Disclaimer: I don’t own them except for the kids!

Innocent Angel, Part 4

Jet watched Isabella as she executed a perfect walkover on the balance beam. Gymnastics was what she was built for. His eyes followed the curve of her back as she did another one before going into a handstand. They had practiced during the week, each encounter making him crave the feel of her soft lips under his. He had come to a swift decision concerning her, knowing that he couldn’t trust himself alone with her. So, all of the practice they had done, had been in the dance studio with people around. It was the only way he could make sure that he kept his hands off of her otherwise. He sighed and raked a hand through his sandy hair as he leaned his head against the wall he was leaning on. "This is torture," he breathed quietly as he glanced back at her. She was in a split. His mouth went dry.

Isabella was aware that he was watching her. She had felt his eyes on her for the better part of the hour. Her platinum blond mane, still long enough to be pulled into a ponytail, brushed against her bared upper back as she leaned her head back. She sighed. She had thought of nothing else except that kiss they had almost shared last Sunday. The mere thought of him breathing against her lips made them tingle expectantly. But for the entire time that they had practiced, there were always people around. She had a sneaking suspicion that Jet had wanted a public place. "What is he so afraid of?" she muttered as she turned, using her hands to lift her body off the beam. The movement brought her legs to the side, enabling her to bring a foot up onto the beam. She promptly stood on the end and with characteristic grace that she had inherited from her parents, did several back flips and added a twist as she dismounted. She landed, facing him. "So what did you think?" she asked, smiling.

He couldn’t help but smile back. "Very well done."

"Thank you," she said graciously as she nodded towards her spotter to indicate that she was done. She looked directly back at Jet as she picked up her towel and walked over to him. "So what brings you here?"

"I was looking for you," Jet replied as she came close. A sheen of sweat bathed her face and her skin. It detracted nothing from her appearance. "You had said you wanted to practice the closing of the dance. I don’t work tonight so I was free."

"How did you know I was?" Isabella asked as she draped the towel around her neck after she pressed it against her overheated skin.

"Your mother said you were here."

"I’m always here Friday afternoons."

Jet looked back at the other people practicing. "Is this going to be full time for you?"

"No, its just something I enjoy doing," Isabella answered as she raised her eyes to his. "I’m applying to a performing arts schools for my dancing and singing."

"Both which you do well I suppose."

"Very well. In fact, I’m singing at the Arts Festival tomorrow night. I’m having my dad record it so I can send it as part of my portfolio."

"Wise of you."

"Glad you think so."

His eyes wandered away from her. "You work very hard Izzy. I’m sure you won’t have a problem getting into a school."

A wry smile crossed her lips. "That’s up to the people who look at my tape."

"Too hard sometimes. You never seem to take a break."

"Neither do you."

"You more than me. You’re too thin," he commented before he could stop himself. His face flushed when he realized what he had just said.

"You think I’m too thin?" she asked, mildly surprised, but also secretly pleased as she observed his obvious flush.

"You’re thinner than both of my sisters, that’s all."

"I have a high metabolism, Jet, as much as I eat, I don’t keep the weight. I can eat almost as much as Victoria did when she was pregnant. The weight just does not stay. Plus, I attribute it to my genes."

"You shouldn’t work so hard, that’s what burns it off," Jet pointed out as he still kept his eyes averted from her.

Finely arched brows raised over her blue gray eyes. "Since when did you take notice of my thinness?"

The flush returned, deepening slightly. "I was only making an observation."

"I see," she said slowly as the blush under his tan grew more obvious. Another smile touched her lips. "Is that the only reason?" she asked as she reached up and grasped his chin, turning his face so he would be forced to look at her. "Is it?"

The feel of her fingers on his face made his skin burn. Her gaze was steady. He couldn’t bring himself to look away from those lushly lashed eyes of hers. "It is," he replied awkwardly.

"Hmm?"

"And what’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," she said with a wave of her other hand. She smiled up at him. "You’re blush was saying otherwise."

"I’m just a bit warm," Jet stated uncomfortably. That gaze of hers was delving into him and that smile was just as disarming as her eyes.

