Bella fluffed her mahogany curls over her shoulders. Alice spent the afternoon helping Bella get ready for her second date with Edward. The previous day they bought a pretty wine-colored dress and a pair of pewter heels at a local boutique. She had a black leather jacket she was going to wear since it was still cold.
For their date, they were going out to a new hotel called Sound to their Currant Bistro for dinner. Afterward, things were flexible.
She was incredibly giddy, eager to go out with Edward. There was something that made her comfortable around him. He made her feel safe, happy. When the buzzer went off near the door, Bella jumped in anticipation. Walking to answer, she blushed. “Hello?”
“Hey, Bella. It’s Edward,” he said through the tinny speaker. “Can you buzz me in?”
“Sure,” Bella grinned. “Remember my apartment number?”
“Yep! I’ll be up in a few,” he answered. Bella pressed the entrance code, opening the door for him to come in when he’d arrived. Several moments later, there was a quiet knock on the door. Bella called for him to enter and Edward walked inside. His hair was a tousled mess, but looked incredibly sexy. He had on a pair of black dress pants, a black turtleneck, and a black leather jacket. He grinned crookedly at her, holding out a beautiful bouquet of peonies, succulents, and eucalyptus. “Wow … Bella, you look absolutely gorgeous.” He handed her the bouquet. “These pale in comparison to you.”
“Charmer,” Bella quipped, taking the flowers, and inhaling deeply. “Thank you for the flowers. As you can tell, I love green things.”
“I’m surprised that with how much you travel, that these plants are alive. I have a brown thumb, black thumb? I kill all living things,” he chuckled.
“Doubtful about that, Edward. And, you’re right,” Bella laughed, putting the bouquet of flowers on the cocktail table in her living room. “I do travel too much and some of these are not real. The plants that are alive are cared for by my neighbor, Miss Alice Whitlock. She has a key to my place, as I have a key to hers.”
“The elderly woman you mentioned?” Edward asked.
“Yeah. Miss Alice cares for the younger people in the building. Her family has forgotten about her, living their own lives,” Bella frowned. “We’re close, though.” She walked over to the mantle, picking up a photo of the two of them. “This was taken at my birthday party, prior to a trip I took to Costa Rica.”
Edward took the proffered frame, smiling softly. “Miss Alice adores you.”
“The feeling is quite mutual,” Bella replied. “Are we ready?”
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