Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 9

Edward knew she was aware of his staring. She most likely thought he was a creep because ever since she stepped foot in the house, his eyes had been glued to her every movement. He couldn't help it. She was even more gorgeous now, if that was possible.

He was standing next to Jasper, waiting for Alice to come out of the house. He hadn't seen her wedding dress yet, but his Mom said that it was amazing, so he took her word for it.

Edward still despised Jasper, but decided to 'tone it down' a bit, upon Alice's pleading. But Edward wasn't going to guarantee that he would ever like Jasper. There was something about Jasper that made Edward suspicious.

Since Jasper had no close friends, Alice offered to have Edward be the best man. Jasper accepted the offer hesitantly, even though he was fully aware of his soon to be brother-in-law's hatred for him. Edward never made his distaste for Jasper a secret.

"Her name is Bella, by the way," Jasper whispered to Edward.

Edward stared at Jasper, narrowing his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"The maid of honor that you've been ogling at. Her name is Bella Swan, she's Alice's best friend," Jasper responded.

Edward didn't reply. He looked over at Bella again, and their eyes met. He grinned at her and saw a blush creep over her cheeks. She gave him a small smile and looked down.

They both straightened up as the music started playing, signaling Alice's entrance.

"I'm so nervous, man," Jasper whispered.

"Don't be," Edward told him.

After the ceremony, the guests were served cheese and crackers. People mingled around and chatted with one another.

A group of violinists played in the back, called The Denalis. They were also close Cullen family friends that flew all the way from Alaska for the wedding. Alice and Jasper were grateful that they agreed to perform their music after the wedding ceremony.

Bella held her glass in her hands carefully as she bit her lip, staring at the beautiful man across the backyard. They were so obviously attracted to one another. Bella wondered if she should go over to where he stood to introduce herself.

He was amongst the male guests and no females were in the group they all huddled in.

She gulped down the rest of her drink and placed the glass on the table behind her. She made her way back into the house to use the bathroom as a way of escaping from a potentially embarrassing situation.

She touched up her makeup and headed back outside. When she opened the door, something fell out of her purse and as she bent down to pick it up, somebody bumped into her.

"Sorry!" Bella apologized as she saw Alice's mother smiling at her.

"It's alright, dear," Esme replied kindly, placing a hand on Bella's arm.

Bella smiled at Esme and was about to walk outside when she quickly decided to ask Esme about the beautiful man that stared at her during the ceremony.

"Who is the best man? The one that stood next to Jasper, what's his name?" Bella questioned.

"I'm sorry, what?" Esme asked, spinning around to look at Bella.

Bella spotted the man standing outside one of the French doors and pointed in his direction. Esme's eyes widened and a slight smile crept across her face. She looked at Bella, and then back at her son.

"That's Edward," she said.

"Is he a friend of Jasper's?" Bella wondered. Jasper had never mentioned a Edward, and neither had Alice.

"Not really, but he's close with Alice," Esme commented.

"How so? Wouldn't she have mentioned him?" Bella asked.

"Bella," a voice said from behind her and Esme.

Bella jumped while Esme remained calm and smiling. Behind them was Rosalie, her best friend.

"Aunt Esme, how could you not tell her?" Rosalie asked in a teasing, accusatory voice.

Bella looked puzzled. "Tell me what?"

Rosalie placed a hand on her belly and then leaned on Bella. "That's Alice's brother."

Bella's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? Are you just pulling my leg for fun? That's not possible."

"It's possible," Esme said softly. "Edward hasn't been home in ages. This is the first time in a while. He stays in New York to run the family company."

Bella took a deep breath, and muttered to herself, "I can't believe this."

"Well I can!" Rosalie blurted out loud. "You two were literally flirting from across a distance. I saw the way you stared at each other, batting eyelashes and you, Bella, of all people, biting your lip seductively at him."

"I was not!" Bella protested.

Esme shook her head lightly and made her way past the two arguing women.

"Is he single?" Bella asked quietly.

"As far as I know," Rosalie said. "But I'm not really sure. Ask him."

"I'm nervous to talk to him, but I want to get to know him better. I wonder why Alice never brought him up." Bella kept staring at the back of his head through the doors.

"Go talk to him!" Rosalie urged.

"Tonight," Bella said firmly. "I'll speak to him tonight."

"I'll be holding you on that, Bella. You would be perfect for Edward," Rosalie said, chomping loudly on a grape she got from the snack table in the backyard.

"Excuse me, I'd like to make a toast to the bride and groom," Bella said, looking around at all the guests. It was the reception, and Bella was going to make a toast to Alice and Jasper. She'd been working furiously on it for the last month, trying to perfect it.

"Go on," Rosalie said, looking happily up at her friend.

"Hello everyone, I'm Bella. I met Alice in high school and we became instantly attached to the hip after she came up to me on the first day and asked if I was the new girl. She took me by the arm and said very seriously, 'We're going to be best friends.' Alice is like my sister, and although we're almost complete opposites, I love her so much. Today is a day I know Ali has been looking forward to since Jasper proposed. I know the both of them are amazing together, and I do not doubt that one bit. I trust Jasper to be the person who cares deeply for Alice. Let's all toast to the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock!" Bella finished by raising her glass up.

