Chapter 3

At 5:15, I'm excitedly ready too early, wearing my best underwear, heels, a simple black dress with a vibrant pashmina. Eyes are made up and lips moisturized in the hope that he'll kiss me. I dab on a sweet essential oil I found at a local market, and then a light spray of Dolce and Gabbana's "Light Blue." Even though it's no longer summer, I love that its scent evokes vacation, suntan lotion and after sun lotion.

Wrapping the shawl around my shoulders, I wait on the patio. The ocean is beautiful at this time of day, even with the chilled autumn sky. Tiger suddenly races out and jumps up on a chair, aware of something approaching, and then I see Edward out front, hesitant until he notices me. His incredible smile almost blinds me from recognizing what's changed.

He shaved…

The jaw I imagined with its angular splendor is waiting for my teeth. His cheekbones are crying out for the touch of my fingers and my lips. I can't help ogling him outrageously and only manage two words, "Come in."

The energy sizzles between us as he walks past and, when I follow, he's blocking the doorway into the living room. "You look beautiful, Bella," he purrs, sliding his fingers along my neck and concentrating on my lips like before but, this time, we inch toward each other and connect. As his hands glide around my waist, I let my fingers explore his newly smooth face while my tongue acquaints itself with his.

Turning his head, he smiles and pulls me closer, deepening the kiss. A whimper escapes me when my hands run up his chest, and I lose myself in the feeling of his shirt covering muscle. The chambray button down is soft, and it happens to be a tint of my favorite color.

He pulls back and asks, "Are you going to push me away again?"

He obviously didn't like it on the beach this morning when I pushed on his chest, blushing and embarrassed. He wants assurance that I welcome him. "No," I answer softly, running my thumbs over the fabric.

He smiles and trails his fingers through my hair. "I didn't think you liked the beard."

"Well, you'd be wrong. I like both." I reply, playing with his collar.

"Damn, and I've wanted to kiss you for days."

I laugh and remember what I wanted to say. "The flowers are absolutely stunning, and I should have made a bigger deal of them. Thank you, Edward."

He wraps his arms around me and says, "You're welcome, Bella."

The bark from Tiger startles us. He's standing up with his front paws on Edward's leg, and I'm not sure what he wants, but Edward leans down and rubs his back. "They're not coming tonight, buddy. I'm taking your mom out for dinner. It's her night, not yours." With a tiny whine, Tiger drops down as if he understands.

"Maybe you should bring them over, Edward."

Edward thinks about it and sighs. "It's only for a couple of hours, and I don't want them destroying your back yard. I have some restoration work to do before I check out of the house. Simon's digging holes."

I understand fully how he feels, not wanting to inflict his pet's quirky traits or bad behavior on someone else. Dogs are different out of their normal environment. "Well, we probably should go then. I'll drive."

The trattoria has no view of the water. It's on a back street in town, but it has the best food I've experienced down here. My parents raved about it when I brought them. Edward's hand moves in circles on the small of my back as we wait for someone to greet us. It's very early, so the restaurant is nearly empty. As he leans down to run his nose across my cheek, the owner appears and welcomes me with a smile intended for a repeat customer. Offering us a choice of table, Edward points to a booth in the back corner.

I slide in and Edward joins me on the same side of the table. We stare as if it's the first time we laid eyes on each other.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"

It's been so long since anyone complimented me, it brings out emotion I didn't know I was holding. I palm his cheek to thank him and he kisses me. The owner, leaving two glasses of bubbly, interrupts us to announce tonight's specials, and I hardly listen. My body is zinging, in contact with this beautiful man, and he takes my hand under the table while he listens appropriately. As soon as the owner disappears, Edward kisses me again, telling me he adores my perfume, that I smell like the sweetest summer. I try, but can't distinguish a particular scent on him. He's a mixture of fresh soapy smells, combined with whatever he washes his shirt in—a very masculine combination.

We pick up our glasses and he toasts my birthday. Edward surprises me, knowing we're drinking Prosecco and not champagne. I know I have to work on this. I've turned into such a snob that I assume everyone else is a peasant.

I ask Edward how he became a stockbroker. He tells me a love of math, and a great deal of research into highly paid careers sent him to the University of Rochester, where he completed a double major in business and economics for his MBA. He interned at Jeffries, moved to Silver Lake, and then on to GetCo. From his description of the long hours and stress, I wonder how he had a girlfriend at all.

