Chapter 22

Previously

Edward kisses her cheek as he gazes at his old friend. The resentment, mixed with deep longing trapped in Garrett's eyes, stops Edward cold. He holds Garrett's stare, giving him a threatening look of warning as he pulls Bella closer and she tightens her arms around him. When he feels her lips run along his neck, Edward's eyes cool to stone in primal superiority.

That's right, fucker—Mine.

~o0o~

"Come on, baby. Let's get you to bed," Edward says as he wraps his arms tighter around his girl. Without another glance, Edward walks past Garrett Lee. He'll sort that bastard out tomorrow. Edward's steps falter in front of Rose and Mac, and he says, "She doesn't drink, Mac—ever."

Rose frowns and runs her hand down Bella's hair as Mac's face falls. "Wha …?"

Edward feels a cool, slender hand pat his cheek. "Love the Mac-man and the Rosie-Posie," Bella slurs.

Edward grins reluctantly at his drunken girl's admonition and rests his cheek against hers. "Thanks for staying with her," he says as he looks between his two closest friends.

Mac pats his Edward's shoulder and lays his hand on Bella's head before Edward continues. Bella flaps a sloppy wave over Edward's shoulder as they walk away.

"Sweet dreams, Sweetness," Mac calls.

"K," she murmurs into Edward's collar.

~o0o~

"Peanut …"

Edward stops washing Bella's face and looks at the tipsy woman sitting in bra and panties on the bathroom counter. "What, baby? Do you want peanuts? I think they may upset your stomach."

"My puppy … Peanut," Bella mumbles with her eyes closed as she leans her head against the medicine cabinet.

Edward slips off her bra and pulls one of his T-shirts over her head. "You had a puppy named Peanut?"

"I just said that." She rubs her nose with the back of her hand, and Edward captures it to slide through the shirt's sleeve. "Peanut chewed his shoe. I heard the yelp. She was gone in the morning. I loved my little Peanut.—I hate him."

She sways as Edward pulls her long, silky hair from the collar, but he holds her upright. "I'm sorry. I know how deeply you love. I'm sure Peanut loved you too."

She smiles with her eyes closed. "I love yoooou, Mmmm-doggie."

He grins. "I love you, you silly girl. Are you ready to go to bed?"

She nods and wrinkles her nose. "I gotta pee."

~o0o~

Mac throws his arm over Rose's shoulders. "I messed that up, didn't I?"

She hip checks him, before placing a kiss on his jaw. "Yep, come on, take me to bed."

She begins walking and turns when he doesn't follow. He lifts his eyebrows in question, and she gives him a sly, sultry grin before continuing without him.

"Uh, Garrett, you got a place to bed down?" Mac asks as he keeps his eyes locked on the swaying hips, getting farther away from him.

Garrett scratches the label of his beer. "I've got a tent. I'll see you in the morning."

Mac is already walking after Rose as he calls, "Okay, see you in the morning, Buddy."

He jogs the last four steps to catch Rose and wrap his arm around her shoulder. "Rose?"

She wraps her arm around his waist and slips her hand into his back pocket. "Yes, Mac, very yes," she whispers against his neck.

~o0o~

Knowing Bella prefers the blankets to cover her shoulders without touching her neck, Edward pulls the it over the shoulders of his sleeping beauty. "Mmm-doggie," she sighs.

"I'm here, baby. You sleep now," he says as he brushes her hair from her cheek.

"K," she murmurs into her flowered pillow.

Edward bends to kiss her cheek. "Okay," he whispers against her skin.

He pulls his shirt out of his jeans and toes out of his shoes before sitting down in the chair near Bella's side of the bed.

Edward studies her peaceful form and relaxes into the cushioned seat. She's safe. He frowns in the dim silence. She's going to have a hell of a headache in the morning, but he'll be here for that too.

He relives, seeing Bella and Garrett so close and intimate, and something primal boils within him. Garrett Lee was always a sweet talker, even back in college. Girls would swoon at his ridiculously insincere flattery and flock to him like bees to honey. Edward shakes his head in the dark. Did Sweets fall for Garrett's charms? His heart sinks at the thought. Tomorrow, when she's in a better frame of mind, will he find Bella cooled toward himself?

She shifts under the covers, drawing his eye to her. "No, she was glad to see me," he whispers in the still darkness. Mac said she had talked about him all night. He leans forward and brushes a lock of hair from her face. She's still his Sweets.

He nods to himself in the dark, but as his gut flips, he finds himself crawling into bed and pulling her close.

~o0o~

Mac closes the door and leans against it. He watches Rose fidget in the middle of the room as she second-guesses herself. She is such a ball breaker in public, to see her self-conscious and unsure is a gift she shares with very few.

"Rose—babe—look at me."

She crosses her arms over her ample chest in defiance but looks at him.

"Rosie, I think you know I'm a sure thing."

She grins as relief washes over her, and she drops her hands to her hips. "Yeah, you are. You've been the perfect gentleman—damn you."

Mac pushes away from the door and holds his arms open, and Rose sighs as she walks into them. "Why now?" he asks as kisses her forehead.

