A/N...Hey all! I'm back...miss me much? I really missed all of you but the holidays have been crazy my house was full of out of town family and guests for what seems like forever. Good news though I spent a lot of time reading and writing so we will get back on track with regular updates. Hopefully I haven't lost you all. Enjoy!
-Bella- (That's right Bella POV)
"Sweetie if you don't stop squirming you're going to look like the Joker." Rose says with a caring smile in the mirror. I try really hard to calm my nerves a bit so she can finish applying some light make-up to my face. "Why so serious?" She teases attempting to lighten my mood.
I take a deep breath which apparently caused me to move a little too much because I'm getting the evil eye again as she finishes applying some lipstick to my bottom lip. I'm sorry lip stain. Apparently there is a difference. When she backs away I figure I'm good to talk.
"I don't know Rose what if I completely blow it tonight."
"Oh I'm sure he'd love that!" She says completely serious.
"ROSE!" Her straight face cracks and she busts up laughing. "You know what I meant."
"I know hun but you make it too easy."
"Ha ha" I say sarcastically. "He's just so...so.. I don't know, what could he possibly see in me? He's gorgeous Rose and so sweet but he's got this edge to him that drives me nuts. I just don't want to mess this up."
"You really like him don't you?" I nod my head not trusting my words because they might give too much away. I do really like Edward. I don't know how to explain it but from the moment I turned around in my office and saw him standing there I haven't been able to get him out of my mind. It's like he's branded there imprinted in every thought I have. I never felt this way about anyone before and it scares me.
"Well I can tell you one thing, that man has it just as bad as you. When you walked by his office during my interview on Thursday he started tripping all over his words and couldn't think straight until you passed by. Don't worry about it. This whole thing tonight is actually quite perfect because if there is a lag in conversation or any awkward moments Kate and her husband will be there. It'll be great, trust me." Her words give me a bit more confidence. I've seen the way Edward looks at me, it's still hard to believe though. She leans over the back of my chair and wraps her arms around my shoulders giving me a hug. She is doing so much better, this time last year this type of contact would have thrown her into shock. "You look beautiful by the way."
I look in the mirror at our reflections. Rosalie is the epitome of stunning but tonight, I don't stick out too bad next to her. She's left my hair down in long wavy curls. Light make up, a bit of eyeshadow some mascara and finally a bit of lipsti- I mean lip stain. The neutral earthy tones of the eyeshadow make my brown eyes really pop and I must say I do look pretty good. "Thank you Rose. You did a really great job."
"Oh please the canvas was beautiful to start with." She says rolling her eyes.
"Thanks, hey speaking of your interview how did it go?"
"It went really well he asked me all the normal questions about school, work history you know things like that then he gave me some manuscripts he's in the process of approving and he asked me to bring them back on Monday with my thoughts. He's a really nice guy Bella and he is really good looking." She wags her eyebrows in a gesture reminiscent to the feisty woman I was fortunate enough to be assigned dorms with our freshman year at Columbia.
"He is isn't he? They all are." I tell her referring to the impeccable genes running through the Cullen clan. All three of them are strikingly beautiful in their own distinct way. Their parents must be supermodels. Well maybe their mother is. Based on Edward and Emmett I'm thinking more of a sexy pin-up firefighter, as their father, in full gear...except his shirt of course. Maybe July or August?
"No doubt their parents are PILF'S!" We're both laughing with tears in our eyes when Jake barges into the room.
"Whose parents do we want to fuck?" He asks throwing himself front first on my bed, flipping through a magazine on my bedside table.
"The Cullens!"
"Oh hell yea their parents have the God- I mean good juices."
"That's kind of gross." I tell with a scrunched nose.
"Whatever some people say 'it was in the water' or good kool aid...lets call a spade a spade." He looks at me smirking and mouths "moist".
"EW EW EW! Stop it!" I hate that word.
"What did I miss?" Rosalie asks laughing at my sudden whiny outburst.
"Oh look at that, " he says pointing to a page in the magazine that's caught his eye. I'm thankful he's done teasing me "Looks like Covergirl has a new MOIST-urizer coming out soon!"
