Chapter 2: Falling hard and fast

Bella's POV

The best part about vacation is that everything is spontaneous. You don't have to make a plan or a schedule for the day. You do what you want when you feel like it.

"Bell's someone is on the phone for you!" Charlie said banging loudly on my door. I threw of the covers of my bed and ran to him.

"Thanks Charlie." I said taking the phone from him. "Who is it?" I asked.

"I don't know, just some boy named Cullen something." Charlie said and ran his hand through his short black hair. I felt my heart flip in my chest at the sound of his name. Edward Cullen was calling me? Quickly I put the phone to my ear and shut my door.

"Hello?" I said trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hey." His velvet voice said. I almost fainted. "It's Edward." He said.

"Oh hi Edward." I said sounding excited like I didn't know who it was. I could practically see that crooked smile come across his face.

"So we had a lot of fun yesterday." He said smoothly. I felt my knees collapsing at his voice and my body yearning to see his face again. I smiled to myself.

"We did." I agreed.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner with me tonight." Edward asked calmly. Wow he was good. I didn't even let a minute pass before I responded.

"I'd love to." I said trying to keep my voice in control.

"Awesome, how about you come to my place around 7 and then I'll drive you there." He said. "The girls really want to see you." He laughed. I giggled too.

"Sounds great." I said.

"Then I'll see you later Bella." Edward drifted off.

"Bye Edward." I said and the phone clicked. I screamed jumping up and down in bed.

"I have a date with Edward Cullen!" I sang over and over again. Then I quickly dialed Angela's number.

"Hey Ang, it's Bella, so I have a date tonight so could you come over and help me get ready?" I said it all in one breath.

"Be right there." She said. I put the phone back downstairs and went to take a shower. The hot water felt good and relaxed me a little. I closed my eyes for what seemed like only seconds, as I tried to keep myself balanced. I heard a knock on my bathroom door.

"Bella? It's Angela." She said on the other side.

"Oh! Be right out." I shouted over the running water. I shut it off and put a towel around myself and stepped out to see my best friend. She was in a long sweater and a pair of jeans. A hair straightener in her hands.

"We've got work to do." She smiled at me. So after 5 hours of work I was finally ready. I was wearing a blousy top tucked into a tight black skirt. I had on nice black heals and my hair straightened down. I had some makeup on but Angela said if Edward Cullen really did like me then he would have to find my inner beauty too. I walked out to my car holding my purse tightly and then threw it to the seat next to me. I drove to the Cullen house using my GPS to find it. I pulled up just as my mouth dropped. This place was fucking huge! There were windows as walls. And everything else looked like an expensive foreign wood. I squeaked as I got out but shut my mouth as I saw Edward standing on the front steps. He walked down to meet me and pulled me into his arms.

"Wow, Bella, you look amazing." It was moments like these that I wish I could read minds. We walked up the gravel together and into his house. And then I was trampled by a little twelve year old.

"Hi Charlotte." I laughed hugging her tightly. I felt a connection with her. Not like I did with anyone else. I just know I would have one with Vanessa if she gave me the chance but I don't think that she likes me very much. I watched her as she leaned up against the wall and stared at her sister. Then her eyes moved to her father. I just wanted to reach out and wrap my arms around her.

"I missed you." Charlotte said.

"And I missed you." I said poking her side. She jumped away giggling. I looked to Edward who had a smile from ear to ear on his face.

"Well we should get going." He said and he put his hand on the small of my back. I felt butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

"Bye Bella!" Charlotte said as she waved from the window. Vanessa just stared at me and Edward as we walked to the car.

"You look amazing tonight Bella." Edward said again, but this time I think he really meant it.

"Thanks." I blushed. "You don't look so bad yourself." I complimented. Edward stifled a laugh.

"I don't hear that very much." He said.

"I was positive that you have heard it all the time." I said looking out the window. I could see Edward looking at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Why would you think that?" He asked.

