Chapter Eight

Bella

I got into work early the next morning disappointed when I saw that Jasper's motorbike wasn't already parked outside the office. Inside the girls were gathered in the coffee room, it was something of a ritual for us. A chance to catch up on gossip before we started the week, to hear what stories had been caught over the weekend for those of us lucky enough to get the whole one off. As I walked in I heard Jasper's name, he was still the talk of the office which was natural enough, not only was he new to the paper and to the area, but he was hot too.

"I wonder if he's spoken for?"

Betty sounded hopeful.

"Looking like that? I'd expect him to have a string of girlfriends."

I smiled, how wrong they all were and I wondered how long it would be before they discovered that I was the lucky girl who had caught his eye.

When my boss joined us to hand out the assignments Jasper was with him and I tensed, would he smile and acknowledge me? Or would he ignore me, pretend nothing had happened between us. My heart was thumping loudly and the butterflies in my stomach had gone into overdrive and then he was there at my side, taking my hand and squeezing it although I didn't think anyone else had noticed, they were all too busy listening to Stan's rapid-fire speech, his usual pep talk for a Monday morning. Basically get out there and find something to fill the front page.

I was crushed when I heard Jasper had been paired up with Tina and just a little jealous, after all, she was petite and pretty and far more sexy than me and as she dragged him out on assignment I didn't have time to speak to him.

"Just my luck, why didn't Stan let me have the sexiest guy in Port Angeles for a few hours."

"What would you have done with him, Betty? Or need we ask?"

Adrian's smirk annoyed me but Betty just looked at him with wide-eyed innocence,

"Talk, just talk."

"Yeah? I thought you were more into non-verbal communication."

She laughed,

"Who wouldn't be with a guy who looked that good, even with his clothes on?"

I rolled my eyes, secretly glad I didn't have to worry about her out with my boyfriend today, but would Tina try to make a move on him? If she did I would scratch out her eyes!

Luckily I got out of the office for most of the day too, there had been a series of assaults at the college campus and the paper had agreed to run a special article warning the students to be extra vigilant and include a photofit picture of the suspect. I did interviews with some of the students and the campus security and then sat in on a question and answer meeting held by the local police.

By the time I got back Jasper's bike was gone and I felt depressed, I had hoped I might see him before he left for the evening, after all, we'd hardly exchanged a word today and I missed him. I checked the assignments for tomorrow and the rest of the week and my spirits sank even lower as I saw I wouldn't be working with him at all. I grabbed my bag and keys and walked slowly to my car only to see Jasper leaning against the hood waiting for me.

"Could you give me a lift Bella? My bike got a flat and they can't get a spare until morning."

Immediately I felt better, in fact, I felt great, especially as he pulled me into a hug when I reached him. I felt his cold lips on my cheek,

"I missed you today Bella."

"I missed you too."

We talked all the way back to Forks although he wouldn't let me drive him home.

"It's OK, Rose is in town so I arranged to meet her at the store. I didn't like the idea of you driving back alone along the road from our place, it's a little lonely."

I laughed, then realized he was serious, he was genuinely concerned for my safety.

"Thank you. Sorry, it's just I've never had anyone worry about me before…...except my dad that is."

He leant over and kissed me, this time on the lips and I thought my heart would leap right out of my chest.

"Well. I guess you'd better get used to it, I will always worry about you, Bella."

Jasper

I watched Bella drive off towards her home and turned back towards the Port Angeles road. Of course, there was nothing wrong with my bike but I had missed Bella all day and it seemed a good way to spend some time alone with her, now I would run back and pick it up. I was halfway there when my phone rang and when I answered it I recognized Bella's voice,

"I'm sorry Jasper, I just realized you'd need a ride to work in the morning. Shall I pick you up?"

I smiled, just hearing her voice warmed me and I slowed to a stop.

"Thank you, I'll get one of the others to drop me off at your place and maybe we can work out where we are going on our date if you still intend going out with me again."

She did, and I have to admit I smiled all the way back to the house, my bike would be OK where I'd left it overnight and if not? Well, let's just say I didn't much care right now.

When I got back I found Emmett had returned and from the expression on his face someone had told him about Bella and I. He came bounding down the stairs to slap me on the back, almost thrusting my ribs through the wall of my chest in the process.

"So, you've got a girlfriend Jazz and a human one at that. You sly dog! When do I get to meet her? Is she pretty? I do think dating the police chief's daughter is a bit risky but what the hell, we all have to live with a little danger in our lives. Are you taking her to the Christmas dance? Rose and I are going, we could make a foursome."

"That's a couple of weeks away, we'll have to see Emmett, it's still early in the relationship yet."

"A little of that Whitlock charm and you'll have her eating out of your hand."

He turned to leave then stopped and whirled back with a grin,

"Hey, when Edward rags you about this can I watch you beat him to a pulp? I'll even help if you like, you know he won't be able to keep his nose out of your thoughts."

"He will if he wants to continue living, this is too important to me to allow him to ruin it Em."

I would have preferred to travel with Bella every day but I needed my own transport for work and could hardly keep coming up with excuses. The others at the paper were amused and then happy to see us together, except for a couple of the girls who I think had been hoping they might catch my eye but the only person I really noticed was Bella.

Our next date was as wonderful as the first, we took in a movie and afterwards I offered to take her to dinner but she settled on a Mexican take out which we ate in the car parked up in a picnic area. She had told me she preferred to spend the time alone with me which made me feel ten feet tall. I didn't enjoy the food and would have to dispose of it later but I hardly cared. After eating we went back to her place, her dad was working the night shift and talked about our favourite authors, music, just about anything that occurred to us. I had put my arm around her when we sat down and as we spoke I found myself running my fingers through her silky hair.

"That feels good, I'll give you a week to stop."

I had wished I could spend the whole week like this but her warm body so close to mine had me desperate to go further with her and I had difficulty reining myself in, especially when I could feel her own desire match my own.

The next day I left her a present in her car, a Hershey bar, she had told me they were one of her weaknesses and I had made a mental note of it. The next evening I changed it for a single red rose and laughed when she told me it didn't taste as good as the chocolate! Things were going really well so I decided to ask her if she would like to come over to my place. It was time she met Emmett and the family properly.