A/N: Some citrus ahead..
Bella was packing up at the end of the day, putting some files on her desk into a drawer when she heard Jasper's voice.
"Leaving early?" he asked his voice a bit tight.
She sighed and continued to get ready to go. "It's not early, Jasper. It's seven o' clock on a Friday. Most people have already left for the day."
Things had been strained between them ever since her first date with Edward over two weeks ago. She'd gone out with Edward a couple of times since then on real dates and they'd managed to have lunch together a couple of times as well. To say that Jasper was unhappy about this would have been an understatement.
"Got plans?" he asked, crossing his arms as he stood across her desk from her.
She sighed as she slipped a couple of notebooks and files into her bag. "As a matter of fact I do."
"With him?" Jasper asked, now scowling.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes." She moved to slip on her coat.
"Bella…" He sighed, shook his head and ran his hand over his face.
Bella frowned and picked up her bag. "Drop it."
"Are you bringing him to dinner tomorrow night?" Before Bella could even answer his question he continued with a frown, "Does the Senator know or are you planning to just surprise him?"
"Surprise me with what?" Carlisle asked as he appeared at the open office door behind Jasper. Carlisle was a distinguished, handsome looking older gentleman, but it wasn't only his demeanor and good looks that drew people in, it was his charming kind smile and the warmth in his blue eyes.
Bella remembered the first time that she met him. She had been nervous when she had been asked to go back into the Senator's office. Although she was volunteering for his Senatorial campaign, for all intents and purposes, she was really there for a job interview. Jasper had told her not to worry, but of course she had been nervous. Her nerves had immediately dissipated when she walked into the Senator's office and found him eating a burger, pickles dribbling down the front of his shirt, staining his tie. Their interview had consisted of talking about political views and her experience while sharing his fries, which he insisted he couldn't finish.
"Well?" Carlisle prompted, looking from Bella to Jasper.
"We were just discussing dinner at your home tomorrow night, sir," Jasper said glancing at Bella.
"Oh, yes," Carlisle chuckled. "Esme is in a tizzy about that one. I hope you two aren't planning on canceling. She'll make my life difficult if you do and blame me for working you two too much. And, I know Alice will be disappointed if you don't show up, Jasper."
"I'll be there, sir," Jasper said, glancing at Bella.
"And, Alice tells me that you might be bringing a friend, Bella. Edward Masen if I'm not mistaken?" Carlisle said, glancing at Jasper before giving Bella a knowing smile. No one could accuse Senator Cullen of not being a sharp, perceptive man.
Bella blushed. "He's going to try to make it, Senator."
"Good!" Carlisle said with a smile. "I knew him when he was a boy and was good friends with his father. Both of you enjoy your evenings and I'll see you tomorrow for dinner." With that he waved and walked off again.
Jasper frowned, "We still have that strategizing meeting early tomorrow to go over the plan for the Senator's intentions regarding…"
"I know," said Bella interrupting him, sounding frustrated. "I'm doing my job, Jasper," she said more softly.
Jasper nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow then." With that he turned to go.
Bella sighed as she watched him leave. Things had gotten so difficult between her and Jasper and it was even causing problems between him and Alice. She loved Alice and knew she was lucky to have her as a friend, she needed her support, but she also didn't want to cause problems for her. Jasper just didn't seem to get it and she was hoping that if things went well at dinner with the Cullens tomorrow night that he'd loosen up a bit. If Edward ended up attending, that is.
Making her way out of her office she locked the door behind her and made her way towards the spot where she'd agreed to meet Edward. He was waiting there, glancing at his watch, not noticing her walking his way. As she walked towards him she couldn't help but admire the way he looked in his dark navy trench coat and Burberry scarf. When he lifted his face and grinned at her she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
He went up to her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then he said, "I was afraid you were going to have to cancel."
She shook her head and smiled. "Just taking care of some last minute things then Jasper stopped by."
She shrugged, but Edward could tell that something was bothering her. He didn't ask though since he knew it had to do with work and very definite lines had been drawn in regards to that. Edward just smiled, and reached out to squeeze her hand. "You ready to go?"
