BPOV.

After talking for a while longer, we returned to the house. Fortunately, I didn't see either Mike or Rosalie, which meant that I could spend more time with Edward alone. In the short time I spent with him talking, I realized that Edward has all those rare qualities that had always attracted me in men. He was attentive to my stories and to me in general, he asked questions, showing his interest in what I was saying, and when he saw that I started to get chilled, he immediately offered his jacket, which I accepted without hesitation.

I was drawn to him like a magnet. During one of his stories, I couldn't look away from his laughing face, noting his manly jaw and how his eyes shine. He was smart, caring, and most importantly, that he clearly loved and respected his family, which is now such a rarity. I found out that his father and Rosalie's mother are siblings, so in childhood he spent a lot of time with her and with Jasper, Rose's older brother. But one detail in his story caught my attention.

"Edward, you said you grew up here. Why did you move to Chicago then?" I asked, trying not to sound rude. " It is obvious that you are close with your family, and I just can't find a reason for you to move so far away."

"I don't know how to explain this properly. At that time, it was an absolutely logical decision for me." He looked almost embarrassed, preparing to say the next phrase. "Perhaps Rosalie told you that my parents own a large medical device company, my grandfather started it. And my dad is a doctor himself, he is highly respected in medical community. I just didn't want to be automatically associated with him or my family name. I wanted to earn my success myself, so that I would be respected for my own merits, and not for the merits of my father. I wanted to stand on my own two feet. " His gaze was absent for a moment, as if he remembered something not very pleasant.

I nodded my head, making it clear that I understood him. And I really did, even more than he could imagine. My parents weren't the owners of some big medical company, but my mother was from the old money, and her current profession still brings a lot of money and fame to the family. I knew how it was when everyone sees in you just a trust-fund baby. But I was in no hurry to tell this to Edward, it wasn't a secret, I just didn't consider it as worth topic for a first talk.

"I think it was the right decision. But now you are back, did something happen?"

His face had taken a painful expression and I immediately regretted my question.

"I missed my family for a long time" he was silent for a moment. "And then something indeed happened in Chicago. I don't really want to talk about it now, maybe later." Then he suddenly smiled his sexy half smile "So Bella. Tell me something more about yourself. What type of doctor are you? Where are you from? How did you make friends with Rose? "

Okay, a lot of questions, and it looked like he wanted to know me.

"Answering your first question, I'm an OBGYN, so I deliver babies and other things."

"Oh, I see. It suits you."

Huh?

"Yeah, probably. I definitely like it." I smiled and continue. "I'm from Seattle, but I moved here when I started studying. And a little later I met Rosalie, we immediately found a common ground, but then several events came up that brought us even closer. She was the one, who saved me from my depression." The last part of the sentence almost lost in scattered breathing. He gave me another questioning look.

I understood that he had seen me intentionally hiding some parts of my past several times, but I was grateful that he didn't push. I tried to sit more comfortable on the couch and looked into Edward's eyes. His leg slightly touched mine and I became painfully aware of his close proximity. I could almost feel like air between us crackled with odd electricity. I suddenly wanted to touch him and I moved my knee a bit closer to his. I hope he didn't notice my strange behavior.

"Do your parents still live in Seattle?" It was an unexpected question, and looked like he was worried about the answer.

"Not really. My mum… um." I paused for a second, trying to find the best words to describe Renée. "My mom is a free spirit. And one day she told my father that she was tired of life in a big city and she wants to be closer to nature." I shook my head and smiled, remembering my mom. "And my dad, being a loving husband, of course fulfilled her desire. Now they live in a small town in the middle of the forest. Very green place. Mom was delighted, the only downside is that she didn't take into account that it's super rainy place, and she can't do yoga in her backyard as she planned outright."

My mother was a strange but wonderful person. Since childhood, I remembered her creative impulses, I remembered how she tried to teach me how to paint with oil paints, then was sculpting lessons and other stuff, but unfortunately, I didn't have any artistic inclinations. After all this she gave up and hobbies like horoscopes and book clubs began. To everyone's surprise, the latest hobby had become successful. Mom didn't want to show me her book for a long time, until one of Seattle publishing houses decided to publish it. And, oh my goodness. I wished I had never read this book. It was an erotic romance with bdsm elements. The detalization of events in several chapters was shocking, and I didn't even want to know how Rene knew so much about it. Did I have to say that I never read this series of books to the end?

These thoughts reminded me that mom never liked Jacob; she always said our auras didn't mesh well together. I wonder what she would say about Edward. We weren't even dating, but why I was already planning to introduce him to my parents? What a fuck was I thinking about?

"Have you ever thought to move closer to them?" Edward's question pulled me out of my thoughts. Why there was some kind of cautious intonation in his words?

"No. Don't get me wrong, I really miss them. But sometimes they are too overwhelming. If you ever meet them, you will immediately understand that I mean." Did I just think about meeting my parents again?

"I hope that someday I'll be lucky enough to have a chance to meet them." Then he smiled, a slow, sexy smile and I melted. I felt the blood rushing to my face, making my cheeks red.

"Don't rush with the word «lucky», believe me." I laughed and playfully put my hand on his.

Edward's gaze dropped to the place of our contact and with an unexpectedly serious voice he asked.

"Bella, are you free on Wednesday night?"

"Yes." Was he going to say what I was thinking?

"Would you like to go out with me?" Edward wanted to go out with me! Yes, yes, yes, and a million yes more! "Bella? I understand if you don't want to or if you think it's too soon." The crease returned to the space between his eyes, as he reacted to my lack of response.

"No! It's not like that, I was just surprised. Of course, I'll be glad to go on a date with you. It's a date, right?"

"Yeah, it's a date, and now I'm looking forward to it." He said and smiled again. We site like that for a few seconds, he kept glancing at me, and I kept glancing at him, but then I heard annoying voice.

"Guys, there you are! We thought you already left. Together." Emmet's booming voice ripped us out of our trance. He grinned from ear to ear, clearly enjoying his joke. Rosalie was standing next to him and her expression was almost sorry. Almost.

"Stop it," she hit his hand lightly. "We saw you when you left here. Just wanted to give you some time alone."

"What changed?" Edward asked displeased.

"Come on, we missed you. Spend some time with us."

It was their house, so we didn't have much choice. We went with them to the next, more crowded room. Rosalie grabbed my shoulder and leaned towards my ear.

"Alice and I will call you tomorrow morning and you will tell us everything that just happened. And don't even deny that we interrupted an extremely interesting conversation between you two."

I just groaned in response.