She pulls him to sit on the couch with her and snuggles against him as she runs her hand between his shirt collar and neck. "You're a good man, Emmett McCarthy—the best." She nibbles along his jaw and adds, "I know I won't find better."

He runs his large hand down her thigh and hooks her knee, bringing her leg over his lap. She turns to fit closer as his lips find hers. His kiss lingers, gentle and promising. "I've never wanted someone like this; it's all-consuming," he whispers. "I'll wait as long as you need, Rosie. You're worth it."

"I'm sure, Mac—sure of you."

He flashes a smile before a growl rumbles through his chest, and his lips crash against hers. When she moans against his lips, he pulls her up with him and walks her toward the bedroom leaving kisses, signs, and clothes in their wake.

~o0o~

"Hey, loverboy—get your sad, rejected ass over here!" Mac's voice booms over the mingled voices of the breakfast dining tent.

"Shut up, you son of a bitch," Garrett whisper-shouts as he drops into a seat across from his friend.

Mac leans his chair back and stretches. "You're the son of a bitch, brother. Too bad you were the wrong dog for her last night. Come on, let's get some coffee and grub," Mac laughs and drops his chair forward before Garrett can think of a comeback.

Garrett reluctantly follows his jackass friend to the buffet and grabs a tray.

"Hey Mac, good morning Garrett," a petite curvy redhead smiles as she refills the scrambled eggs with her eyes lingering on Garrett.

"Well, hello, pretty girl. Garrett, look how she brightens the morning," Mac booms.

Garrett looks in her direction, "Yeah, she's pretty," he mumbles.

Mac wants to smack his head, "You know our names, what's yours?" he asks as he scoops fried potatoes on top of his eggs.

"Kate, my name's Kate," she says as she watches Garrett walk away.

Mac gives her a consoling smile, "It's a beautiful name, for a beautiful girl," he leans toward her, "I'll pass along your name to him," he says and pats her shoulder as she blushes.

"Thanks," she says.

Mac catches up to Garrett. "What the hell is your problem?"

"What? Oh her, yeah she's nice. You should hit that," Garrett says over his shoulder as his eyes search the large tent.

"Her name is Kate, and she doesn't want me, you idiot. She wants you. Pull your head out of your ass," Mac says as he drops his plate on the table and sinks into a chair.

"Back off, Mac, I'm not in the mood today," Garrett mumbles as he shovels eggs into his mouth.

"You're a thick-headed bastard; I'll give you that," Mac says as he shakes his head and pours cream in his coffee.

Mac and Garrett are throwing their trash away when Edward saunters into the tent. Mac cuts his eyes to Garrett and watches the jealously crawling over him.

"Garrett, he's our friend. We should be happy for him," Mac says quietly.

Garrett swallows hard and nods. Mac leaves Garrett against the wall and pulls a chair out across from Edward.

"Dude, you don't look like you got much sleep last night," Mac laughs.

Edward looks up, "Hey, Mac, yeah, well, it was a late night." He rubs his face with his rough hands. Bella places a coffee, strong and black, under Edward's nose. "Oh, bless you, woman!" Edward groans and kisses her hand.

She giggles and runs the back of her hand from Edward's temple to chin, enjoying the stubble. "Mac, can I get you something?" Bella asks, smiling at their friend.

He notes the dark rings under her tired eyes and her pale complexion. Guilt washes over him as he remembers she's not a drinker, poor thing. Mac takes a breath to tease her, but a sharp shake of Edward's head has him swallow his words. "No, thank you, Bella, I'm just heading out." He smiles softly before standing and turning to Edward. "Garrett and I are going into town for a while. Dunny has a list to fill, and we want to shoot some pool at Dooby's. You want to come along?"

Edward watches Bella's gentle sway toward the kitchen and sees Garrett's eyes follow her.

Mac cuts his eyes over to Garrett and frowns.

Edward smiles at Mac. "Nah, I need to help Carlisle and Dunny this morning. We'll catch up tonight." He reaches out to smack hands across the table.

"Tonight," Mac agrees. "Will I see the Beauty who tamed the Beast tonight too?"

"Sure," Edward nods, taking a sip and groaning with bliss.

"Maybe you'll let me have a dance with her," Mac winks.

"It's up to her," Edward says and gives him a mock glare.

"Cool," Mac says with a wiggle of his eyebrows and a parting wave. He catches up with Garrett by the tent door but turns when Garrett stops walking.

"Look at her, Mac," Garrett says as he watches Bella bring Edward his breakfast. She sits the plate in front of him as she wraps her arm around his shoulder. He holds her hand in place on his collar as he pulls her down for a kiss. When he releases her, she finger-combs his hair and kisses the crown of his head before returning to the kitchen. Garrett sighs deeply, "She's perfect."

The good-natured smile slips off Mac's face. "Dude, I don't know what the fuck has gotten into you, but you need to let it go. Last night, it was fun watching you make a fool of yourself, but now that you know she's someone's woman—it's not cool."

