Surprise! So, I missed submitting my teaser to Fic Tease and felt really guilty that you all would have to wait for info on this chapter…as a result you get it now, and another one on Friday!

Also…over 240 reviews from all you amazing people… I know I say thank you when I reply back, but seriously, I love them and all of you because I am well aware it's not something you're obligated to do. My thanks are so very heartfelt, and sometimes those reviews lead to ideas for things to come after the story ends…I know total tease, but I'll share soon.

A huge thank you as always to the Team Coffee Girl ladies: Brie, Jen, Kelly, and Kim. Love you girls.

Up today is Vanna White. The woman is tiny and timelessly beautiful without makeup. She was a fan of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Ice Blendeds shockingly enough, though, she did get the No Sugar Added ones, but she was an absolute pleasure to help. For those who don't know who she is, she's the letter turner on America's Wheel of Fortune.

Chapter Three

When Edward didn't show up at the coffee house during any of my shifts the next week, I took his flirting for him just trying to get in my pants. Even if he truly did live with his parents, Edward could always head over to whatever woman he was interested in that night's house. Regardless as to how tempted I was to Google the shit out of him, I didn't.

Although there were moments when he popped into my brain and lingered, leaving me with more what ifs than answers, I was able to latch back onto my studies. Business Law was kicking my ass. All the rules and regulations ran together, and I struggled to remember all the verses and case outcomes. It was boring and tedious.

Work was different. Now that Jessica had been officially canned, Angela had hired a freshman from CSUN named Jacob to fill her spot. Training him usually fell on the days I worked the night shift, and tonight was one of those shifts.

It had been an unusually slow night, so I rotated between quizzing Jacob, or Jake as he kindly asked me to call him, on a couple of our signature drinks. After that, I showed him how to weigh out the coffee grounds correctly for the various types of drip coffee we offered daily.

I had just finished explaining the differences between the Costa Rica and French Roast blends when the door opened. I approached the register with my bright smile, ready to greet our guests when a familiar pair of green eyes locked with mine, and I gasped.

What was he doing here?

"Hey, coffee girl," Edward said in his hypnotic tenor. My panties were toast, but I wasn't about to let him know he was affecting me.

"Hello, Edward. What can I get started for you?" I asked, even though I knew he would most likely get another café au lait.

"My mother, Esme, and I came for your specialty."

My cheeks warmed at the fact that he brought his mother in with him.

When I glanced over at the woman with him, I would have never believed she could be his mother. Her porcelain skin was almost wrinkle free, and her hair was a rich, dark chocolate brown. It was obviously from a bottle, but she rocked it, and the blunt-edge cut as well. Her eyes were what told me he was telling the truth. They were the same mossy green as Edward's, and they were filled with mirth.

I had a feeling tonight was going to end badly.

"Yes, Edward can't stop raving about the café au lait that's better than mine...or the girl who makes them," she teased. I could feel the fire raging beneath the skin of my cheeks. I was sure they were redder than the raspberry syrup we used.

We were brought out of our little bubble by Jake, who looked angry as he spoke. "I can make those. What size do you want?"

Edward finally looked at Jake, and I could swear he looked pissed, although I didn't know why. "I would prefer Bella make them since she knows exactly how I like them. Should you even have your hand on her shoulder? Isn't that grounds for a sexual assault lawsuit?"

Huh...I hadn't even realized Jake was touching me. I shrugged off his hand. "I got it, Jake. Why don't you go start our next load of dishes?"

Jake huffed out a 'fine' and stomped off to the back room. He was only an eighteen-year-old kid, and I wasn't Taylor Swift. I didn't prey on young boys. Heck, I didn't even like guys my age. At twenty-eight, Edward was just the right age for me. The fact that he could play both the guitar and the piano just added to his charm; at least, that was what my mother told me.

"Oh dear," whispered Esme as she squeezed Edward's arm to remind him of where he was, or at least that was what I assumed since I was clueless about what was causing Edward to react so intensely.

"So, you both want my au laits today, huh? Didn't get enough of it last week, Edward?" I teased back, hoping to lighten the atmosphere a bit.

"No, I don't think I'll ever get enough of the creamy deliciousness you create. I'll have the same as I did last time, but Mom wants decaf, please." He was back to the charming man I'd met last week, but the way he said creamy deliciousness made me think he wasn't talking about the foam I make… for the coffee.

"Okay. I'll have those ready in a jiffy," I replied before turning and grabbing a paper to-go cup.

"We're actually going to have the coffees here, so the ceramic cups would be best. The largest ones you have, please."

I was not about to let him fluster me now, especially so close to closing.

I opened the cupboard that housed the mugs and saucers, needing to stretch just to reach them, and filled them with the drip coffee before I took them over to the espresso bar and steamed up some fresh nonfat milk. When it was ready, I put my artistic skills to use and made a couple of leaves on the tops of their drinks. They came out perfectly and even I was more impressed than usual.

When I placed them safely on the counter, I breathed a sigh of relief. Edward even smirked after I set them down. "I see you've been working on your gracefulness, coffee girl."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Miracles happen, Edward," I stated before asking if they wanted any dessert to go with their coffees.

