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Many "hvalas" to my lovely friend and pre-reader purpleC305 and to Ninkita, my beta extraordinaire.

Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

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EPOV

"Burgers? Figures," Izi says when we join the others in the backyard. Emmett is manning the grill while Alice and Roza are preparing what looks like cocktails.

"What's that supposed to mean, little one?" my brother asks without taking his eyes from the patties which results in the fact that he doesn't see it coming when Izi jabs him in his side. "Hey!" Emmett cries in protest and almost loses his grip on the spatula he's holding. "What was that for?" I doubt he's seriously hurt but it serves him right.

He deserves it after he messed with my bonding time with Izi. First at the beach and then upstairs in my room. I was so close to kissing her. So close. If I were a less nice and more selfish person I would've done more than just kiss her because, Jesus Christ, she is the most alluring woman I have ever met. I'm now sure we're pretty much on the same page as far as attraction goes.

"That, my friend, was for calling me 'little one'." Izi glares at him, then looks disapprovingly at the patties and shakes her head. "This is so cliché."

Emmett grunts and flips the burgers carelessly. "You think you can do better?"

"Oh, I know I can do better," she counters, laughing. "Next time I'll cook."

I watch their banter and smile at my girl. My girl? A warm, fuzzy feeling spreads through my body at the thought of Izi being my girl. I remember Jasper's words and how love will find a way. Love? I know I'm attracted, very much so, but am I already in love? The thought alone of not being able to see her everyday makes me want to whisk her away somewhere secluded where no one would find us and I'd have her to myself for the rest of our lives.

I have never felt this way about a girl like I do about Izi and it's thrilling and frightening at the same time.

"And besides," Emmett says, bringing me back to the present. I realize I had zoned out and that I have no idea what they have been talking about. "Edward is the cook in the family."

"Oh, really?" Izi looks at me over her shoulder and smirks. "Maybe he can teach me a thing or two then." Her gaze is heated and I'd take a wild guess that she isn't really talking about food. Not real food anyway. She's definitely going to kill me if she keeps that up.

I walk closer to her until my chest touches her back. She stiffens for a second before she relaxes again and then leans back slightly. We keep our hands to ourselves even though mine itch to touch her. "I can teach you whatever you want. I've been told I'm a great teacher," I whisper into her ear. She shudders slightly and goosebumps form on her skin. She takes a deep breath and her gaze deepens. "I'm a straight A student and a quick learner, so I'm counting on it."

"You do that, gorgeous," I advise her and give her what I hope is a promising smile.

"Izi!" Alice calls her from the bar they've set up outside. "Come over here for a minute and try this." She's holding up a glass with something unappetizingly green in it for Izi to see.

"I'll be right there," Izi informs her. "Ok, it was nice chatting with you, guys." She claps Emmett on the back and when it's my turn she holds herself up by my shoulder and breathes "Vidimo se, lipotane," (see you later, pretty boy) into my ear. Izi taps my cheek while her eyes twinkle in amusement before she walks away to join my sister and Roza.

I watch her shapely legs as she's sauntering over to the girls. She takes the glass from Alice, takes a sniff and turns up her nose in disgust. After taking a sip she immediately puts the glass down and shakes her head. Reaching into the fridge next to her she ultimately opts for a beer. She opens the bottle and takes a few gulps before she puts the bottle down again and licks her perfect lips.

My girl - good Lord, how I love thinking that! - senses me watching her and gives me a devilish smile, most likely remembering the show she gave me upstairs earlier. I can't control my body as my friend down south wakes up at the display of pure seduction. Because, intentionally or not, that's exactly what she's doing - seducing me.

"Earth to Edward," Emmett says, startling me.

"Hm?" I ask dumbly, because the brain upstairs doesn't seem to be working properly at the moment.

"I asked if we should put on the steaks too, or do you think the burgers and hot dogs are enough?" He waits for my answer and I try to make sense of his question, my eyes still on my little vixen.

"Yes. No. I mean, that's enough, I'd say." Shaking my head I finally turn to my brother who's looking at me like I've grown two heads. "What?" I ask almost defensively.

"Care to share?" He grins, telling me he's figured me out.

"There's nothing to share."

"The Hell there isn't," he counters. "Little one got under your skin pretty good, huh?"

"Don't call her little one," I hiss even though that's what I practically called her yesterday too. "And I don't know what you're talking about anyway."

"Sure you don't, bro," he chuckles. "You can't fool me."

"How am I fooling you?" I take the spatula out of his hand and take over the task of barbecuing.

"You're looking at little one," he stops when I shoot him a warning look. "Sorry, I mean, Izabela. You're looking at her like I look at my Roza."

I watch him warily. "And how would that be?"

"Like you're in love with her," he states matter of factly

I look at him now as if he's grown two heads and shake my head. But wait! What? "You're in love with Roza?"

"Yep! From the moment she fell on her knees in front of me." Emmett puffs out his chest and smiles proudly.

"First of all, she fell on her butt and not her knees, doofus," I correct his false statement.

"And what a fine one it is," he says and looks dreamily across the yard where Roza is standing and laughing at something our sister is saying.

