A/N: As promised, here is the next update. It's time to meet Mr. - and Mrs! - August. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.

Chapter 30 - Mr. August

It was freezing on the beach, even colder than the day of Jacob's photo shoot. Bella clapped her hands together to keep warm and pulled her beanie hat firmly down on her head. She knew she'd have to get this shoot over and done with before the models started to turn blue. At least she'd planned a black and white photo so it wouldn't show if they did.

James and Victoria – also known as Mr. and Mrs August – were wrapped up in thick grey bathrobes, with big pairs of Ugg boots to keep their feet warm. They listened intently as Bella explained how she wanted them to pose. James had his arms wrapped around Victoria already, ostensibly to keep her warm, but Bella couldn't help but notice they'd been shamelessly flirting with each other since they'd arrived. They worked for the same modelling agency and had shared a cab out to the beach house – clearly they'd had plenty of time to get well acquainted. The chemistry between them was palpable. Despite the cold weather, this photo shoot was going to be hot.

The pair slipped out of their robes and boots and tiptoed barefoot down the cold sand to the water's edge, giggling and squealing like children. James was the first to reach the sea and he teasingly splashed Victoria, who screamed as the icy water touched her naked skin. She gave James a playful shove and he reached out and grabbed her round the waist with his muscular arms, laughing all the while. Bella thought he was gorgeous – after all, she'd picked him out as a potential lover at the start of her challenge– but she couldn't take her eyes off Victoria. She was absolutely stunning. Lustrous flame red hair tumbled around her shoulders, falling down to her full breasts. She was curvier than most fashion models, with a nipped-in waist and rounded hips, but still had long legs that would make her queen of the catwalk. No wonder James can't keep his hands off her, thought Bella.

She looked round at Edward and saw he was equally enchanted, his mouth slightly agape as he watched the two models frolic in the sea. A pang of jealousy coursed through her. Bella checked herself quickly. Edward had stood by as she'd ogled and flirted with seven months' worth of naked models. She had no right to get mad at him for staring at Victoria.

When they saw Bella was ready with her camera, the two models stopped splashing around and lay down in the shallows, From Here To Eternity-style. James draped himself over Victoria, while she bent her left knee slightly and hooked her foot around the back of his legs. She closed her eyes as if in the depths of pleasure and threw her head back, her auburn hair spread out on the sand like The Little Mermaid. James twisted his head to look intensely at the camera, as he writhed on top of Victoria. "That's perfect, guys," called Bella, encouragingly. These two were naturals. "Now let's try some pictures where you're kissing her neck, James."

He wasted no time following Bella's instructions and hungrily lowered his lips to Victoria's neck, where he trailed kisses down to the top of her chest. Bella heard Victoria let out a moan of pleasure. Was she just acting… or was she really getting off on this? Bella tried not to let herself get distracted and kept snapping away with her camera. She was getting some fantastically sexy shots.

Victoria turned her face towards the camera and Bella noticed a wicked glint in her eyes and a naughty smile playing around her mouth. Through the camera lens she saw the model run her fingernails down James' back until her hands were resting on his pert backside. Victoria suddenly gripped hard, pulling his body closer, her legs sliding further apart as she did so. Bella lowered her camera in shock. What the hell was she playing at? She looked round at Edward, her eyebrows raised in question. He just shrugged.

"Um, do you guys want to take a quick break and warm up for a minute?" asked Bella, who was starting to feel a little uncomfortable. "You must be frozen."

"Oh, I think we're hot enough," smirked James, his answer directed at Victoria rather than Bella.

"Smokin' hot," she replied suggestively, staring into James' eyes with a giggle.

"Okay, if you're sure," said Bella, uncertainly. "I think we're almost finished here anyway."

"We sure are," muttered James, sounding a little out of breath. To Bella's horror, she noticed the muscles of his butt clenching and unclenching as he said it. Her mouth dropped open in shock and she spun round to look at Edward. "Are they having sex?" she mouthed silently.

Edward couldn't mask the shit-eating grin spreading across his face as he nodded back at her. "Looks like it," he sniggered quietly, completely bemused by the whole thing. Seeing Edward making light of the situation, Bella found her disgust turning into amusement. It was kind of funny. And, as she watched James gently thrusting into the beautiful Victoria, it was kind of horny too. Jesus, I need to get laid already, thought Bella in frustration. She wondered if Edward was feeling as aroused as she was starting to. The thought sent her libido into overdrive.

