A quiet, young editor meets a brooding man hiding under the façade of a charming entrepreneur and follows him into a mutual agreement. Watch the couple as they come to terms with an incomprehensible living arrangement and begin the journey to accepting a life together. Do relationships really last when hardships make it impossible to......

Thanks to the superbly talented FrozenSoldier for the absolutely perfect banner.

She happens to be stuck on the side of the road, car engine smoking.  He happens to be driving back from a conference.  Can an accidental meeting really mean a second chance at happiness?  Or . . . not?

 "I . . . I'm waiting for someone.  He should be here shortly."  Dammit Catherine, you have to do better than that.

 "He went to, uh, go to the bathroom." Stupid.  I tried to figure out if I could make it past him.  I wondered how long it would be before I would see anyone else on the trail.  He didn't look very big, maybe my height.  I think I could get around him if I faked him to the right and then went left . . .

"No.  I don't believe he did."

"Yes, he's just over . . ."

He was a mere step in front of me before I finished my blink.  "No, you're traveling alone.  Not very prudent.  You never know who you might meet . . . in a place like this."

His hand reached out to caress my face.  I couldn't move.  I should've jumped his hand was so cold, but I didn't, as he brought it across my cheek, down across my jawbone, stopping on my neck.  I could feel his breath as he leaned in and whispered,

 "I'll be waiting for you."

Note:  While this is first and foremost a love story, it contains dark themes, language, and some lemons.  If you are sensitive to rape or sexual assault, I suggest you do not not read.

Thanks to Alexis Danaan for her rib-cracking wit, superhuman writing skills, general greatness, and for keeping an old, I mean more mature, chick writing.

Thanks to my pal Megan, the rabid Twins fan, for her editing prowess, secret workplace meetings to discuss, um, work, and for not blushing when talking about . . . well, you'll see.

And to my Bossman, who as a male familiar with Twilight, lied and said he wanted to read this, and for enduring all of the lovey-dovey shit.

A thousand thank yous to all who voted for this little fic, and to the judges for a fantabulous contest.

Edroar the Angry Lion, frightens all the girls and boys at Cullen Publishing with his loud roar. Will his new massage therapist Bella Swan run away like all the rest, or can she tame this savage beast?   AH/AU OOC 

Edward Cullen's life revolved around his casino. He thought he had it all. She would prove him wrong.

Banner by the amazing xrxdanixrx!

Edward Cullen needs to pass Statistics. Bella Swan is his tutor. She thinks he's a flighty, arrogant--albeit sexy--asshole, and he thinks she's Bipolar, but tries to win her over, anyway.

Can he change her mind, or do first impressions really last?

 Thanks to my baby momma, Maximista, for the banner! <3