Guest12 this is for you. Please don't give me the silent treatment. LOL

We're almost to the ranch, and Bella's awake now. It was kinda borin' on the drive, but listenin' to her little snores was pretty fucking cute. Her head was pressed against the glass, and I really wanted to tell her to use my shoulder as a pillow, but I didn't wanna cross any lines.

I'm a little nervous about her sleepin' at my house. I don't want her thinkin' I'm tryin' to be anythin' but a gentleman. "I'll stay with my dad in the main house and let you have my house tonight," I say, glancin' over at her pretty face.

"You have your own house?" She asks, makin' me chuckle.

"I do. Did you think I still lived at home? Nope, I'm on my own. In my own house about a mile from the main house like a real life grown up." I smile over at her and can tell she's lookin' a little nervous. "You okay?"

"Sure."

"Are you scared, Bella?" I ask, teasin' her a bit.

"No." She bites her lip, and I can tell she's lyin'.

"I can sleep on the couch," I say, kinda really wantin' to sleep on the couch and not at my dad's house.

"Okay," she says, not even takin' a minute to think about it which makes me laugh. She's fucking cute. "I'm not scared, but a mile away from anyone, that's a little daunting. Is the house just sitting there all alone?" I turn down the ranch road, my dad's house comin' up soon. "Cullen Road?"

She's staring out the window, wide-eyed and innocent, like she's never been out in the world before. "Yep. They named the road after us since we're the only ones that live down here. Kinda cool."

She stares at me, and it's makin' me feel all kinds of fucking things. "Your last name is Cullen?"

"Since the day I was born," I say, grinnin' over at her. "What's your last name? I guess this is somethin' we should know, right?" I've been too into her and her cute face to think of askin' the most important questions.

"Yeah, seems stupid we're barely asking." I like the way she's takin' everythin' in. It's dark out, but it doesn't seem to matter. "It's Swan."

Swan. I like that. "Like the bird?" I ask, not that I know any other type of swans.

"Like the graceful bird," she says, not lookin' at me. I kinda want her to look at me.

Soon enough we're pullin' up to my house. It's not a big house but perfect for Chip and me. I park right up front and watch her takin' it all in for a min. I wonder what she's thinkin'. Does she like it? Does she wish I'd left her alone in Phoenix? "It's a good name," I finally say. "Swan. I like it."

"Thank you." She takes her seatbelt off and leans forward, glancin' at me, and I hate how she's so fucking nervous. I guess it's strange how we met only hours ago, and I brought her to my house.

"Don't be nervous," I say, like sayin' it will be enough. "Do you want to call your dad now. Give him the address?"

She laughs a little and shakes her head. "Yeah, that's going to be a no." Anyway, he's probably asleep. No need to wake him."

"Do you want the address?"

"Well, I know it's on Cullen Road." She shrugs. "And we're in the small town of River, Arizona. That should be google enough."

"Alright. You ready to head inside?" I'm anxious to see my boy Chip. He never likes when I leave for the weekends.

"I think so." She's bitin' that lip again.

"You want to sleep in the truck?" I tease her, really fucking likin' when her lips tip up in a cute little grin.

"What? No!" She says, and I laugh before openin' my door. "Are there wild animals out here?"

"Lots, but you'll be fine." We get wild animals all the time, but I'm thinkin' tellin' her that will just freak her out. She spooks easily.

"Fine? I thought you didn't like that word. Maybe you should have said good."

I shut my door and smile to myself. This girl is makin' me kinda crazy but in a good way. I pull open her door, chuckling when she jumps. When her hand slips into mine, I don't wanna let go. They're so soft and small, and I really fucking like that. "I'll grab the bags."

"I can help." She lets my hand go, and the disappointment is real.

She takes her backpack, and I grab her suitcase and my own bags. Chip's scratchin' at the door, and I hope Bella doesn't hate dogs. "That's Chip."

"Chip?"

She's lookin' up at me when I look over my shoulder. She's standin' real close - close enough that I can smell how good she smells. "My dog."

