will fall flat on her ass, and I couldn't have that. Her face is plastered onto my chest and I lower my head, take a deep breath and smell the sweet scent of her hair. That scent will now be forever imbedded in my memories.

"I am so sorry!" She muffles into my chest as she tries to regain her balance. While she offers her apology, she looks at me and says, "They're green."

What's green? Is she talking about my eyes? Is she talking to me or to herself? She stumbles again and I'm seriously beginning to wonder if this girl is naturally clumsy or something else. I grab hold of her arms again to steady her.

"It's you."She says, looking somewhat lost.

"And it's you," I return, smiling at her.

I loosen my hold on her arms feeling a surge of energy under my touch. I can feel it as I run my hands down her arms to her wrists. Releasing her, I look at my hands to try and understand what that tingling sensation in my palms is. What the heck was that?

I can't seem to take my eyes off of her and need to say something before I look like a complete idiot because right now, I can't stop staring at her.

"So, you ski." I say nodding my head in the direction of her car. She looks to see what I am talking about, "I noticed your skis."

I wait for her to speak to me again because she has a voice that is rather deep and raspy sounding and one that I would love to hear spoken to me in the throes of passion.

"Um... yes… I'm headed to Tahoe City." She looks in the direction of my car and sees mine, "You ski around here?"

"Yes, I ski at Kirkwood, Squaw and Northstar, but this trip is to Squaw." That got a smile out of her.

"Mmm… that's great, maybe I'll see you around then." She says, tilting her head and biting her lower lip. Fuck. Me. Not only is she beautiful but she is so sexy doing that thing with her lip. That alone could get her into some serious trouble because right now I just want to kiss her senseless.

"Yeah, well, I guess I better head out." I say to her, touching her arm as I turn to leave, trying to determine if what I felt there earlier was real or not… it was. I felt it again.

"Yeah... yeah… good bumping into you." She giggles. She actually giggled. I'd say it was cute but "cute" is a chick thing. But still, it was.

When she turns to walk away, I glance over my shoulder to check her out, yeah, that's a guy thing. She turns to look in my direction and catches me checking out her ass. Oh, man! Busted... But I redeem myself andthrow her my best smile, the one that I know the ladies love and I'll be damned if she didn't throw one right back at me. Damn she is fucking sexy.

I chance another look and glance into the store and wonder how long I will kick myself for not getting her name and phone number. Do I need another complication? I have enough on my plate as it is. I've got more women coming around than I need or want and Tanya is demanding more of my time than just going to the fund raisers, charity events and galas. She's beautiful, no doubt about that, and is a perfect date to take with me to these events, but there's just something that is telling me to keep my distance. I can't seem to put my finger on it and my family seems pretty positive she's after my money, my family's money and the family's legacy.

My family owns Volturi Wineries in Napa, California, the largest winery in the valley. My duties as the CEO have left me with very little time for myself, even with Emmett as Chief Operating Officer and Jasper as Chief Financial Officer. Our parents, Carlisle and Esme Cullen, retired from the operation and act as consultants when I need them, but I hate to bother them because they deserve their time now. They are constantly traveling and enjoy spending the majority of the year at the family compound in Italy, the home and birthplace of Volturi Wineries. The very first grapevine was brought to California from Volterra, Italy in the 1800's by my grandfather, Aro Cullen, and the "recipe" has been a closely guarded family secret ever since.

My thoughts drift to Tanya and her father's desire to merge the Denali winery with Volturi. Tanya's family owns the Denali winery and Caius would do anything to merge the two family-owned businesses. Of which I'm sure includes offering his only daughter in marriage to the Cullen family therefore securing that alliance. It doesn't go unnoticed by me that Tanya works hard to try to make that happen. I gladly take what she offers telling her that I am a confirmed bachelor and leave the heir propagation to my brothers.

