The day after Alice stormed in to my shop was... Weird. It felt strange to speak and get along with someone that was such a big part of myself all of those years ago and discover that we easily could fit right back to that dynamic again in a heartbeat. Rose called me later that night and when I told her about the whole Alice-thing, she promptly decided that we were going clubbing next Saturday, no matter what. So it seemed the group was expanding - and I told Rose as much.

"So the Blonde, the Baker and the Pixie is destroying hearts together from now on?" Rose let out a full complete belly laugh at my words and corrected me.

"Bella please, both Alice and myself are hitched, so it's you who will be responsible for all of the heart breaking, although both Alice and I will probably push a few options your way..." I let out a groan at that part before feeling my temper flaring.

"Rosalie Hale you or the little pixie will do no suck fucking thing." I said with a deceivingly calm voice, but Rose knew what it meant...

"Calm your tits Bella, at worst I am just going to slut you out a bit when we are deciding on the outfits."

"Rose... I don't like this."

"To bad, it's happening and imagine what Alice will do if you say no." Rose had won me over and she knew it, Alices puppy dog-face was brutal, not that I would ever admit it.

"Such a bitch Rose, it's good I like you." After I got an agreement and a time - 7 pm on Saturday in a week and to bring my "sluttiest" outfit. At that point I hanged up and went to bed.

And I couldn't deny the tiny bit of excitement I felt thinking about what next Saturday would entail.

Thursday was officially Alice's first workday, she came in the day before tho, just to be shown how to work the register, handle customers and the like. It was minutes before opening and I was finishing up the piped lacing on the four tiered cake that was getting picked up today. It was a gorgeous creation if I may say so myself, with the lavender flower/lace pattern on the off white base fondant I'd used. I would finish it of with some raspberries for a pop of color and some lemon verbena and lime zest - the two prominent flavors in this very fresh and summary cake. I was just about to start putting on the raspberries whe...

"Oh. My. God. Bella! Why did you not tell me you created fuck awesome cakes for!?" I was flattered, I won't lie but very confused, because I told her all about it yesterday.

"Um Alice? I did tell you about it yesterday, you know, on the tour?"

"Yes, but you didn't specify BIG cakes, I thought you just these adorable glazed small ones and those are cute, it's not what I was looking for..." Looking for? What?

"Alice, what are you talking about?"

"Well Bella you must clearly understand that I couldn't do with out you making my wedding cake now!" Being still a bit confused I asked:

"You want me to make your wedding cake?" A big yes was all the answer I got before I was hit by the puppy dog-pout.

"That won't work on me Alice and you know that, it never has." The pouting stopped immediately and I for once got a straight question from her.

"Isabella Swan, will you make the most fanfuckingtastic spectacularly overwhelmingly perfect cake for me and my Jazzy's wedding?" I wanted to laugh at the word use - you could never stop Alice for having a flair- but put on my "business face" and said:

"Certainly Ma'm, I will do my very best." I couldn't resist myself than and started grinning madly while mussing up her hair - it was perfect reach as she was a good foot shorter than my 5 foot 11 inches frame. "Of course I want to do your wedding cake Pixie, I would probably kill the one that got to do it instead of me." I was joking, almost, but Pixie did not have to know that piece of info quite yet.

"YAY! I LOVE YOU BELLA!" I was the swooped up in a bone crushing hug by the little pixie and had all the air squished out of me.

"Alice, need... air to... breath over here..." I said panting, damn she was strong.

"OH, sorry, I'm just so happy!" She looked a bit embarrassed and stepped back a step.

"Yeah, I got that part" I said with a wry smile while rubbing my ribcage.

"So, we need to set up a time for a counseling session and decide if you just want a cake or some other pastry as well and what type of ca..." I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was almost time for Alice to leave, she was getting out earlier today and had a day off tomorrow for a family reunion and to go thru the impressions the shop left. "Wait, shouldn't you be heading out Alice? It's almost one'o clock."

"Oh shit already, I just got so excited, but uhm I don't want to... But I have to... Shit." Alice finished her jumbled speech by hopping of the bar stool she had been sitting on and hugging me yet again.

"Thank you Bella, I would have been late if you hadn't reminded me." She rushed around collecting her things and while she was in the back changing her clothes I packed up some pastry for her, some panforte, biscotti, bruttiboni (an almond flavored cookies, that I made on a whim this morning) and of course about a dozen of freshly made cannolis. By that time Alice had reemerged and was protesting my choice.

"Bella, you can't give us that much, it's not rational!" It wasn't really, but I was in a good mood and everything I didn't sell would go home with me to either end up at my Nonnas or at my fathers and both of those to had been complaining about me trying to make them fat, so this was a good solution.

"Alice, this wont sell today, it is a reeeeaally slow day, and it is only 3 hours to closing time, besides I've heard stories 'bout Emmett and from what I've heard he could eat this by himself." While saying this I boxed up some cakes that had been in the display case since Tuesday, after more than two days, they start to taste of fridge, so...

"Bella if I am taking all of that pastry I am not taking the cakes as well." After explaining that she basically was doing me a favor I finished the boxing up and started carrying it out to her car.

I finished the anniversary cake just in time for pick up, sold out most of the pastry in the display in time for closing and was wiping down the tables while singing and dancing along to Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones- one of the best rock groups of all time, when I felt a curious tingling sensation on the back of my neck. Now, I haven't actively worked with my dad in a year but the almost 17 years of training before that just doesn't disappear, my senses were on high alert and it was a cautious feeling. I was ready for action, but when I turned around I was astonished.

Outside the shop stood the most perfect man I had ever seen. He had a wild bronze mane and a angular jaw to die for. And as a women that can't help herself, my perusing continued. With a tall muscular frame clad in a dark blue suit with a white starched shirt underneath, he looked drool worthy. Especially since the shirt had the first two buttons undone.

But the real catch however, was his eyes. They were fiercely green with an intense gaze that gave me shivers from just sensing it, meeting this look however, was a different story- it was all consuming, all seeing and the knowledge that mystery man had ogled me as much as I had him was arousing to say the least.

When we had watched each other for what felt like an eternity, he gave me a smile. Not just any smile, but the smile. The panty dropping, lust inducing, mind disappearing sexy, confident smirk of a smile. As the competitive person I am I couldn't take that, so with a deceivingly coy expression on my face, I raised my hands to place on my bare arms, thus making my cleavage in the tight V-neck t-shirt I was wearing more pronounced. I then slowly bit my bottom lip, something I did when I was thinking, but that seemed to affect males in a different way.

His smirk dropped and I could feel the intensity increasing through the glass window. He slowly started walking towards the open door when the phone started ringing. With our trance broken I dashed to the phone, somewhat disappointed about the moment ending. After placing an order for 3 strawberry glazed cakes with lemon, I turned around hoping that the man would still be there.

He was not.

The man that inspired lust in me for the first time in 5 years, was gone.