Reaching for Love
Chapter 6: Vegas and A Yes
EDWARD
Twenty minutes, that's how long it took Bella and I to get to the airport and my hanger. We were both quiet and only the radio kept the drive from being completely silent. My jet was on the tarmac. "Cullen Corp" was prominently displayed in huge blue letters on the fuselage. Gold angel wings dominated the tail along with the number. I did this to make the cancer patients flying with me smile. Mike Newton, my personal pilot, was standing next to the hatch.
Bella leaned forward, peering out the front window as I got out of the car.
"Good afternoon, Edward," Mike said, as I walked around the car, opened the front passenger door, and offered Bella my hand.
My eyes strayed to the bag I had placed on the backseat earlier. It was small, worn, and couldn't hold much.
Was that all she had?
No. I refused to believe that. She must have grabbed enough for a few days to give her father time to calm down.
"Afternoon, Mike."
I wrapped an arm around Bella.
"This is Bella," I said. "Bella, this is my personal pilot, Mike."
Mike took hold of the hand Bella held out. Instead of shaking it, he kissed her knuckles. It was a bit comical. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Bella," he said.
Bella turned into me and buried her face against my chest, but not before I caught her blush, pink like a spring rose.
Mike shared a look with me and then glanced down at Bella's visible left hand. I was sure he was checking for a ring. When his eyes connected with mine again, they were silted like a snake. Questioning.
Grimacing, I kissed Bella on her cheek. "Go ahead and board. I will join you in a minute or two."
The moment she stepped away from my side, a feeling of loss washed over me. It was strange and something I had never experienced before. It was almost like moving away from the warmth of a fire into the cool night air.
Mike and I watched her climb the stairs and entered the plane.
"Say it," I said, turning to face him before walking back to where I had parked, retrieving her bag. It was light and I resisted the urge to open it, though I noticed the tag – Isabella Swan.
"Vegas, Edward. Really?" he asked. "When you texted me with that destination, I thought you were going to blow off some steam and gamble. Now, I'm not so sure." He glanced over his shoulder. "Why am I flying you to Vegas?"
My hand went to the back of my neck, rubbing it. "I want to marry her."
He did a double-take as if saying "what?" "How long have you known her?" he asked.
I didn't want to answer the question, and I knew he wouldn't let me board without one. "You know how Esme always told us we would know when we met the right girl. The one," I said, and he nodded. "Bella's the one for me."
When the idea of marrying her entered my mind, I had imagine it would be a the best way to protect her for the reasons I gave her. Now, I knew it was more than being able to provide for her while she was pregnant.
"How long have you known Bella?" he asked again.
"What time is it?" I countered.
He glared at me, mouth hanging open. "Hours? Are you nuts?" he asked in a low voice.
I blew out a long breath, not believe what I was going to admit. "Mike, the moment her eyes connected with mine, I was a goner."
It was the truth. What I realized on the drive. Why I offered to marry her. He didn't need to know her story like I hadn't needed to hear it. Not that it was mine to tell.
"If that makes me nuts, then I'm nuts."
Mike shook his head. "I've called the company you use. A car will be waiting for you and Bella when we arrive to take you wherever. Also, a suite at Paris Las Vegas has been arranged."
He started to walk away and I grabbed his shoulder. "Mike?"
He turned and glared at me, shrugging me off.
I was positive there was something he wasn't saying, and I wanted to know. "What aren't you saying?"
"I have known you since the first grade, Edward. Every girl you dated was left with a broken heart. If you want to sleep with Bella, then do it. You don't have to marry her," he said. "She's probably a gold digger."
Oh, that pissed me off. I was so close to decking him.
"No, she's not," I remarked in a dangerously low voice, taking a few steps forward and balling my fists. "She didn't know who I was until I told her."
"Right," Mike snorted.
Tightening my fists more, I counted to ten, slowly. When I felt I could go on, I said, "You didn't see her face when I handed her my business card. Heck, one of the valets at Palisade yelled out my name and nothing from her. It was like she was lost in her own world. She's not a gold digger, not by a long shot." I sighed. "Are we cool?"