"I’m a bit hot too," Isabella said as she let her fingers press against his cheek and then hers, "But I think I’m much more than you."

His eyes widened slightly. He wasn’t sure if she just made play on words. He couldn’t think straight with her this close to him. "Trust me, you have no idea how hot you are and what you’re doing to me." He cleared his throat. "So, you still want to practice tonight?"

She sighed with some disappointment. "Well it wouldn’t hurt, but I think there’s something else we should do to get ready."

"What is it?"

"Clothes. I need a dress and well, I need to find you something to wear."

"Excuse me?" Jet asked stupidly.

"Clothes as in costume dress or something close to it," Isabella said that as she pulled him forwards, away from the wall. She walked around him, pausing every few steps. Her eyes trailed over his features, taking in his lean build. Unlike her brothers, his strength wasn’t blatantly apparent. Her eyes went to his arms. The short sleeves of his navy blue T-shirt didn’t hide the smooth looking muscles under his bronzed skin. A pleased smile lit her face once more. "I know exactly what to do with you."

He had been holding his breath as she assessed him. His eyes had watched her look at him with intensity. It felt strange to have such attention from a woman, young or old. He knew he wasn’t bad looking, but he knew he was not what women usually wanted. Women wanted men like her brothers and the Maxwells. "Which is?" he asked again.

"You’ll see," she said enigmatically as she cast him a sweet smile and pulled him out of the room.

******************************************************************************

That evening…

"I now know why my dad hates shopping," Jet muttered as he was pulled to the next store. They had spent the better part of the evening going around to the shops in the Square. She still hadn’t found a dress. "Izzy can we eat? I’m getting hungry," he groaned.

Isabella turned and propped her hands on her jean-clad hips. She observed him for a moment and sighed exasperatedly. "You men are such wimps when it comes to shopping. You always need to eat."

"Food onna!" he demanded as he grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her in the direction of the ice cream shop owned by Morgan Valenti’s family.

"All right!" she laughed at his fierce expression as she was pulled into the cool atmosphere of the small restaurant. She sat down in the booth across from him. She was still laughing. "You’re as bad as Miles when it comes to food."

"His woman probably doesn’t starve him," Jet grumbled as he flipped through the menu.

"Cristal just feeds him to keep him quiet. I think she has other ways of keeping him satisfied," Isabella commented as she looked up at him over the top of her menu.

His eyes shot to hers at her comment. He knew what she had implied. He just couldn’t pinpoint why she was throwing him subtle innuendoes. It was disturbing. "What do you want?" he asked to cover up his bewilderment.

"Let’s see," she said as she perused the menu, "I’ll have the cheeseburger with the extra cheese, the largest side of fries, and a triple deluxe chocolate Oreo milkshake with loads of chocolate syrup."

Jet looked at her with total shock. "All of that?"

More laughter bubbled from her throat at his look. "I told you earlier I can pack it away. Aren’t you the one who dragged me in here demanding sustenance before I torture you some more with shopping?"

His lips twitched slightly before he sighed. "I was."

"So what are you going to have?"

"Umm…" he said as he scanned the menu, "I think the grilled chicken sandwich without the mayo, a small fry, and iced tea."

She arched a brow at him. "Is that all?"

"Yes."

Isabella rolled her eyes. She got up out of her seat and sat down next to him. "You need something more then that. A twenty year old male can pack away much more," she stated as she looked at his menu. "Let’s see."

The waitress came over to their table. "What will it be?"

Jet opened his mouth to order, but was cut off by Isabella.

"He’ll have the grilled chicken sandwich with the largest fries, a triple deluxe chocolate cheesecake milkshake. I’ll have the cheeseburger with the extra cheese with the largest fry, a triple deluxe chocolate Oreo milkshake, and we’ll have the potato skins and mozzarella sticks as appetizers," Isabella said clearly as she handed the menus back to the girl.

"All right, it’ll be fifteen minutes miss," the waitress said as she nodded her head and walked away.

