A/N: Beta Dee , u/2285193/Deonne
Happy reading all
~~ Chapter 9 ~~
Edward had told me to dress casual for this evening's events. If there was one thing I knew about Edward it was that nothing he ever did was, casual.
I dressed in a pair of dark skinny jeans, a dark navy blue camisole, matched with a white cardigan. I picked out a long black scarf and high heeled boots –that went up to the knee – giving that little bit extra oomph. I didn't have much time to think about my hair, so holding it up with my hand –while I looked in the mirror –I decided on a quick messy bun. I glided on some light brown lipstick, a touch of blush and a bit of mascara and then headed out of my bathroom, where I found Edward sitting on my couch, mouth agape.
I spun around, "You like?"
"Yes, very much" His answering smile showed me he approved.
It wasn't long before we were in the Mustang driving.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
His secretive smile pulled up at one side, "I'm taking you to meet my parents."
I know I should've been excited to "meet" the parents, for professional reasons of course, but I couldn't help but panic on whether I'd make a good impression on them. It had all come down to this moment. I both needed Edward's family to like me for my job, but also for my own personal needs.
Edward could sense the apprehension in my stilled like corpse. He reached between us and grasped my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, before shifting gears.
"Bella, they're going to love you, be yourself and you'll be great." He grinned taking my hand again and giving it a light kiss.
I smiled slightly and answered, "Who takes a girl they've known for what, all of three weeks to meet their parents?" I asked, stalling and not sure why. I needed to meet his parents/family and get on the inside, but I was scared. This was becoming more real now and I all I wanted was to live in a dream world with Edward.
His smile lit up his whole face then and he answered with, "Well I guess, when you're as crazy about another person as I am, you do."
My heart did back flips and somersaulted into my throat. Edward cared about me this much? This was news to me. I'd thought that we were sort of… I don't know, playing around, getting to know one another, dating… but definitely not serious enough to meet the parents.
I guess I could cross this off my to-do list.
"I wasn't aware that we were that… close" I smiled politely, while inside I felt a familiar fire erupting.
Edward didn't elaborate on my question, but his firm set lips spoke more volumes. Edward cared more about me than I'd noticed. I was pleased about his feelings for me, but I was also scared that mine were in the same playing field. We were having this amazingly heated romance and I wasn't allowed to feel this way about him. His presence alone stirred up all the wrong type of feelings inside me. He was scary, dangerous, sweet and generous, dashed with a side of fucked up.
He was all wrong for me. But those dangerous feelings were stirring the pot, making me wish that he'd seize me firmly, heave me down and obtain my virtue. I could feel my cheeks filling with heat at the very thought of it.
Edward pulled onto a long lane, surrounded by large pine trees and weeping willows. The grounds and landscape were very well maintained. There was greenery just about everywhere I looked. If I didn't know any better it was almost as if it was a golf course.
It was a turnkey custom built log home. With what looked to be a wrap around deck, and screen porch. The driveway was made out of nothing but loose stone, really giving it that country feel.
Edward got out of the car first and came around to my side to help me out. I took his hand looking up, admiring the beauty of this home. It was a complete feeling of serenity to even be in its presence.
Walking up the steps my stomach felt like it was in the back of my throat. I wanted to run away, but I was intrigued by the beauty of the home. So much so it was as if its walls were calling me inside.
Once inside everything was silent and stunning. Edward gave me a private tour of his parents' lake house. It had four bed rooms, four bathrooms and a four car garage. Two stone fireplaces, one in the master bedroom and one in the living room. The bathrooms all had marble tiled floors, the bedrooms were carpeted in grays and every other room had wood flooring with sheik area rugs. Pine interior took over every decorative piece inside as well as outside. Eagle Lake was visible from every window of the house. I was surprised to find that there was a pool and a hot tub out back even though they had the lake.
Edward then escorted me down to a pole barn that housed not only horses, but three ATV's and five golf carts. He hopped into a golf cart and took my hand to help me into it as well. We drove around the –what seemed like never ending property –while he pointed out a man made waterfall and a few ponds that he and his brother Emmett made.