"That's it!" In a split second I'm across the room and have his ankles in a vice grip tickling his feet, which I know he can't stand. He's jerking and kicking and Rosalie being the best friend anyone can ask for comes holding down his bucking legs silently defending my honor against that horrible word. He's laughing, and flopping all over the bed practically crying before I feel he's almost had enough. "Say Uncle!"
"Come on Jakey say Uncle" Rose taunts tickling his ribs as if he hasn't had enough already. When we were five I realized Jake was ticklish and our friendship has been on equal footing ever since. In any other situation there would be no way he could ever be at our mercy...but behind all that bulk, freakishly toned muscles and washboard abs is the most ticklish men on the planet.
"UNCLE!"
"That's right!" Rose and I high five each other in a show of awesome femininity.
"What are you wearing tonight?" Jake asks when he can breathe again. He's flipping through the magazine again like he wasn't just attacked. Rosalie tells him to give us a moment and pulls me into my walk-in closet. When I reappear in dark blue skinny jeans with a light blue fitted blouse and brown dress boots that come up just below my knee he whistles and even though he's a gay man my waning confidence soars. The man has excellent taste.
He walks over to my dresser and starts going through my jewelery. He turns back to me and asks me an odd question.
"Do you want this to be a work thing or a date thing?"
"Huh?"
"You know, do you want this dinner tonight with Edward to be an 'I'm your boss don't think about me naked' thing? Or a 'Have me for dessert' kind of thing?"
"Well definitely not the first." I laugh. Rose is smiling knowingly. "I don't know what's going on between us but I want him interested."
"Okay well then this needs to happen," he unbuttons the top two buttons of my blouse. "And this." he says running his big hands through my hair, teasing it a bit making it fuller. He digs his fingers into my scalp, massaging for a few second because he knows how much I love that. He winks at me and I smile.
He hands me some drop earrings that have a cute design in rustic earth tones, and a few bracelets with my chunky Michael Koors watch. It was a gift from my Dad when I got my Masters. I'm pretty sure Jake had something to do with it though because my dad knows absolutely nothing about fashion and even less about jewelery. Not to mention Jake and I had went shopping a few weeks prior and I was practically drooling over it through the glass encasement.
Rose grabs a clutch from my closet , she adds the lipstain and a small compact. Then grabs my wallet from my purse and hands me my wallet and phone. I get out my license and credit card out and add it to the small clutch.
I can feel the heat in my cheeks as Jake and Rosalie step back sizing me up. Rosalie snaps her fingers and disappears back into my closet. She comes out with a thin brown leather jacket that I have to say looks like a security blanket to me right now. I put it on and the wide grins on both of their faces tells me I'm ready to go.
A whistle from my doorway pulls my attention from the brown eyed beauty with long flowing hair, in the mirror. I feel sexy.
Seth is in the doorway looking perfectly put together as always even though he has been at SP all day installing all our new systems and software. You would think he walked straight from the runway with his caramel skin, slick short black hair that match the stylish glasses he wears. He doesn't need them but it gives him that vibe...he says. Ripped muscles threaten to rip through his hunter long-sleeve henley and skinny jeans with black ankle boots that look like they were made for him. This is his working-all-day-on-a-saturday look and its just not fair.
"You look great Bella! Loverboy in the living room doesn't stand a chance." he says crossing his arms and legs leaning against the door frame like he's posing for GQ.
"What?" Oh crap I'm nervous. "He's here?"
"Yeah we got here at the same time so I let him in."
He's here...in my house...waiting for me. Crap he's waiting for me. One last look to my friends all nodding their heads at my silent question, and I know I look good and I'm ready to go.
"Thank you for helping me get ready, you guys are the best!"
"Yea Yea." Jake waives me off and walks straight over to Seth and kisses him on the cheek.
"You know I only do it for the details later!" Rose jokes.
When I get to the living room Edward is there looking at the pictures lining the walls and book shelves. He's holding a beautiful bouquet of gerber daisies and I know my Gran is smiling down on me right now from Heaven. He looks amazing in brown dress shoes dark jeans and plaid dress shirt. Its orange, red, and brown with a bit of white. His unruly bronze hair just sets off his whole look and my nerves come back full force. Couples who match their clothes have always seemed like complete freaks to me but my heart warms seeing as how our clothes compliment each other.
