A/N: I am so sorry! I have no real excuse for the ridiculous amount of time it's taken to update other than lack of time and motivation. The past eight months have been particularly difficult. I lost my wonderful mom in November to a short but serious illness… I've been completely lost without her. She often asked how my writing was going and was very proud that I was giving it a go. I wouldn't let her read my stories though, as I wouldn't use bad language around my parents, so wouldn't dream of her seeing what I'd written, but I did say that when they were finished I'd let her read them. Sadly that won't happen now, but I owe it to my mom, my readers and myself to try to complete these stories. So I would like to dedicate this chapter to the two bravest women I have ever known, my mom and my lovely Mother-in-Law who discovered in January that she is terminally ill with brain cancer.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I must confess that I have created a real dilemma for myself and Bella. I've always been a Jake girl, but I couldn't help falling for Paul! I think I've really made things difficult for myself and Bella…
Thank you as always for sticking with my stories, reading, reviewing, following and favoriting. It really does mean a lot.
All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer, I just took them and fooled around a bit!
xXx
Bella pushed back against the car seat. She quickly glanced at Paul, and then at her hands clasped in her lap.
"Um, honestly? I'm not really sure." She looked over at Paul again, but his eyes were on the road, so she continued. "I don't think he likes me very much. We've never really been friends or spoken to each other, even though our dads are best buddies, and..." she took a breath,"...he kind of confuses me."
Paul did look at her now, just for a second and then he turned his eyes back to the road. "Well, for the record, I think he'd be crazy not to like you... but, if you want my opinion, I think he's just as confused by you, as you are by him."
Paul gave Bella a reassuring smile - not his usual cocky grin - a genuine smile which lit up his face.
"Well he has no reason to be confused by me, I've never treated him any differently to how I always have. He's the one who keeps blowing hot and cold."
Paul concentrated on the road and didn't answer immediately. Then he let out a quiet sigh, "Well Jake can be an idiot sometimes, I wouldn't worry about it... But if he upsets you, let me know, and I'll kick his ass! Okay?"
Bella laughed loudly. "Thanks, but I think I can handle him."
"Yep, and I think that's what confuses him. You're not that little bookworm you used to be. You've got spunk... and I like it."
Bella felt heat invade her cheeks as Paul briefly looked at her and winked, before returning his eyes to the road.
"So, you like Mexican food?" Paul asked, and Bella was relieved that the Jacob conversation appeared to be over.
"I love Mexican food." Bella exaggerated the word love with a roll of her eyes. She sat back against her seat and felt the tension that have been invading her body before, slowly dissipate. She smiled and relaxed, looking over at Paul as he smacked his lips together.
"Mmm, me too. Trouble is, I never know what to choose. It all sounds so fucking... oops, sorry, so damn good. I really have to take my time looking over the menu. You'll have to be patient with me, these things can't be rushed."
Bella laughed at Paul's slip. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of coming between a man and his food, but aren't you the kind of guy who already knows what he wants?" Bella, asked suddenly feeling pretty brave.
"You'd think so, right? But nah, I'm so indecisive..." He quickly glanced at her again and then back at the road. "In an ideal world, I'd like a little piece of everything!" He laughed. "And I always think I know what I want, but then I get worried that I'm missing out on something that could be fucking spectacular... Shit sorry!"
Bella was laughing again. "You really don't need to keep apologising, Paul. I've heard guys cuss before; just be yourself."
"Really, can I?" An excited grin spread across his face as he took his hand off the steering wheel and softly put it on Bella's knee.
"Oh, I..." Bella quickly went to move his hand, but Paul had pulled it away and placed it back on the steering wheel, before she could.
"I'm kidding, Bella!" He shook his head, and was grinning, she assumed at her obvious look of horror and embarrassment. "I'll behave myself, I promise... Unless you don't want me to?" He added wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"Yeah, I'd appreciate you behaving yourself, Mr Lahote." She said folding her arms across her chest, but she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling at him.
"Oh, baby, you don't know what it does to me when women get all authoritative..." He said huskily.