On cue I responded, "Emmett is your brother?"
He answered with a grinning, "Yes"
"Why am I only now, hearing of this?" I asked.
"I like to keep my family… private. I had to know that you could… handle them before I… introduced them." He stumbled.
"But you didn't have a problem telling me about your dad or your sister Alice?" I hinted, while his expression went into deep thought.
He answered, "I suppose because Alice is my favorite and dad and I hate one another."
"Now, I'm sure you're just exaggerating." I grinned, while he did not. "So, what are your parents' like? What do they do for a living? Should I be this nervous?" I stammered.
Edward chuckled, "This is beginning to feel like fifty questions, love."
I sat back, hands on my lap, while he drove us back to the lake house. Edward calling me love was rather… unexpected and it did all sorts of things to me. One I couldn't believe that he felt we'd known each other long enough for me to be meeting his parents, let alone having pet names for each other. But I did very much like the way he said it.
When we pulled back into the barn, Edward took my hand in his and we strolled back to the house, where I suddenly recognized Carlisle Cullen standing with his Wife Esme on the back porch.
Everything in me tensed. I had this sudden urge to arrest him while he was standing right there in front of me. My eyes instinctively racked up and down his body looking for any out line of a weapon. Edward felt my body tense and wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders… where I immediately felt much safer.
I did a mental note of Esme: Long wavy dirty blond hair –shoulder length –slim build, around one hundred and five pounds, round facial features, sad looking blue eyes –the same as Edward's –she was wearing a black conservative –sleeveless dress –knee length. I had brought my camera from home, I would take a picture of the family later… getting a few close ups of Esme for my FBI file back at home –since there was no picture of her.
"Mom, Dad, this is Bella. Bella, these are my parents' Esme and Carlisle Cullen." He introduced us.
I instinctively bulged my eyes out at the mention of their last name –Edward hadn't exactly told me his last name yet and well… the Cullen's were very well known. If I hadn't reacted this way I would've given my self away or worse, I would've looked like I'd been living under a rock somewhere.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen." I said shaking their hands. Carlisle's face never faltered, but Esme loved the fact that I immediately put her on a high society rank.
"How do you do Bella? What is that short for?" Esme kindly asked,
"I do fine Mrs. Cullen and Bella is short for Isabella." I smiled kindly.
"What a beautiful name, Isabella. Why do you disown it and go by Bella?" She asked.
"Well ma'am… I do like my name. It's just something everyone calls me and I just got used to it." I explained.
Clasping her hands together, "I will call you by your birth name, Isabella." I nodded in approval. "Come inside before you catch your death." She said.
Edward looked to me strangely and mouthed, "Isabella?" I shrugged.
Once inside the living room area, Carlisle started a fire. He didn't turn around from that fire when he asked me his question, "Isabella, what is your last name? My son so rudely forgot to mention it."
Edward looked down to me in an apologetic way, while his mother starred up antsy from the couch,
"My last name is Bird." I lied.
"Isabella Bird." Carlisle said my name strangely before throwing on another log.
I gave out an awkward, "Yep" While Edward's mother continued to smile.
Edward cut in, "Mom can you believe that Bella takes boxing classes?" He emphasized on the Bella.
"Really darling… come sit," She patted the brown leather couch beside her.
I sat down, while Edward and his father strolled into the other room. I politely told Esme all about my boxing lessons, all the while keeping a trained eye on the hall in which Edward and his father had went down. I was getting the impression that Carlisle could see right through me and this made me nervous.
"Isabella, come take a walk with me." I nodded –reluctantly and looked back at the hall one last time before exiting out into the back yard with Esme,
"Mrs. Cullen, where are we going?" I asked
She linked her arm in mine and answered, "It's time to feed the horses, while the men worry about the business. I thought you'd like to humor me and please call me Esme… Mrs. Cullen makes me feel old."
I laughed and followed her lead. The horses were beautiful. I'm sure they were pure bread, but I couldn't tell you what breed they were. Esme didn't waste time feeding her horses and although I'm sure it was more than two hours it felt like all of twenty minutes. I was having that great of a time with her.
