"So, your sister licks your eyebrow when you have laughing fits?" Edward murmured against my cheek. He was standing while I was sitting on a marble bench in the garden, rose bushes surrounding us. My cheek was upturned, and Edward had a light hand settled gently on my shoulder as he kissed my rosy cheek. One of my hands was supporting me on the bench while the other rested on the back of his leg.
"Only when they get really bad," I muttered. "And she won't do it in public."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore."
"Why, 'cause you'll do it for her?"
"Of course," he replied, making me blush happily.
"I can feel your blush, Bella. Did I say something?"
"We are having a conversation, aren't we? You should be talking." His tongue slipped out of his mouth, quickly flicking over my skin.
"Hush, you," he chuckled. I stayed silent and struggled not to turn and jump him and his sexy lips.
"All done!" Alice cried, and I gave in, turning and grabbing his hair to bring his lips down to mine. He grabbed my hips and we fell off of the bench, sprawled on the soft green grass. I laughed before rolling us over so that I was on top, legs swaying in the air and Edward's hands on my waist. I almost forgot Alice's presence; I was so comfortable with her brother. "Freeze!" I laughed and splayed my fingers in the grass under Edward's head as I touched my nose to his. "Perfect, you two!"
"I win," I giggled, rubbing his nose with mine.
"Win what?" he asked, giving a little thrust of his hips. I didn't blush, to his surprise. I returned his seduction by rolling my hips in a slow circle, smirking.
"That."
"You two have some major sexual tension, don't you?" Alice asked from her perch on her stool. I grinned down at Edward.
"You think? I don't know, Alice…" Edward shot his hands out to my ass and squeezed, making my eyes roll back in my head. "Yes, I think you're right."
"Still think you're winning?" I smiled.
"Truce?"
"Truce," he said, leaning up to give me a quick kiss.
"You two should stop moving so much. Edward, I blame you. Bella never moved so much when she couldn't see you," she pouted.
"I was too afraid of hurting myself or something else," I replied, nuzzling the man underneath me. Alice sighed.
"We have a meeting in a few hours."
"We?" Edward questioned.
"I told the curator that I would bring you two in. She wants to meet the models."
"She?" groaned Edward. "She'll be hanging all over me!"
"I'll hold her off," I teased, giggling. "What's her name, Alice?"
"Esme. Esme Ann Platt. She divorced her first husband because he was abusive. She had a son, but he died of lung cancer when he was twelve. She really wants kids."
"Wow, Alice, how did you know all that?"
"I've been talking to her for months. Edward, I want to introduce her to Dad."
"What?" Edward yelped, twitching. I gulped. "Why?"
"Because I know they're perfect for each other," she said, lengthening her brush strokes. I frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Will Carlisle want to date again after Elizabeth?" I asked. Edward froze, as did Alice. Oh, shit.
"How did you know about Dad?" Edward asked frigidly.
"I told her, Edward," Alice said. The man underneath me rolled over and pushed me off before stalking to his sister.
"How could you Alice? We've only known her for a few months! And she's only your damn model!" he hissed. I gasped quietly before leaping up and sprinting out of the garden, tears streaming down my face. Still naked, I rocketed past the other three and into Edward's room, gathering my clothes. Hurriedly, I put them on and headed for the back door. I got into my old truck and started it, gunning it down the driveway. I pulled off and onto a deserted road, down which I knew there was a small diner.
"Hey there, what can I help you with?" asked a redhead behind the counter. 'Victoria,' her nametag read.
"Just a… um…"
"How does a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake sound?" she asked kindly.
"Anything but chocolate," I replied thankfully. She smiled and brought it out a moment later. "Thanks," I said sincerely.
"No problem, hun. If you don't mind my saying, most girls love chocolate."
"Yeah, I know. A guy kind of just ruined it for me."
"Tell Aunt Vicky all about it, sweety. She has had enough boy problems to know what to do with yours." I smiled gratefully and told her all about it, leaving out the nude part of the modeling and the sign language. "Well, that doesn't sound so good. How could any man do something like that to a sweet little thing like you?"
"No idea. We were getting along great."
"But he didn't know that you and Alice-right? Were friends for how many years?"
"Six."
"Six years, that's right. So, it must have come as a shock to hear that you know about family issues that he probably buried deep down. I mean, I lost my mother at a young age, and it took a special guy to be able to get me to talk about her again. Maybe that's all your guy needs, someone to listen to him. Give him a while to cool off and feel guilty, then call his sister. He'll demand to talk to you if he feels sufficiently sorry."
"Thanks Aunt Vicky," I said, grinning. She smiled, too.
"I like you, kid. Come on in any time. I'll listen." The door jingled, and she looked up with a smile. "I was just talking about you!" I turned to look and saw a handsome blond man in jeans and a t-shirt enter the diner. "Bella, this is James, the special man that I was telling you about. James, this is Bella, our new niece."
"Good to meet you," he said, extending a hand. "Ready to blow this popsicle stand, sweetheart?" he asked, leaning over the counter to give her a kiss. I smiled slightly.
"One minute. I want to watch Bella call her friend, first. Then we can go. I'll be right here, Bella. Give Alice a call." I nodded and slowly pulled my phone from my pocket, staring at it.
"It isn't going to bite you, sweetheart," James said, pulling it out of my grip. He handed it back a moment later. It was answered on the first ring.
"Bella? Oh, God, Bella, where are you? We're worried sick about you!" There was shouting in the background.
"Oh, really? I'm 'only your damn model'," I replied frostily, tears collecting in my eyes. Vicky slid herself over to me, and I gave her a watery smile. James nodded and crossed his legs.
"Bella, you're not just my model, you're my best friend! Edward was just shocked."
"Even if he was just shocked, I thought he felt something for me! I thought he liked me!"
"He does!" she protested.
"Then why would he say something like that! He would have talked to me, not insulted me! I don't know if I can keep this up, Alice."
"You have to, Bella! If you don't, the whole series is trash!"
"You have enough pictures for a small gallery," I said wearily, losing most of my anger. "Tell Rose I'll see her at home." I hung up and turned to the other two. "He didn't demand to talk to me," I said, sniffling. Victoria pulled me into her arms.
"Shhh… baby, he'll come around. Until then, you gotta show him what he's missing."
"I'm not going to change to get him to take me back."
"No, no. You're going to take us home to meet him," she said smirking evilly.
