Rated M for later on the story to be safe.

Disclaimer: I don not own Twilight.

Chapter One – The Stranger

Esme Evenson

Walking to work was never easy, but it was surprisingly enjoyable. It was nice to get to know the neighbors, and say a friendly hello. Charles wouldn't let me drive. I think he feared that I would leave him, and that was a likely possibility. I would leave Charles if I could. But I knew that if I tried, he would kill me.

I worked at a small coffee shop in Forks, Washington… Well, it was the only coffee shop in Forks, Washington. When I say Washington, I mean the state of Washington. It's a small, dreary little town. Charles and I are both Ohioans, and it was quite a change to be in a place where it rained constantly, and it was almost always cloudy. It was a perfect environment for someone who hated sunshine.

As for me, I hated the town. Everything about it was so trivial. Almost no one knows where the hell it is, and it's literally one of the most boring towns there is in the continental United States of America. Of course, I could never tell Charles any of this. First of all, I was his wife and I wanted to be supportive of him—I mean he had a managerial position now, but most importantly, I would pay for my insolence. I just tried to shut up, listen and keep my head down. I never spoke unless spoken too. I only followed orders, and barely had a social life outside of my workplace and the house.

A bad habit I had become accustomed to was reading romance novels. It was almost like I lived through the books—they were my life outside of my prison of a house. I read so many stories about women in the same situation I was in. They suffered with their husbands, but then, when all hope was almost lost, the male antagonist comes and sweeps them off their feet. He takes away all of their worries and carries them up the stairs to night of forbidden passion, and eventually frees her from her "bondage".

Every day now, I look at the people—not just the men—passing by me every day while I go to work. I gaze at them with a silence scream for help, wishing I could show them the fresh set of bruises Charles had administered to me the night before. He was always careful in that department—he never hit my face, and when he did, he'd make up an excuse… He always hit, kicked, or even bit me places my clothes would shield… That way, no one could expect any kind of abuse occurring at home behind closed doors, and closed curtains…

The only two women I could trust to discuss this matter with, were my two best friends—Rosalie and Alice. Rosalie and Alice also worked at the coffee shop with me. They knew what damage Charles could do, and usually did to me. They greatly disagreed, but as a favor to me, didn't mention it to anyone else. I wanted keep Charles's unfair, unprovoked wrath a secret. If I didn't do so, Charles would literally kill me.

As I rounded the corner to the coffee shop, my eyes widened at the sight I saw. Coming down the sidewalk in the opposite direction was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. He was tall—probably just a little over six feet with blond hair that was combed back on his head. He had these amazing deep blue eyes, and an obviously well-toned and medium frame. He had the looks of a movie star and not too many muscles, but more than enough at the same time.

His blue eyes lit up when he saw me, as if he'd been expecting me. I had stopped walking and was staring in awe at his perfect face and body. A smile played on the corner of his lips as his eyes locked with mind.

My heart leapt into my throat as he opened the door to the coffee shop—my coffee shop and went inside. Disbelief washed through me. Was this my mystery dream man? The man who would deliver me from the horror of Charles? I didn't know. I'm not going to lie; I wanted it to be him. I wanted it to be him so badly. I wanted him to carry me up a large, majestic, porcelain spiral staircase to a night of much-needed romantic release and ecstasy.

I walked as swiftly as possible without drawing attention to myself, and pulled open the door to the coffee shop. The blond-haired angel stood at the counter, speaking to Alice.

Alice was beautiful in her own way. She was on the shorter side—only 4'10" and the blond angel towered over her—and had short black hair to match. Her most stunning feature, however, were her dark brown eyes. I rarely saw brown eyes that were as pure, and beautiful as hers, but even they could not compete with the blond man's angelic, searching pools of deep blue.

"When is the piano coming in?" I heard the blond man ask Alice.

I walked back, past the man and into the kitchen. I did work at a coffee shop, but they also served food there. Rosalie was our main cook, but Alice and I could handle a spatula if you gave us one. The main things we served were coffee, teas, salads, some candy we had behind the front desk and the occasional hamburger. No one really bough food here—sweets and goodies being the only exception—but we still had to be prepared to cook if someone ordered. I went back and slipped off my gray jacket, before hanging in on a hook in a narrow hallway that led away from the kitchen and to the bathrooms.

What was he talking about? A piano? Are we getting a piano? If we are, why am I the last to know? Did I miss some major memo or something? Someone should have notified me, especially if we were gonna have this sexy angel as the pianist, I thought to myself as I tied my brown apron around my waist.

When I finished getting into uniform—which was just putting on my apron—I went through a different door that led out to the front desk. Alice and the blond angel were still conversing.

The angel looked up and his blue eyes locked with mine once more. I sucked in an uneasy breath, and, as if in response, one corner of his mouth twisted up in a sly crooked smile.

I took in another uneasy breath, and let it out with a shaken sigh. "So, you're the new pianist?" Alice asked, looking back down at her "work". She was just doodling in the finances notebook. I was flabbergasted that she didn't seem to notice this man's incomparable beauty. Then again, she already had a man that loved her and, and cherished everything about her… I didn't have that luxury.

"I'm supposed to be. Silvia called me this morning and told me that the piano would be coming in today, and she wanted me to get started with my new job right away," the man explained.