"I wouldn't know," I admit, because I really don't.

"That's because you're only seeing Izi's."

"Em, it's not like in the past I watched other asses when I had a girlfriend whose ass… Dude, why are we even talking about asses?"

"What is it I'm hearing about asses?" Jasper emerges from the house to join us.

"Edward's in love with Izi's ass," Emmett declares, which earns him an upside down smack on his head from me.

"Stop talking about my girl's ass!"

"Your girl, eh?" Emmett grins triumphantly. "I'll just overlook the fact that you didn't deny being in love with her." He crosses his arms over his massive chest, daring me to contradict him.

"That's because he is," Jasper backs up Emmett's statement.

My brother lifts his arms, palms up in a "there you go" gesture.

I neither admit nor deny it because the first time I'm going to voice it out loud it's going to be to the person it concerns and not to these idiots.

"Whatever, bro. Where were you anyway?" I ask Jasper to steer the conversation in another direction.

"I had a phone call to make," Jasper says and smiles.

"Oh! Is it about-"

"Shh!" Jasper quiets Emmett mid-sentence and looks around before turning back to us. "Yes, it's about that."

"And Alice doesn't suspect anything?" I ask in amazement because my sister is a very perceptive person and sometimes it's like she has a sixth sense or something.

"Miraculously, no and I hope it stays that way. I will need Roza's and your girl's help though." He points to me. I've given up denying that Izi's my girl because there is no doubt that she is exactly that, or at least will be if I have something to say about it.

"Whatever you need I'm sure my Rosie will help," Emmett assures him.

"Rosie, Emmett? Really?" I chuckle.

"Shut up, Edward. Roza, Rosie, where's the difference? You should know it's practically the same. Out of all of us you're the one that spent all your free time and holidays with grandpa Anthony in San Diego and learned the language."

He's right. While Emmett and Alice do understand and also speak a little Croatian I am the one that speaks it more or less perfectly.

"I bet Izi finds it cool like my Rosie." I stiffen at Emmett's words.

"She, uh, doesn't know," I admit.

"Say what?" "Come again?" Jasper and Emmett say out loud simultaneously, making the girls look at us curiously.

"Keep your voices down," I hiss. "I didn't get the chance to tell her yet, ok? I was about to this afternoon, but Alice with her dinner announcement interrupted us. It's already bad that I kept the truth about my ability to understand her from her, much less that we have ties to this place. Oh, and she's also interested in mom's house."

"What do you mean she's interested in the house?" Jasper whispers.

"She told me she wants to open some kind of BnB and that she always thought that mom's house would be perfect for it. She also told me that she knew that grandpa's brother Niko was one owner but not who the other one was, since grandpa Anthony emigrated to the States a long time ago. That's how I found out."

"That's not really bad, so why didn't you explain everything to her?"

"Because… You know how wasted she was yesterday, right?" Both nod. "When I went to her she started to talk in Croatian, thinking I don't understand." I can't hide the smile that is forming on my face thinking about her words of confession.

"Ooh, do tell. I bet it was juicy," Emmett says, rubbing his hands, eager for information.

"I will certainly not tell you. What is wrong with you, Em? She'd be embarrassed enough to find out I understood every word, imagine how she would feel if she found out anyone else knew too." I shake my head at my insensitive brother. "Bad enough I kept the truth from her. I just hope she doesn't remember one day."

"Doesn't remember what? Who are you guys talking about?"

No, no, no, no! This can't be happening!

"Izi, hi! Look, Edward, it's Izi!" You don't say, Mr. Obvious. I glare at Emmett for his bad acting skills, then turn to my girl.

I study her face that shows no recognition but only confusion. She has an unopened bottle of beer in her hand holding it up for me to see. "Is that for me?" I ask her with a smile. She nods and hands it to me. "That's sweet but you didn't have to do that. Thank you." I quickly uncap it and take a swig. Her showing up behind us unnoticed made my mouth dry due to nervousness.

"You're welcome," she says, still warily. I'm panicking now, thinking the worst. I look for my friend and brother for help. They, of course, have left me to fend for myself and joined their girlfriends. "What were you guys… talking about?"

Shit, where are my avoidance tactic skills when I need them? "Nothing important. Just something back home." There, that should do it.

"Something or… someone?" Izi asks cautiously without looking at me.

"Uh, what?" I ask dumbly.

"Nevermind. It's not my business anyway." Her feet seem to be very interesting to her since she still hasn't looked at me. Izi sighs and murmurs something that sounds like "nije on tvoj" (he's not yours). Wait! Is she jealous?

"Hey." I put a finger under her chin to make her look up. "It's something really unimportant, ok?" Liar!

"Okay." She finally smiles. It's small but it's a smile nonetheless.

"Are you hungry? Of course you are. You haven't had anything yet. How about a hot dog?"

"Ok," she says, laughing at my rambling.

"Come on then. Let's eat."

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I hope you enjoyed the Cullen/Whitlock banter. I loved writing it ;)

Thank you so much for reading! See you next update.

Voli vas,

LunaBev