Le Vignoble de Masen
(The Masen Vineyard)
There is someone for everyone, Bella. Don't rush it.
The voice of Bella's late father, Charlie, filled her head as she jogged on the treadmill. It was the six-month anniversary of his passing, and she still felt the warmth of his words. Lately, though, she felt those nine words weighing heavily on her heart. Partially, because she didn't believe them anymore and wondered if her dad had been lying to her all those years ago. Secondly, because she missed him terribly.
The first time he uttered those words of comfort was when she broke down and cried in his arms, devastated over her first breakup. They stood on the banks of a Colorado stream right outside their A-frame cabin with fishing poles casted into the clear, cool water. Charlie dropped his pole as he tried to console his only daughter, wrapping his flannel-covered arms around her. He couldn't stand to see her cry. Bella was young, seventeen or so. She had dreamed she and Riley would be together forever. In that moment in time, her dad's words gave her some semblance of comfort—and a bit of hope.
But that was then.
And this was now. Tears glistened in Bella's brown eyes. She gave a slight shake of her head to clear her thoughts and pushed the speed button up a few notches on the treadmill. She jogged faster, keeping in time with the two guys exercising next to her.
Love should be easy, like Sunday morning pancakes and black coffee in your favorite mug, splashed with a bit of thick cream. Of course, she'd think of food as an analogy. Half her brain was usually stuck at the restaurant where she worked. But then there was Eric, her ex-fiancé. After a year and a half, he ended up more of a friend, not the love of her life. They parted ways amicably, though, and that was seven years ago. Now she was scared. Scared she'd never find someone, yet scared of commitment with the wrong person again.
Charlie's words cycled through her brain at odd times like a broken as she drove the winding mountain road home at dark, or as she created recipes in the kitchen in the early afternoon, or like now at the gym, as she tried to keep fit from all the French food she prepared and tasted.
There is someone for everyone, Bella. Don't rush it.
For all she knew, the perfect man could be staring her in the face right now. However, her apprehension about love must be keeping her single. That was an amusingly, depressing thought. She laughed out loud because otherwise she'd probably cry. The guy on her left turned his head and gave her a strange look.
"Sorry," she said, rolling her eyes once the guy looked away. That was definitely not love staring her in the face.
She daydreamed a lot, about how nice it would be to come home to someone after a long night at work. Maybe she should lighten up and stop self-sabotaging herself. She shook her head of the thought and kept on jogging. There wasn't anyone who even remotely caught her eye.
Sweat trickled down Bella's face, so she wiped the beads away with the back of her hand, then sprinted the last thirty seconds. Strands of her shoulder-length, chocolate-colored hair escaped her ponytail and stuck to the back of her neck.
Bella let out a heavy sigh when her workout was complete, then headed toward the locker room to grab her gym bag. She looked around the mid-sized gym, scoping out future-date possibilities, because this was where her life had led her. Lonely and desperate. Well, not desperate, yet. She hadn't been on Bumble or Tinder, as her friends told her to do, so that was a plus. However, those options were looking like more and more of a possibility.
She kept thinking of all the things her dad told her over the years. Especially the things about love. Charlie loved her mother, Renee, and he loved Bella. He wanted to walk her down the aisle one day, in the woods behind his cabin—the one she lived in now. He practically had a caterer booked, he had teased.
That day never happened, though, and Bella felt a slight pain under her rib cage, poking at her heart as she left the gym. She wished she could have given her dad his wish. She could recite his speech verbatim about love and how she'd meet the man of her dreams. Sometimes she wished she had married Eric, just so her dad could have proudly taken her arm in his, escorting her to the altar. Deep down, however, she knew something better would come along. But that was seven years ago, and so far all she had landed was a good job and a stray cat named Allister.
Bella sighed out loud. Her father was a romantic. She'd never be categorized like him, because love never came easy for her, she guessed. Yes, she loved her late Mom and Dad, but at thirty-two years old, she'd never experienced that all-consuming love for another person. Her cat, yes, but not a human being.
She 'liked' her job as a chef. She liked her friends and her early morning trips to the gym, but no man got her blood pumping like those workouts. She was starting to believe something was wrong with her. Maybe her vitamin D levels were low. She loved napping, chalking up her fatigue to long hours working in the restaurant. She always spent her only weekend day off, sleeping until noon, then curled up under her down comforter, scouring cookbooks for new recipes. At work, her moods were up and down. But, in her defense, her supplier kept getting the food supply order incorrect and the GM was all over her case. A stress headache was threatening to emerge.
Bella headed to her Jeep and took her time getting home. There was something about the tall pines and snow-capped mountains that soothed her soul and calmed her anxiety.
꧁꧂
"No. I'm not depressed, Alice." Bella continued chopping the shallots for the Chicken Provençal with quick precision. Time was of the essence if she was going to have everything ready in time for the dinner service.
"No offense, Chef," Alice, Bella's sous chef, said. Alice was thirty years old, all of five-foot-one, and a dark-haired smart-ass. She held up her hands in surrender, walking to the cooler to grab the cheese for the soufflés that were on the menu that evening. They were one of La Vigne's specialty dishes, but only on Saturday night.
Alice mumbled to herself, and Bella shook her head in irritation. The noise level in the kitchen was loud as everyone prepped ingredients for their mise en place for specific recipes. Bella was fairly certain Alice called her "miserable" because Rose, the pastry chef, stifled a laugh, but she couldn't be for sure.
The three of them had become close friends and frequently grabbed drinks after work. However, that didn't give Alice the right to question Bella's mental status. She was fine. Everything was fine. She was just deficient in vitamin D. WebMD said as much. Bella didn't butt into Alice's love life with Mike, and that was a disaster. She kept far away from that train wreck of a relationship. Bella thought that maybe she was lucky she hadn't fallen in love. There was no way she could handle the sleepless nights and worry about infidelity like Alice endured. Rose, on the other hand, a twenty-seven-year-old tall, pretty, blonde girl with a clear complexion and a slight drinking problem, was madly in love with her boyfriend, Emmett, which gave Bella a semblance of hope.
However, Bella was basically married to her job. She ate, drank, and breathed La Vigne, the little French restaurant in the quaint downtown area of Aspen. She technically didn't have time for a boyfriend. Allister was enough of a companion, she told herself.
"Everyone!" Bella called out to her staff. "Cooler-time in five!"
The staff quickly finished up their duties and followed Chef to the walk-in cooler. It was the meeting place for pep talks before the dinner service began. It was also the spot to take a breather and scream bloody murder if the stress of the highly sought-after restaurant became too much. Which inevitably happened at some point, for someone.