I round the bend and see the mountain and how truly magnificent it is. I enjoy the history here. It's the site of the 1960 Olympics and there are remnants of the event still around but it has changed a lot as well. I stop and pull over to enjoy the spectacular view of the mountain and the ski runs are getting me excited to hit a few. Maybe I can get a couple in today. While I am enjoying the view, I glance in my side view mirror and see her Tahoe SUV slowly drive by. I hang my head out the window and look back at her, "Damn" I verbally curse myself, "I should have gotten her number."

I pull into the garage of the condo, grab my bag and go get things set up when my cell starts ringing.

"Emmett, what? I haven't even been gone 24 hours." I snap at him.

"Why do you have to be so mean, bro?" He whines. "Would you come home now? I miss youuuu. Come home." He can't go one day without fucking with me.

"What do you want, Em?" Exasperation is quickly setting in.

"Been up yet?" He says in a complete turnaround from whiney to business professional.

"No, just got in and am debating if I'm going to head up now or take a quick trip into Tahoe City." I can't get this girl out of my head and I want to check out whether I can find her or not.

"Why would you want to do that man, isn't the condo stocked and ready to go?" he grumbles. "Jazz and I will be up this weekend you know and we need it pretty for the ladies." He is always thinking with his dick, nothing else matters when he's at the lake especially when there are snow bunnies to be had.

"I haven't had a chance to check it out but Angie is good about making sure we have everything we need, you know that." I remind him.

Angie has taken care of us for far too long to neglect what we need to survive in the dead of winter when we come to ski.

"Then, dude, why you heading to T.C.?" He presses me anyway.

"Mmm not sure, checking out a prospect I kept running into on the way up here." I say, not wanting to give away too much. Emmett armed with information is a very dangerous thing.

"All right, Eddieee. Scamming already. Good job." Shit, why does he do this?

"Goodbye Emmett, see you Friday? When will you roll in?" I ask so that I can make sure I'm not here when he arrives.

"We'll be in around noon I guess. Good luck with your prospect and see you then. Be ready for me to kick your ass up there. You may have won last year, but its redemption time, bro."

"Last year? Try the last 3 years motherfucker! Bring your A-game, pal. You haven't been able to take me yet. I'll stop by and pick you up on the bunny hill after you get your practice runs in. See you Friday, asshole." I hang up before he can get the last word in. I run upstairs taking the steps two at a time to the master suite and unpack. It doesn't take long because I have just about everything I need here already.

I really love this place. It's modern, with black leather, chrome and steel everywhere. The kitchen is black granite with all black and stainless steel appliances. It's a true bachelor pad and the ladies all like it and we like to please the ladies. When all three of us are here at the same time, it's non-stop parties and an endless parade of women. My mind immediately thinks about the beauty in the Tahoe SUV.

I head back down to the living room and out onto the balcony that overlooks the mountain, still debating whether to take in a few runs or take a drive. I try to justify it all in my mind; how long would it take me to get dressed and take the lift to the top versus how long it would take to drive to Tahoe City. I grab my keys and a bottle of water and head out to see if I can spot the beautiful Tahoe girl.

Tahoe City is not large at all and has a local feel that attracts quite a few tourists. I cruise through looking in the grocery store parking lot… nothing. Hmmm, so I head toward the center of town to some of the ski shops and don't see anything there either. Where the hell could she be? I make a U-turn and drive through town again… still nothing. Well, I gave it a shot. Hoping that fate allows us to meet again; I head back to the condo.

I start a fire when I get home, pour myself a glass of Chivas and relax in my favorite recliner to watch the night skiing. It doesn't take long for my mind to drift towards chocolate brown eyes and chocolate brown hair and the sweetest ass I have seen in a very long time. I lay my head back and glance over to the baby grand and sigh. It's been a while since I have felt motivated to play and I'm suddenly inspired by the beautiful girl that I can't get out of my head. I look back out over the mountain as it starts to snow.

Fresh powder, nice!

A/N: Edward, Edward, Edward… He's wanting some Bella.

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