"Because, I mean Edward seriously look at you. I would have thought that you had girls swarming over you all the time. Telling you how amazing you look." I kept my voice quiet not sure how he would respond to all of this. That was my way of telling him he was hot.

"Oh." He said staring straight ahead. "I guess I've noticed a little how woman stare at me, but I just ignore it most of the time." He said. "There was only one woman who ever caught my eye out of them all." He said. We parked the car and walked into a nice restaurant. More like a really expensive one downtown in Seattle.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"My wife." He smiled at me. And I felt all the blood drain from my face. He was a married man?

"Table for two please." Edward told the waiter. We followed after him and I grabbed Edwards arm and spun him to look at me.

"Wait your married?" I asked completely shocked. I mean I guess I knew after all that he would have to be but I never thought he would be a player like this.

"Used to be." He breathed. I felt my heart beat go back to normal.

"Oh." I said taking my seat. "If you don't mind me asking what happened?" I asked. And then I felt like an idiot, and I mentally slapped myself. "Sorry I'm an idiot." I said looking at my lap.

"No Bella, you're never an idiot." He placed his hand over mine. "And I don't mind sharing at all." He said kindly. "Her name was Rosalie." He started. "She looks a lot like Charlotte, with a slim figure, blonde hair, and blue crystal eyes." Charlotte looks exactly like his description.

"She must have been beautiful." I said.

"She was." Edward smiled at me. "Well one night she decided she would pick up some takeout food from our favorite resterant. And the next thing I knew there was a cop at my door telling me she was hit by a drunk driver. And she died instantly." Edward looked down at his lap and I thought for a moment that he was crying but he looked at me and smiled sadly.

"I'm so sorry Edward." I said and then I felt the need to touch his cheek in comfort. I placed my hand on his cheek delicately. And then he did the unexpected. He placed his hand over mine and held it there.

"Thank you Bella." He said smoothly. Our waiter walked over to us and I recoiled my hand.

"What would we like to have tonight for the happy couple." He said. I was about to object but Edward beat me to it.

"We will both settle for some salad." He said. It was like he read my mind. I smiled at the waiter as he left with our menus.

"So you're a doctor." I stated taking a sip of my water.

"Yes, I work at the hospital in Forks." He said.

"I remember," I smiled at him. "Do you like your job?" I asked. He sighed and ran his hand through his bronze hair.

"That's a tough question." He laughed. "I do at times, it makes me feel good to help others, but at the same time it's hard to be home with the ones I love." He said. I nodded. That all made sense.

"How old are you?" I blurted out. And then I clasped my hand over my mouth wide eyed. Edward chuckled.

"I'm 30." He said. "How old are you." He asked. And my throat felt like it had a bolder in it. What if he got mad when he found out I'm only 20?

"I'm 20." I squeaked out. But Edward's face didn't falter.

"Do you go to school?" he asked.

"I'm in my third year of school." I told him.

"Wow, that awesome." He smiled. "What do you want to be?" he asked.

"A professional dancer." I smiled at him.

"My daughters love you as a teacher; you must be really good at it." Edward said. I blushed.

"I don't know, maybe." I hated being cocky. "But I love having them too, there very talented." I said remembering how Charlotte had danced since she was three. The girl was amazing.

"They like you a lot, Charlotte and Vanessa." He smiled proudly. I knew that Charlotte did, whenever we saw each other we hugged and talked, but Vanessa seemed hesitant. Like for some reason she got a bad vibe from me or something.

"I know Charlotte does, and I like her too, but I feel like Vanessa doesn't like me that much." I sighed and looked down at the food the waiter had just brought.

"I think she does, but she is just being hard. Sometimes she is like that." Edward shrugged as he took a bite of his salad. Edward and I talked while we ate until the resturant closed. I was laughing at something Edward had said as we walked to the car.

"I didn't know you were a comedian too." I laughed. Edward flashed me his crooked smile.

"I can be anything you want me to be." He said and opened the car door for me. As we drive we had a light conversation as some soft music played in the background.

"What song is this?" I asked listening to the piano play.

"It's a lullaby." Edward smiled. I looked at him confused.