"Izzy…"

"Don’t argue, Jet. Sometimes overindulgence is very good for you," she said as she leaned against his shoulder. "I want you to overindulge for me."

His eyes met her sparkling blue ones.

"You wanted to anyway. I could see how you were looking at the ice cream when you came in."

Jet grinned a little. "I guess it couldn’t hurt too much. I don’t usually."

"I’m shocked. You’re a chef at Le Belle and you don’t want to eat anything. The food there is…"

"Heavenly, I know. I’m the dessert chef."

Her eyes lit up even more. "Could you fix me something sometime?"

He chuckled and nodded his head. "If you want. I’ll fix you anything you like."

"Oh thank you." Isabella looped her arms around his neck and pressed kiss on his cheek.

The press of her pink lips against his cheek made his skin burn. He could tell how petal soft they really were. But he really wanted was to feel them on his. He flushed slightly. "Anytime," he replied.

She smiled again and went back to her seat. She propped her chin up on her hands and looked at him. "So, after this, we still have to find you something and something for myself."

"Don’t remind me," Jet groaned as he shook his head.

Isabella laughed again as their appetizers and milkshakes were set on the table.

Later…

"That was so good," Isabella sighed as she licked the salt from her fries off her fingers, "Nothing beats these."

Jet’s eyes went to her fingers as she daintily licked them off. He felt his pulse rise and his breath catch as her tongue swept up the excess salt. "If you say so," he said hoarsely as he averted his eyes.

"Did you like the milkshake I ordered you?" she asked after she took a long sip of her milkshake, draining it completely.

"It was very good, almost as good as Hilde’s chocolate cheesecake," he commented as he took the last sip of his.

"I can tell. You drank that almost as fast as you eat that cheesecake of hers."

"Nothing beats that woman’s cheesecake except for Cathy’s hot apple strudel."

Isabella grinned. "That’s one of my favorites too. My Aunt Cathy is very good in the kitchen. She makes a killer cream of potato soup."

"I’ll testify to that. My dad will too," Jet amended as the bill came. He looked at it and took out his wallet.

"I’ll pay for myself."

"I got it Izzy."

"But Jet…"

"I’ll pay. It was my treat."

"Oh all right," she sighed reluctantly.

Jet shook his head at her as he gave the waitress the bill and his credit card. "I usually pay if I take a woman out."

Isabella smiled slightly. "You sound like my brothers," she said and then she stopped when she noticed something, "You think of me as a woman?"

His eyes shot to hers. "Smooth one Chang." "Well I mean…girl. You’re still kind of young to be called a woman…yet."

She frowned a little. "I’m more grown up than I look."

"I don’t doubt that, but you’re seventeen. I’ve known you since the day you were born. It’s kind of hard not to think of you as just a girl." He nervously ran a finger under the collar of his shirt from her look. "I don’t mean it as a bad thing."

Her lips twitched. "Things change, Jet. And little girls do grow up." She stood as the waitress came back with the bill.

Jet took it and signed it. He nodded at the waitress and stood up as well. He raked a hand through his hair. "I didn’t make you mad, did I?"

Isabella let out a drawn out sigh. "No. I’m not mad." "This is not going the way I would like it to." She shook her head again and smiled brightly. "Come on, we still have to find something."

He let out the pent up breath he was holding. "Let’s just hurry. I don’t know how much longer I can take this shopping bit."

Her laughter rang through the air again. "You men are so weak when it comes to shopping."
******************************************************************************

Jet found himself pulled into a men’s store. She still hadn’t found herself anything yet. "Where do women get the energy to do this?" he muttered under his breath.

"It’s inherent to all women," Isabella replied as she looked at the suits and tuxes on display. She tapped a fingernail on her lips as she studied them.

"Can I help you miss?" the tailor asked as he came over to them.

"Yes, I think I would like to see him in something all black, not too formal, something easy to dance in, and something with a little flair," she replied as she looked at Jet, "Sound good to you?"

He held up his hands in surrender. "I trust you."

"Good," Isabella said as she nodded her head at the tailor. "Get started."