"Okay, that's a wrap," Bella shouted, unable to stand the sexual tension that was building any more. "Come and get dressed before you freeze to death." She turned her back on the model couple to give them some privacy, as unnecessary as that was at this stage, and turned her attention to Edward. "Can you believe that?" she asked incredulously.

"I just wish I'd brought my video camera. That could have made us a ton of money," he laughed.

"Edward, I'm a serious photographer, not a pornographer!"

"Hey, you were the one who told me the nude form is considered one of the highest forms of art, remember?" he teased, reminding her of their first photo shoot together.

"Touche." Bella knew when she was beaten. "Are they up and dressed again yet? I'm scared to look." Edward peered over her shoulder and nodded. She turned around to face the models again. "Thanks guys, that was, er, great."

"It sure was for me, anyway," purred Victoria with a sly look at James. "We're going to head inside now to, um, warm up."

"Baby, I thought that was the warm up," whispered James into her ear, as he slid his arm around her waist and escorted her back to the house. Catching his innuendo, Bella threw another stunned look at Edward. He just laughed. "Those two will be giving Rose and Emmett a run for their money in the horn stakes. It's a good job this place has a lot of bedrooms. There must be something in the air." His eyes lingered on Bella, a smile playing around his lips. She suddenly forgot how cold she was.

She opened her mouth to speak. "Ed-"

"Edward Cullen? Is that you? Oh. Em. Gee!" A well spoken, high-pitched voice was calling from further down the beach. Bella looked around to find the source of this unwelcome interruption. Before she could see anyone, something small and blonde attached itself to her jeans with its teeth. She screamed and kicked out her leg, sending the small dog flying across the beach. Undeterred the creature came running at her again with a squeaky excuse for a growl. She ran behind Edward for cover.

"Dolce! Get down!" scolded Edward. "There's a good dog." At the sound of his voice, the mutt seemed to calm down and wagged his tail happily, sniffing at Edward's hand.

"You- you know this thing?" asked Bella, horrified.

"This thing just happens to happens to be American Kennel Club's Best In Show 2011," said a haughty female voice. Bella looked up to see an attractive blonde-haired girl dressed head to toe in some of the most expensive looking clothes she'd ever seen outside the pages of Vogue magazine. "Hello Edward. Isn't this a lovely surprise?"

"Tanya," said Edward, with a stiff smile. Bella thought she could hear something guarded in his voice. "How many times have I told you to put this dog on a leash?"

"Oh, but you know how much he loves running on the beach! I couldn't do that to him." She scooped up the little dog and nuzzled her nose in his fur.

"Bella, this is Tanya, an old friend of my family. Tanya, this is Bella Swan, my… boss." Bella flinched at his choice of words. She held out her hand cautiously to greet Tanya, terrified Dolce would take a nip at her hand.

"Ah yes, the photographer. Edward, I ran into your Aunt Esme at a benefit fashion show last week and she mentioned you were working on a shoot for Eclipse. Well done you! I always knew you'd go far. You're so talented, Eddie."

"Really, Tanya? Because you didn't seem so sure of my 'talent' when I quit med school." Bella could hear an edge to Edward's voice, a steeliness she'd never heard before. Apparently Tanya had hit a raw nerve – but she chose to ignore it, chattering on regardless.

"Esme also mentioned you're staying up here for the weekend. Maybe I could come round later. It's been too long, Eddie. I miss you." Tanya reached out to touch Edward's arm and Bella noticed she was making bigger puppy dog eyes than her stupid mutt. She looked at Edward – some kind of internal battle seemed to be raging behind his golden eyes. What's the story here? she wondered.

"Actually Tanya, we're having a bit of a get together with some friends tonight," Bella interjected, hoping to save Edward from making a decision he was clearly struggling with. Maybe Tanya would get the hint and leave them alone.

"Oh. Em. Gee. That's perfect! I'll gather up a few friends and see you later then!" With a flash of an impossibly white smile and a flick of her long blonde hair, Tanya was gone almost as soon as she'd appeared. Edward watched her sashay away down the beach with something like regret in his eyes. Bella had a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach. There was some kind of unfinished business between them, she was sure. And she didn't think she wanted to know what.

A/N: So what do you think the deal is with Tanya? Let me know in a review. Thanks for reading!

Poppy xx