Bella smoothed her hands down her white chef's coat and began. "Gather 'round." She waited as they formed a circle. "You guys rocked prep just now, thank you! The forecast for tonight is crazy, though, and we're going to get slammed. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to pull a few of you off your regular stations to help Alice and me if we need backup." Seth and Quill nodded enthusiastically. They'd be the ones she would call upon first.
"Rose, you can have Angela if everyone and their mother orders dessert. As for the rest of you, be efficient and helpful."
Her eyes scanned the staff members huddled around her. She was proud of each one of them. They were impeccable. Their restaurant wasn't Michelin star-rated for nothing. They were all exemplary at what they did.
"Questions? Suggestions?" Bella asked. She wanted her staff to feel comfortable voicing their opinions and/or problems so she could address them head-on. That was her way of keeping a happy work environment, and it made perfect sense to her. The General Manager didn't always agree with how she ran the back of the house, but the owners of La Vigne, James and Victoria Laurent, supported her one-hundred-percent and liked her style. There wasn't any animosity among her kitchen staff, and she was going to keep it that way.
"Yes. I have one," Jake said. "Marcus pulled me aside as I came in and told me he may need me to help bus tables."
"He what?" Bella was pissed. Marcus knew damn well that she needed every single person in her kitchen.
Jake was fairly new. He'd been at La Vigne for only a few months and was the best line cook she'd had in a while, and she needed him. Especially on a night like tonight with a full house.
"No. You're mine." Bella growled under her breath. Not only was Marcus trying to assert his power as GM, but she figured Tanya, the Front of the House Manager, hadn't scheduled her staff appropriately, and put him up to it. "I'll talk to him."
"Anyone else?" She held her breath, hoping that was the only issue she'd have to deal with tonight. "No?" She scanned the circle again. "All right then, hands in." Bella outstretched her arm, her hand suspended in the middle of the circle. Each staff member followed suit, piling their hands on top of hers. "On the count of three. One, two, three…"
"La Vigne!" they shouted! Everyone threw up their arms, ready for another hard-working, exquisite evening at the restaurant.
As they filed out of the walk-in, Bella headed straight to Marcus's office—she had a bone to pick.
꧁꧂
After an almost perfect service, Bella, Rose, and Alice unbuttoned their chefs' coats, slipping them off at the end of their shift.
"Wine?" Rose asked. "Emmett won't be home for a few hours, so I have time for a drink or two." She pushed back stray pieces of hair toward her hair tie.
"Did you even have to ask?" Alice teased. "Saturday is girls' night."
"Sure, but Marcus needs to speak to me." Bella walked to her tiny desk off the kitchen and opened a notebook to jot down notes about tonight's service. She did this at the end of each shift for the Monday morning staff meetings. She treated La Vigne as her own and ran a tight ship. This is how she executed dishes with ease, fine-tuning every aspect down to the garnish.
The girls followed her to the little nook. "He's probably going to ask you out again." Alice laughed as she clocked out on her phone.
Bella rolled her eyes, giving the girls a smirk. "I'm pretty sure dating the GM isn't a good idea." She lowered her voice. "He's too metrosexual for my liking anyway."
"You mean he's a pussy. Just say it, Bella." Rose cackled at her statement.
"That's one way of putting it, I suppose."
"And an asshole," Alice added.
"Yes, and that," Bella agreed, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She needed to maintain some sort of professionalism while still in the kitchen, even if Rose and Alice were her friends. "He wasn't happy I confronted him about Jake this evening." Bella shrugged, scribbling down something about the Béarnaise sauce and the crab for the Steak Oscar.
"Who does he think he is anyway?" Alice asked.
"I don't know, but I'll meet you two at the bar in fifteen?" Bella closed her notebook and slid it in the desk drawer. "I called Jasper earlier and he reserved a table for us."
"Sweet. You've got all the connections, Chef," Rose said with a smile.
꧁꧂
Marcus droned on for half an hour, filling her in on the Aspen Holiday Wine and Food Festival that La Vigne would be participating in. And now she wondered just how tipsy her friends were getting without her.
"You'll need to meet with the owner of the vineyard about what wine pairings will go with your courses." Marcus handed her a sturdy black business card. Edward C Masen's name and contact information was printed in a shiny, blood red, gothic font. Her fingers flipped over the card, smoothing over the words on the other side. The pads of her fingers tingled as she did so.
Le Vignoble de Masen
Le meilleur des meilleurs.
Santé
"So, they have good wine?" It was a rhetorical question, of course. She slid the card into her back pocket, then rubbed her fingertips together.
Bella read and spoke a little French from her culinary studies abroad, so she didn't have to ask what it said.
"Their vineyard is one of the best. They're local, you know."
"Apparently, and yes, I know." Bella bit her lip so she wouldn't say something she'd regret like: I'm not looking forward to working with a conceited douche.
Bella wasn't boastful. In fact, she despised people who were. So, the card in her pocket seemed ridiculous. She knew it was probably a brand tagline, but she thought it was tacky just the same. She knew her food was fantastic; however, she never boasted that she made the world's best filet mignon let alone be arrogant enough to put it on her business card. Her guests decided how good her food was for themselves. And she'd decide the quality of wine for herself. Her first impression of Edward C Masen was he must not have a humble bone in his body.
Le meilleur des meilleurs. Santé
(The best of the best. Cheers)
"Edward is expecting your call soon."
Bella nodded. "I'll create a menu tomorrow, then contact him on Monday."
"Sounds good. Oh, and my apologies again for trying to take one of your staff."
It was all she could do to keep her mouth shut, but she gave him a curt smile and hurried to the restroom to change into her street clothes so she could join her friends.
꧁꧂
The night was crisp in Aspen. A dusting of snow had swirled down from the mountaintops while Bella was at work. Luckily, The Cork wine bar, where she was meeting the girls, was only a short distance from La Vigne.
Bella inhaled a lungful of clean mountain air, tugged her fleece coat up around her neck to keep herself warm, and decided to walk. It was silly to drive her Jeep minutes down the road. Besides, she loved the romantic feel of downtown Aspen at night. Things were calm and serene—her most favorite time of day.
The buildings were dimly lit, and the shops glowed from inside as she walked past. She saw a few people scurry to their cars from the bar she was heading toward. The Cork was a hot spot to gather in their hip little town. She picked up her pace and her boots made a trail through the newly fallen snow.
When Bella arrived at The Cork half past midnight, Rose and Alice waved her over. The bar wasn't huge—it accommodated about forty people—so she noticed them right away, even though the lighting was dim. It was a cozy space. The ceiling was vaulted, but it didn't distract from the warm feel. A beautiful flagstone fireplace was positioned on one side of the bar and the scent of sizzling hardwood added to the ambiance. The girls were nestled in the signature wine barrel chairs, upholstered with camel-colored leather. They were a contrast to the rustic dark wood tables, and Bella loved decompressing in the wine cellar-esque establishment.