The two men watch Bella return with her plate. Edward stands and pulls out her chair. As she sits, he regains his, pulling her chair closer. He moves a biscuit from his plate to hers and is rewarded with her smile.

Garrett shifts from foot to foot. "She's a perfect little one. I don't even think she knows it," he murmurs to himself.

"What the fuck? Bella ain't no midget," Mac declares shooting his friend a skeptical look.

"That's little people, and they're dwarfs, not midgets. No, Bella is a natural 'little.' She's sweet and submissive, constantly seeking to please ... a 'baby girl,'" Garrett explains.

"Fuck that. Bella is a good girl, she's not into the kinky shit you play around with back home," Mac says.

"She's a gold mine. Edward doesn't know what he's got. I bet he's not even training her. She's wasted on his sorry ass." Garrett growls in frustration.

Mac moves into his line of vision, blocking his view of Bella and lowers his voice, "Leave her the hell alone, Garrett. I mean it. They're happy, leave them be."

Garrett takes a step back as Mac towers over him. He lifts his hands in surrender and turns for the tent door.

Mac looks back at Edward and his girl. He can see what Garrett means. Belle is gentle and sweet and seeks to please the one who holds her affection. Edward is one lucky bastard. Mac smiles as Edward laughs at something Bella says. He's happy for his friend. Bella's been a long time coming, but watching the happy couple, he knows she was worth the wait.

Visions of blond hair spread across pillows, rumpled sheets, and fingernails running down his back flash through his mind and a sly, secret smile blooms. Glancing back at his sweet little friend leaning into his buddy, he shakes his head. He's glad for the couple across the room, but he needs a strong woman to challenge him and walk by his side as his partner. He knows to the marrow of his bones he's found this in Rosalie Hale.

~o0o~

After Edward leaves to check on Dunny and Bob, Bella spends time working in the kitchen, washing dishes, wiping down tables, and cutting vegetables for the lunch crowd. She needs to keep her hands busy, and her mind occupied. Memories of the out-of-control-feeling of the night before niggle at the back of her mind, making her anxious and queasy.

Entering the dining room to wipe down tables, she spots Alice waving her over.

"Um—hi, Alice, I hope you had a good trip last night," she says as Alice pulls her into a hug.

"We did, thanks. Now, sit down with me. You can talk for a minute, can't you?"

Bella drops the wet towel on the table before taking a seat across from her future sister-in-law. She takes a deep breath and begins.'Um—look—I know you don't like me very much and I understand. I don't seem like a very good investment for your brother, but—well . . ."

Alice reaches across the table for Bella's hand and says in a much softer tone, "Bella, I've had time to digest all that's happened, and I think it's not so much that I dislike you as much as I dislike the idea of you. I think I would have reacted harshly to anyone, not you personally."

"Oh … why?"

Alice laughs ruefully, "I've missed my brother for a third of my life, but when he came back, he had you attached to him like a barnacle. I resented that I had to work past you to get his attention. Jasper showed me how childish I had been after you left. We argued, probably the worst fight of our marriage," she sighed heavily, "but I see—I get it now." Alice was silent for a long time before adding, "I'll be a better friend to you in the future, Bella, I promise."

Bella blinked her stinging eyes and said, "I—I don't know what to say, but I'll be a good friend to you, too, Alice. I won't begrudge you any amount of time or attention you desire with Edward. I—I only want him to be happy, and you make him happy. Alice, he missed you so much."

Alice squeezed her hand before releasing it to sit back. "Thanks, I needed to hear that." Looking around the room, she whisper-shouts, "We're in the middle of nowhere."

"Yes, this is where Dunny and Bob live, where I met them, where I met Edward."

Alice huffs as she sits back. "Yeah, well, I'm sure we could find a better venue than this place."

Bella lifts her chin, "I—I think this sweet place would be—blessed by the event we're sharing with our family and friends." She tucks her hair behind her ear and shrugs. "To be honest, Alice, I don't need this. As long as I wake up next to Edward for the rest of my life, I don't care if it's a bed in a mansion or on a gas station floor." She smiles softly and adds, "But Moondoggie needs it. He needs the guarantee that I will be in his bed for the rest of my days and that the world knows I'm his." She takes a brave breath and continues. "So I was hoping you would help Esme and me turn a broken-down gas station into a wedding Edward would want, one he deserves. I—I'm glad you're here."

Alice sucks her coffee spoon and says in a much softer tone, "Of course, you're right. I'm sure we can make it a special memory." She bounces in her seat. "It's going to be a challenge of a lifetime. Come with me to take the 'before' pictures of this 'land that time forgot.'"

Bella glances out the window at the rusted chassis parked along the side of Bob's, three-bay garage and sighs at the accurate portrayal of the place she loves so much ... this oasis of home and family. "Okay, let me put this towel away and let the staff know I'm leaving. We can take a tour of the whole place."

Alice watches Bella rub her stomach as she walks away and wonders if she's already pregnant. That would somehow explain the 'fast and furious' theme of the event. She grins as she muses over the image of a baby seat attached to the family motorcycle and giggles at the thought of Edward's mini-me with matching leather jacket.