Show Me A Garden (that's bursting into life) Ch 2

Sneak peak at chapter 2:

“How was your thing Friday night?” Edward asked Bella. James had taken her off to some gala fundraiser, and Alice had gushed about the dress she’d been wearing. “Have a good time?”

Bella shrugged and bit her lip. “I guess. You know I don’t like all those formal parties, but James was really looking forward to it. I didn’t really know anyone there and he was chatting everyone up.” She gave Edward a small smile. “At least Alice let me wear flats.”

If her shoes had been the highlight of her evening, it couldn’t have been that much of a good time. “Well, less potential danger for you and those around you then,” he teased. When Edward looked down, he saw there was a shadow in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. He hugged her again and resettled into the easy pace.

“I know.”Bella giggled. “How come you let Jasper run off? You’d never let Emmett or me get away with that?”

“You and Em can handle Alice. Jasper’s new, and I don’t want him to be scared off too quickly,” he said.

Bella looked at him, mouth open, her large brown eyes wide and unblinking.

“What?” Edward asked, using his right hand to close her mouth with a gentle motion.

“In the two years I’ve known you,” Bella started, “I’ve never seen you so interested in whether or not someone was sticking around or not.”