The response to this story is phenomenal! Thank you all for the reviews! Thank you toocute24 for being the best beta in the world, and of course I have two of the best pre readers! Siobhan and teamalltwilight I love you both and I'm happy to call you all my friends! Not much to say so I hope you enjoy this chapter!
EPOV
"Ma!" I yelled when I arrived at her house with Cash.
"In here dear," I heard her say from the living room.
"Is Alice here?"
"I'm right here loser. You find a wife yet?" she asked.
"I think so! Now all I have to do is woo her and get her to marry me within the next seven months," I said with a smile.
"Are you for real?" Mom and Alice said at the same time.
"Yeah," I said with a laugh. Bella was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. I wanted her like I have never wanted anything.
"Bella, mommy," Cash said with a big smile.
"Bella what?" she asked her son.
"Uncle loves Bella!" he said, clapping his hands excitedly.
"Edward, she will never go for our lifestyle," Alice said.
"I'm not really worried about that. All I have to do is get her to fall in love with me," I said with a shrug. "The other stuff will fall in place when we come to it."
"I let Bella babysit my pride in joy because I know he is safe with her. She will never let her kids around you once she finds out who you are," Alice said.
"She is perfect for me. I'm going out to dinner with her tomorrow night," I said as Alice laughed. "What's so funny?"
"Now I know you're lying. Bella doesn't date, and the only time she doesn't have her kids with her, is when her neighbor is home and takes them for an hour so she can go to the store. She has no family here and she won't leave them with just anyone. I also know for a fact that Tori won't keep the kids for hours. She isn't even over her husband yet; she still wears her rings," Alice said.
"Tori is her neighbor?" my mother asked.
"Yeah. They became close when Bella's husband died. Bella needed help and Tori was there. Tori said Bella was destroyed when Mike died. I don't think Bella will allow herself love again," Alice said. She was really making me think twice.
"Well, Rachel loves me, so I think I have a chance with her," I said.
"Good luck," Alice said with an eye roll.
"I've met Bella a couple times, and I think she would be great for you. I don't mind babysitting," my mom said as my smile grew. "That is if you can get her to say yes." Of course my mom and sister laughed.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow. I'm meeting her at five thirty," I said as Alice's eyes grew big.
"She really invited you to go?"
"Yes. Well...kind of."
"Ha, I knew it!" Alice said.
"She can't get to know me if she refuses to talk to me. I know if we can get to know each other a little, she'll go out with me," I said.
"Like I said, good luck," Alice said with a glare.
"Do you even like Bella?" my mother asked her.
"She's amazing! I would love to be friends with her, but you know I don't bring people into this life. Leave her alone," Alice said to me.
"Wish I could, but I can't."
"She'll leave you when she finds out."
"We both know that can't happen."
"So you are going to trap her?"
"I'm doing what I have to. I have seven months to get married," I said with a shrug.
"She will end up hating you."
"Then so be it."
BPOV
Alice was going to pick up Cash at five, and then the kids and I would be on our way to dinner. For some reason I was giddy. I had a feeling that Edward had something to do with that. I hated that I couldn't get him off my mind. I even had myself trying to figure out how to go out on a date with him. I knew my parents always wanted the kids to come visit for a weekend, and I was honestly thinking about calling them to see if they wanted to keep them for a few days. Rachel seemed to really like him, so he had to be a good guy. Kids always had the best instincts when it came to reading people.
The kids were sitting in the living room watching a movie while I took a quick shower. When I was done, I checked on them to make sure they were all still behaving themselves. I had no idea why I was going through the trouble of making myself up, but I was a pretty excited about getting to know Edward. If he wasn't so hot, I knew I wouldn't have any interest, but I hadn't had sex in three years! I was long over due. No one said I had to marry the guy; I really didn't think I could ever love another man, anyway. I put on a pair of tight jeans, and a tight v-neck shirt. I even put on my good bra that pushed my boobs up. I shook my head at myself as I applied makeup to my face. I very rarely wore makeup. As I brushed through my hair, I walked out to the living room.
"Mom! You look so pretty!" Mikey said with a big smile.
"Thanks, love," I said with a huge smile of my own. I felt pretty. When the doorbell rang a moment later, I jumped. I must've lost track of the time. I opened the door to see Alice standing there.
"You look amazing," she said with a huge smile. "This little get up isn't for my brother is it?"
"I have no clue what I'm doing," I said with a laugh.
"Well, I have to be honest and say that I'm glad to see that you own something other than sweats," she said as we laughed. "He's going to be there tonight."
"Do you and Cash wanna go?" I had no idea why I asked her join us.
"Edward would kill me if I did, but thanks for the invite. He asked me about you yesterday. I told him you were too good for him," she said as I laughed.
"That's very sweet of you," I said with a smile.
"Just remember that things aren't always what they seem," she said as I stared at her.
"Should I stay away from him?"
"Yes."
"Wow! That is not what I thought you were going to say."
"He is an amazing guy, but he has a temper."
"So, you are saying he would hit me or my kids?"
"No! Well, not the kids. He's a spoiled brat and he always gets what he wants. He wants to marry you." I didn't mean to laugh at her, but that was just insane. He didn't even know me. "I'm serious. His exact words were: 'I'm going to marry her.'"
"Wow, he's so sure of himself."
"He may be different with you. I've never seen him get excited about a woman before. You would be the first." That made me smile. "Anyway, I have to get going. I have to meet Jasper at six," she said as we scooped up Cash and headed out the door. I figured Jasper must be her husband since that was the most she had ever spoken to me before.