Mike once again glanced over his shoulder and then back at me. Nodding with a laugh, he said, "Esme is going to kill you."
I grimaced again. "I know, but once I explain, she'll forgive me." My gaze moved to the open hatch. "Now, I have to convince Bella to marry me." I stepped toward the plane only to have Mike stop me with a hand to the chest.
"Whoa! She hasn't agreed yet. Is she even old enough?"
"She's twenty-one. I asked before suggesting she and I marry."
He raised his eyebrow. "What are you holding back?"
Blowing out another long breath, I thought a moment. "I wish I could tell you but it's her story," I said, walking toward the stairs, surprised he let me go without another word.
Bella was standing in the middle of the plane when Mike and I entered. She seemed a little unsure, and it wasn't evident as to why.
"What's wrong?" I asked, approaching her. When I stopped in front of her, I dropped her bag and pulled her into my arms. She came willingly and rested her head on my chest.
"I heard you and Mike talking. I know what he thinks of me," she said.
"And what do you think I think?"
Bella stiffened in my arms. "That I'm marrying Edward for his money."
Marrying me? That's news to me, I thought. I needed to hear a yes.
"I'm not, by the way. Though, I don't fully understand why he's willing to marry a stranger."
Her lower lip disappeared between her teeth for a brief moment.
"I heard enough to know he sees me as someone who has stolen his heart with one look."
Reaching up with my left hand, I cupped her cheek and smiled as I stared into her eyes. If my guess was right, and I was pretty sure I was, I had stolen a little of her heart.
"And I don't care what anyone says, Bella," I said, caressing her cheek. What I really wanted to do was kiss her.
"You both are crazy," Mike said.
"Did we ask you?" Bella and I said at the same time.
He laughed. "Take your seats," he responded, moving to the cockpit. The door clicked closed a minute later.
Not able to help myself, I brushed my lips across Bella's cheek, instead of claiming her lips. "Isabella, will you marry me?" I murmured in a low voice, close to her ear.
"Yes," she answered. A moment later, she stepped away from me and selecting a seat.
With a stupid grin on my face, I took the seat across from her after picking up and stowing her bag. That was the advantage of private jets — the seats could face any direction. There were even tables between some of the seats, not some small tray table that barely holds anything. After strapping in, I stared at my hands. My thoughts were scattered and there were several things to be decided before we landed. And I had no idea where to start.
"I never thought I would be running off to Las Vegas to elope," Bella said, drawing my attention away from my hands. "And I am wearing jeans and a crummy t-shirt."
What? Looking over at her, I saw she was in a blue crop top with the Eiffel Tower on it. It wasn't crummy, it was cute. Not that she would be wearing it for the ceremony. She deserved a dress she would remember.
A call to my personal shopper was in order. And luck was on my side. Alice was in Vegas. I was dreading telling her. She had tried to set me up with a few of her friends over the past five years. There was nothing wrong with her girlfriends. It was none of them brought out the real me. Bella, with a single look, had.
"What size do you wear?" I asked.
"Huh?" Bella had gone from relaxed to a scared doe caught in headlights in mere seconds at my question.
"Dress size. Pant size. Tops, stuff like that," I embellished.
"Oh. Why do you want to know?" She relaxed back in the seat once more.
"I thought you would like something nicer to wear," I replied. "My personal shopper is a phone call away, and she happens to be in Vegas on vacation."
Bella glared at me. "Edward! She is on vacation."
I grimaced under her intense glare.
"This will be the first time I have ever bothered her while she is on vacation. And"–I motioned to her and then me– "we will need witnesses."
Her cheeks turned that beautiful rose pink again. "Okay. Do you have a pen and some paper?"
The seatbelt light was still on, so I couldn't retrieve the items from the small bedroom. Taking out my cell and opening the note application, I held it out to her. "Will this do? This way I'll have the information for future reference."
She nodded. Her blush deepening as she accepted it. She typed quickly and soon was handing me the phone back.
I smiled as I read through the list. Head to toe was to be had. The seatbelt light had gone off as I read. "How about I give you a little tour, and then I'll call Alice," I said as I snapped a few pictures of her before I stood.