She nodded. "Sure. Where are we going for dinner?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind eating at my place? I thought we could just cook, hangout…" he let his voice trail off as he watched her take in his suggestion.
"Do you have groceries?" she asked dubiously.
He laughed and nodded. "Yes, actually. Fully stocked, though I thought we might make something simple like pasta and salad."
Bella smiled and nodded. "Sounds good to me." In truth, she was a bit nervous. She had never been to Edward's place before, but she was honored by the invitation, knowing that he was a very private person.
As they walked to the parking area where his car was she brought up the dinner at the Cullens. "Have you given thought to dinner at the Cullens' tomorrow night?"
He gave a bit of a smile and nodded, not saying anything.
Bella reached out and rested her hand lightly on his arm. "I don't mean to be pushy. I should just let Mrs. Cullen know if you're not going to be able to make it."
"I'd…I'd love to accompany you, Bellla," Edward said.
Sensing a 'but' in there, she sighed. "But, you don't think it's a good idea," she stated.
He chuckled and reached out to take her hand, squeezing it a bit. "No, no but. Just that. I'd love to accompany you."
She grinned brightly and squeezed his hand back.
)( )( )( )(
Bella was sitting on a stool that Edward had moved to the kitchen island in his place as Edward moved around the kitchen cleaning up after dinner. Watching him, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of him in his dress shirt with the top buttons open and the sleeves rolled back. She loved watching the movement of his muscles under the skin of his forearms as he washed the dishes. He had insisted she not help.
"That was delicious," Bella said as she took another sip of her wine.
Edward laughed. "You sound surprised."
She laughed as well. "Well, it's my experience that most bachelors cannot cook." Feeling odd about letting him do all the work, she slipped off the stool and went to stand next to him. She looked at what he was doing a moment then she reached for a towel and started to dry the dishes he was done with.
He didn't protest. He liked having her close. Shrugging, he smiled. "Something I learned, but don't get to do often. My mother was an excellent cook and I used to love helping her in the kitchen when I got the chance."
Bella nodded. "You'll definitely have to let me know what you did to that garlic bread. I can't ever get mine that cheesy and crusty."
"Oh, I can't tell you that. That's an old family secret." He chuckled.
She smiled at him and finished drying the dishes.
He reached for another towel, drying off his hands before he moved around and started to put the dishes away.
"Do you have to work tomorrow?" she asked as she helped him to put away the last of the utensils in the drawer where she'd seen him take them from earlier.
He nodded. "Unfortunately, I have a meeting with the Senator, Emmett, and a few others in the early afternoon. You?"
She nodded. "I have a meeting late tomorrow morning."
That was as in-depth as their conversation in regards to their professional lives went and both seemed fine with it, never delving for more information.
When she turned away from the drawer back towards the rest of the kitchen, she was startled to find Edward standing close in front of her. She laughed a bit and leaned back against the counter.
Smiling at her he said, "Thank you for helping me with the dishes."
She was already feeling breathless at having him so close so her voice sounded a bit husky as she replied, "Thank you for making dinner."
His hands came to rest on her waist. "You helped."
"Not much," she said in response as she felt her pulse quicken at his touch as one of her hands rested on his chest, where she could feel his own heart beating rapidly.
Edward had been dying to hold her close and kiss her all night, but he had refrained from doing so, worrying that she would think that that was the only reason he had invited her over. It had gotten even more difficult as the evening had progressed and they had both loosened up.
He loved the way she looked in her tight pencil skirt, walking around in her stocking clad feet in his apartment as they made dinner together. Working side by side with her had made him feel a bit of a thrill he had never felt before. He had touched her every opportunity he had, brushing his hand against hers as he reached for something, or letting his fingers caress the back of her hand as he reached out to hand her something.
Now, that his touch was purposeful as his hands went from her waist, slipping to the small of her back even as he leaned down to brush his lips against her own. As his arms moved further around her, pulling her closer and they kissed, she melted against him.
They had kissed before, of course, their first kiss being the soft, gentle, but thrilling kiss at the ice rink at the park. He'd kissed her goodnight after that first date in front of her building and had kissed at the end of their other dates, and while those kisses had all been exciting in their own way, this kiss was quickly becoming something different.
