"Edward, this place is really nice." Bella gripped my hand and stared around the salon with wide eyes.

"I know."

I was really proud of my Aunt Carmen. She'd worked really hard to make Dandelion the top salon in Knoxville's Old City. Of course, I hadn't told Bella where we were going. She'd have made me turn the car around. Alice would be really jealous when she found out she'd gone to Blaze while Bella got pampered at Dandelion, but she should have thought about that before making appointments and thus embarrassing my girl.

"She can't charge me twenty dollars for this," Bella hissed. "Look at—"

"Family discount, babe." I pretended to polish my fingernails on my shirt and grinned. "Come on. She's gonna love you."

I dragged her through the door into the wide-open space inside.

"—the chandeliers." Bella continued as if I hadn't spoken. "And the flowers. Oh, it's so pretty."

"Edward!"

I looked away from Bella and saw Carmen headed in our direction. She was grinning from ear to ear and couldn't tear her eyes from my girlfriend. Yeah. I was chopped liver. I didn't care, though. Why would anyone want to look at me when Bella was around?

"Hey, Aunt C. This is Bella. Bella, my favorite aunt, Carmen."

"You are gorgeous," Carmen gushed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Bella's ear. "Come, tell me all about your dress so we can figure out what to do with your hair."

Bella looked back at me with wide eyes, but I smiled and waved her on.

Carmen kept talking as she walked. "You, too, Edward. Don't forget our agreement."

I chuckled and followed them to the sinks in the back. Carmen was settling Bella in for a shampoo, so I took the chair next to her. One of the younger girls approached with a friendly smile, but my aunt waved her away.

"You do Bella over here. I'll take care of my nephew."

For a moment, I wanted to argue that Bella deserved the owner's attentions, but I caught a glimpse of relief on my girl's face. A glance at the disappointed shampoo girl said everything.

Jeez, my Aunt Carmen was smart.

"You excited, baby?"

I probably didn't need to use schmoopy nicknames, but it was important to me that I identify Bella as my girl in front of everyone. No flirting with others—not even innocently.

A grin bloomed on her face, and I knew I'd done it exactly right. She nodded and leaned back to start the day of pampering. I settled in to suffer right along with her. No one could ever have gotten me to admit it, but I really enjoyed the shampoo part. Carmen used tingly stuff that felt really good.

Okay, and I really enjoyed the manicures, too. There's nothing wrong with a guy having clean hands and nice fingernails, right?

Fine. I also enjoyed the pedicure, too. I'd have dared anyone to sit in a massage chair for an hour and get a foot rub to say they hated it.

What I didn't like was my hair. I kept my gaze on Bella as they put her long, dark locks on huge rollers, painted her lips a brilliant red, and lined her eyes in dark pencil. I hadn't thought she could look any prettier, but I shouldn't have doubted Carmen. I was so stuck on Bella that I didn't pay attention to what the young stylist did to me.

Until she turned the chair so I could see her handiwork.

"It's a bouffant!" I leapt from the seat and started to mess it all back up again.

"Stop," Bella said softly.

My hands froze halfway to my head.

"If you touch that, I'll be forced to kill you."

I turned to give her an are you crazy look but was distracted by her expression.

She looked like she wanted to pounce on me…and maybe mess up my new bouffant herself.

"I look like James Dean," I muttered.

"I know." Her tone was reverent.

Well, then.