"Hello, Jasper," Bella said as she walked past the bar on her way to the table. Wine bottles lined the wall behind him and large copper bowls of wine corks were used as decoration at each end of the bar top.
"Good evening, Bella," Jasper replied as he served a handsome gentleman a drink she'd never seen before. "Irina will be right over."
"Thank you." She smiled as she navigated her way through the tables to sit down.
The Cork was a favorite hot spot for tourists in ski season, which was upon them now. However, after midnight, the sexy little bar was barely a quarter full and mostly locals sipping the night away.
"Whew," Bella said, sitting heavily in one of the barrel chairs.
"Finally. I was about to come check on you," Alice said, then took a sip of her wine.
Rose set down her wine glass, her eyelids slightly heavy. The busy night at work and the wine had obviously taken effect. "Alice was sure Marcus had you sprawled out on the work table, buttering your bread."
Bella scrunched her face in disgust.
Alice laughed and a little wine dribbled down her chin. She held up her pointer finger, shaking it back and forth, telling them to wait while she swallowed the Chardonnay.
"Oh my God, Rose! I didn't say that! What I said was, Bella is his bread and butter—meaning, she makes La Vigne what it is. It'd be nothing without her as Chef. And I'm convinced that if she even mentioned how Marcus lets Tanya slide, the Laurents would fire his ass."
"I need a glass of wine." Bella laughed. "You two are way ahead of me."
Just then, Irina was tableside. "Good evening, Bella. Would you like to see the wine menu?"
Bella shook her head. "I'll have a glass of the house Pinot Noir, please."
"Perfect."
"Wait, on second thought, do you happen to have a Le Vignoble de Masen Pinot?"
"As a matter of fact we do."
"I'll try that, please." Bella adjusted in her seat and tried to relax. It'd been an extremely long day at the restaurant, and now with the responsibility of creating a menu for the Aspen Holiday Wine and Food Festival, she figured she could get one step ahead and essentially do some research on the winery she'd be partnering with, by sampling a glass tonight.
Let's see, Mr. Masen, if you're really serving up "Le meilleur des meilleurs."
Irina was back minutes later cradling a bottle of wine in a white towel. The label was facing out so Bella could confirm her wine order. Bella studied the label. There were similarities to the business card she had tucked away in her pocket, yet the label was elegant. The cream-colored label had a family crest in gold at the top, with the name Le Vignoble de Masen in red gothic-type letters under it. A faint black sketch of a vineyard filled in the background. Bella resisted the urge to run her fingers over the lettering to see if it induced the same tingling sensation as the card had earlier; instead, she nodded to Irina, giving her the okay to continue.
Irina placed the bottle on the table and produced a wine key to run along the red wax that encased the top of the bottle and cork. Bella watched intently and Alice continued to sip her wine.
Rose ran her finger around the rim of her glass. "You're kinda boujee, ya know?"
Bella shrugged her shoulders. "All in the name of research."
"Boujee?" Alice repeated Rose's ridiculous description out loud. "Boujee?" Alice said again, disbelieving, knowing Bella didn't have a boujee bone in her body. "I think you're done, friend."
Rose huffed, but snapped her fingers to get Jasper's attention behind the bar, drawing attention from a few people around them. The nice-looking gentleman with the copper-colored hair Bella had noticed on the way in, looked over with a smirk, then said something to Jasper. Jasper jerked his chin up, understanding Rose wanted another drink. Without a doubt, Rose was going to need an Uber.
Bella only ever ordered by the glass at The Cork, which was what she thought she had done, so this was new to her, but she knew the etiquette. Irina went through the uncorking process like a professional sommelier, pouring a small amount of the dark red wine in the glass in front of her. Irina tipped her head, waiting for Bella to swirl the Pinot Noir, inhale the scent, and take a tiny sip for her approval to continue to fill her wine glass.
Bella did exactly as she'd been taught in France. The floral notes soared from the glass into her nose; her eyes fluttered at the delicacy of the wine, yet it was complex just the same. Bella ran her tongue over her bottom lip, anticipating the delicious taste. The Pinot Noir was exquisite, and she nodded to Irina to go ahead and fill her wine glass. Maybe she should cut Edward C Masen some slack. Inwardly, she groaned as Irina retreated with the bottle of wine, but perhaps she only needed one glass since she was driving home and the roads would surely be a little slick.
The girls talked shop for a bit as Bella filled them in on the Wine and Food Festival. Jasper also checked on them periodically over the next hour since Irina's shift was over, each time standing next to Alice with his hand on her shoulder. She wiggled her eyebrows without him noticing, making the girls snicker.
"So, who's the hottie at the bar?" Rose asked Jasper in a long, drawn out, tipsy fashion.
Bella looked over the rim of her wine glass, the second glass she decided to partake in, and caught the hottie, as Rose dubbed him, looking their way. It wasn't the first time she noticed him watching them, either. When she went to the restroom, she felt his eyes on her back, a cool wave sensation raising her skin with goosebumps. She was one-hundred-percent correct, too. When she turned to enter the ladies room, she glanced over her shoulder, noticing how his eyes sparkled when he winked at her. She felt a white-hot energy from him, and her cheeks heated as she closed the door behind her.
"That's my cousin, Cullen."
Rose elbowed Alice, but spoke to Jasper. "Bella's single, ya know."
"He is, as well," Jasper said with an amused look.
"Rose!" Bella whisper-shouted. "Check please."
Jasper laughed. "It's near closing time, anyway, ladies. You can settle the tab now, if you'd like. The snow is coming down pretty hard so we should all head home." He handed them each their bill, then retreated to the bar where Cullen was nursing a glass of wine.
"I hate to say this, but I think we all need rides home," Alice said with a slight slur.
Bella had ended up having a third glass of the Le Vignoble de Masen, and agreed they needed to be responsible and share an Uber.
Bella turned over her bill and gasped. "Ninety-five dollars?"
"What the hell, Bella? Did you get a raise?" Rose asked, turning over her bill to make sure hers was twenty-five dollars, as usual.
"I wish, but no."
Bella wasn't hurting for money, but she should have asked the price of the wine beforehand. It was her fault she didn't ask, so she couldn't be too upset. The tagline on Mr. Masen's card crept back to her mind as she pulled the debit card from her wallet. In her tipsy state, Bella became even more irritated. She thought about mentioning to Mr. Masen when they met in person for the festival that he should change the card to read: Gouger les clients avec notre vin trop. (Gouging customers with our overpriced wine.)