While we talk, we share our dishes of oysters, scallops, stacked crab salad, and incredible baked fish. The food is exceptional and I love watching him experience it for the first time. Edward is relaxed and affectionately touches me throughout the meal, although there is no more kissing once the restaurant fills up.

When I ask if he wants dessert, he studies me for a few seconds, and then says he'd prefer a coffee back at the house. There's only one answer to that.

"Yes."

Hyper-aware of him in the car, he takes my hand when we enter the house and I'm nervous. Bypassing the kitchen, he leads me to the couch for a searing kiss. I'm soon straddling him, out of my mind with passion and need, starving for physical pleasure, grinding on him and enjoying his lusty breathy sounds. It's been too long since I wanted a man the way I want Edward tonight, and I have to communicate that I meant "yes" to everything he wants to give me.

His hands creep under my dress, pulling at my hips and pushing his erection into the heart of my need. He moves his lips to my neck and I call out when he squeezes a breast.

"Let's lose the dress," he whispers in my ear and I comply, pulling it up over my head. "Tell me what you like," he commands, already pulling my bra cups down and attacking my nipples with his teeth and his tongue.

"That…what you're doing now is what I like," I call out as my eyes close and I push my breast into his mouth.

"Fuck," he moans. "You have no idea how much I want you." He kisses me again and his fingers pull at my nipples as I cry into his mouth.

The bark, so close, brings us out of our sexual frenzy, and Tiger is panting as hard as us. If Edward wasn't a dog person, this would be incredibly embarrassing.

"Does he worry you?" I ask, ready to put Tiger outside.

"You're the only Tiger on my radar right now," he murmurs, reaching around to undo my bra.

There's scuttling sounds and another bark, which make me take notice. "Hang on, something's wrong."

Then we hear a different bark at the side of the house.

"That's Fang. What the hell?"

I climb off and Edward adjusts himself with a worried look in his eyes, leaving immediately through the front door. He doesn't yell at Fang. He merely asks him what he thinks he's doing, roaming around. It makes me smile that he's patient and kind. I feel ridiculous, waiting here in my panties and bra with exposed nipples, so I slip the dress back on and go out the front with my shawl. As soon as he's back, I'll bring him to my bed and hopefully start again.

"Simon!" I hear him scream, and know something is very wrong. I can hear Tiger, beside himself, running out the back and then into the house, slamming through his doggie door each time. After minutes of hearing Edward call, he emerges with Fang on his lead. "He dug a hole under the fence and now he's missing. Where should I search? Where would he go? I can't lose him."

My heart goes out to him. "Don't worry, Edward. I know he'll come back soon. He's a dog. Why don't you let Fang lead the way?"

"That's a good idea." He quickly kisses me goodbye and they leave. "Come on Fang. Where's Simon, buddy? Simon!"

The lonely sound of his voice as they go further up the beach makes me feel empty. I can't imagine what Edward must be going through because I've never lost Tiger. Finding Simon will certainly mean the loss of the carefree Edward I'm falling for, and it makes me realize how important he has become to me in a short amount of time. I walk out on the beach and head in the opposite direction, calling to Simon myself. Edward is right. We cannot lose him.

After ten minutes, I decide it's pointless and turn around. As I walk up the path, feeling teary, I see Simon, lying in the grass. When I approach him, he pounces as if he wants to play a game and I beckon him gently but he circles me and then runs up to my house, where Tiger is barking a welcome. Very slowly, I inch up to him and grab his collar, only to find he smells of rotting fish, so I have an idea where he's been. There's a place on the other side of this headland where people launch their boats and gut their catch. I never go there because it's gross, but quite possibly heaven for dogs that like to roll in stinky stuff. As I walk him up the side, I lay down the law as he goes through the gate. He's not to dig and he has to behave while I call his dad. His long tongue flops out of his mouth and he pants, innocent of the drama he's caused.

I literally have to wash my hands before I can touch my phone. When Edward answers and I tell him I've got Simon, he says, "I love you. I'll be right back." I know he doesn't mean it that way, but it gives me a thrill to hear him say it. Now to the task at hand. The longer I leave it, the more stench he'll spread around and, since I have the plastic tub I use for Tiger sometimes, I may as well get it out because I am not lifting him into the laundry tub. With two towels and a lead, I head to the garage and take down the tub from its hook. Dad's ingenious invention is coming into its own tonight—the garden hose fitting on my laundry faucet—good for washing cars and dogs with warm water.

