The Meeting: Esme POV

"Miss Platt, there's a young man in the dining room that hasn't been served yet," the chef at the small restaurant called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I had been day dreaming about the handsome man who lived up in the mountains that only came to town every once and a while. If I had his schedule figured out as well as I thought I did, he would be arriving within the next several days.

I couldn't wait to see that lovely crop of blonde hair and those expressive gray eyes. I pressed a hand to my breast and sighed, I just liked to look at him. Carlisle Cullen.

Esme Cullen.

Goodness, I was being so silly. I giggled at myself a little; I would never be Esme Cullen. Mr. Cullen was such a loner; I didn't think he would ever take a wife. I barely knew anything about him.

I sighed and tried to focus on my work.

The dining quarters were crowded, and there in the middle of it all was Carlisle Cullen. My breath whooshed out of me as if I'd been struck in the chest.

He was so perfect sitting there.

"Miss Platt, please go take that man's order," the cook said again peevishly.

I held my breath as I realized that I actually had to go talk to him. The man I had been skirting around for almost a year now. I sighed and peeked out at him.

He was staring around the room, those beautiful gray eyes sweeping around the room, lingering on the young women.

I felt rage and jealousy swell in my breast.

I stomped out to him and said, "What can I get you, sir?"

His mouth popped open and he looked dumbstruck. I giggled a little. "I doubt that the young lady sampling within the room is suited to your tastes—you look a little too ruffle-and-tumble for them."

"How would you know that?" He asked.

I crossed my arms over my chest, "Well, you look like you haven't shaved in about a month," I ran a finger over his jaw where a shadow of blonde stubble dusted his cheeks, the touch sent chills up and down my spine, "you are in desperate need of a bath, and," I said leaned down and pressed my nose into the hallow of his neck—he smelled heavenly, just enough of a sweet manly scent mingled with the outdoors—but I wasn't going to let him know I thought that, "you smell."

Carlisle laughed, and rubbed his jaw. "If I cannot find a good woman here, where would you suggest I look?"

"Elsewhere," I deadpanned, planting my fists on my hips.

Carlisle narrowed his eyes, and smiled. "I seemed to have offended you."

"No, I just don't think the trigger-happy fathers want their pretty daughters looked at like cattle." I said, staring at him.

He pursed his lips, "None of these women look like the kind of woman I'd be looking for anyway."

"Oh, what are you looking for?"

Carlisle considered for a moment, "I would need someone completely out of her mind." He said with a light chuckle.

"So you need someone who is willing to take on something that would drive normal women to the brink of insanity?" I asked, sitting down across from him. I wasn't supposed to be so familiar with the costumers, but I had to with him. There was something about him that drew me in.

He smiled, "Yes, I do believe that's exactly what I need."

I smirked and self-consciously brushed a piece of hair away from my eyes, "What do you need this woman for exactly?"

"I need a bride, Miss Platt," when he said my name it felt like all of my nerves were tingling.

"Oh, Mr. Cullen, I'm afraid I can't help you, then."

"Perhaps you can, Miss Platt," he said huskily.

"How would I be able to do that, Mr. Cullen?" I asked, propping my chin up on the palm of my hand.

"Come with me," he said more fervently than the situation called for, "come back to my cabin with me."

"That would be improper, Mr. Cullen, for a young, unwed woman to go to a young, unwed man's cabin without supervision, the audacity of it!" I scoffed, surprised I was able to keep my voice calm. What was he asking of me?

"We don't have to be unwed," he said, looking straight into my eyes. I suddenly felt naked and scared.

I straightened up in her chair, fiddled with the fabric of my skirt. "Don't patronize me, Mr. Cullen," I said, afraid he was playing with me.

I stood up suddenly and brushed past him, he caught my wrist and I tried to pull away.

"Please, Miss Platt," he insisted. "Miss Platt," he pleaded, standing just behind me so that I could felt the heat of his body through my dress.

"Esme!" He pleaded.

I stiffened and he continued. "Esme, please. Come with me."

"Excuse me, young man, but I'd let that young lady go if I were you," Pastor Webber said standing from where he was sitting with his daughter Angela.

"Yes, excuse me sir. I'm sorry to have bothered you, Esme," he let go of my wrist and it fell limply to my side. The skin that he touched felt on fire.

Carlisle stepped away, and I saw my future walk away with him, I reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt. "Please, Carlisle," I whispered, "Preacher, can we talk to you outside?"

Carlisle stared at me in disbelief.

"If that's what the two of you want," Pastor replied simply, fingering the hilt of his gun.

Carlisle led me outside, and I slipped my hand into his.

"Now, you two, what is this all about?" The pastor asked, glaring at the both of us.

"I think we might need to talk privately, before we speak to you," Carlisle said, furrowing his own rather comely eyebrows.

I tugged on his hand and he bent his head close to mine.

"If I understood you correctly back inside, then I'm to assume you wish to marry me," I whispered quickly, trying very hard not to blush.

"You assume correctly, Miss Esme Platt." His fingers soothingly rubbed my palm.

"Then I accept your proposal, Mr. Carlisle Cullen."

He smiled and I leaned forward to push my lips against his. He jerked back and then cupped my face in his hands and brought my mouth back to his. He tasted as good as he smlled.

"Thank you for that, Mrs. Cullen," he whispered in my ear. Mrs. Cullen! I was just fantasizing about that! The name made my stomach flip happily.

"I do believe, we are going to be in need of a wedding," Carlisle smiled euphorically.

The preacher smirked and nodded knowingly. "You better look after that girl, you hear me, Cullen?" He asked, glaring at Carlisle once more. Carlisle nodded solemnly.

"Good," the preacher nodded, trying to conceal his smile, "well, just follow me and I'll go get my Bible to make this here union official."

Carlisle beamed and kissed my cheek, "Thank you, thank you so much."

Requested by onlycullensforme. This was actually one of my favourite outtakes to write. :)

So, it was pretty much half and half with people wanting me to either stretch out posting these or just dump them all at once. So I have no idea what I'll do. I guess I'll probably end up posting maybe two a day? Is that a good compromise?