Self Control [Carlisle Cullen]

9

"you don't need a gun
you don't need a pill.
if you want to die,
fall in love,
and you'll get killed."

- Unknown

Clearwater's was the do-it-yourself store in Seattle, if you asked Anna. She had learned a lot since she got here.

She only chose to work in the hardware store because she could learn some skills. For example, Anna wasn't able to put a shelf up. After taking a job here, she felt like a power woman and could change her own tyre if needed.

Now she could help out other women that were struggling with simple tasks that men always took on them. Because it was 'their job to hang up the painting' or whatever. Disgusting.

It was the end of the week and slowly Anna's wounds started to heal. She decided not to party this weekend, which was rare. After the accident of a nearly death experience, it would be good to stay at home.

She cancelled her night-job for this Saturday. Customers wouldn't like her all patched up and bruised like this.

Mr. Clearwater had asked Anna to store away some supplies. Completely focused on her job, Anna got lost in her own train of thought and the soft radio playing in the background. The weather wasn't nice again, so there weren't many do-it-yourselves coming over.

In the back of the store she stored away all kinds of screws. Her hair was pulled up in a nice bun, a few strays of hair fell out of it already. On her knees she sorted them all in their right socket.

Humming to 'Take my Breath' on the radio, Anna was almost finished with this section of the store, when she looked up for just a second, and...

"Ms. Hendriks," Carlisle Cullen said. She looked right into his bright, amber eyes. "What a pleasant surprise."

Heart failure.

What the fuck was he doing here? In this store? She didn't mean to offend him, but doctor Cullen didn't look like someone who wore walking shoes, green sweaters made from wool and always had a nail behind his ear for some reason, like most of the do-it-yourselves coming to Clearwater's.

"Doctor Cullen," she said breathless and stopped talking right there. Her brain malfunctioned and her mouth probably fell open.

It looked like Doctor Cullen didn't breathe and even though his whole posture was tensed and held back, he had a relaxed smile on his beautiful face.

"I happened to be in the neighbourhood," he told her, even though she didn't ask, and took a quick look around the store. "I'm here to buy some things I need for a project of mine. Could you help me with that, Ms. Hendriks?"

As if the Goddess of Feminism had slapped Anna in the face, she started functioning again. Stop acting so stupid. Closing her mouth and putting on a confident face, hopefully the one that said I-work-here-for-months-now, she nodded and was able to speak again.

"Anna is fine," she said, a little bit more confident, even though an blush had taken over her face and her heartbeat fastened. Doctor Cullen breathed in so slowly, but stopped quick again.

Anna tried not to put her focus on his breathing - maybe it was some sort of mediation of breathing exercise he did?

"What can I help you with, Doctor Cullen?" Anna asked and got back to her feet. He was about a head taller than her, maybe a few inches more.

Fuck, she thought, he is too handsome to be real. The perfect example of male beauty and masculinity.

"Anna. Alright." Another soft, shy smile that made her heart beat a bit faster. "To start with, I need cable binders."