"Oh my god, Paul, you're incorrigible!" She laughed, slapping his arm gently.
"Hey, you said I could be myself!" He replied in self-defence, pretending to be hurt.
"And you said you'd behave yourself!" She replied.
"I am... Look, hands are on the wheel." He wiggled his fingers to emphasize the fact.
"Yes, but your mouth needs to co-operate too." Bella said rolling her eyes at him.
"My mouth is an expert in co-operation... It knows exactly what to do in all situations."
"Oh, I'm sure it does... But why don't we get back to talking about food?" She said blushing again. "You should gradually work down the menu each time you go to this place. Eventually you'd get to try it all if you go there often enough."
"Mmm..." He nodded. "I see your logic there, Miss Swan, but honestly, I'm just too damn impatient... and I get easily distracted; I'd divert from the plan and mess up."
Bella was laughing again now at his seriousness. "Then, I'm afraid there really is no hope for you."
"Aw, shit..." He concluded, and they both burst out laughing.
Bella couldn't deny, that yes, Paul Lahote was a terrible flirt and had a reputation with women, but he was also great fun, and she really was enjoying his company.
In no time, they had arrived at the restaurant, were seated and placing their orders. Bella had to stifle a laugh at the amount of food Paul had ordered for himself, telling him that he'd easily work through the whole menu in another three or four visits, and he could therefore give her theory a try.
Paul excused his large food order with a wink, accompanied with telling her that he was still a growing boy.
Bella felt particularly relaxed around Paul and easily fell into a light playful banter that some would definitely mistake as flirting.
"I can't imagine there is much more growing to do, unless you're including your waistline?" Bella queried.
"Hey... where do you think my guns come from?" He asked as he pulled up his sleeves and flexed some impressive biceps. "I work out... a lot. Therefore I need plenty of fuel. Oooh thanks!" The waitress stealthily placed their drinks and a basket of nachos in front of them as Paul put his muscles away. Bella was pleased that the drinks and food appeared to have distracted Paul enough, that he hadn't noticed Bella's red cheeks at his manly display. If he had, he certainly didn't let on.
"Ladies first,"
Paul offered Bella the basket of Nachos and she dived in.
Feeling relaxed and much braver than she ever thought she would be, Bella decided to grab the bull by the horns and ask the question that had been playing on her mind.
"So… why did you ask me out?"
Paul looked up from his drink and lifted the corner of his lip in a cocky grin.
"Why do you think I did?"
"Um, I have no idea... That's why I'm asking. After all, from what I've heard I'm not exactly like any of the other girls you go out with. So I'm curious."
"Well you are brunette, smart, intelligent..." Paul started, but Bella quickly interrupted.
"Oh my god, I didn't mean that they're... Um..." Bella covered her face with her hands and shook her head with embarrassment, but Paul gently pulled her hands away, laughing softly.
"Hey, I'm teasing you. I know you didn't mean it that way. Sure I've hooked up with a few 'dumb blondes' before, but I've also dated some really nice, clever girls, with all hair colours..." He finished with another wink.
Bella's embarrassment eased a little and she continued. "What I meant was, I'm not very outgoing, worldly... I thought you preferred girls who are a bit more confident and..." Bella shrugged her shoulders shyly and lowered her voice, "sexy..." She knew she could be entering dangerous territory, but she was on a date with Paul Lahote, surely that meant she was already halfway there, and she just wanted to know his motive for asking her out.
The waitress came over and set their plates in front of them, and they both mumbled a thank you.
Paul appeared to be lost in thought for a few seconds, before he answered.
"I like you, Bella, I always have done. You're smart, considerate, thoughtful and beautiful, and the best thing, is that you don't even realize it, and the whole combination is sexy as hell."
Bella could feel the heat rising in her cheeks again, and wondered if someone could actually burst a blood vessel from constant blushing, and she was quite taken aback by Paul's sincere words.
"I'll let you into a secret, shall I?" Paul gestured for her to come a little closer, and Bella obeyed. "You don't even know that every guy I know on the Rez, who knows you, has a huge crush on you." Paul started tucking into his food but kept his eyes on her.