"I guess you've learned your lesson, huh?" Alice asked, slightly amused, tapping on her phone to hail their ride.
Jasper came back around just as Alice laid down her phone. "I can't seem to find us an Uber at the moment."
"I can give you a ride home, Alice," Jasper offered. "Do you ladies live close to her?" He looked at Bella and Rose.
"I live a few streets away from here," Rose said.
Bella shook her head. "No, I live up Wilderness Pass on Wolf Drive."
Jasper rubbed his fingers over his blond beard. "Hmm. Hold on, I'll be right back."
Bella was sure to sober up by the time she walked back to her Jeep. However, in the event she wasn't okay to drive, she'd be stuck in town sleeping on a booth in the restaurant. And that wasn't her idea of fun, especially since Sunday was her only day off and she always slept in.
The girls waited for Jasper to return to sign their receipts.
"You can stay at my house, Bella," Alice offered.
"Thanks, but I'm sure the roads aren't that bad yet. Besides, my bed is calling my name." Bella had a list of things to accomplish Sunday afternoon, and spending the night away would cut into her lazy Sunday ritual.
Jasper returned with a smile. "Good news. I've got you all taken care of."
"That's great, Jasper, thank you, but I'll be fine," Bella said, standing and slipping on her coat.
"Bella, I insist." Jasper motioned to Alice and Rose. "I'll take them, and my cousin, Cullen, is more than happy to give you a ride."
"Oh, no. That's okay, really."
"Come on, Bella. I'll worry about you if you're driving up the mountain alone." Alice squeezed Bella's hand, hoping she'd agree.
Bella turned to Alice, lowering her voice. "I don't know him." Her eyes pleaded with her friend to understand.
"Cullen is quite adept with driving in snow," Jasper said. "And he's very trustworthy—the best of the best."
As if on cue, as soon as Jasper finished his sentence, Cullen, the tall, fit, thirty-something hottie, sauntered up beside his cousin. From afar, Bella could tell Cullen was handsome, but that was an understatement to his up-close good looks. His facial hair was trimmed close, covering his chiseled jaw and chin, and his copper-colored hair had flecks of gray. Bella thought he had an air of sophistication about him and that intrigued her. He wore a navy cable knit sweater, fitting snug at the shoulders, but hung nicely at his trim waist. An untucked cream and blue plaid shirt peeked out from underneath.
Bella drank him in before he had time to utter any words. Her eyes continued to scan his body down to his blue jeans and leather-hiking boots.
"Hello, I'm Cullen."
Bella's eyes snapped up to his; the green ones that had sparkled at her from across the room earlier. She hoped he hadn't caught her checking him out.
He proffered his hand, first to Alice and Rose then to Bella. She could tell Cullen was strong; his grip was firm yet gentle when he wrapped his entire hand around hers—a perfect gentleman. She shivered, this time from the coolness of his hand, but in all honesty, it could have been from his stunning good looks—Bella couldn't decipher between the two.
Bella started to speak. "Hi, it's..." She needed to clear her throat before the words could form completely. "Nice to meet you. I'm...I'm Bella."
"It's my pleasure, Bella."
Her heart beat oddly at his words, then skipped a beat when he spoke again.
"It looks like I'll be your ride tonight."
Bella could've sworn there was a suggestive undertone in those words; however, she was quite tipsy. Maybe that was wishful thinking.
Rose snickered and whispered too loud to Alice. "God, I hope so."
"And on that note—" Alice took Rose by the arm and pulled her toward the bar. "—we'll wait for you over here, Jasper."
Bella felt her face heat at Rose's words and the tips of her ears burned. If she could have crawled under the table or run from the bar without looking ridiculous, she would have. Instead, she stood there embarrassed. She couldn't remember the last time a man caught her eye, let alone one who was offering to risk his life to chauffeur her up a snow-covered mountain. Damn, she felt dramatic. She was thirty-two years old, not a teenager, and the mountain was not that treacherous, she told herself.
Bella thought about trying to back out one more time, but before she could, Cullen motioned with his hand. "After you."
"Oh. Yeah. Sure." Bella paused, securing the last button on her jacket. She wobbled on her feet, and Cullen placed his hand on her elbow and steadied her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you. We can go now."
Cullen rested his hand at the small of her back, guiding her to the door. Just in case she lost her footing. The girls waved as the pair walked by to leave.
"Call me when you get home," Alice said, as Cullen held the door for Bella.
꧁꧂
Snow had accumulated in the hour or so Bella had been at The Cork. A small part of her was glad she was secured in Cullen's fancy SUV, which was taking it slow up the mountain.
She shut her eyes tight, trying to squeeze the words of her dad out of her mind. They tended to play in her head at the oddest times and places.
There is someone for everyone. Don't rush it.
Bella let out a small groan not realizing.
"You all right?" Cullen asked.
"Huh? Oh, mm-hmm." Bella inwardly groaned again. "I drank some mediocre wine tonight. Must not be agreeing with me." Her head was feeling a bit loopy.
"Mediocre? I didn't think Jasper ever served subpar wine."
Bella twisted her fingers together in her lap. "Yeah, well, I didn't think so either—until tonight."
Bella loved the wine; it was smooth and delicious. Each sip was heaven in a glass. She wished she hadn't liked it so much; however, she couldn't think of a bad thing to say about it until now when, for some reason, she spit out the lie.
"And it was overpriced, too." Why she added that, she didn't know. Probably because the stupid card in her pocket with the stupid tagline still irritated the hell out of her.
One of Cullen's brows lifted. "That's a shame."
"Mmm. It is. Le Vignoble de Masen. Don't order that..." She trailed off. "It wouldn't be my first recommendation."
A chuckle threatened to escape Cullen. Never had he or his family received a bad review from the family winery. He found it odd, but to each their own taste. Not everyone appreciated the finer things in life.
"I didn't take you for a twist-off-cap kind of girl," Cullen said.
"Yeah, well, you know what they say." She rested her head on the leather seat.
"No, I really don't. What do they say, Bella?" Cullen didn't take his eyes off the snow-covered road because it was getting hard to drive through; otherwise, he would have winked or something to show Bella he was playing around. But her eyes were closed and she wouldn't have seen him anyway.
"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Some twist-off-cap wines are quite tasty."
Cullen made a mental note to bring this up to his father, Carlisle, at their next meeting. He thought it might be a great way to get a laugh from his sometimes too-serious father. Talking business for hours turned stressful at times and this tidbit of information would surely lighten the mood.