Snapping off the short hose I use on Tiger, I replace it with the long garden hose to fill the tub. Locating my oatmeal, non-allergenic dog shampoo, I'm laughing, thinking I probably need something much stronger. Hearing Edward call my name, I sing out that I'm in the garage, and as he comes through the gate, I catch the moment when he realizes the state of his dog. "Jesus, Simon, you reek, buddy. Bella, I'm going to take him home and wash him." I tell Edward I already have it covered.

Simon goes into the tub without fuss when he realizes it's lovely and warm. Fang sniffs around for a while and then he and Tiger sit down and pant in unison, watching Simon's strange shampoo in the night. They probably don't understand why we are bothering when they think he smells good.

As I giggle, Edward wants to know what I find so funny and I tell him these three are hilarious together. I love their individual personalities. He leans over and kisses me, but then he ruins everything.

"Unfortunately, you know what this means, Bella. I can't keep them here any more because I won't forgive myself if anything happens. I have to take them home to New York and settle him down."

Shattered, I stand and turn on the hose so Edward can rinse him. I watch them from the laundry, feeling like I'm about to cry.

"And I want you to come with me."

I look into his eyes and see that he's serious, but I haven't got an answer. Knowing I want more with him here is one thing. Going back to New York is another.

"All I'm asking is that you give it a try. Do you miss your family, Bella?"

Sighing, I have to agree that he's right. "Yeah, I was only talking to them yesterday. Mom wants me to come home for a while."

"Then come back. Don't you see that our meeting was meant to be? I can't get it out of my head."

"It is pretty crazy. If I did, would you come to the wedding with me?"

"Only if it's as your boyfriend. I'm no plus one."

"My boyfriend?"

"Yes, and I want to be wooed properly, starting with another kiss."

I can't help laughing, but then I look at him, waiting for my answer. Even the dogs are sitting patiently all of a sudden. Gazing into his beautiful eyes, I can't think of a reason to say no. They've taken on new color, like a lake of melted snow, and I realize that no matter what hue they are, Edward's eyes are my favorite color.

"I think that's fair."

His arms surround me and we kiss. I melt into his arms, feeling his strength and his lust, just as Simon decides to splatter us as he shakes the excess water of him. We both grab a towel and dry him off, concentrating more on kissing than on him.

Edward goes home for a change of clothes while I shut the three dogs in the garage. We figure it's the only way they'll be safe. When I walk inside, I sniff my arm and realize I smell of Simon's adventure, so I head for the shower. When Edward arrives back, I'm brushing my teeth in my robe and note that he's showered as well. He takes off his White Stripes t-shirt and tugs at the belt of my robe, touching me softly and sensuously. I start on the buttons of his jeans. He challenges me with an eyebrow as he pulls out a handful of condoms from a pocket and lets the jeans fall to the floor. I don't think he's being presumptuous. He knew I was a sure thing when he brought me home from the restaurant. He peels off his boxers and I touch him, smiling when I love what I see.

We slip into bed and the passion gradually builds again. He takes his time finding my most responsive places, finger fucking me and sucking my breasts. I reward him with a screaming orgasm, squeezing his fingers as I pulse around him. Then he starts to fuck me slowly, but what he's done already has made me so sensitive inside that I come again and he has to fight off an approaching orgasm before he can control himself and slow down. When he does come, he's deeply kissing me with my legs tightly wrapped around him. His hands cup my breasts while his fingers squeeze and pull at my nipples. It's like he uses every part of me, pleasuring me as he finds his own release. And this is only our first time. The fantasies explode in my head, imagining the different ways I want him.

The dogs are settled and quiet all night, so we leave them at my place while we start packing boxes and the two paintings, closing the house down for winter. For some reason, Simon doesn't try to dig at my place, and we relax enough to make love whenever we want. He's still challenging, though. Whenever either of us cries out in the throes of orgasm, he barks, wanting to know what he's missing. We figure the other two will send him a message eventually.

Early Sunday morning, with three dogs in the back of the pick-up, we're driving home to New York.

We talk about coming back as soon as it's warm and I really believe that Edward means it. He loves the idea of having a place where we can escape, and our beach will always be special to us.

