Chapter 19 Teaser

Bella

Still, I didn't want to be that girl – the one who let a man treat her like crap and then accept him into her bed. I'd never let it happen before, and I didn’t want to start now. Though obviously it was too late for any take backs, I needed to make clear there wasn't going to be a repeat performance of the sex if there was a repeat performance of the attitude.

I was dreading the conversation we were inevitably going to have in the morning. Mostly because I knew once we had it, there was no going back. We would be together or I would lose him completely. My mind was whirring with the possibilities, but not surprisingly, my body was completely relaxed.

I must have dozed at some point because the next thing I knew, the sun was high in the sky and Edward was stirring behind me. I was still feeling unsure about his reaction, but took a deep breath and turned to face him, propping myself up on my elbow. Never before had a “morning after” been so heavy with ramifications.

His eyes were blinking rapidly as he took in his obviously unexpected surroundings. He sat up quickly and grabbed his watch from the bedside table, looked at it for a minute, groaned, and then lay back down.

Chapter 18 Teaser

For as long as I'd been at Cullen, Inc., my behavior had never caused someone to storm out of a boardroom. But now I'd caused someone to flee a ballroom, which was infinitely worse.

Bella was right. My behavior after bumping into Carlisle had been boorish at best. Whatever I was feeling as a result of his reprimand...well, I shouldn't have taken that out on her. None of this was her fault – it was mine for being so sure Carlisle wouldn't remember her and if he did, that he would immediately accept my explanation. She deserved better and as soon as she came back to the table from wherever she'd gone, I would do whatever it took to make sure she knew that – whether Carlisle was in the same room with us or not.

Except she seemed to be taking a long time.

Chapter 17 Teaser

EPOV

I smiled and tried to put Bella at ease. "I was actually thinking about earlier tonight." I took a bite of the lobster puff and pretended to ruminate on its taste. "Hmmm, I don't think this is good enough for the menu at Wendy's. And the wine here – ugh, what does a CFO have to do to get a decent vanilla milkshake?"

She relaxed a fraction, the faintest hint of a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Yes, you heard me," I said mischievously. "I said vanilla."

"Oh, I heard you, Mr. Masen," she replied in amusement. "I'm just trying to picture you slurping through the straw of a disposable cup."

I frowned. "Don't call me Mr. Masen. We're not working. Not unless you plan to reboot the server at our table."

"I was joking," she assured me.

"Oh. Well, in that case, I must point out that a gentleman never slurps."