She followed me through a curtained-off area. "This is a galley. It's fully stocked, or at least it should be." Opening the refrigerator, I saw that it had been replenished since my last trip to New York.
She reached in a grabbed a bottle of apple juice. I snatched a bottle of Fiji water. Moving to the left, I opened a cabinet. All sorts of salty snacks greeted us. When she did not reach out for anything, I closed the cabinet.
"There is a microwave and freezer, too," I said, going through another curtain. "For long flights, I ask for healthy meals that can be zapped."
I turned and found she had her lip between her teeth again. We were in the small bedroom. "A bed is far better to sleep in than the chairs out in the main cabin."
She said nothing, but her gaze on the bed told me she might be uncomfortable or tired.
"Do you want to lie down while I'm on the phone?" I asked.
Turning, she faced me. "No. I don't know how I can ever thank you. No one else stopped."
She was close and I reached up, running the back of my hand down her cheek. "I'm not like most people, and you looked like you needed a friend."
Tears started forming in her eyes.
"Don't cry," I whispered, catching a tear with my thumb.
"I can't help it. You are the sweetest guy I have ever met."
She surprised me by standing on her tiptoes and pressing her lips to my cheek.
"We should get back out front. You have a call to make and there's no telling if Mike will come out to check on us."
I chuckled. Mike did have a habit of letting the co-pilot take over for a few minutes during each flight. It was still early in, but she was right, he could come out at any time. There was no telling where his thoughts would go if both Bella and I were not in the main passenger cabin.
"After you."
I stopped a moment in the galley and grabbed a few packages of roasted peanuts and crackers before making my way through the second curtain. Mike was coming out of the cockpit as I made my way back to my seat. He gave me a questioning look which I chose to ignore. Bella's eyes were closed and she was breathing softly. I wished she would have lain down on the bed. Picking up my cell, I dialed Alice. She answered on the third ring.
"What's up, Edward?" she answered.
"Lots," I replied. "I know you're on vacation, however, I need you to do a little shopping for me."
Silence met me.
"Alice?"
She sighed. "Why?"
"I'm on my way to Vegas and overlooked one small detail."
She snorted. "You? Never."
I grimaced. "I have my go bags, but my guest doesn't have much of one. She is the one I need you to pick up some outfits for."
"She?" I could feel Alice glaring at her phone.
I blew out a breath, settling further back into the seat. "Yes. Is it so hard to believe I met someone without your assistance?"
Alice sputtered, not saying anything, and then sighed. "No, I guess not. Your mom always said love finds you not the other way around."
I ran a hand down my face. Love had definitely found me. "And I am a goner."
"Has your parents met her yet? Are the meeting you here?"
I felt my face contort into another grimace, her question mirrored Mike's comment about me being a dead man.
"They will soon enough."
I glanced over at Bella. Her eyes were still closed. I wasn't sure if she was asleep or just giving me the semblance of privacy.
"They will love her once they meet her."
Bella did not flinch, not one muscle.
"I'm sure they will," Alice remarked. "Why haven't I met her?"
I stood and walked a couple of rows back, lowering my voice. "Because I met her today. Before I knew it, I was asking her to marry me."
"You what!" Her shout had me pulling the phone away from my ear a moment and glancing over at Bella. She was still out.
"You heard me."
"Edward—"
I cut her off. "And before you even say it, she is not some gold digger. Once you meet her, you will come to the same conclusion."
There was a brief silence before she spoke. "You know how to read people. And, you've haven't been wrong, yet. When is the ceremony to take place?"
I was shocked. Alice always argued with me over how I read people and nothing. Not a single word.
"Why do you think I am coming to Vegas with her?"
She laughed. "I was confirming my suspicions. What do you want me to purchase?"
I smiled. "I will send you a message with sizes, but a couple of dresses, pants, tops, shoes, things like that. Designer labels for the lot."
"Lingerie?"
"Yes, nothing racy. Think classic Hollywood. Rita Hayworth. Silk. Tops, bottoms, a few gowns." I wasn't sure of Bella's preferences and sleepwear was not on the list and I went with what I liked and pictured Bella wearing.