"I'll take your word for it." Cullen shuddered at the thought of potentially drinking wine that tasted like vinegar, or worse. He'd never be caught dead drinking anything other than his family's wine. His great, great grandfather, Aro, worked his fingers to the bone, planting grapes and tending to them until harvest. It was his dream to be the best of the best in winemaking, and he had accomplished that goal. His dream didn't stop there. He then wanted to pass down the craft from generation to generation.
"I'm glad to be of some help." Bella shifted in her seat and yawned.
Cullen barely contained his laugh. He hadn't been this amused in a very long time.
꧁꧂
The miles the pair traveled weren't many, but it seemed like Bella had been cooped up in the SUV for hours. Not that she was complaining; in fact, it was the complete opposite. Cullen smelled of mint and patchouli, and it felt good to be in the presence of a man. The alcohol hadn't worn off and her filter obviously hadn't either.
"You smell good. I-I mean, that wine I drank smelled good, but..." That damn non-twist-off-cap wine. Bella's eyes bugged out from her face and she almost twisted a finger clean out of the joint. What the hell had gotten into her? She made an instant decision never to drink Le Vignoble de Masen wine ever again. Something about it made her act like a fool.
"That wine must have made a lasting impression. You keep bringing it up." A smile almost gave him away. "But for my own knowledge, which is it? Me or the wine?" He pretended to be serious.
"I didn't mean that." She tried to recover from her loose lips that apparently couldn't keep anything sacred.
"I'm not sure if I should be offended." His voice was lighthearted, and Bella sighed, relieved.
Bella put her elbow on the middle console and leaned her head into her palm. The next ten miles were going to be torture.
Silence filled the SUV, except for a little whistling noise coming from the passenger side. Cullen assumed Bella had fallen asleep, so he stole a quick glance at her. Her head was now tipped toward the window and the delicate skin of her neck was in full view. Cullen focused his attention back to the road and gripped the steering wheel with both hands. Mile after mile his willpower was being tested.
Cullen was fascinated with Bella from the moment he saw her. She was different from his usual type. When she'd arrived at The Cork earlier that evening, he couldn't stop watching her from across the room. Bella was an understated beauty. The kind that could turn heads and not even realize she was doing it. Cullen was mesmerized by her and stayed longer than he intended at his cousin's bar.
The luminous fireplace at The Cork had highlighted various shades of browns in her hair, and her ivory complexion almost glittered as the fire crackled beside her. The way she tipped her head back and laughed with her friends was carefree. He heard the vein in her neck as it pulsed―faster when she laughed. And when Bella sipped his estate wine, Le Vignoble de Masen, that was stunning. Her pulse slowed and the pleasure on her face showed with each sip, which gave him great pride. That particular Pinot she ordered was very near and dear to him. It was a very good bottle of wine―a good year and it was sentimental. He wished he could tell her they were of the Tasmanian variety―the very ones that made him more human...than vampire.
But that would have scared her.
Bella was so inviting it made his mouth water. It had been a long time since he felt the desire for the taste of human blood, something his family had lived without for centuries. Cullen's tongue had run languidly over his teeth and Jasper caught the gesture.
"No, man." Jasper looked Cullen in the eye.
"That's why we drink Le Vin de Sang." He motioned toward the girls with his head. "We don't need real blood anymore since we have the blood wine."
The potion, or Le Vin de Sang, Aro developed was derived from Vitis vinifera, the pinot grapes from Tasmania, antibodies from Colorado elk blood, and a few ancient ingredients. All the bottles they'd ever need were in a private wine cellar at the vineyard. It was potent and only drank on Christmas Eve.
꧁꧂
"We're almost there," Cullen said. He was relieved he agreed to take Bella home. Not because she was the only woman in centuries to awaken the part of his life he tried to tamp down, but because the road was more cumbersome than any of them anticipated.
"Are you going to be okay to drive home?" Bella asked; her voice sounded groggy. She seemed genuinely concerned for his safety, too.
"Actually, I'm not sure. I may have to wait it out."
Bella tried to remember if she'd put all the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and if she had cleaned the litter box. The last thing she wanted was for the hottie to smell cat poo and think she was a slob. However, it would be nice if she offered him to come inside. She could go in first to make sure everything was decent.
"Absolutely...sure. Um, would you like to wait inside? I could fix us some coffee, you know, so you don't fall asleep."
"That would be nice." Cullen flipped to the weather station. They both listened as the weatherman reported more snow for the next few hours. He put the SUV in park when they reached Bella's driveway. "But please tell me one thing."
"Okay?" Bella's nerves went crazy again.
Cullen's expression was serious. "Is it instant coffee?"
Bella let out a sigh and a smirk played on her face. "Very funny."
He reached over and squeezed her hand. Tingles foraged up her arm and settled at her core. Cullen's eyes were playful, and he gave her a quick wink. He kept her hand in his as if he wanted to say something. The urge to tell her she fascinated him was strong, and he wanted to taste her lips on his, but the moment was lost when she received an incoming text and withdrew her hand.
"Sorry. I bet it's Alice checking on me."
"No worries." He cut the engine and got out to open her door. "Let's get you inside."
꧁꧂
Allister was curled next to Bella on the couch where she lay. The roaring fire Cullen built in the wee hours of the morning, when they got to the cabin, was now reduced to ashes. She had enjoyed how sexy Cullen looked, stacking the wood then lighting it on fire. His rolled-up sleeves showed off muscled forearms, and Bella admired him from the kitchen. He looked perfect in her living room while she made coffee―his perfection was almost otherworldly, if she didn't know any better.
While the coffee brewed, Cullen sat down on her oversized couch and kicked up his sock-covered feet on the coffee table, making himself comfortable. He looked like he belonged there, and Bella melted a little more inside. She thought it was the wine that made her think those silly thoughts. At that moment, she welcomed them.
There is someone for everyone, replayed in her head.
"Are you a cream and sugar guy?" Bella asked from the kitchen.
Cullen rolled his head her way. "Never. Just straight black for me."
"We can't be friends then." Bella laughed as she took him his coffee.
Cullen grabbed his chest. "Hurtful. I was hoping to be more."
She couldn't tell if he was serious, but she welcomed the thought.
Those cool goosebumps littered her skin again at the way his sexy green eyes darkened as he looked at her―which confirmed he must have meant what he said.
She handed him his mug and his fingers brushed over hers. There was an undeniable chemistry.
He patted the space next to him, and she sat down. It felt as though butterflies were lodged in her belly. It'd been too long since she was alone with a man. His arm draped casually over her shoulders, and they watched the fire dance and flicker light in the dim room. They drank their coffees in silence.
