Chapter 31 – Mr. September

"I can't believe you invited that bitch round!" Back in the house, Leah was clearly furious. "You still can't say 'no' to her, can you?" Edward looked sheepish as his best friend vented her wrath. Bella didn't know why Leah was so mad, but felt she needed to step in and save Edward's skin.

"Actually Leah, it was my fault. I let it slip that we were having a party tonight and she sort of invited herself along," said Bella, hoping Leah would be placated. It didn't work.

"Well, Edward could have – should have - uninvited her," she snarled.

The argument had started almost as soon as they'd come back inside. Bella had barely taken her coat off when Edward mentioned they'd bumped into Tanya, and Leah had hit the roof just as quickly. James and Victoria had apparently found a spare bedroom to 'warm up' in; Rose and Emmett still hadn't emerged; and Alice and Jasper were out buying supplies for the party – leaving Bella to get caught up in the middle of the fight.

"Look Leah, if I can stand to be around her, so can you," said Edward, tensely. "Just grow up, will you?" He threw his hands up in the air and walked away, leaving the two girls alone. Leah went to call after him, but Bella placed a hand on her arm in warning. As far as Edward was concerned, the conversation was clearly over. Leah sighed in frustration.

"So what's your problem with this Tanya girl?" asked Bella when she was sure Edward was out of earshot. She suspected she knew what was going on, but she wanted Leah to confirm it.

"Ugh, apart from the fact that she's a shallow, self-obsessed cow-bitch?" Leah replied in mock-sweet tones. "Her and Edward used to date. The Cullens and Tanya's family have been friends for years and it was always sort of expected that they would get together eventually. You know what it's like with these 'old money' families – Edward and Tanya were practically betrothed. But she showed absolutely no interest in him throughout high school. I mean, why date a Mathlete when you have the captain of the football team, right?" Leah rolled her eyes.

"So what changed?"

"The summer after high school, we all spent a lot of time hanging out here at the beach. Edward was getting ready to start med school and, well, he'd kind of blossomed over the previous year. You can see how hot he is now, right?" Bella felt herself blush as she nodded in agreement. "Well, he's always been cute, but I guess he just got more confident in himself or something, and it made him more attractive. So Tanya suddenly started sniffing round him like a bitch in heat."

Something was puzzling Bella. "She doesn't really seem like Edward's type."

"Bella, look at this way. Edward's only previous girlfriend had turned out to be a lesbian." She laughed at the reference to herself. "And now there's this really sexy, popular girl – that your family adore - throwing herself at you. I mean, he's says there's a nice side to Tanya. I can't say I've ever seen it myself. Like I said earlier, he just can't say 'no' to her." Bella didn't like the sound of this – if Edward had never been able to refuse Tanya, what the hell would happen if she'd set her sights on winning him back tonight? She felt something icy cold flush through her stomach.

"So how come they broke up?" she asked, feeling strangely apprehensive about hearing the answer.

"Oh, here's the killer part," grimaced Leah. "When Edward decided he was quitting med school to focus on his photography career, she ditched him faster than you can say 'superficial shithead.'"

"Poor Edward." Bella felt terrible for him. She knew how much photography meant to him. Suddenly everything he'd said about fighting for this career choice started to fall into place. If only they knew how talented he was, she thought.

"Yeah, poor Edward is right," said Leah. "And now she's suspiciously turned up at her family's beach house - months after the summer season ended - after Esme told her Edward was going to be here this weekend. Coincidence, my ass." She paused, thoughtfully. "It really sucks that you don't like Edward back, you know. If he was with you, he wouldn't even care that Tanya is back on the scene."

"What?" Bella was momentarily stunned. What did Leah know about her and Edward? Duh, said her sub-conscious. They are best friends! He's probably told her everything. Bella opened her mouth to speak, ready to tell Leah she was wrong, that she actually did feel the same about Edward as he apparently felt about her. But the words caught on her tongue. It wasn't right to tell Leah before she'd even told Edward himself. She dithered, struggling to find something to say to deflect the situation.

Ding-dong.

Saved by the bell! "I'll go get that," said Bella with relief. "It'll probably be Mr. September."

oOoOo

"So, Dmitri," asked Edward, as he helped Bella set up the equipment by the pool. "Is that… Russian?"

"Actually, my real name's Dave. I'm from Wolverhampton," replied 'Dmitri' in a flat British accent. "The modelling agency thought Dmitri sounded a bit more glamorous." He shrugged with a smile.

Edward didn't really seem to be listening, Bella noticed. After inviting Dmitri in, she'd left him in Alice's capable hands for hair and make up while she'd gone to find Edward. Leah had suggested he was probably sulking in his bedroom and had given Bella directions. She'd found the room quite easily – it had a sign on the door saying 'Edward's Room' with a picture of a little sailboat, obviously a remnant from his childhood trips to the beach with Aunt Esme – and sure enough, he was inside doing something on his laptop.

"Mr. September's here," she'd said. "Are you coming?"