I caught Esme by surprise when I took her picture standing by a gorgeous black horse. "Too beautiful to pass up" I smiled as did she.
Esme told me embarrassing stories about when Edward was a small child and he and Emmett found their father's playboy's in his closet. Edward and Emmett had, not only looked, but they were smart enough to charge the neighborhood boys money to get a peek.
"Even back then my two boys were all about making money." She chuckled.
When we arrived back at the house, Edward was waiting for our return on the back porch with his hands in his pockets. I was smiling, until I saw his features. He was angry and it was the very first time I'd seen him angry. His eyes were cold and lost. His face was twisted up in pain –yet to the naked eye showed no emotion at all. I could almost feel the rage radiating off his body. As did his mother.
"Edward, what's wrong?" She pressed.
"Nothing new mother, it's time for Bella and me to be going." He kissed his mother's cheek, while hugging her at the same time, watching me from over her shoulder and then took my hand without allowing me a proper goodbye.
I was shocked at how hard he was tugging me around the side of the house, towards the car.
"Edward, stop you're hurting me!" I yelled pulling at my wrists.
Edward stopped immediately, torment reaching his eyes that he'd actually hurt me, "I'm so sorry Bella… I'm just… I have to get out of here…I'll be better when we're long gone from this place." He pointed at the house and I nodded taking his hand into mine allowing him to guide the way in the dark.
Once we were back on the road, far away from his parents' lake house I finally broke the ice,
"Your mom is nice." He nodded. "I liked the house. It's beautiful." He nodded again. "Edward, are you going to talk to me? Tell me what happened with your dad? Maybe I can help?" A stern warning look came at me without warning. I was startled, but I knew when to shut my mouth. The rest of the ride was in complete silence.
When we'd arrived back at my apartment, Edward didn't get out of the car to open my door. He just sat there quietly. I didn't get out either. I just sat there… I don't know how long went by before I asked, "Would you like to come up for a drink?"
Edward finally looked at me, "I'm sorry about my father. I'm sorry for this whole night. I shouldn't have taken you there. I should've known better." He whispered.
I leaned over to face him, "Edward, I had a great time. Your mother is very caring and I can see why you love her so much. Your father is just protective and I can understand that, given you're a Cullen, which you forgot to warn me about by the way." Edward's smile was once again on his face.
"I figured maybe telling you that my family had money wasn't the best first date conversation." I picked up on the family bit.
"Edward, what do you do for a living?"
"Nothing… I work for my father's company."
"Well, that's something. What do you do for your father's company?" I asked.
"Nothing worth talking about" He stated.
I figured he must be hiding something good and it was only a matter of time before I figured it out.
"So you coming?" my thumb gestured to the apartment building.
"No, I think I'll just head home tonight" He gave me an apologetic smile.
I nodded in disappointment and reached for the door handle when I felt Edward's hand on my arm. Turning around we were now face to face. My heart picked up as Edward's lips come into contact with my own. His eyes always remained open. Something I found so incredibly weird and annoying at first and now… I keep my eyes open too. I can see the longing held there in his eyes when he kisses me.
When our kiss broke for the second time we were both left breathless and wanting more, but Edward refrained himself when he said goodnight to me now at my apartment door.
I stood in the doorway watching as he bounced down the stairs.
I took the spare key out from under my welcome mat –something I should've done along time ago –locked my door and headed for the shower.
Tonight was different then what I'd expected. Carlisle was far, more scarier then what I'd originally thought and he was definitely hiding something big. Esme on the other hand seemed very motherly, with a dash of loving the fact that she was one of the rich and famous… she loved her titles. But I could easily see myself as her daughter in law and secretively I was happy that we'd hit it off. If Edward's mother didn't like me we'd get nowhere fast. But what was more alarming to me was the hate/rage that Edward felt towards his father. I knew that he didn't like him very much, but what exactly was Carlisle making Edward do for him?
That was the only assumption I could come up with. Edward had to hate his father because of something he made him do at the office.
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Until next week Fan fic world
April