Her eyes widen, and she smiles a little. "You have a dog?"

"Are you surprised? Every cowboy needs a dog."

She smiles up at me, and she's just too fucking cute. "I thought you weren't a true cowboy?"

"I'm not. I told you I don't yeehaw," I say, pushin' the door open, excited to see Chip. He jumps on me just as excited, and I missed my boy.

"Oh right," Bella says while Chip and I get acquainted.

"Hey, boy. Did you miss me?" Chip whines and rubs his nose all over my face and neck. "Chip, this is Bella," I say, tryin' not to laugh. "I know she's cute but keep those filthy paws to yourself." Bella laughs, and it's a fucking good laugh. I stand and turn on the light, steppin' inside. "Come on. I'll show you my room. Are you tired?" I'm thinkin' I'm gonna have a hard time sleepin' knowin' she's in my bed.

"Is it even late?" She asks, followin' behind me.

"It is kinda late. 11 or so. That's the bathroom." I point to the closed door before pushin' my bedroom door open. "And this is where you'll stay." I watch her takin' it all in - the only light comin' from the hallway - and like how she shows every emotion on her pretty face. I can't help but wonder what she's thinkin' of my bed.

"Do you have OCD?"

"Why do you ask?"

"No boy is this clean."

"Well, I'm not a boy. I'm a man." Her smile is fucking killin' me. "And yes, I may have a small case of OCD. I like things clean. Are you messy?"

"No." She bites her lip, and I can tell she's lyin'.

After flippin the light on, I put her bags on the bench by the window. She's starin' at me when I turn to face her, and I'm really feelin' the urge to kiss her. Maybe it was a bad idea bringin' her here. Maybe I should go stay with my dad. "I'll let you get settled in. You good?"

She nods and smiles at me, and even though I don't want to, I start to head out.. "What are you going to do?"

Her hair smells so fucking good. I'm standin' right next to her, and she's lookin' up at me like she doesn't want me to go or maybe she's just feelin' weird about sleepin' somewhere she's not used to. "First, I'm gonna throw every jar of peanut butter I own away and anything else that remotely resembles a peanut. Then I'll be goin' to sleep."

"What?" She's laughin' at me.

"It's been a long day," I say, knowin' she's questioning the stupid peanut comment. She's an adult. It's not like she'll accidentally eat something with peanuts, but knowin' she's allergic, well I don't fucking like it all that much.

"No! The peanut butter?"

"We're kinda remote." I bullshit her. "I'm not takin' any chances."

"I'm not a kid," she says, always fucking smilin'. "I literally know I can't eat peanuts or any of the like."

Shakin' my head, I say, "Like I said, I'm not takin' any chances." I walk away from her even though everythin' inside me is beggin' me not to. Chip follows me probably wonderin' why I'm givin' up our bed to a stranger.

I do what I said I was gonna do and throw the peanut butter away, Chip buttin' at my legs while I move around. He never likes when I leave him even though it's only two days. Probably feels a lot longer than that to him.

Bella's movin' around, the bedroom door openin' and then a minute later closin' again. I shut off all the lights, and Chip takes off down the hall, scratchin' at Bella's door. She opens it, and he slips inside, leavin' me to sleep all alone on the couch.

I sit on the couch and pull my boots off, settin' them off to the side and fall back on the couch with all my clothes on. I don't wanna freak her out if she wakes in the middle of night and finds me half naked. Would it freak her out? I'm wonderin' what she's sleepin' in now.

Rubbin' a hand down my face, I close my eyes, thinkin' how I don't really wanna let her go tomorrow. How's she gonna get to Florida anyway? A bus? I'm bettin' there's no way she'll want to get on another plane. I could drive her. Dad might not like me leavin' again, but I don't know if I care that he won't.

Bella might think I'm crazy for even considerin' a plan like drivin' her across the country, but the more I'm thinkin' about it, the more I'm likin' the idea.

I can't just let her go.

I don't even fucking want to.