"Now I know you're just flattering me... That's not true, and you know it."
He shook his head and waved his fork, as Bella started eating too.
"Okay, correction. Embry is now so loved up with Leah that she's his complete object of affection, but I swear... he had the hots for you too, before the she devil got her hooks into him."
Bella gasped, "That's mean, Paul. Leah's my friend, and she's not that bad."
"Yeah, well that's a matter of opinion, and she knows what I think of her, but anyway, I'm telling the truth. You got the guys on the Rez all riled up."
"Well I know for certain of one guy on the Rez who doesn't like me..." She was disappointed with herself, why did she have to bring him up again?
"Hmmm, he's got it as bad as the rest of us, worse I reckon. He just tries to hide it so it doesn't piss off his living Barbie doll."
Bella almost choked on her mouthful, but quickly recovered.
"Don't you like her?"
"Nope. None of us do. We're just waiting and hoping that Jake realizes what she's like."
Bella stayed quiet and continued to eat.
"I do like you, Bella, and I asked you out because I wanted to get to know you, but I'm not stupid. I know that you aren't into me in 'that' way, and to be honest I think you're too good for me."
Bella interrupted. "That's not true, Paul, you're a really nice guy, we've never really had a chance to get to know each other, and, in fact I'm just discovering that you're much nicer and easier to talk to than I thought you'd be..."
Paul's fork stopped midway to his mouth and his face lit up with the biggest, cheesiest smile Bella had ever seen.
"Are you serious? You're not shitting me, right?" He asked, waving his fork in Bella's direction.
"No, Paul, I'm not shitting you." She replied with a giggle.
"Okay, answer me honestly. Would you like to come on another date with me?" Paul asked seriously.
"Aren't you supposed to ask me that when you drop me home?" Bella asked, before shovelling in another mouthful of delicious food.
"Well, what the hell. I'm feeling lucky." Paul replied.
"Um… well yes. I've had fun, you've made me laugh and I think you're really not as bad as your reputation suggests. So yes, I would go on another date with you…" Paul didn't even attempt to hide the victory fist pump, before Bella even finished speaking. "…unless of course, you suddenly turn into a complete Neanderthal before the evening is over."
Paul barked out a loud laugh.
"I can't make any promises, but I'll try my best to be a perfect gentleman."
They continued to eat their meals and enjoy the light back and forth banter. Bella, really couldn't believe how much she really was enjoying Paul's company, and could definitely see why so many girls fell for his charm. He was funny, charismatic and as sexy as hell, and when Paul suggested they go for a walk after their meal, Bella felt a tiny bit apprehensive, but it really was only a tiny bit. Throughout dinner, Paul had managed to put Bella completely at ease, so she really wasn't as nervous as she had been previously about spending some time alone with him; and Paul was the perfect gentleman the whole time. He kept a respectable distance as they walked and kept the conversation flowing, with light-hearted tales of him and the guys at the garage. Interestingly enough, Bella noticed that Paul didn't mention Jacob at all, and Bella really didn't mind. She laughed out loud at some of the stories and Paul, after telling her what a great laugh she had, just continued to let the stories roll – one after the other.
Before she knew it, the time had flown by and Paul mentioned that he really should be getting her home, otherwise Billy and Sarah wouldn't allow her to have that second date with him.
They walked back to the car and continuing to be the perfect gentleman, Paul opened the passenger door and Bella eased herself inside, with a satisfied sigh, as Paul closed the door and ran round to the driver's side.
The drive home was quiet, and the silence was in no way uncomfortable. As different songs came over the radio, Bella leaned back against the car seat and closed her eyes. Paul glanced over at her and chuckled quietly.
"Are you tired?" He asked.
"Mmm, a little." She replied, feeling content after having a delicious meal followed by a lovely moonlit walk.
"Well not long now and you'll be home." Paul said soothingly.
Bella couldn't help thinking that the Paul she'd heard about could have jumped on her response and made some crude comment about wearing her out or getting her into bed, but all he'd done was show his caring side. She concluded that unless she was very wrong, not many people knew what the real Paul Lahote was really like.