"Are those for me?" I ask letting him know I'm here. He turns around and looks speechless for a second and then he smiles...and what a beautiful contagious smile it is.
"You look gorgeous."
"Thank you...you look great."
"Thanks, these are for you. I hope you like them I didn't know what I was doing at the flower shop but I saw these and I don't know why they just reminded me of you." He looks nervous then hands me the bouquet. I can smell them now. They are so pretty and smell amazing. He looks so vulnerable right now which is not at all the Edward I'm used to. He's always in his element at work, always in control and not phased by anything.
"They're perfect. I love them, thank you." I kiss his cheek. God he smells too good, not like anything in particular just fresh, sexy and completely delectable. In my mind I lean in and lick his delicious neck, in reality I tell him I'm going to go put them in water and head to the kitchen. I can feel him follow me. I can't help but to sneak a glance when I reach up to get a vase out the cabinet. I had an idea where is eyes would be, but seeing it with my own, sets my whole body on fire. He looks like he wants to disappear into the sliver of skin showing between my jeans and blouse.
"See something you like?" I tease. He comes back from wherever he just was in his mind, and rubs the back of his neck smirking at me with the sexiest playful glare I've ever seen.
"You did that on purpose."
"Me?!" I feign shock, pretending to be offended. "I'm just getting a vase for these beautiful flowers that some sexy man brought me."
"Uh huh...so sure." He says with a wink.
When the flowers are in water we head out. A sleek black Volvo SUV is in my driveway and call me crazy but it just adds to the already mouthwatering man beside me. My body has never and I mean never reacted to anyone the way it calls out for him. Hot car for a hot man. I'm just praying it has leather seats. He opens my door for me and I touch his cheek smiling at his sweet gesture as I get in. Leather seats! I'm rubbing my hands across the leather when he gets in.
"I take it you like Veronica?"
"You named your car Veronica?"
"Yes, when you have a brother like Emmett who comes up with crazy ass names for everything, it tends to rub off a bit. He tried to name her Candy." He says with one raised brow like 'Can you believe that shit'?
"Oh you poor baby that's awful." I pat his arm jokingly and our laughter turns into smiles when he glides his fingers through mine and holds my hand over the center console.
We're at the steak house in no time. It's a casual environment but definitely upper scale. Some football player owns it. Everything I know about the place I learned from Edward who swears they have the best steak on the west coast. Edward opens my door for me and his hand stays on my lower back all the way into the restaurant. The hostess stares a bit longer at Edward than I particularly like but I won't let that show. He's here with me.
"You're cute when your jealous." He whispers in my ear following 'Ms. Flirty pants' to a table he has reserved. It's sweet that he's trying to make me feel less crazy. I saw red when Jessica was putting her desperate paws on him in the meeting the other day and I'm almost ashamed that I'm thinking about tripping the hostess right now...almost. Does she have to keep looking back and smiling at him. Yes we're following you, no you can't have him.
Kate and her husband Garrett have not arrived yet. Edward and I sit together on one side of the table leaving the other side for our guest. Edward leans back and throws his arm around the back of my chair and the room gets a degree warmer.
"So what do you think?"
"It's great, it smells amazing in here." My mouth is watering and I can't wait to order. I haven't really eaten that much today my nerves have been a mess all day.
"We brought my parents here one time for dinner and they still talk about the food."
"It's really sweet that you all still have family dinners once a week."
"Well you haven't met Esme Cullen. There really is no other choice." I can tell he's joking. "Honestly though she doesn't have to force us, my parents are amazing people and I'm man enough to admit that I would miss them too much if we didn't see each other regularly."
"I think its great, and I never doubted your manhood." I wink at him and his eyes darken. I lean in and place a soft kiss on his lips. When we pull apart he's smiling.
The hostess comes back to her table with Kate and Garrett behind her. She grins at Edward so hard it looks painful and I have to hold back my laughter at her pathetic attempt at flirting. Mine.