"Who's?" I asked.

"Rosalie's." he said.

"Wait you made this?" I asked. "You play the piano too?" I asked socked. This man was like superman.

"I did." He laughed. "Bella you've just found out about another talent that I have." He said.

"You'll have to play for me sometime." I said. We were supposed to take that last right but Edward kept going straight.

"Oh you missed the turn." I said looking back.

"I know." Edward said. I looked at him confused. "I want to play the piano for you."

So I walked into his massive house for the second time that day. He took my hand and guided me towards a room that had a grand piano. He tapped the seat bench for me to sit beside him. I did as he asked. And then I watched in amazement as his fingers glided over the keys magically. It was a sight to see. He moved his head to the music and go so deep into it that I didn't think he was really sitting next to me anymore. He held the last note out and I looked at him in amazement.

"Wow Edward." I sighed. "That was beautiful." I said. He smiled at me.

"Just like you." He said smoothly. I blushed.

"What was it called?" I asked trying to get the attention off of me.

"Bella's lullaby." He said. And then before I knew what he was doing his hand gently touched my head and his lips were on mine. It felt like nothing before. He tasted so sweet that spark flew up and down my body as we kissed. I scooted closer to him on the bench so that my legs were up against his. His tongue explored my mouth as I gasped for air. I ran my hand along the back of this head.

"Daddy?" Vanessa's voice filled the room. Immediately Edward and I broke apart embarrassed. I never wanted his daughters to see this, not now anyways. Her lip was trembling and her eyes brimmed with tears. She was holding a teddy bear tight to her chest as she stood in the doorway in her seats and tank top.

"Baby…"Edward started.

"No!" She yelled and ran out of the room. Edward stood up but looked torn.

"Go to her." I said softly touching my hand to his toned chest.

"I'll see you soon?" he asked his voice asked.

"Of course." I forced a smile. Edward kissed my cheek and ran up the stairs after his daughter. I turned to leave when I felt the need to see if Vanessa was alright. I walked up the stairs and was about to open the door but stopped suddenly. I heard soft voices talking.

"She's replacing mommy." Vanessa said.

"Vanessa." Edward said. "No one will ever replace your mother. I still love her to this day, but sometimes we have to move on in life, knowing that she will always be with us." He said to her. I felt tears wanting to fall down my face. Edward was such a good father to his children. It was so touching to see how he acted with them.

"Is that why you don't like Bella?"Edward asked. "Because you thought that she was replacing Mommy?" he asked. I didn't hear an answer for a little while. But then Vanessa's voice filled the room.

"Yes." She squeaked out.

"Come here," He said. "And you to Bella." Edward said. I felt myself stand straight up. How had he heard me?

"I opened to the door to see Vanessa in Edwards's arms on her bed. Charlotte was asleep on her own bed. I walked over to them and sat down on the bed.

"You know I love you right?" Edward asked his daughter. She nodded her head but refused to look up. "And your mother loves you too, so much." He said. "But I think someone else could love you too if you gave them a chance." Edward looked up at me and winked. I put my hand on Vanessa's back and rubbed my hand up and down.

"Vanessa I'm sorry if I ever did anything that made you think I was replacing your mother, because I'm not, and I won't ever. Vanessa looked into my eyes and I reached out to whip away one of the stray tears still falling down her face.

"I'm sorry I was mean to you Bella." She said softly. I smiled and opened my arms to her. She crawled into them and snuggled into my chest.

"It's okay sweetie." I sighed finally feeling contentment. I looked at Edward who was smiling at us. Pretty soon Ness fell asleep in my arms and I put her down on the bed. Edward tucked the covers around her and kissed her forehead. And then we quietly snuck out of the room.

"You're a natural with her." Edward said.

"I did a lot of babysitting growing up." I said. Edward hummed a response and pulled me into his arms. I looked up at him and we kissed again. It was short but sweet. And then we stood in front of the door in an embrace. And I knew that I was falling for Edward Cullen. Falling hard and fast.