"Yes miss," he said as he nodded at her. He looked at Jet. "Come this way sir."

Jet cringed inwardly, but followed the shorter man. He shot a helpless look in her direction as she sat down on the soft couch.

"I’ll be right here," Isabella called out, trying not to laugh at his disgruntled expression. She crossed her ankles and leaned back as she waited.

It seemed like forever to him. This was the fourth time he had tried something on. She had scrutinized each one carefully before shaking her head. "I swear if I didn’t want to kiss her so bad I would want to strangle her for making me go through this," he mumbled as he pulled on another outfit. He came out again and stood in front of the three-way mirror and her. "How about this one, Izzy?" He spread his arms out.

She looked up and nearly dropped the magazine she was flipping through. The all black tux he was wearing was perfect. She stood up and walked around him. "No tie. I like it without the tie…the single breasted jacket I like much better than the double one…hmm…"

"What?"

"The vest. Let me see it without the vest."

Another sigh escaped his lips as he shrugged out of the jacket and handed it to the waiting tailor. He took off the vest and put the jacket back on. "Well?"

A finger came up as she tapped it on her lips once again. "Much better," she said finally. "Now, if you did this," she said as she got up on the foot stool and flipped the collar of the shirt over the collar of the jacket, and unbuttoned one more button…" she stepped down and stood back, "Perfect. Absolutely perfect." "And mouthwatering too." "This one is it."

"Thank you," Jet breathed in relief, "I didn’t know how much more I could take of this."

"Oh don’t be silly, you like having a girl fuss over you like I was."

He didn’t answer, but a ghost of a smile crossed his lips.

"Now that you’re all done, all we have to get is my dress."

"Don’t remind me."

Isabella gave him a wounded moue. "I promise it won’t be much longer."

"Do you have to do this tonight?"

"Yes."

"You’re killing me here onna."

"It’s my job." Her eyes twinkled with mirth as she shot him a grin.

He rolled his eyes at her as he went to get changed. "And don’t think of paying for that. I’ll get my own tux."

"Damn," she muttered as she put back her wallet in her purse.

Jet came out a few moments later with the tux in hand. "I’ll pay for my own clothes," he said as he handed the tailor his card.

"If you insist," she sighed.

Once it was bought and paid for, they left the shop. "All right, where to?" he asked.

"This way, I haven’t tried these places down here yet."

"Lead the way."

Isabella grasped onto his free hand and pulled him along down the brick sidewalk. She went into the last shop in the row. "This is where Victoria, Kellie, and your sister got their wedding dresses."

"Joy," Jet sighed as he let himself be pulled along. He sat down on the striped couch as she went to look. He leaned his head back. The bag containing his tux lay next to him. "I’m never shopping with any onna ever again."

She ignored his mumbled comment as she browsed through the racks filled with dresses. She sighed. Many of them were way too expensive. She pulled out a simple blue satin dress with a slit up the side and a red satin one that was short and flirty. "I’ll be out soon," she called over her shoulder as she went into the dressing area.

He glanced around him again and something silvery caught his eye. He looked again at a dress hanging on the wall. It was obviously a unique dress since there was no other ones like it. A thought crossed his mind as he stood and went over to the dress. His eyes traveled over the pale blue chiffon embroidered with silver thread and crystal beads. "This is her color," he mused as he studied it a bit more. The hem was diagonal with beads dangling from it. In his mind he could already see her in the dress. "I wonder…" He picked it off of the hook and held it up. He scanned the room for the seamstress. "Miss, would you know what size this is?" he asked.

The seamstress nodded her head. "It’s a size four. It’s a one of a kind dress that was made in this shop."

"I see. Could you take it to the pretty blond that in the dressing room?"

"Of course sir. You have a wonderful eye. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it."

Jet’s eyes looked for the price tag. "About how much would this go for?"

"Eighteen hundred credits," the woman replied as she carried the dress to the dressing room.

A low whistle escaped his lips. "That’s a lot of credits."