Everyone settled down to dinner afterward. The food was delicious, as expected. Alice didn't disappoint. She spent so much time tasting different food choices and didn't give up until she felt completely comfortable with her choice. She didn't want to be one of those brides that end up hating their food selections on the day of the wedding.

Later, Edward made his way over to Bella's table.

"Would you like to dance with me?" he asked quietly, his lips brushing against her ear.

She shivered and nodded. He took her hand and they made their way on the dance floor.

Bella stared into the eyes of Edward Cullen as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She automatically raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

Anybody that was staring at the two of them on the dance floor would see the love and adoration in Edward's eyes. Bella's showed obvious need to know him better.

"What's your name?" Edward asked, keeping his lips close to the side of her face.

"Bella," she responded. "You?"

"Edward," he replied, tightening his grip around her waist. Bella smiled as she stepped closer and brought her face into his neck.

Dancing together brought feelings of desire and love between Edward and Bella.

Even though she barely knew him, there was something about Edward that made her instantly trust him. His eyes were so warm and easy to fall in love with. And that crooked smile he flashed her. It made her melt into his arms.

As the song morphed into another song, a slower one, Edward knew that he had to have Bella. He wanted her more than anything else in the world. And dancing together proved that – the only place she belonged was in his arms.

Bella didn't pull away when the next song started, which made Edward smile into her hair.

There was no other place she'd rather be.

"Look, look!" Rosalie squealed, gripping Emmett's hand as she pointed excitedly toward the dance floor.

"Ow, baby, not so tightly. What is it?" Emmett whined.

"Edward and Bella!" Rosalie snapped, slapping Emmett's thigh. "They're so cute together."

Emmett's eyes zeroed in onto his cousin and his wife's best friend, who he considered a little sister. "What the hell? When did they get together?"

Rosalie slapped the side of his head. "I don't know if they're officially together, but they're perfect for one another. It's so obvious they are fond of each other, and if they can't see that, then they're both idiots."

"I like you," Bella admitted shyly as the song ended. They headed toward a quiet section of the backyard behind the house where guests didn't wander.

Edward smiled widely. "I like you too." He held her hands in his and squeezed them.

"It seems so surreal. We just met today and I can't believe we're already confessing... the attraction we have for one another," Bella blushed at the sound of her words.

"I think it's normal. I don't see anything wrong in that," Edward said.

"So, what are we?" Bella asked.

"Let's get to know each other first and see how things go from there. I'm hoping, that soon enough I can call you my girlfriend though," Edward chuckled as he pulled her close to him.

Bella giggled, the wine had definitely loosened her tongue and relaxed her body. "I'm kind of annoyed Alice hid you away."

"It's not her fault. I've been distant and busy with work, so I didn't get to see my family much. I essentially hid myself away," Edward explained, nuzzling her hair.

"I hope to see more of you then!" Bella said boldly, biting her lip and staring into his eyes.

"You will, you will," Edward laughed at how demanding she sounded. His eyes twinkled and butterflies fluttered wildly in Bella's stomach as his lips pulled up into a crooked smile.

"Can I kiss you now?" Bella asked, a surge of confidence emerging from within her. It shocked her that she was so forward. She had never been this courageous around guys. She always shied away and waited for them to make the first move.

"Of course," Edward smiled, leaning in.

Their lips met, gently, at first, and then increasing in passion. Bella's fingers trailed along Edward's jaw. His hands moved to her face and he rubbed her cheeks, loving the smoothness of them.

"Mmm," Bella mumbled, pressing a few more kisses to his lips. She was much shorter than him, and therefore raised herself up on her tip-toes to reach his lips.

Edward saw her dilemma and helped out by bending down a little.

"Why are you so tall?" she grumbled, her fingers caressing his hair.

"Sorry," he apologized, kissing her forehead.

"There you guys are! Rose, come quick! They're making out!" Emmett's loud voice alerted all the guests to their hiding spot.

"Do not let them out of your sight!" Rosalie waddled as fast as she could toward the hiding spot.

Emmett was jumping up and down in gleeful laughter as he snapped pictures of them embracing on his phone. "Yes! Yes!"

Bella and Edward groaned, turning away from the flashes of cameras. They enjoyed being alone together, and stupid Emmett ruined it all.

Edward shielded Bella's eyes from the cameras as he shuffled them inside the house.

"Sorry about that. Emmett is really annoying sometimes," Edward said, closing the door behind them.

"I know," Bella laughed, looking at the floor. "Did you mean what you said earlier? About being around more often? I don't want to be in a relationship where it won't work out because of the distance or whatever."

Edward stared at Bella. "I am willing to make it work. I am willing to do whatever to make this – between us, work, Bella. I promise you. I find you so beautiful, beyond words. I can't even begin to describe how I feel when I see you. It's crazy, I know, but I need to be with you."

"Wow, I don't think any guy has ever said that to me. I'm really amazed, shocked, to be exact," Bella said, laughing.

"Is that bad?" Edward asked anxiously.

"No, no. It's good, really good. This proves you are actually genuine about this, and not just looking for a quick fling, like most guys are," Bella said.

Edward smiled. "Can I have your number?"

Bella took out her phone and handed it to him. "Switch."

Edward was sure not to let go of Bella this time. He had finally found the one constant in his life.


-girlish squeal- Are you as happy as I am that they're finally getting together?