"Paul…" He looked over at her and smiled, "I've really enjoyed myself tonight and… you're nothing like I expected you to be."
"I've had a good time too, and for the record, I'm really not as bad as my reputation suggests." He countered.
"So why do you have such a bad rep then?" she asked seriously.
"The truth?" he asked, and when Bella nodded he continued. "Okay. So I've been with a few girls… and I make no apologies for that, I like sex. I'm a normal red bloodied guy and if a pretty girl is offering, what normal guy wouldn't take her up on the offer? But I'm always safe. I've never given a girl any false hope of a future relationship, I make that clear right from the start, and I've never cheated when I have been in a relationship." He quickly glanced over at Bella, then continued "I'm certainly not innocent, and the only thing I really regret was kissing a buddy's girlfriend when she came on to me. I was single and she was all over me, and damn… I knew what she was like but I was a complete dick and kissed her. Nothing else happened and I told her I wasn't interested, she was pretty pissed at me, but left me alone after that. It was a shitty move… but the only shitty move I've ever made." He looked over again and was relieved to see that Bella was wearing an interested expression, rather than a judgemental one. "Wow, sorry if that was too much info, but to get back to your question about my bad rep. I'm a bit to blame myself, I guess. I'm always amping it up to the guys about what I get up to, I don't give details though!" He quickly looked back over to Bella, she figured he wanted to make sure she'd heard that last bit. So she smiled at him to acknowledge his comment and he continued. "I've always been a bit of a bragger, I think it comes with not having much shit when I was a kid and exaggerating to make out we weren't as hard-up as we were. If that makes sense…" he shrugged his shoulders, "but some of it comes from the girls who wanted more; even when I made it clear to them that it was just a one-time thing, they say they understand and they just want some fun too. Then afterwards they decide they want more than fun and go all stalker-ish on me… Honestly, Bella, some of those girls can be fucking scary." He finished glancing over at her again, and she couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her lips.
"Mmm, I really don't know what to say to that." Bella mused.
"Well, like I said, I'm certainly not innocent, but I'm really not as bad as everyone thinks." He said shrugging his shoulders again.
"Well I think you're a nice guy Paul Lahote – for the record!" Bella said and winked at him.
"Thanks Bella, that means a lot."
After a few more minutes they pulled up outside the little red house belonging to the Black family and Paul cut the engine, quickly jumped out of the car and was opening Bella's door before she'd finished unbuckling her seatbelt.
Paul stood back and let Bella get out of the car. They slowly and quietly walked along the path to the front door.
Bella's nerves returned, as she really wasn't sure whether Paul would try to kiss her, and did she want him to kiss her? Oh god, she really didn't know what she wanted. Paul's voice distracted her from her thoughts.
"So, have I behaved myself enough to warrant that other date?" He asked quietly.
"Most definitely," Bella replied.
"Okay. Why don't you have a think about where you'd like to go, of what you like to do next time, and I'll call you in a couple of days."
"Sounds good." Bella replied.
"Great." Paul said smiling and then leaned in to kiss Bella softly on the cheek. "I'll see you soon then. Now get in before I turn all Neanderthal on you!" he said winking at her.
"Goodnight, Paul." Bella said laughing, before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"Okay, you have five seconds before I throw you over my shoulder and take you back to my cave!"
Bella laughed loudly as she fumbled with her key in the lock. "I'm going, I'm going…" she said whilst managing to open the door.
As she turned back she saw that Paul was already walking backwards down the path. "I'll call you." He called back to her.
Bella nodded her head in acknowledgment, not wanting to call back and wake the sleeping household, before closing the door.
"So… did you have a good time?" As she turned, she saw Jacob sat in his father's chair and her heart skipped a beat. She didn't want him to see that he had unnerved her. She raised her chin and answered honestly.
"I had the best time… Goodnight, Jacob." And she walked past him without giving him a second glance.
"Goodnight, Bells." She heard him reply as she closed her bedroom door.