"Sure," Edward had mumbled, his mind clearly elsewhere. He caught Bella's eye and managed a tight smile. She suspected he was trying to put on a brave face. The poor guy must have been going through the emotional wringer over the past few days – first, Bella jilts and humiliates him; now his ex-girlfriend shows up unexpectedly to mess with his feelings even more. The latter Bella knew all about after her recent encounter with Mike. She wanted more than anything to give Edward a big hug and tell him how she really felt about him. But they had a model waiting and a job to do. The timing wasn't right. She would have to wait a little bit longer. This evening's party would be the perfect opportunity. And a bit of Dutch courage wouldn't go amiss either, she thought.

Bella was so preoccupied with Edward's apparent turmoil that she barely noticed how cute Dmitri was. He had an impish smile, which could probably dissolve a woman's panties in a second, and a pair of guns that wouldn't look out of place in a Robocop movie. And, as he stripped off and climbed down into the swimming pool, Bella couldn't help but notice he had a pert little ass too. Nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping, she told herself as she felt a pang of guilt for perving over another guy in front of Edward.

The shoot wrapped pretty quickly. Dmitri was a brilliant model and Bella was keen to keep it as short as possible. Even though the outdoor pool was heated, there was a still a vicious chill in the air, and she wanted to get everyone back inside as soon as possible.

As Dmitri dried himself off with a fluffy towel and shimmied back into his robe, Bella had a brainwave. "So Dmitri, we're having some friends round for a few drinks here this evening – do you want to stay for the party?" Another hot guy around the place might be enough to distract Tanya and keep her claws out of Edward. She knew from Dmitri's portfolio he'd modelled for GQ magazine – surely Tanya wouldn't be able to resist that little status symbol.

"Yeah, that sounds like it could be fun. Count me in." He flashed a cheeky grin at Bella and she thought she saw him wink. Oh dear, she thought. I hope that was just a friendly 'I'm looking forward to the party' wink and not a come-on. Her days of chasing Calendar Guys were over. There was only one man on her mind right now.

oOoOo

After two outdoor photo shoots in the cold, Bella was chilled to the bone. She left Edward to pack up the equipment and find a room for Dmitri, and headed to her own bedroom for a hot shower. The lavish en-suite bathroom had looked so inviting earlier, she couldn't wait to get in and try it out. She hurriedly tore of the layers of clothing, leaving them strewn across the bedroom floor, and went into the bathroom. The shower was hung over a huge free-standing tub with a small shower curtain. She turned on the tap as hot as it would go and stepped into the gushing water, feeling the warmth come back into her fingers and toes almost immediately.

As she started to lather the shower gel over her body, she heard a knock at the bedroom door. In the same instant, she realised she'd left the bathroom door wide open. Crap. Her mind worked lightning fast – the only person who knew she was staying in this room was Edward. It had to be him. If she made a run for it to grab a towel or close the door, she would no doubt be her usual clumsy self, trip and fall flat on her face, dying of embarrassment in the process. On the other hand, if she stayed where she was, Edward would see her naked in the shower as soon as he walked in.

That last option sent a flush of arousal through her whole body.

Bella didn't move. She wanted Edward to look at her like he'd looked at Victoria earlier today.

Her heart hammering, she half-closed her eyes and fixed them on the bedroom door. Another knock, then it opened a crack. "Bella?" said a quiet voice. It was definitely Edward. She saw the door swing open as he walked into the bedroom and stopped abruptly. He must have seen her. But with her eyes apparently shut, he had no idea she had seen him. She took a deep breath and let her eyes close fully, her body vibrating with anticipation of what would happen next.

Even though she could no longer see, she sensed a stillness in the room. He was watching her. Trembling, she continued to wash herself, albeit more sensually than before. She could feel the glow of his golden eyes warming her skin with an intense heat. There was an aching between her legs like nothing she'd ever felt before. Daringly, she let her hand slide down there and began to touch herself intimately. Still she could hear no movement from Edward. Yet she knew in her very being he was still staring at her.

She pictured him slipping his own hand into his jeans, pleasuring himself as he looked at her doing the same. The image sent a convulsion of excitement through her muscles; her hand movement became more rapid, her breathing more shallow.

She longed for him to come and join her in the shower, to take over from what she had started. But she knew he wouldn't. To him, this was a voyeuristic intrusion on a private moment; not the sexual performance she knew it to be. He would feel ashamed, guilty – knowing he should leave the room but being unable to tear his gaze away from her. This last thought brought Bella close to the brink. Her fingers danced, spurred on by the delicious knowledge of Edward's shameful dilemma. She came quickly, her knees buckling, her free hand reaching out to the tiled bathroom wall for support. She fancied she heard a sigh from the direction of the bedroom; but it could have been her imagination.

As she caught her breath, she heard the bedroom door close. That was real. Cautiously, Bella opened her eyes.

The bedroom was empty.

A/N: So, yeah, just thought I'd throw in a little lemon for y'all there. I know you want some serious E/B action to happen soon but hopefully this will whet your appetite. ;)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.