Making Bets with Dale

The bell over the diner's door chimed as three men took their hats off and stomped their boots just inside.

Esme looked over her shoulder and sighed.

Seeing Carlisle's jaw tighten and twitch as he glared at the men, I asked, "Who are they?"

Marcus leaned forward and stage-whispered, "The Newton Boys."

I watched Bella grab menus and lead them to their booth. I turned to get a better look and noticed the tall older man with jet black hair scowling at our table—no—at Carlisle.

I turned back to the table. "So, what's his story?"

Marcus said, "That's Alec. He's a putz, and he hates Carl. The other putz is Paul, his kid brother."

Carlisle's fork scrapped the syrup on his plate. "They think they run this town."

Marcus flipped the syrup lid and said, "Well now, Alec Newton is the mayor of our little hamlet. So, I guess you could say he does run this town."

I looked at my uncle. "Why does Alec hate you so much?"

Carlisle laughed as Esme lowered her head with a grin before he stretched his arm across the back of the booth and said, "Ah, he's still pissed that while he was making touchdowns for the cheering crowds, I was under the bleachers getting his girl to cheer for me."

Marcus laughed and slapped my shoulder. "Damn right! Alec's a sore loser."

"And Carlisle plays for keeps," Esme giggled with a bit of a shrug.

"HEY!"

The whole room turned to the Newton's table to see a flustered Bella slapping the hands of a sandy blond Newton about my age.

Carlisle and Marcus sat up straighter as Bella slammed the menus on the table and stormed away.

Esme sighed. "I best take that table. Mike's getting awfully handsy lately."

"You should stop serving them," Carlisle growled.

Esme kissed his nose. "Tell you what, hon, you win, and I'll banish the Newtons for life."

"I'll see your bet and raise you one." He kissed her hand before releasing it, "I win—you marry me."

Esme's eyes grew as big as saucers, and she stammered as another chime from the door's bell had Marcus dropping his forkful of pancake in his cup. "Who is that?" he asked.

I pulled my eyes from the scene before me to the doorway to see a curvy middle-aged Hispanic woman standing nervously just inside the door. Esme stood from Carlisle's knee. "That is my new server, Carmen Alverez."

Carlisle took Esme's hand, drawing her gaze back to him. "Saved by the bell, love."

Esme swallowed thickly, and her breathing picked up as he held her bound.

"She's a real looker," Marcus mumbled as he fished for the soggy pancake.

~o0o~

As Carlisle and Marcus waited for me to pay my bill, Marcus got a handful of M&M's from a machine and slipped it into his coat pocket. When Mike Newton slid next to me at the counter, Alec spoke from behind me.

"Heard you got the Black's pumpkin this year," Alec said as he looked at his phone.

Carlisle shifted his toothpick in his mouth and looked out the window, "News travels fast in these parts."

I turned in time to see Marcus aligning himself next to Carlisle as Paul straightened next to his brother. Alec laughed as he shrugged into his jacket. "You know you don't stand a chance, Carl. Our trebuchet has won for four years straight."

Paul leaned toward Marcus. "Yeah, don't embarrass yourself."

Marcus barked out a laugh and nudged me, "You're going to eat those words, Newton."

Carlisle angled in front of Marcus and looked at Alec. "I tell you what, Alec. I'm feeling a wager coming on. You a betting man?"

Alec looked up from his phone. "What do you have in mind?"

Carlisle looked at Paul and said, "If I win, Paul and his family relocate to the family business in Virginia."

Alec dropped his phone in his side pocket, "Mike too?"

Carlisle watched Mike trying to get Bella's attention at the counter. "Mike too."

Paul gave his brother an appalled look and said, "Hey—" but Alec held up his hand.

"And if I win?" Alec gave Carlisle a wicked grin and looked toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, keep dreaming, pretty boy—no." Carlisle draped his scarf around his neck, "Now if you win, name it."

"Well, let's see, you and Marcus will wash Paul's Camaro in the town square and call us 'sir' for a year."

As Mike Newton joined the group, Marcus said, "I hope you like pumpkin spice."

Bella called from behind the counter, "Men, take the pissing contest outside. I'm not cleaning up after you."

My laughter caught Mike Newton's attention, and his hostile glare had my smile fading until Bella added, "I'll see you soon, Edward."

She gave me a wink which confounded me, but seeing the hatred on Mike Newton's face, I just wiggled my eyebrows and grinned.

"Es?"

I looked to see Carlisle locked on Alec's stony glare.

Esme came hurrying from the back, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "You headin' out, sweetie?"

Carlisle broke contact with his nemesis to gaze softly at his girl. "I'll pick you up at six, yeah?"

Before tucking his scarf inside his jacket, she kissed the corner of his lips, right next to his beard, which seemed to be her favorite spot. "Stay warm," she said.

Carlisle stepped away and grinned as Alec pushed past him.

Esme swatted his chest. "Really, you shouldn't provoke."

Carlisle pulled her to him and claimed her lips. "I've got an incentive to win this year, love."

"Carlisle—"

"I'll pick you up at six," he said and walked out to meet Marcus on the sidewalk.