Esme glanced over at the pastry case before requesting a caramel brownie. I offered to top it with whip cream and she accepted. "Go big or go home, right, Bella?"

I smiled hugely. "A woman after my own heart."

I even dusted a bit of cocoa powder on top before I handed it over. "It looks delish," hinted Esme.

"Tastes even better," I promised. I gave them their total and Edward once again handed me a twenty and then dropped his change in the tip jar. His over ten dollar tips were getting to be a bit much, but I knew my fellow co-workers would love the increase again when we divided them up at the end of the week.

I continued to work through my pre-close prep work under the watchful eyes of Edward and Esme. I couldn't hear them over the music or the coffee grinder, and that was okay. I hated when I had to stay later than needed.

Jake had joined me out front and began gathering up the trash and closing down the bins we wouldn't be using for the rest of the night. After I had finished cleaning all but one of the blenders and had almost all of the heads on the espresso machine sanitized, I cleaned out and vacuumed the dry pastry case.

When Jake finished with the trash, I sent him back to do the dishes again; he was moodier than a pre-menstrual woman without chocolate, and I didn't want to have to spend any more time with him than I had to. It was possible that he had a bit of a crush on me, but nothing would ever come of it. I didn't find bulging biceps all that attractive or the hurt puppy look that sometimes covered his tan skin. He was someone I could imagine growing to care about in a brotherly way.

Now that I knew Jake would be busy for at least the last twenty minutes before I locked the door, I went out to sweep the lobby and straighten up the retail section of the store. I focused on the displays first, refilling the one-pound, pre-packaged whole bean coffees before restocking the supplies on the condiment bar and giving it a final wipe down.

Pink's Just Give Me A Reason had begun to play overhead as I started sweeping. I loved the song, and I couldn't help but hum along. My humming quickly turned into a full-fledged concert of one as I forgot where I was and I let the music wash over me.

Just give me a reason,

Just a little bit's enough,

Just a second we're not broken just bent,

And we can learn to love again

I never stopped,

You're still written in the scars on my heart,

You're not broken just bent,

And we can learn to love again

I was truly lost in my passion; her words were filled with anguish and pain and I allowed them to take over me as I hit her high note in the, "We'll come clean" line. The broom handle was my microphone, and I squeezed my eyes closed, trying hard to prevent the tears that were gathering from falling.

When the last line of the song finished and the piano faded out, I took a deep breath and allowed peace to flow back into to me after singing such an emotional song. I hoped to one day evoke as much emotion from people with my words as she did.

I was ripped from my private moment by staggered applause that slowly increased as Esme joined in with her son. Heat rushed up my chest and throat before settling on my cheeks. I couldn't believe I allowed myself to get swept up in the music again when Edward was around. It was almost as if all my defenses collapsed when he was there.

Esme carefully dabbed her eyes, watching me with a look of awe that made me want to get swallowed up by the ground. "That was beautiful. So magical and heartfelt."

I shook my head. "That's all Pink. She's incredible."

With a stern look and a fierce tone she barked, "Don't sell yourself short. She is good, but you were here, standing in front of us, and I felt every single emotion that poured through you as you sang. That. Was. Your. Doing. Not hers. You have a God given talent. Embrace it, don't squander it away."

I was deeply touched by her sentiment. No one besides my parents had ever heard me sing so openly before with that much emotion. My focus in school had always been the writing of lyrics and occasionally the melody that accompanied them. I lived for words that made me feel, nothing cheesy or trashy, just raw emotion.

"Thank you," I stammered. "I'm just not used to an audience. I was completely swept up by the music."

"It was incredible," Edward followed. "Swept away while sweeping. At least you didn't fall this time, coffee girl."

I giggled as I realized that he was right. Only I would end up singing into a broom handle while working in front of the golden boy and his mom. "Swept away with the words of a love song, lost in the memories for so long, the love they shared was never forgotten, never forgotten, Oh, it was never forgotten," I belted out my own words.

I loved the look of shock that covered Edward's face, the way I took his teasing words and used them to create something new and exciting.

"You never cease to surprise me, coffee girl," he admitted.

"I have a name, you know. How would you like it if I started calling you Eddie?" He growled at my joke. I didn't actually mind being called coffee girl, but being able to torment him was fun.

"Don't you ever call me Eddie." Esme was silently chuckling at the scene we were making.

"Never, ever, Eddie? Those are some words that carry a bit of finality to them," I jested. "Next thing you know, you might be belting out a Taylor song yourself."

I began humming the melody as I walked away and got back to sweeping.

"Don't you walk away from me, Bella!"

He tugged on my arm, causing me to lose my footing and I flew into his chest, the broom falling to the floor with a loud clack.

I was frozen, staring deeply into his eyes, and everything around us ceased to exist. Our breathing synchronized and pulses began to race. Fire raged in my veins from his touch.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT HERE?!"

I know, I know. Another gosh darn cliffy, though I doubt most of you said gosh or darn. I cleaned it up a bit. No long wait this time either. See you again on Friday. If you have questions ask away, but I may not be able to reveal much if it's about the story line. xx Dee