******************************************************************************

Isabella frowned as she looked at the blue satin one again. It was better than the red one she had pulled, but she didn’t like herself in it either. She sighed in defeat. "This is not going well. At this rate I might as well have a custom dress." There was a knock on the door. "Yes?" she asked as she opened to see the seamstress.

"The young gentleman out front asked me to give you this dress to try on," the woman said as she handed the dress over.

Isabella’s lips parted in surprise as she took the dress. "He asked you to give it to me?"

"Yes he did miss. He has a good eye."

Isabella only nodded her head. "Thank you," she said finally as she closed the door.

"There are shoes to go with the dress. Would you want to try them on with the dress?" the seamstress asked.

"Sure why not," Isabella replied as she started to take off the blue satin. She put it back on the hanger and slid off the pale blue creation. "She’s right, Jet does have good taste," she breathed in wonder as she held it up. Her eyes went to the back or what little back there was. "I wonder if he saw this part?" The dress couldn’t be worn with a bra. "Oh well," she sighed as she slid the dress over her head. It slithered down her body effortlessly. She reached behind her and unsnapped her white satin bra, taking it off. She looked at her back in the mirror. The embroidered straps crisscrossed in the back, which ended just a little below her waist. She turned again and looked at the front. The neckline dipped in a modest v, just barely hinting some cleavage. "Not like I got that much," she muttered wryly. "It makes me wish I had boobs like Randy or Veronica."

"Here are the shoes miss," the woman called out as she knocked on the door.

Isabella opened it. "Thank you again." She slid on the strappy silver heels.

"Oh miss, you should go and show the young gentleman out front," the seamstress said in awe.

"It couldn’t hurt I suppose," Isabella said as she twisted her hair back with a hair clip, leaving her neck bare except for the tiny pendant necklace around it.

Jet tapped his fingers impatiently on the arm of the sofa. "Man, what’s taking her so long?"

She saw him waiting where she had left him. "Jet," she called out softly.

"Yes, Izzy…" he trailed off as he turned to look at her. She was a vision. The pretty angel had become a full-fledged goddess. "Wow," was all he could say.

Isabella smiled at his speechlessness. "What do you think?"

"You look…you look…"

She laughed a little. "Can’t find the words?" She turned so he could have a view of the entire dress.

His mouth fell open as he saw the back. His eyes traveled over the expanse of milky white skin. "You look…"

"Come on! I’m dying to know what you think?"

"You look so incredibly beautiful," Jet said honestly as he finally found the words. "And mouthwateringly sexy too."

Isabella’s lips quirked up at the corners as she looked up at his eyes. She wished she could see what he was really thinking, but she knew it must be good because his eyes were taking an inordinately long time to travel over her. "You think I’m beautiful?"

"Yes, very," he said slowly as he raised his eyes to hers. He saw a slight blush come to her cheeks from his words. "And that’s the truth. You’re very beautiful, Izzy."

Pleasure welled up her from his words. "And you have good taste too."

"It looked like the dress was made for you."

Another smile graced her lips. "You couldn’t have done better."

Jet gave her a mock bow. "I aim to please mi’lady."

Laughter bubbled from her lips. "How much does this creation cost?"

He sobered a little. "Eighteen hundred credits."

"Jet! I can’t afford that!"

"You can with some help."

She shook her head negatively. "No, Jet I can’t get this dress as much as I love it. I can’t get it," she said ruefully as she turned on her heel and went back to the dressing room.

He watched her go and began to thoughtfully tap his fingers against his cheek.

Isabella took off the dress and pulled her jeans and her black and white floral tank top back on. She walked out and was just about to hand over the dress to the seamstress when his hand took it from her. "Jet?"

"You’re getting this dress. I’ll pay for it."

"But, Jet," she protested, shaking her head, "I can’t let you buy this for me."

Jet shook his head as well. "Onna, you’re getting the dress. You want it and I’ll buy it for you. This is the dress that you’re meant to have," he countered stubbornly. "Now be a good girl and let me get this for you."

"Jet," Isabella protested weakly.

