CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

"Mmm, that smells really good," I said, crossing the room to place my arms around his waist. I had decided while I was in the shower that it wasn't worth holding his grouchy mood earlier against him; he had been so upset that morning when he talked about his twin that my heard ached for him.

"I'm sorry for being so nasty with you earlier," he said, turning to face me. I leaned up and kissed his lips. The last thing I expected from him was an apology.

"It's ok, I understand. You really opened up this morning; I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, I think," he said, giving me a crooked smile, before leaning down to kiss me. "I love you, Bella."

I giggled and then kissed him back; I don't think I will ever tire of hearing him telling me that he loves me.

"Love you too," I said.

He grinned and went to check the oven and then took our muffins out. I love muffins and I reached out to grab one of the hot cakes, as he laughed and lightly slapped my hand away.

"Oh," I grumbled, pretending to rub my hand. "Come on Edward! They smell amazing! And they're my favourite!"

"And they just came out of the oven so will burn your mouth off if you try eating them now. Wait five minutes for them to cool down," he said, sternly. "I never knew you were so impatient!"

"Only when it comes to muffins," I replied, with a big grin. He gave me an indulgent smile as he put them onto a cooling rack. Just then the phone rang and he sighed, picking it up.

"Jasper," he said. He paused to listen to Jasper. "Why? Has something happened?"

I stiffened, staring across at him.

"Ok," he said. "Bella, its Jasper." I took the phone from him, my hand shaking.

"Jasper, hi," I said.

"Bella, I need you to tell me about the day you were shot. I'm sorry to do this now, like this, but I thought you might find it easier over the phone away from here."

"It... it's all kind of a blur..."

"Did you see who did it though? You told Edward at the hospital you wanted to speak to me..."

"Yes I did see him. I know I told Edward I needed to talk to you... But... I know I'm not being very helpful... I'm sorry..." I paused again, listening intently to him, and then I ran a hand through my hair.

"It's ok, Bella, just take your time," he said, soothingly.

"I was walking in the garden and it was raining really hard; it was hard to see to be honest and I might have been mistaken... I don't want to go and accuse the wrong person... I guess so..." I paused and glanced up at Edward, fearing his reaction. "It... it was Mike... Mike Newton..."

He stared, open mouthed as his name left my lips and I started to shake, violently. As I started to sob, Edward took the phone from me, which was just as well because my hand was shaking so much I couldn't hold the receiver.

"Jasper, its Edward. I'll have to go... She will be. Call me when you have any news." I stumbled back to the table, collapsing into a chair, then buried my head in my hands, my shoulders shaking as I sobbed bitterly. Edward hung up and crossed the room swiftly, folding me into his arms. I was grateful just to be held and to not have to speak for now.

XXX

"Drink this," he said, quietly, when I was calm, handing me a steaming cup of coffee. I took it from him gratefully, wrapping my cold hands round the mug and sighing.

"Thanks."

He sat down beside me and watched me for a moment as I sipped the scalding drink. I met his gaze and sighed.

"Bella, did you see him?" he asked. "I mean see him clearly?" I could hear the note of disbelief in his tone and it made me nervous. If he didn't believe me, who would?

"It was raining hard," I said eventually. "B... but it was definitely him. He spoke as well. I recognised his voice."

"So why have you waited until now to say?" He sounded angry and I flinched at his tone of voice.

"I... I don't know, Edward. I was frightened... and then when I was in hospital, Carlisle said I needed to relax. The morphine made it hard to think straight and I wasn't sure if I had dreamt it all..."

"But you're sure now?" he said. I nodded and sighed; he didn't sound like he was convinced.

"I've done a lot of thinking and I guess it should have been obvious from the start," I said, quietly; I was upset with myself as much as anything. "I've been a real idiot, Edward. I ignored all the signs; signs that I should have recognised."

"Like what?" he asked, still with that hard edge to his voice. I cast my mind back.

"He always calls you Chef. And whenever he mentioned you, he referred to you as 'the chef'. The photos and everything he had of Mom. It was obvious that I was being followed by someone who knew me inside out; knew my family. So it had to be someone who had known me from childhood I suppose... but I didn't want to think that. I didn't want to think it was someone I knew to be honest."

I sighed deeply and then looked directly at him.

"That night we played Truth or Dare... he was so aggressive. I'd never seen him like that before. And when you kissed me; I don't know there was something about the way he was watching us. Even that night when we were all in the club, when I was injured, he was acting weird. Insisting I dance with him and Jess, even though it was obvious she would probably have preferred I didn't. And there was the night he walked me home..."

"He walked you home?" he repeated, angrily. I nodded, biting my lip.

"He came out of work behind me one night and walked me home. He was being really weird though; made me a bit uncomfortable."

"In what way?"

"I don't know; he kind of invaded my personal space a bit, fiddling with my hood and leaning in a bit too close... I thought he was going to try and kiss me at one point. Even mentioned Jessica to get him to stop. And I remember he looked really pissed when I mentioned her. But I tried not to think about it... Oh Edward, I'm such an idiot. If I had spoken up sooner, no one would have got hurt..."

He was silent for a moment, a scowl marring his features. He looked so angry, so upset with me and I felt a tremor of trepidation. I glanced across at him, nervously.

"I'm really sorry, Edward," I said, suddenly and he blinked.

"Sorry? What for?" he asked, sounding bemused.

"Everything," I said, my voice catching on a sob.