When Cullen had drained his mug, he nuzzled his nose into her hair and whispered, "Thank you, sweet girl."
Allister growled, and Bella shushed him, not wanting him to ruin the moment.
Cullen pulled her closer. Her eyes closed and a smile played on her lips from his tender touch. He took the empty mug she was holding in her hand and set it next to his on the coffee table, then coaxed her to lie down with her legs draped over his lap. He could tell she'd had a long day. Her eyes drooped with sleep and her lips were in a cute little pout as her eyes closed completely.
"Mmm…" Bella said when Cullen placed his hand above her knee, then moved it up and tickled lightly over her inner thigh.
Her legs relaxed as he gave attention to the other one. Her hand piggybacked his, enjoying the closeness to her most intimate spot. Her hips moved each time their hands glided up and then down, and she grew wetter in anticipation. Bella felt how she affected him when he adjusted his position on the couch. In that moment, she regretted her choice of the flannel separating them and wished he'd pull on the tie at the waistband.
"You're so fucking beautiful," Cullen whispered.
Bella hummed at his words. His hand made its way under her top to her bare skin. His fingers again tickled her in the most erotic way, playing with her bellybutton ring, then exploring up higher to her pebbled nipples. She writhed under his touch.
Cullen positioned himself on his knees next to the couch and kissed her belly, his tongue played with the jewel that dangled from her bellybutton, then sucked the skin until blood rose to the surface in the most telling of ways. His mark looked perfect on her.
Bella took his hand again and guided it down until he was grazing the bare flesh between her legs.
"I can't resist you," Cullen breathed, his chest rose and fell as Bella's legs opened and his fingers slid deeper into her wetness. "Let me make you mine."
"Yes, God, yes, Cullen," she moaned as he removed his fingers and slipped into her warmth.
꧁꧂
It was Sunday mid-morning when Bella woke. The soft knitted blanket fell away from her shoulders when she rose up to her elbows. She remembered changing into her flannel PJ's before she put on the pot of coffee, snuggling into Cullen's side, but much past him thanking her and finishing her coffee, she had no recollection.
She looked around her living room, rubbing the dryness from her eyes. "Cullen?" Bella whispered. "Cullen?" There was no response.
Bella's cat stretched, then curled back into her, and she petted him until they both fell back to sleep. When she woke again at two o'clock, there was still no sign of Cullen, except for the two coffee mugs that sat empty on her coffee table. A part of her felt let down. A handsome man was in her home, on her couch, during a snowstorm, and now he was gone. Something about that didn't surprise her. Ever since her failed engagement, she always sabotaged herself when it came to men. She let it go, even though she had been hopeful. There was no use in dwelling over it. Bella decided she should start her day with something delicious to eat then get to work.
Pancakes sizzled on a griddle and warm mixed berry coulis was on the stove. Another pot of coffee was brewing and oranges for Bella's juice were squeezed. She flipped over two more pancakes, cooking them until golden brown, then plated her breakfast. She drizzled the deep-red berry sauce over her short stack and tossed a few fresh raspberries on top as a garnish. Every meal she prepared, whether it was for guests at La Vigne or for her at home, always looked and tasted delicious. She carried her plate to the table where her notebook, laptop, and Mr. Masen's business card were ready for her. Before she took her first bite, she sent him an email, requesting a meeting.
Bella scoured her recipes for hours, deciding on which ones would be used for the Wine and Food Festival. When she was satisfied with her choices, she put away her cookbooks and sent a text to Alice.
Bella: Hi. It looks like the roads to my place are cleared and I need to get my Jeep at work. Are you available?
Alice: Hey you.Mike and I are fighting. I guess he didn't appreciate Jasper bringing me home this morning.
Bella: I'm sorry.
Alice: I can pick you up before work tomorrow. Is that okay?
Bella: Perfect. Thanks.
Alice: BTW. How was the hottie?
Bella: He got me home safely. :)
Alice: Tell me you kissed him. PLEEEASE!
Bella: I told him he smelled good. SMH!
Alice: At least you didn't say he stunk. Lol
Bella: He stayed the night. Kind of.
Alice: How can he kind of stay the night? He did or he didn't. I'm confused.
Bella: He stayed because the roads were bad, but he was gone this morning before I woke up. And I hate to break it to you...no kiss either.
At that moment, Bella put her hand on her heart. She remembered something about body jewelry. Bella hesitated, then lifted her sweatshirt. Had she been so drunk last night that she had gotten a belly button ring at King Klearwater Tattoo Parlor?
She bowed her head with her eyes closed. If she had a belly button ring, then most definitely memories of a tryst with Cullen were resurfacing. If her belly was jewelry-free, then she had a wild and delicious dream. Bella opened her eyes and it was the latter.
Alice: It looked like he was totally into you.
Bella: No. Jasper basically forced him to take me home. That's all it was.
Alice: I'm pretty sure he wasn't forced.
Bella didn't see it how Alice had. It was a ride home, nothing more and nothing less. Would she have kissed Cullen if the moment had presented itself? Probably. Well, most definitely in her drunken state, but she didn't have to worry about that now. He was gone and didn't leave his number. She'd probably never see him again, especially since Bella was going to stay away from The Cork for a while.
Bella: Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you!
꧁꧂
A few days passed, and an email arrived with a date and time to meet with Mr. Masen. Friday at eleven a.m. Bella had already prepared the five-course meal she would be using for the Wine and Food Festival, and tested it with Marcus and the Laurents, James and Victoria. Everything down to the garnish with the food was perfection, and per usual, the group approved. All that was needed was the wine pairings and she'd get those ironed out tomorrow mid-morning.
Bella donned a crisp white chef's coat for the meeting with Mr. Masen. She had samples of the food that she and Alice had prepared early that morning packed in appropriate food delivery boxes to take to the winery. His discerning palette would be appreciated when choosing wine for her food. It was important to her that the wines showcase her flavors, instead of take away from them, because she was the executive chef at La Vigne and she had a reputation to uphold.
"Call me as soon as you're finished with Mister Big Head," Alice said. She was gathering her spices for her mise en place.
Bella had told Alice about the business card tagline and how she dreaded the meeting. Alice agreed it was a little presumptuous; however, she did remind Bella how much she enjoyed the three glasses she drank at The Cork last Saturday.
"I know, I know." Bella shook her head. Thinking back to how she acted when she was tipsy was embarrassing. She only wished Cullen could have seen the real her, not the drunk, word-vomit Bella who apparently passed out while he was at her house. "That wine is voodoo, I tell you. It went down so smooth that I made a fool of myself."