Edward plays the Doors. He has every track they ever recorded, and their music becomes the soundtrack for our long days ahead driving, stopping often for the dogs. We sing along together to "Light My Fire" and "Love Her Madly." He's amazed that I visited Jim Morrison's grave in Paris and tells me I have to take him there one day. He knows all the words to "Peace Frog." He dances in his seat to "The Changeling" as we take the road into Virginia Beach where Edward has booked us into The Residence Inn, right on the beach, a very pet friendly hotel he stayed at during his road trip south. We waste no time getting out for a walk on the sand and immediately hear music. We've arrived at the end of the weekend's Neptune Festival and live bands are playing on the boardwalk. The place is still crawling with people, so we just enjoy it from the beach and decide to stay an extra night to have a look around and give the dogs a good break before another big day on the road. It also gives me a chance to speak to a few art gallery owners about selling my work.

Back in the car again, "The Ghost Song" is playing and Edward talks about discovering the song in high school, playing it a hundred times, losing himself in the theatrics Jim Morrison created without singing a single note. Apparently, Edward is disappointed he can't sing. I'm amazed because I think his voice is fine. He's enchanted with "Love Street." He says "L.A. Woman" is, in his opinion, the anthem for the late sixties, and he tells me "The End" is his favorite song to fuck to. As we drive through the outskirts of Philadelphia, I fall asleep to "Riders On The Storm" and dream of stormy skies above the beach we left behind.

We're exhausted when we pull up in front of his brownstone, and I settle the dogs before I begin to explore my new home. It's magnificent and surprisingly familiar. Alice Whitlock's work is unmistakable.

We meet some of Edward's friends and have dinner with Alice and her husband, Jasper. Alice is astounded that I'm now living with her brother. We spend time with both sets of parents. Edward's mother, Esme, loves the painting, as he said she would, and it's a great beginning to have something in common with her. My mother adores Edward and tells me I seem happier than I have in years. We sort through my glamorous wardrobe together to choose a dress for the wedding, agreeing that these dresses must be sold now. Originally, I was going to wear black but now, I pick a silvery blue dress I've never even worn, and it still fits, probably because I've walked a thousand miles on the beach.

It's easy to settle back into life in New York, like I never left. Edward rents a small shop within walking distance of the house and we both spend time there as the instruments arrive. He employs a musician to manage the store and, between them, they begin the process of advertising for students.

Every morning early, we take the dogs for a walk and get coffee together. Tiger no longer sleeps on the couch. Edward didn't have a problem with it, but the three dogs are now inseparable, and Tiger has chosen to share their giant bed in the laundry.

One of my paintings sells for three thousand dollars. I start work on a new one and, once again, I finish it within days. Somehow, I've hit a very productive period in my life. Maybe it's because I'm happy. The nighttime painting that initially brought us together hangs on a wall in the house. Edward tells me I should sell it, encouraging me to imagine I'm not losing something, but sharing it with someone else who pays for the privilege. I understand, but I can't part with it because Edward is too wrapped up in its essence.

On the eve of the wedding, Edward arrives with a necklace, saying he wants me wearing something of his. I have fallen so deeply in love with him that I start to cry over the gesture and it takes me a while to convince him that these are tears of joy—not related to my ex-husband's marriage.

That night, I pour all of my emotion into making love to him and it feels like a turning point in our relationship. He tells me over and over that he loves me.

I am a little nervous when we arrive at the wedding, merely nodding at faces I haven't seen in a year. Edward is stunning in his black tux, looking every part of the privileged world I used to inhabit. Some of my old friends cock their eyebrows at me, wondering who he is.

Emmett appears at the front of the church, handsome and anxious-looking. I wonder if he was like that when we married at his parent's estate. He gives me a wave and a smile, craning his neck to see who I'm with. Edward squeezes my hand, but I don't feel emotional at all. Emmett's mother turns to glance at me and then speaks to her husband. He doesn't bother to register that I'm here. They never played a big part of our life, and it's not important what they think of me.

When the music begins, Rosalie has a flower girl and four bridesmaids, a little over the top I thought for Emmett's second marriage, but it's her day. I hope, for her sake, that this marriage will last and that he doesn't trade her in. She is a beautiful meringue bride with a huge puffy veil and I turn to see Emmett's reaction. He looks so relaxed and happy; it's obvious he's absolutely smitten with her.