"Let me get this for you, Izzy. I insist," he said firmly as he looked into her blue gray eyes.

The look in his coffee brown eyes made her close her lips. "All right."

Isabella let a half smile come to her mouth as she watched him go up to the register and pay for it. "How sweet of him."

Jet handed her the dress bag as he came back to her. "Here’s your dress. You don’t have to pay me back. I wanted to get it for you."

"If you say so," she answered as she followed him out of the shop and down the street.

"Now it’s time that I take you home. I want you to get your rest," he said as they walked into the public lot where he had parked his Pathfinder. He opened the doors and hung up his bag and hers in the back. He opened her door for her and helped her in.

Isabella didn’t say anything, but a smile touched her lips all the way back to her house. She watched as he came over and opened her door for her again. He carried her dress bag as she hopped to the concrete. They walked slowly up to the front door. She turned to gaze at him. "Thank you, Jet. I had a wonderful time," she said softly.

Jet smiled back at her as they stood under the porch light. "I actually had a nice time too. Although there’s no way you’re ever going to get me to shop with a woman ever again."

She reached up and pushed a strand of her hair back. "And I want to thank you for the dress, Jet. I don’t know what else to say…" She lay the bag gently over the porch railing before throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tight.

He was momentarily startled by her actions, but he soon wrapped his arms around her tiny body and hugged her back. Intense feeling washed through him from the contact of her body with his. "You’re very welcome, Izzy," he whispered against her violet scented hair.

Isabella didn’t want to let go. She liked having his arms around her, holding her tight. It was giving her a heady rush. She leaned back and looked up at him. "I don’t know what I could do to possibly repay you for this."

"You don’t have to do a thing," Jet replied as he looked into her appealing face. Minutes ticked by and neither of them said anything. Her lips were parted invitingly. He slowly lowered his head towards hers.

A trill of excitement went down her spine. Her eyes slid closed as his mouth got closer to hers. "This is it, he’s finally going to kiss me."

The door slammed open, revealing Miles and Donavon. Both looked like they had been racing for the door.

Jet let go of her quickly and took a few steps back. "Hi you two," he mumbled warily.

Isabella glared at her older brothers.

"We heard the car doors slam," Miles said as he eyed Jet, his emerald eyes flickering warningly.

Jet shoved his hands into his pockets. He didn’t meet the matching gaze of Donavon.

"So you’re home for the evening?" Donavon asked Isabella, his gray green eyes narrowing slightly on Jet.

"Yes, I’m home for the evening," Isabella replied tightly as she continued to give her brothers a frosty look.

"Well I’ll see you tomorrow, Izzy at the Arts Festival. I had a nice time tonight," Jet mumbled as he shot her a quick look. His eyes shot to her two brothers, whose eyes were gleaming with the promise of bodily harm if he lingered any longer. He gave her a slight smile and nearly ran down the walk.

Isabella frowned. "Good night, Jet," she called out. She turned to look at her brothers. "You two are going to pay for this," she threatened as she picked up her dress and flounced angrily inside the house.

A pleased smirk crossed both their lips as they shrugged their shoulders and shut the door. They had prevented their baby sister from being kissed once again.

Isabella slammed the door to her room. She could cheerfully murder Donavon and Miles at this very moment. She hung up her dress on the back of her door. She flopped across her bed. "Damn them! Damn them both!" she muttered as she thumped her mattress with her one fist.

******************************************************************************

Jet breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he got in his SUV. The looks her brothers had been sending him had chilled him considerably, but he understood. Isabella was their little sister. "I can’t believe I almost let that happen again. I made a vow to myself not to kiss her. She’s seventeen years old!" He banged his forehead on the steering wheel. "Repeat after me, Chang Jet. I will not kiss or even think of kissing Isabella Barton. I will not kiss or even think of kissing Isabella Barton." After repeating that mantra five more times he let out a sigh. "I think I convinced myself now…I hope."

A/N: Well, how was it? Sorry it took a while, school you know! But I hope you enjoyed it and another chapter will be coming out soon! XOXO!!