"Rose is always making a fool out of herself," Alice said. "So don't beat yourself up." Alice was making light of the situation because Bella had mentioned she couldn't stop thinking about Cullen. She was mortified that he had to take her home because she was too incapacitated to drive herself.
"Hey! I heard that!" Rose was mixing dough for fruit tarts for tonight's service, but she was close enough to eavesdrop on her friends' conversation.
"Can I tell you something?" Alice asked Bella.
"Yes?" Bella dragged out the word. She could tell something was up.
"So…"
"What'd you do, Alice? This doesn't sound good."
"Jasper has texted me a few times since last weekend."
"Yes?" Bella crossed her arms.
"And I kinda told him you were interested in Cullen―"
"You what?" Bella interrupted her.
"I said you liked him and he kinda just disappeared without telling you goodbye."
"No, no, no. You shouldn't have done that. What if I see him out and about sometime?" Bella covered her face with her palms. "He obviously wasn't in to me."
Alice bit her lip. By the looks of it, Bella wasn't thrilled with what she had done, but she knew her friend was bummed about Cullen not leaving his number, so she had to ask.
"Jasper said he had some business to take care of and he must have been in a hurry to leave."
"So, in other words, let's decipher that... He's not in to Bella," Rose said, rather loudly.
"See? It was absolutely nothing, Alice. The guy gave me a ride home and I gave him coffee to stay awake so he could get back home. The end."
Alice held up her palm in surrender. "Okay, okay. I shouldn't have asked, but the two of you were completely adorable together. I even snapped a pic of you two as you left the bar."
"Oh. My. God. You are a mess." Bella sighed.
Alice smiled and pulled her phone out of her chef's coat and found the photo. "Here, see?"
Bella's insides did a backflip, but she maintained a straight face. "Hmm." Bella huffed. Maybe he wasn't that cute after all. Oh, hell, whom was she kidding? He was drop-dead gorgeous.
"Jasper said he's married to his work and doesn't date. Or he hasn't in forever. So, it's not you, Bella, okay?"
The bubble Bella was floating on popped. "Oh, well. His loss." Bella wanted to cry; she could still feel his mouth close to her ear when he whispered thank you. She could still smell the mint and patchouli on her knit blanket, and she may or may not have washed his coffee mug yet, but it was okay. She was okay. She was married to her job, too. La Vigne was her life.
There is someone for everyone. Don't rush it.
Bella looked to the sky, hoping her dad would get the picture. There wasn't anyone for her and there never would be, so she willed her dad to stop sending that same message to her.
"You're right, Bella. It's his loss," Rose said with a nod.
"I agree," Alice chimed in. "You better go, though. You don't want to keep Mr. Masen waiting." She leaned over and gave Bella a hug, whispering in her ear. "You're too good for Cullen, anyway."
꧁꧂
Bella parked La Vigne's delivery van right outside the winery, grabbed the boxes, and walked inside. She was ready to get this meeting over with so she could get back to the restaurant and work. Cooking was her way to clear her mind, and in this case, drown her sorrows.
"Hello, welcome to Le Vignoble de Masen." A tall, blonde dressed in smart, casual attire greeted her.
"I'm here to see Edward Masen. I'm Chef Swan." Bella gave the incredibly attractive woman a smile, even though she had been dreading the meeting. However, the winery was on a beautiful estate, and after tasting the wine herself, she tried to have a better outlook.
"Yes, right this way." The girl led Bella to a bright room overlooking the vineyard with a long, dark wooden dining table. It was gorgeous and so was the view. "Mr. Masen will be right with you."
"Thank you." Bella set her food boxes down on the table. She arranged them in the order they would be tasted, then readied her notebook to jot down the wine selections. She strived for perfection; her reputation depended on it.
Her back was to the door when Mr. Masen came in.
"Hello, Chef Swan."
Bella inhaled sharply. If her dad's words weren't going to be the death of her then thinking she heard Cullen's smooth, sexy voice again was going to do it for him. She mumbled in frustration.
"Pardon?" The voice from behind her said.
She straightened her back and turned around slowly. "I'm sorr―" Her words fell short when she saw him. "Cull...Mr. Masen?" She noticed he had a pretty nasty scratch on the side of his face.
"Bella?" He looked confused to see her standing there. "I―"
"Hello." She cut him off. Her skin prickled with heat and her ears turned red. She couldn't believe Cullen was also Mr. Conceited. She swallowed thickly remembering what she said to him about Le Vignoble de Masen wine. Bella pursed her lips together; she couldn't take it back now, so she straightened her shoulders to tend to business.
"I have prepared some dishes for you to sample. Then, if you don't mind, you may make some wine suggestions that will complement my food."
Cullen walked toward Bella, his steps deliberate and smooth.
She busied herself taking lids off the containers, trying to avoid meeting his eyes.
"May I help you with that?" His hand touched her arm and she shuddered.
"No. I'm fine, thank you." With his touch, the feelings of watching him in her home came flooding back.
"I'm sorry I left without waking you, but...you looked so peaceful."
"It's fine." Bella waved him off. "I appreciated the ride home. Thanks again."
Cullen moved his hand down her arm until hers was in his. "I didn't want to leave, but…"
"You don't have to explain. You just gave me a ride; that's all." The disappointment in her voice was evident.
"I had to. I...I had to tend to something important."
When Bella fell asleep next to him, his thirst for her increased and became too much for him to handle. Allister must have sensed his desire for her because he swiped at Cullen's face when he leaned over to breathe her in. He knew that if he didn't leave the cabin, he would have unintentionally hurt her. He still had four-and-a-half weeks until Christmas Eve, until he needed to drink the Vin, but for some reason, Bella had weakened the effect and he needed his drink sooner. Thankfully, the overprotective cat made him realize he needed to leave at that moment.
Bella shrugged her shoulder and gave him a tight smile. "No need to explain. Friends?"
His thumb smoothed over the top of her hand and she shivered. "I had to get back to the winery to check on something in our family wine cellar."
"The roads weren't cleared off until midday. You risked your life for wine?" Bella wanted to roll her eyes, but she maintained professionalism. She put some distance between them and walked to the other side of the table.
"I wish I could explain in detail, but I can't. All I can tell you is I had to sample a family Vin. It was imperative."
"And your high priced wine was more important than your safety?" She mumbled under her breath.
If Cullen heard her, he ignored it. He closed the space between them, standing next to her as she plated the fig and pecan salad.
"Remember when you were at The Cork and you went to the ladies room?"
Bella gave him an odd look.
"You felt my eyes on you. I could tell."
Bella recalled how her skin prickled with cool bumps the minute she stood from her table. She had felt his intense gaze upon her.
"No." She shook her head and sprinkled blue cheese crumbles over the plated salad.