The ceremony is religious and very long. Rosalie is from a Croatian background, so maybe her family insisted. Everyone seems relieved at the end as we fan out onto the street. Introducing Edward as my boyfriend is fantastic, making me occasionally giggle when I remember him saying he was no plus one. He's everything to me now.

At the reception, I know everyone at our table and they are all very inquisitive about Edward. He is cool and charming, confidently fitting in. Angela asks how we met, putting her arm through her husband's, and Edward looks at me, smiling.

"I was on a road trip with my two dogs when I spent a few days at the beach where we used to vacation when we were kids. I walked into the local store and there was this gorgeous woman leaning over the counter. I figured she was married so I kept my distance. She wasn't very friendly, either, but our dogs got on like a house on fire and every time I'd let mine off the lead, they took off to find their new friend. She took pity on me, inviting me in for coffee, and I found out she was divorced. I couldn't keep away after that."

"What do you do, Edward?" Jessica asks, lips pursed and ready to judge.

"Burned out stockbroker." Every man at the table nods. "Now I'm a music teacher."

Jessica gives me a look that shouts, "You can't be serious."

"That's so romantic," Angela says with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"We have a lot of family stuff in common, too. It's amazing we never met over the years," Edward adds, squeezing my hand. I'm so proud of the way he's answering their questions that I kiss his cheek.

Catching sight of a nearby table, the "inner circle", the ones who wouldn't take my calls when we split, I notice a few of them looking at me and whispering. I smile back as sweetly as I can, as if I don't know what they're saying. They have no idea what really happened, and the money I'm going to receive tonight guarantees I'll keep my mouth shut. I'll never even tell my mother. Edward is well-mannered enough not to ask, but I'm not going to lie to him about the money I'm about to receive.

As the bride and groom move around the room, I wonder how much time I'll get with them. This can't be easy when she probably expected me to decline the invitation.

Incredibly, Rosalie envelopes me in a big hug and thanks me for coming, asking about my year on the beach. She even tells me they bought one of my paintings from the gallery in New York for their new place. I'm surprised they've moved into a house, instead of another penthouse apartment, but Rosalie insists she wanted a backyard if they're going to get a dog and have kids.

I look at Emmett and he shrugs. He told me he wasn't ready for children, but he goes along with whatever she says. I hope he's not deceiving her. She asks if we'll have dinner with them after they come back from their honeymoon. They have a favorite restaurant, a tiny Italian place near where they live. Jesus, he takes her out for dinner after they've been together for over two years. What was wrong with me?

While we continue chatting, Emmett draws Edward into a private conversation and I wonder if they are talking about shares. Edward shakes his head and Emmett claps him on the back as they come back to us.

Then Rosalie asks me to paint something whimsical for the baby's room. I stare at Emmett, who nods and then kisses her. She's already pregnant. The look in his eyes as he gazes at her lovingly strikes at my heart and I know that it wasn't Emmett's long hours or lack of intimacy that was at the heart of our divorce. He just never loved me enough, not like he loves her.

He looks at her the way Edward looks at me. It's like a revelation, something so freeing, knowing I escaped a loveless marriage with a good deal of money and, somehow, my ex-husband brought me to the love of my life.

Emmett hands me an envelope. I don't even look at it, or thank him, simply slipping it into my clutch. He wouldn't dare shortchange me and risk me telling the truth. His powerful father would disinherit him if he found out he'd been fooled.

As soon as they move away, I ask Edward, "What were you two talking about? It looked pretty heavy."

"He said if I don't take care of you, he'll murder me. He also wished me luck, saying he'd never been able to make you happy. You're happy now, aren't you, babe?"

I feed my arms inside his jacket and beam at him. "Deliriously, I adore you."

He wraps his arms around me, relieved. "Thank God. He had me worried for a minute." I shake my head, still smiling at him. "That would have been damn embarrassing when I've just convinced your father that it isn't too soon to ask you to marry me."

"What?" I hold on tight because I suddenly feel weak.

"I'm madly in love with you, Bella. Will you marry me?"

"Of course I'll marry you. I love you." I can't help myself. In the middle of my ex-husband's wedding, I kiss my fiancé passionately, and I don't care who sees.

With a beaming smile, he announces, "Now we have to go home and tell the kids."

~ xxx ~

Happy birthday, Planetblue.