The next morning Bella was sitting on the couch watching one of the weekly political talk shows with Jasper and Alice, or at least they were trying to watch. Jasper was complaining.

"I don't like it, Bella," he said with a frown as he sipped as his cup of coffee.

"You don't have to like it," said Bella with a frown.

"He stood you up!" said Jasper.

"Yes, but he came as soon as he remembered and he brought her Chinese…and her love fern," said Alice as she curled up with a bowl of cereal near Jasper.

Jasper rolled his eyes and shook his head. "He works for Volturi."

"So?" Bella replied. "It's not like I'm dating Senator Aro Volturi."

Alice wrinkled her nose. "Ew, could you imagine?"

Bella chuckled along with Alice.

"It's not funny, you two!" Jasper frowned. "He's Senator Volturi's right hand man! I don't like that he knows about me and Alice now or that you're dating him, Bella. How do you know he's not dating you just to get information about Senator Cullen's plans?"

His words stung Bella and she stood up. "Thanks a lot, Jasper."

"Jasper…" Alice chided with a frown.

"Wait! I didn't mean it that way!" Jasper frowned.

Bella went to the kitchen, deposited her coffee cup in the sink and headed towards her room.

Jasper continued, "Bella, come on! I really didn't…"

She didn't hear the rest of what he said as she closed the door to the room. After a moment she could hear that he and Alice were having a heated discussion. Not wanting to hear it she slipped on her earbuds and listened to a mix of some of her more recent favorites.

As Civil Twilight filtered into her ears she tried to forget what Jasper had said. To say that it stung would be an understatement. She flipped through her closet and tried to decide what to wear on her date with Edward, though now she was beginning to doubt herself and wonder if she shouldn't cancel.

Bella had never had the most extraordinary dating life. She hadn't dated in high school, having gone to her senior prom with one of her guy friends that was in several of her AP courses. She had dated in college, but even then her dating life had been somewhat spotty. Finally, she had met Jack her senior year. He was dashingly handsome and intelligent. His aspirations to go into international business fit in right with his degree in international affairs. Jack had swept her right off her feet. He was her first for lots of things. Her first love. The first man she had slept with. She had thought they would get married one day and start a family. He had even said he would wait for her when she got accepted to law school in California.

That hadn't last long and at the end of her first semester she had traveled back to Arizona to find out that he had started dating Jackie, a graduate student pursuing a degree in French literature. When she saw him on her first day back and he introduced her to Jackie as an old friend, she knew that things were over between them.

He'd never even taken the time to explain.

It had been a big blow to her self-esteem and though she had dated a couple of guys since then, she concentrated on her studies and never let it go beyond a few dates.

Now, here she was, about to go out with Edward Masen, a man who had made several 'Most Eligible Bachelors' lists for as long as she could remember. He was smart, nice, and obviously sexy. What was he doing going out with her?

"What the fuck am I doing?" Bella asked herself as she peered in her closet.

She jumped a bit as Alice tugged out one of her earbuds. "Well, I hope you're starting to get ready for your date," said Alice with a soft smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Just wanted to help you pick out something to wear."

Bella sighed, "I'm thinking of calling to cancel."

"You'll do no such thing," said Alice as she started to go through Bella's clothes. "Don't pay any attention to Jasper. I swear that man has an IQ higher than most people's credit scores, but he's a stupid as a rock when it comes to a lot of stuff."

Bella looked to the door as she moved to set her iPod on her dresser.

Noticing the look Alice said, "He's gone."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble between the two of you," said Bella with a sigh.

"Oh, pish posh, he was the one that caused the trouble. What does it matter that Edward works for Senator Volturi or that he knows about the two of us seeing each other? I'm tired of having to sneak around anyway and if he thinks that he can keep hiding our relationship forever, well, let me tell you, he's got another thing coming," huffed Alice.

Bella smiled a bit, but it was obvious that she was still mulling over what Jasper had said.

Alice sighed. "Listen, Bella, don't think about the politics in all this. I know that's like kinda your job now, but Edward seems like a nice guy and he definitely seems interested in you, not my father or what goes on in my father's office."