"And when you looked over your shoulder—'' He paused when Bella peeked up at him. "—just like now, your pulse quickened and your ears—" He touched the shell of her ear with the back of his finger. "―turned the most delicious shade of crimson."
She dropped the spoon she was using to drizzle the dressing, and it splattered on her chef's coat.
"I always do that when someone makes me feel uncomfortable―like now."
"You liked it then and you like it now." His voice was confident, and it irritated her.
Somehow, he knew. God, he was conceited.
"Did Alice say some—"
Cullen interrupted. "Alice said nothing." His finger trailed from her ear down her cheek. "I can sense things, Bella. That's all I can tell you."
"Are you psychic?" Bella whispered, facetiously.
His lips were inches from hers and his mint and patchouli cologne dazzled her senses.
"Not exactly." His breath tickled her lips and her tongue smoothed over them to quell the sensation.
Bella stared into his eyes. He looked sincere, but she didn't really know him.
"I don't think you're ready to hear the truth." He blinked, and the sincerity was replaced with what looked like resentment.
Bella inhaled a sharp breath and stepped backward. She couldn't tell if he was upset with her or upset with himself.
"I'm not sixteen, Cullen. I'm an adult; I can handle the truth." Her words were curt.
Cullen combed his hand through his hair, then hooked his thumb in his jeans pocket. He knew he shouldn't tell her that his entire family, dating back centuries, were vampires. Even Jasper advised him it shouldn't be done. No matter what. The outcome could be devastating for Bella. They'd have to silence her if she ever exposed them.
He took a deep breath in, holding it for a few seconds, exhaling slowly. "I'm..." Cullen paused and gritted his teeth. "I'm a vampire."
The room was still. Bella stood there for a beat, then burst out laughing. Cullen's eyes widened at her reaction. It wasn't the one he had expected.
When her laugh subsided, her voice was all business. "You're a freaking piece of work, Mr. Masen. I'm leaving the food and I trust you'll pair your overpriced wine with my five-star courses." She huffed. "I'll see you at the Wine and Food Festival." She smoothed her hand over the salad dressing stain on her chef's coat, cleared her throat, and spoke once more. "And by the way, you're really not funny." Bella grabbed her satchel and didn't look back.
Cullen didn't owe her a thing—no explanation, and certainly not a lie.
Vampires didn't exist.
꧁꧂
La Vigne received top honors at the Aspen Holiday Wine and Food Festival. Bella had created a menu that wowed the judges and guests alike. The wine pairings were impeccable, and Bella was pleased. She had fully expected to see Cullen at the event; however, the girl, Jane, she met at the winery the day she visited, had taken his place. It was all very well because Bella had no desire to see that man again. Ever.
"Bella, I was supposed to give this to you once the festival was over," Jane said, handing her an envelope. "It's from Mr. Masen."
Bella was hesitant to take it; however, she was curious to see what was inside.
"Thank you, Jane." Bella took the envelope and slid it into her chef's coat. She ducked out of the banquet area to a quiet spot. Sitting down, she opened the envelope and pulled out a letter.
Bella,
I'm sorry I offended you. Unfortunately, I wasn't lying about anything I said at the winery.
I want to prove to you that I am what I said I am. And that I'm a good person despite being who I am. I know that it's difficult to fathom, but not all of us are evil. My family has strived to be better than what human's believe us to be. And I am no exception.
Six months ago, I was fishing with my friend, Charlie Swan, when he collapsed and passed away. I didn't know, at the time, that you were his daughter—not until I saw a photo of the two of you on your mantle. I was taken aback, because I always admired your father, and seeing him in that photo felt like it was fate. We became friends in an unlikely fashion. He saved my life up on Indian Pass from a wolf attack. He shot the wolf just as I thought my life was over.
It was me who performed CPR until the medics arrived when your dad collapsed. And it was me who bit his neck to try to save him...eternally. However, because my family and I drink an age-old potion we refer to as Vin, I was unable to save his life with my venom, since it was impotent, and that's when I started chest compressions and called for medics. I even have a photo of us that day fishing. Jane has it in her possession if you so choose to see it.
If you've read this letter this far please know that your dad always wondered why I was single, and he used to offer up words of encouragement. I'd laugh and tell him I was happy being alone, but he never believed me. He'd always say, "There's someone for everyone." And I'd say to him, "I'm not trying to rush it." But now I know your dad was right.
Bella, I believe you are my someone. And the love I have for you is eternal.
Yours truly,
Cullen
Bella's hands shook slightly as she stared at Cullen's words, and read them again. She always knew her dad was a romantic, but now, after reading Cullen's letter, Charlie's words had new meaning. She knew what she had to do.
꧁꧂
On Christmas Eve, Bella's first day off since the Festival because of holiday parties at La Vigne, she entered the office of Le Vignoble de Masen, and was again greeted by Jane. No words were needed as Jane handed Bella the second envelope with a smile.
"Thank you, Jane," Bella said kindly, "for everything."
Jane nodded and wished Bella good luck as she walked away.
Bella stared at the envelope for several minutes before opening it and pulling out a large photo. She gasped, and tears ran down her face, as she took in the image of Cullen and Charlie, fishing poles in hand, near a stream. It made her heart happy that her dad had known the man she had fallen for.
As she ran her fingertips over their faces and sighed, she sensed someone watching her, and when she looked up, Cullen was across the room. He was in the doorway to the cellar. His hands were tucked in his suit pants as if he were waiting to see her reaction.
A sob escaped her and she ran to him. Cullen wrapped his arms around her and she hugged him as if her life depended on it.
"I'm so sorry," Bella said through tears. "I—"
"Shh, it's okay. Please—" He wiped tears from her eyes. "—don't be sorry. I knew it would be a lot to take in."
Bella nodded her head. "But…"
"Shh. Just promise me, you'll trust me."
Bella nodded again, and he cupped her cheek.
"I've been waiting for this moment—" He leaned down, barely touching his lips to hers. "—for too long," he breathed.
The moment his lips touched hers, a feeling of overwhelming trust came over her, and for the first time in forever, she felt as though she was following her father's advice.
Edward broke the kiss, and in a flash, he swept her into his arms and whisked her down the cellar stairs. It was time for him to share his life with her, starting with meeting his whole family and Le Vin de Sang that made him mostly human.
A/N:
This was my entry for the Thirst Vampire Contest and Secret Keeper Jeaboo1's pick.
Thank you to everyone involved in the contest especially the readers who inspire me to write.
And a special thank you to Midnight Cougar for beta'ing this little story.
She's the sugar crust to my Crème brûlée because she makes everything so much sweeter.
xoxo
OhGee
Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.