"Hey," he said, drawing me close to him and dropping a kiss on my head. "None of that, Isabella. You have nothing to be sorry for. It's that jerk Mike that needs to be sorry, not you."

I sort of smiled at him calling me Isabella and then the phone rang again. He got up, answering it. I could just make out the sound of Jasper's voice over the phone; his urgent tone of voice and felt myself starting to tremble, nervously.

He hung up and rushed me through to the bedroom to change. When we emerged, he was dressed in a business suit, dark grey with a pale blue shirt, opened at the collar. In any other circumstances I would have been delighted with just how gorgeous he looked in a suit. I was wearing a blonde bobbed wig and a navy blue dress with a cream jacket and matching shoes. He took my hand and squeezed it; I was terrified and couldn't help my hand straying to my side, to the scar left from the bullet.

"Did you take your painkillers?" he asked.

"Yes," I murmured, hoping he wouldn't give me another lecture about taking my tablets and then he squeezed my hand softly.

We got into the car and he sped away, once again following the SAT NAV to our next destination, wherever that might be.

XXX

As we pulled up I glanced to the left and saw that we were on the coast, the sea sparkling below us in shades of sapphire, indigo and green.

"Beautiful isn't it?" said Edward, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Since he heard me say that it was Mike who had been stalking me; who had shot me, he had been a little distant and I feared he was disappointed in me for not speaking up sooner. Sometimes I wished I could read his mind; it would make life so much easier.

"Yes," I murmured, softly.

"Are you ok? You are very quiet, Bella," he said, glancing across at me. I nodded my head.

"Fine," I whispered, fighting back the tears that threatened. Edward sighed.

"Talk to me, Bella."

"Are you angry with me?" I asked. His brow creased.

"Why would I be angry with you?" he said, but his tone of voice gave nothing away.

"For saying that it's Mike that has been doing this," I said, softly.

"Don't be ridiculous," he said, a little shortly. I ducked my head and glanced towards the sea. He sighed again. "Bella, I'm not angry; at least not with you. I'm angry with that asshole for what he has done to you and what he did to Jess and that other girl. He's a total psycho and he has hurt so many people. This is not your fault; most likely if it had not been you it might have been someone else. You do not deserve all of this, love."

His words helped me to relax a little and I found the courage to look across at him as he suddenly reached across and squeezed my leg, reassuringly.

"Bella, I am with you all the way, you know that, don't you? We are going to be together forever... if that's what you want?"

"Oh Edward," I breathed, softly. "That is all I want."

"Good," he said, with a crooked smile. "Because that is something I can give you without hesitation."

We resumed our silence, but it was companionable now; not awkward and he kept his hand on my leg, massaging gently. Finally we pulled up outside the gates of a villa and they slowly opened for us. I glanced over my shoulder, watching as they closed behind the car and felt a strong sense of imprisonment, but then I looked at Edward and the feeling flew away. If I was going to be imprisoned there were worst people to be stuck with.

He pulled up beside the front door and a couple stood there, waving enthusiastically as we pulled up.

"Tony, Marie, welcome!" said the man, who was tall with dark brown hair. The woman at his side was blonde and very pretty and she immediately grabbed me in a hug as I got out of the car, inadvertently making me wince, as the hug was a little too tight.

"Sorry," she whispered into my ear.

They led us into the villa, showing us into the living room, where we collapsed onto the sofa, our fingers entwined, as Rob went to make coffee for us. They had given us names we would easily respond to, taking our middle names; Mike might have an idea what mine was, but he wouldn't know Edward's.

"We won't need to go out in public all that much," said Tania. "Rob and I can get provisions if we need them. We will stay here for approximately a week, by which time I am hoping the need for us to be here will have been eliminated... But anyway, onto more positive things. Your bedroom has the most beautiful sea view and the rooms are all air conditioned. The en-suite is fabulous; you have a Jacuzzi bath and even the shower has jets in it. You're going to love it here, honestly!"

"Well if you don't mind we might have these and then head off to our room," said Edward and I shot him a grateful look; we had been on the road for about seven hours to get here and I was exhausted.

"Sure thing; after all that's what's expected of honeymooners," said Tania, with a smile. I wasn't really sure what to make of her and was sort of relieved when we were alone inside the large bedroom. Edward pulled me to him and dropped his head on my shoulder.

"God Jasper had better catch that son of a bitch fast. I think more than a week with those two might drive me insane." And he laughed, making me giggle too. He paused and then looked at me. "Your stitches are gone, right?"

"Right," I agreed, with a confused look.

"Excellent. How about a bath?"

"That would be nice," I said, with a smile. Edward held me at arm's length, looking deep into my eyes.

"I kind of thought we could share?" he said. I felt heat flame my cheeks and he smiled. "Only if you want to, Bella. I won't put any pressure on you."

"I... I do want to," I said, eventually; the thought of seeing Edward in the bath was pretty much a no-brainer in terms of if it was something I wanted to experience or not. But the thought of him seeing me was another matter altogether.

"Excellent," he said, but I pulled him back.

"But... don't look at me, ok?"

"Don't look at you?" he repeated, confused. I ducked my head; sure my cheeks must be crimson by now.

"Just with the scar and everything," I mumbled. Edward placed a finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"I don't give a flying fuck about any scars, Isabella," he said, firmly. "And you shouldn't either. If I told you not to look at me would you keep your eyes shut?"

I couldn't help but giggle at the thought and he nodded, a little smugly.

"Point proven. Now, shall we?"

And he led me into the bathroom.