Edward and I hug Kate and shake hands with Garrett. I thank him for his service because I truly am thankful for anyone who sacrifices so much for our country. We order our drinks and a few appetizers. Kate tells us about putting their home on the market but they're not getting their hopes up. The housing market sucks right now. The house Rosalie and I moved into about two weeks ago had been on the market for a year and half until we bought it.
Garrett asks Edward how his family is doing which surprises me. Apparently when Garrett first came back from this tour Kate held his welcome home dinner at the Italian restaurant downtown and the Cullen's all happened to be there on one of their family dinners and were invited to join the party.
"Well my Dad is doing great, I think he's getting closer to retirement though he wants to be home with my mom just as much as she wants him home. My mom has a whole team working for her now so she's not needed for all the day-to-day things anymore. They just celebrated their thirtieth anniversary last weekend."
"That's great man, glad to hear it." Garrett says. He seems like a genuinely good guy. High strung a bit but who can blame him. His eyes are always circling outer walls of the restaurant. Every time the front door opens his eyes follow. He's not obvious about it but being a police chief's daughters you learn a few things. I would bet Garrett could give a detailed description of everyone in here at the moment. A side effect I'm sure of many years as a marine and multiple overseas tours. He looks at Kate like she hung the moon and I couldn't be happier for them that they are finally going to be together. Even if they have to go half way across the world to do it.
"What does your mom do?" I ask Edward jumping back in the conversation before Garrett realizes I've been watching him. Not to mention I want to know everything about the man that has me plotting revenge on hostess's who smile too damn much.
"She's an interior designer. The best." His eyes light up with pride and it melts my heart. My grandmother always told me if I really wanted to know a man and get a good idea of how he would treat me over the years, to look at the relationship he has with his mother. "If he treats the woman who gave him life like gold, he'll treat the woman he builds a life with even better." I miss her.
The appetizers come and we all dig in. Conversation flows easily and the food is amazing. I have a feeling though that I've picked up on something that even Mr. Marine himself hasn't realized yet. My suspicions are confirmed when Kate excuses herself to the bathroom. She was looking rather pale all of sudden.
Edward and Garrett are talking about some video game and the similarities between the game and real combat.
"I'm going to go check on Kate." I whisper into Edwards ear. He releases my hand that he's been holding this whole time and tells me to hurry back. I kiss him on the cheek and head to the ladies room.
She's in the last stall. She didn't even have time to shut the door behind her. Poor girl. I sweep her hair back from her face and close my eyes. Otherwise we'll both be puking. She jerks a bit surprised and tells groans in embarrassment but I tell her its okay and I'm not going anywhere. When she's done we get her washed up. She splashes some water on her face and I hand her some towels.
"Does he know?" I ask.
She shakes her head no. I didn't think so. That's why I didn't say anything at the table.
"How did you know?"
"I noticed you hadn't touched the wine we ordered for the table and when I asked you about the shrimp you turned it down and Garrett asked you why because you love shrimp. Not to mention since the food arrived you've looked miserable. No alcohol, no seafood, and the sight of food made you sick? I took a guess." I wink at her.
She smiles at me and it looks like a bit of color has returned to her face. "I had to get a full medical check up done before heading overseas. I just found out at my appointment yesterday. I kind of want to wait to tell him until we get to Germany. There's just so much going on right now and I think telling him after we start this new chapter in our lives would really just be the icing on the cake. He's going to be so happy, it's what we've always wanted and dreamed about." I don't know if she even realizes she's placed her hand protectively over her still flat stomach. She's going to be a great mother.
"Well congratulations, you both are going to be great parents. Your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you Bella. I really do hate that we haven't known each other longer."
"Doesn't mean we can't stay in touch. I know with the time differences it can be tough but we can always email."
"I'd like that."
"Me too. Now lets get back out there before they come looking for us."
"They would too. By the way I think you and Edward are great together. I knew it the second I saw you all in the same room." I blush at her words.
"Thank you, it's new but I'm completely smitten for sure."
"He is too. Just remember to send us an invite to the wedding." She nudges my shoulder. We're both still laughing when we get back to the table.
...And our men.
A/N...well there you have it... BPOV. I hope you all have friends as great as Jake and Rosalie. Leave me a review, I'd love to know what you all think.