The first brush of their lips quickly became insistent tugging, his lips grasping at her own with her own responding in kind as his arms tightened around her waist and her own arms went around his neck.
As he lifted her up off her feet, her lips parted in a gasp against his and he took this as an opportunity to let his tongue caress her own, wanting to taste her. Both of them moaned in unison at the contact as their tongues moved slowly against one another's even as their hands started to wander.
Her hands moved up the nape of his neck and into his hair as her fingers moved through the lush locks. His own hands caressed slowly up her back and down again till he had them on her rear. Not breaking the kiss he lifted her up, setting her on the counter.
He broke the kiss then as his lips moved her hers, trailing along her jaw and down her neck, causing her to rest her head back against the cabinets behind her, even as she tried to draw him even closer, wrapping a leg around his waist. He took this as encouragement and moved between her legs, causing her form fitting skirt to slid high up her thighs as she made room to accommodate him.
His lips moved back to hers as his hand moved to the leg that remained wrapped around his waist, caressing up her leg as he felt the heat of her skin through the silk of her stockings. As his hand traveled further up her thigh he broke the kissed and hissed out, "Christ!" as his fingers encountered the lace elastic to her thigh highs. He hadn't expected that, thinking she was wearing pantyhose. This was much sexier.
Bella moaned at the feel of his fingers on her as they explored the contrast between the lace of her stocking and the soft skin of her upper thigh.
She gasped and looked at him breathlessly as his other hand moved to her hip, pulling her closer to the edge of the counter even as he moved his hips to press his very evident erection against her core. They stayed like that a moment, both their mouths parted with heavy breaths as their eyes met, glistening with passion.
He rubbed against her a bit, causing them both to moan at the friction and she cursed as she squirmed uncomfortably against him, wanting more. "Fuck."
Smiling he kissed her again as the hand that had been on her thigh traveled up her side to her breast. He cupped it through her blouse, feeling her nipple tighten under the fabric of her top and bra as he ran his thumb over the peak, making her whimper into his mouth.
He groaned in response and moved both hands to start to work on her buttons when he heard his home phone ringing. At first he tried to ignore it, but in the back of his mind the still rational part of him remembered that only important calls came into his landline, and even then it usually meant they had tried to reach him on his Blackberry first.
Breaking the kiss it was his turn to cuss and he whispered, "Fuck," though he did so in a much different tone than Bella had moments ago.
Placing one last quick kiss on her lips he sighed, giving her an apologetic look and went to answer one of the cordless phones resting on the nearby kitchen counter.
"Hello," he said, trying to keep the exasperated tone out of his voice, but not succeeding.
He frowned as someone spoke on the other line. "Wait…slow down. What?" His expression became graver as he continued to listen.
Bella worried her lower lip between her teeth a bit as she watched him and carefully slid off the counter, tugging down her skirt and trying to straighten her clothes.
"Fuck," Edward hissed and ran his hand through his hair even as he closed his eyes angrily. "NO! No, you wait right there. I'll be over as soon as I can. You don't do anything you understand me? I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Twenty tops. Don't call anyone else."
Turning the phone off he looked at it a moment, his jaw tight, showing that he was stressed, angry, or both. "I'm sorry, Bella, but I'm going to have to cut our evening short."
Bella nodded, "Of course."
He was already moving towards the living room and she moved quickly behind him, slipping on her shoes. "Is there anything I can help with?"
"NO!" he exclaimed, causing her to jump. He took a deep breath and sighed, "No, thank you. Sorry."
She nodded and watched as he put on his own shoes, barely taking the time to tie them as she slipped on her coat and gathered her bag. He was tugging on his own coat as they walked to the door.
"I really am sorry about this, Bella. I'll make it up to you, I swear," he said, sounding genuinely apologetic as they made their way down the stairs to the front of his building.
He gave her a quick but passionate kiss as they reached the sidewalk. "I'll call you tomorrow." And, with that he turned and ran to his car, not even taking the time to warm it up like he always did. He simply turned on the engine and sped off, leaving Bella standing there, stunned. She wondered what the call could have been about that would frazzle him so much. He'd even forgotten that he was her ride home…