Silvia was the owner of the coffee, shop and ultimately our boss. She never really had any complains for us, but whenever she stopped by, she'd find something to yell at us over. We were immune to her disdain.

Someone rung the bell behind me, making me remember that I iwas/i working. I turned around to take the customer's order to see a pair of one our most loyal customers. Jessica Stanley and her boyfriend, Mike Newton stood at the counter, Jessica with money in her hand.

"We'd like two coffees please," Jessica said seeing that she'd gotten my attention. "I want cream in mine, Mike," she said, pausing to take her boyfriend's hand, "would like it black as always."

"Okay, that'll be $4.50," I told them, not having to ring them up at the register. I'd worked their long enough that all the prices were programmed into my head, and I was like a walking calculator anyway.

Jessica nodded and handed be a $5 bill. "Alice, can you get them change? Fifty cents," I called. I wanted to put Alice to good use bedsides doodling in the finance book, and, most importantly, get her away from the angel.

While I made the coffee, I swore I could feel the blond's gaze burning my back as he watched me. I didn't want to be narcissistic, and I knew that he most likely wasn't even watching me.

When I turned around with both of the coffees in hand, to my surprise, the blond's angelic face was angled at me, his blue eyes soft, and almost admiring. His flawless face quickly turned away from me once he realized I'd caught him. My heart fluttering like a hummingbird's wings, I brought the coffee cups over to Jessica and Mike.

Alice had already gotten their change and apparently one of them had bought something that was most likely candy since Alice was unlocking the glass door that slid open to reveal the small candy counter that the customers could gaze down at to select what they wished. When Alice bended over to get whatever it us they got, Mike surreptitiously peered over the counter, and checked out her butt.

I tried not to glare at Mike. He was involved with Jessica, and even if he wasn't that interested in her, Alice had a boyfriend—he was more than a boyfriend, he and Alice lived together for corn's sake!

Alice's partner was named Jasper. The two of them were engaged as of a month before. I was in the wedding along with Rosalie and some of her other friends. Alice Brandon would be no more, rather, she would be Alice Whitlock. I also knew for a fact that even though Jasper seemed very shy, and nonpublic, his mood, and composure could change quickly. If he had seen Mike checking Alice out, Mike would be on the ground, spitting out teeth.

After I handed them their coffee, the two indifferent couple went and sat at a table. Jessica began chatting away about her latest endeavors to the apathetic Mike, who seemed more interested in watching us girls behind the counter.

Never once did the blond angel take his eyes off me. The entire day, it felt like I was being watched, and whenever I looked up, I saw his critical, almost yearning blue gaze. Not that I minded that he was watching me so intently—I enjoyed it thoroughly, but it was just… weird. My heart was fluttering all day. If this man really is going to work here for I don't know how long, my heart is going to explode from all the extra beats it takes when he's around.

I lounged behind the counter. It was a slow day, and not many people even gave the coffee shop a second look. The blond angel remained for the rest of the day, waiting in vain for a piano that would not come during the work hours, and not to mention being a constant distraction for me.

When I was sure there wasn't going to be a coffee rush hour, I tried my hand at conversation with him while Rosalie and Alice were back gossiping in the kitchen. "So, what's your name?" I asked casually as he leaned against the counter, playing with his fingers.

The man looked up and smiled a little. "I'll give you mine if you give me yours," he replied slyly.

"Esme Evenson—Mrs. Esme Evenson," I decided to add the "missus" at the end, partially for affect, and partially to see his reaction.

His reaction was exactly what I wanted. He frowned. "Missus, huh?" he murmured almost downheartedly, returning his gaze to his thumbs.

"Hey," I said, smacking a hand on the counter next to him. "Your turn."

He looked up and smirked a little, one eyebrow arched. The face he made was so unbelievably sexy, I couldn't believe it. How could one man be so enthralling? I wondered. "Carlisle," he replied.

"Carlisle, what? I hate it when people do that. It's like those perky, hyperactive waitresses—'hi I'm Kimberly!' 'hi, I'm Joanne!' people have last names, and people who don't say them are always hiding something," I said. I regretted saying afterward, thinking I offended him. The last thing I wanted was to hurt the angel's feelings.

Carlisle chuckled. "I understand what you mean. Let me rephrase that—My name is Carlisle Cullen, Esme Evenson," he said, amusement written all over his face.

I could only imagine what my face was like. I pointed at him with my index finger, and said, "Don't push me piano boy."

Carlisle laughed out loud. "So, tell me Esme," he said smirking slightly. "What lucky man has the luxury to come home to a woman like you every night?" he teased.

I smiled a little at his question, but the amusement was faint. Thinking of Charles made any attraction I felt for this man, die. I looked down at my feet almost sheepishly.

When I got the courage to raise my eyes to Carlisle's angelic face had hardened, as it scrutinized my every move. "His name is Charles Evenson," I murmured. "He's my husband…"

"Well, you're husband is certainly a lucky man, but somehow I don't think you're anywhere near as lucky as he," Carlisle mused.

I searched his blue eyes, before I reverted my gaze to my feet. I glanced at my watch, and sighed. "My shift's over," I murmured almost sadly. Good-bye Carlisle," I whispered before retreating to the kitchen.

A/N: Thanks for reading! This is the first Chapter, more will come. R & R please! :D