"Colors?"
I attached the note and the few pictures I had covertly taken to an email and hit send. "You'd be a better judge on colors. Check your email in a few. Also, could you and Jasper be witnesses?"
There was a whispered conversation. "Yes. Rosalie and Emmett are here too."
"Good. The more witnesses the better."
"Where?" she asked.
A groan left me. There were so many wedding chapels in Vegas, and I had been to a few to stand with friends. "Any suggestions?"
Another laugh escaped from Alice. "I need more information. First, what is her name?"
"Isabella Swan. She told me she prefers Bella," I replied, the corners of my mouth hitching up.
"What is she like?"
"She is intelligent, independent, and down to earth. Not flashy in what she wears, like she's trying not to stand out." I drew in a breath. "A survivor."
"Wow! You know all that for knowing Bella for a day," Alice commented.
"As you said, I can read people. And it has been less than eight hours."
"What! Edward, are you crazy?"
My chin fell to my chest. Yes, I thought. Crazy about Bella. Aloud, I said, "Maybe, Alice."
I looked up. Mike was coming out of the galley and held out his hand. "Phone," he mouthed. I handed it over.
"Alice," he said. "Look, I know you're probably thinking Edward is crazy"—he paused a moment—"Yeah, he is that. I got on him for asking her so soon after meeting her."
He looked at me, listening to whatever Alice was saying.
"That's true, and if it had not been for something Bella did, I would have refused to fly them to Vegas."
What had Bella done? I didn't have to wait long for an answer.
"The way she looked at him… I still can't describe it. Most women are all over him and he's pushing them away. Bella didn't even move toward him when we boarded. She was standing in the aisle unsure. He went to her." Mike said.
He was silent again.
"You have to see them together. I have never seen Edward be so tender with someone outside our circle. Bella is bringing out the protector in him. I can tell he is not acting around her. For the first time, he is comfortable enough to be himself."
Mike listened a moment more and then handed the phone back to me.
"Alice?" I asked.
"I will call around," she said. "Do you want me to pick a ring?"
Hell no, I thought. "l want to take care of that. Bella and I will get the license after we arrive."
"Alright, I'll have everything in your suite when you arrive. Paris, right?"
"You know me so well and thanks, Alice. I owe you."
She giggled. "More than one," she said before ending the call.
I tried Carlisle and Esme next. Both their cellphones went to voicemail, so I hung up without leaving a message. This news wasn't something I wanted to leave in a message. Bella had her eyes opened when I rejoined her.
"Alice is getting you some outfits," I said.
Bella sighed, placing her hands on the table. "I hate knowing someone else is picking out clothes for me."
Leaning across the table, I took hold of both her hands. "Alice does a great job. If there is something you don't like, tell her. That is the only way she will learn your taste."
Bella freed her hands from mine and sat back. She said nothing. I would give her time to process things. Getting up, I walked to the cabinet I kept books in and drew out two books. I placed a copy of Wuthering Heights in front of her, not knowing if she had already read it again this year. She looked over at me as I sat down with a copy of Three Musketeers and smiled before opening the book.
With an hour and a half left in the flight, I received a text from Alice. She was debating on a couple of outfits and wanted Bella's input. That was a first.
"Bella," I said, drawing her out of her silence and away from the book.
"Yes," she responded, looking at me for the first time in forty-five.
I smiled. "It seems Alice is unsure on what to purchase. She is asking for some additional input from you."
"Huh?"
"Take a look at these." I slid my phone over with the text message open.
A small grin appeared on her face as she took in the images, and then she was typing.
The message was still up when she slid the phone back. "I like both. You pick. Bella."
Hitting reply, I typed, "Bella's face lit up when she saw the pictures. Get both outfits. Thanks again."
"Bathroom?" Bella asked as I set my phone down.
"There are two. One outside the cockpit and one in the bedroom," I answered, mentally berating myself for not pointing them out earlier.
Bella stood and headed toward the back of the plane and disappeared through the curtain.