Bella still didn't seem convinced and Alice sighed and asked, "Look, has he ever asked about my father or anything going on about work?"

"Well, no…" Bella conceded, but before she could say more, Alice continued, "And, did he not ask you out before he knew who you worked for?"

"Well, yes…" Bella said and again Alice continued, "Then that's all you need to know for now. I'll be the first one to tell you to kick him to the curb if it seems like more than just romantic interest on his part."

Bella sighed and nodded, watching as Alice threw a black sweater and a pair of skinny jeans in Bella's directions. "Wear that with the boots you were going to wear last night over the jeans. Wear your hair loose."

Bella nodded and watched as Alice started to go through her lingerie drawer. "What are you doing?"

She just answered Bella by tossing a black lace bra and matching panties in her direction. "Lingerie is important."

"I don't plan to show it to him, Alice."

Alice giggled and waggled her brows. "Not yet. Seriously though, nice lingerie helps a woman feel…sexier. That's never a bad thing."

Bella looked doubtful, but nodded.

Alice smiled at hugged her. "Don't worry. I have a feeling that things are going to work out great!"

)( )( )( )(

Edward was actually nervous. He really didn't want to screw things up this time so he left his place early so he could arrive at Bella's place with plenty of time to spare.

He was actually waiting in the foyer of her building with thirty minutes to spare and it was only after fifteen minutes when one of the residents kept peeking out of their apartment at him that he made his way upstairs and knocked on her door.

Alice answered. "Well, you're early this time. Very good sign."

She left the door open so he could come in and walked in after her, closing the door behind him. "Uh, I didn't realize that you were Bella's roommate."

Alice chuckled. "Well, I am." She shrugged and flipped on the television. "Bella will be right out."

Edward nodded and stood there awkwardly by the door.

Alice arched a brow and asked, "You want to have a seat?"

Nodding, Edward made his way to the living room and sat on the very edge of seat, back straight as a rod.

Watching him Alice couldn't help but giggle. "You can relax, you know?"

Edward managed a bit of a smile, but looked around nervously. So far he wasn't sure that Bella's friends really cared for him. Jasper had been scowling at him throughout dinner the previous evening. Even Rosalie had glared at him when she'd found out he'd stood Bella up. Yet, Alice seemed friendly enough so far.

"So what are your plans for today?" Alice asked as she channel surfed.

"Well, uh...," before he could answer Bella came out and smiled. He immediately jumped up and looked at her. She looked beautiful.

"Hello, Edward," Bella said with a smile.

"Hi, Bella." He smiled and went up and kissed her cheek. "You look beautiful," he whispered, causing her to blush.

"Thank you," Bella whispered in response. "Um, ready to go?"

Edward nodded.

"Just let me get my coat," Bella said as she made her way to the coat closet by the front door.

Edward followed and then followed her out as Alice called out goodbye to both of them.

Outside he led her down the street to where his car was waiting.

"Thank you again for agreeing to go out with me," Edward said as he opened the car door for Bella.

She smiled at him. "I'm glad you were so persistent," she responded, though she still had her doubts. But, she was going to do what Alice advised and try to enjoy herself.

As she settled in the car she buckled up and looked at it. A Mercedes, though she had no idea what kind she could tell it was an expensive car. Then again, could she expect anything else from Edward Masen.

Chastising herself she tried to remember not to think about him that way. He was just Edward, a nice, intelligent, extremely gorgeous, absolutely sexy hunk of a man.

Edward climbed into the car and smiled at her as he started the engine. "So what are you in the mood to eat?"

"Oh, well…," Bella had no idea what to say. "Um, whatever you decide is fine."

"Chinese?" he asked, his tone teasing.

She laughed. "Well, anything but Chinese."

He grinned at her. "I know a nice little restaurant we can go to. Great food, out of the way, quiet. They have a variety of foods on the menu."

"That sounds great," Bella replied.

He nodded and carefully pulled out of his parking spot.

A/N: Sorry for not posting the last couple of days, but I've been ill and I'm still not 100% better.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Thank you for the leaving reviews and for recommending this story to your friends! Please continue to do both!