Sure enough, Edward was waiting in his car at Good Burger. The only reason I went to Good Burger was for the kid play area. It always felt good to have a few minutes to myself. Before the kids were unbuckled, Edward was standing by my car.
"Hey," I said to him as I held Rachel's and Jacob's hand. Mikey always held Rach's other hand.
"You're so skinny!" Edward said as he stared at me.
"Thanks?" I asked. He sounded so shocked.
"I'm sorry. I just didn't realize it yesterday. You look great," he said with a smile.
"Thanks, let's go get something to eat," I said as pulled the kids toward the door. We all ordered the same thing every time we went somewhere, so I rattled off the order quickly.
"Is that all?" the bored looking teenager said.
"Edward, what do you want?" I asked as I started to fish out my wallet.
"Mom, we're going to go play," Mikey informed me as he held Rachel's and Jake's hands. I gave him a quick yeah as I found my wallet. I really needed to clean out my purse.
"Thirty-two even," the girl said. I grabbed two twenties, but before I could give the girl my money, Edward stopped me.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Paying for dinner."
"Don't insult me," he said as he took out his wallet. "A woman never pays."
"I pay every Friday," I said glaring at him. Every time I tried to take my hand back, his grip would grow tighter. He payed with a fifty and then let go of my hand.
"Well, I'm here now. You won't ever have to pay for another thing," he said with a smile.
"Must be nice," the teenager said.
"Don't you have drinks to get or something?" I asked her as she rolled her eyes at me. I didn't like that Edward was so pushy. "I wouldn't have minded paying."
"I understand," he said with a smile. "Are the kids okay?"
"Yeah," I said as I glanced over at the play area. I saw Rachel with a big smile on her face as she went down the slide.
"Go sit and I'll grab the food," he said.
"Sure, I'll get napkins and straws. Oh, and please ask for lots of ketchup."
"Got it," he said. I was going to try to give him the benefit of the doubt.
If all else failed and things didn't work out with him, I was hoping for a couple good orgasms at least. I bet he'd be good in bed. He had the perfect amount of muscle on his gorgeous body. I found a table big enough for all of us and sat so I could watch the kids. They were all so carefree. As I sat and watched them, I felt sad that Mike would never be able get to know them. I was even more disheartened that the kids would never get to meet their dad. Mikey was almost four when Mike died, so I hoped that he would have at least one memory of him. I knew Jacob and Rachel wouldn't remember him at all, but I always talked about him to them. I felt guilty knowing I was having dinner with another man. I knew Mike wouldn't be upset, but I still felt like I was doing something wrong. It had been three years, it was time to move on right?
"Here's the food," Edward said, setting the tray down. I stood and set up a place for each of the kids. I thought it was sweet when Edward started opening the ketchup packets.
"Thanks for dinner," I said as I sat down.
"No problem," he said eating his fries. "So, if you like me by the end of dinner will you go to a real dinner with me?"
"I don't trust people with my kids. It's hard for me to find a sitter," I told him.
"My mom said that she would love to babysit."
"Esme?"
"Yup."
"I love Esme!" Mickey said sitting next to Edward. "She makes awesome cupcakes."
"I want cupycakes," Rach said, climbing up next to me.
"See! They can hangout with her and make cupcakes," Edward said with an all-knowing smile.
"We'll see."
"I get what I want," he said staring at me.
"So I've heard," I said with a laugh.
"Alice?" All I did was smile at him.
As dinner went on, I found myself really starting to like Edward. He was so sweet, and he was amazing with the kids. All three of them seemed to really take to him, too, which was a good thing. I also found that I was wanting to go out alone with him. We stayed at Good Burger for a few hours. We usually just ate and left, but I was enjoying Edward's company. He told me that he was a business owner and made a good living for himself. He was thirty-four, and he really wanted to settle down. He was the sort of person I needed... at least, I thought so. He said he really didn't want any kids, and I told him that was fine since I didn't want anymore children either. I had to laugh when he told me that he still lived with his parents, but I did understand his reasoning. He said that if he was to buy a house, he would want it to be the only house he ever purchased. That and he would want his girl to pick it out with him. I was joking when I said that I already had a house, but I think he took that as, 'you can just live with me'.
"Thanks for tonight. It was nice to have some adult conversation," I said as the kids buckled themselves up.
"I don't think I've ever had a more enjoyable date," he said holding my hand. "I would really like to take you out."
"I'd really like that too," I said as he gave me a crooked smile. "My parents are always wanting the kids to stay for the weekend, so I'll call them and see if they would like to keep them. Nothing against Esme, I'd just feel better if my parents kept them."
"I understand," he said as he ran his thumb over the back of my hand. "I'll call you later."
"Aren't you going to ask for my number?"
"Already have it."
"Alice?"
"Yup," he said as we laughed. "It's okay to move on. I can see it in your eyes that you want to. Don't hold back with me."
"Mike is the only man I have ever been with. I don't know if I can just move on," I told him honestly as he touched my check.
"I'll help you, if you let me. I really like you Bella, and your kids are awesome. I can see myself falling in love with all of you," he said as I smiled. He was almost too good to be true.
Let me know what you think! Teasers are on Sundays or Mondays on my facebook group. The link is on my profile. I will be posting this story every Tuesday! I have up to chapter 18 done! So there really isn't a chance that I will miss a week!