A/N

Hi!

Sorry for the delay.

Thanks to Fran for her help making this story better.

S. Meyer owns all things Twilight.

Now, without further ado….

Chapter 50 – I Love You

BPOV

I stared in shock at the key I held and fell back hard onto the stool behind me.

I couldn't believe it.

How?

I didn't remember leaving it here, but I must have. There didn't seem to be any other explanation.

I continued to stare at it, dumbfounded.

"Did you find the tape, dear?" Esme asked as she walked into the room carrying a small pile of books.

"If it isn't in any of those boxes, I think there might be some in the back. I can go look."

I brought my head up at the sound of her voice and looked at her with a glazed expression, not hearing what she'd said.

"Oh, um …. what? I'm sorry, what did you say, Esme?"

She came around to the front of the counter and placed the books on the surface.

"I was just saying if you can't find the register tape … "

She looked at the key I was holding.

"There's probably so much junk in there. When the contractors came, I just salvaged what I could and never went through it all. I have no idea what's in there."

I looked up and showed her the roll of register tape in my other hand.

"No, I found it … thanks."

She studied me more closely.

"Bella, what is it?"

I turned the key over in my palm.

"It's … um... it's just, this key … it's mine."

Her eyes got a little wider.

"It was in the cash register," she said as she looked from my face to the key.

"I didn't recognize it, but I also didn't want to toss it. I assumed it belonged to something, and I just didn't remember what."

She came around the counter and placed her hand on my arm.

"Are you all right?" She asked.

I nodded my head slightly and continued to examine the key.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just never thought I'd see this again. I thought I'd lost it." I said as I looked up at her.

"It's … it was one of the items mailed to my father's house … it's part of what made me decide to come out here to look for him. I thought it was gone."

"Do you know what it might belong to?"

I shook my head.

"I don't. And I don't remember putting it in the cash register … but I must have."

I stood from the stool and pulled out my phone.

"Do you mind if I call Edward and ask him to come down?"

"No, of course not … call him."

I pulled up Edward's contact, held the phone to my ear, and chewed on my thumbnail anxiously as I tapped my fingers against the counter.

He picked up on the second ring, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"… and to what do I owe the pleasure …"

"Edward," I blurted out, relieved to hear his voice.

He must have heard the anxiety coloring my tone, because he lost all playfulness when he replied.

"Bella, what's the matter?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly.

"… it's just, well … you're never going to believe this, but … I found the key."

He was quiet on the other end of the line for a moment.

"Where?"

"In a box, here at the store. I guess I must have left it here, but I don't remember doing that."

Hearing his voice, some of my anxiety lifted, and I began to feel a little foolish about calling. I could have brought the key home and told him about it later. I didn't want him to feel like he needed to drop everything every time I called.

I looked at Esme, and she must have seen my hesitation because she gestured with her hand to indicate I should keep going and ask him to come by.

"Would you … I mean, if you're not too busy … I know you're at work, would you ..."

"I'm on my way." He said without hesitation.

"Wait for me there, okay?"

I was already nodding my head.

"Okay."

I ended the call and looked at Esme with a nervous smile.

She squeezed my hand.

"Come on, let's go sit and chat until he gets here. I can't wait to hear all about this fabulous dress. Alice can't stop talking about how gorgeous you look in it."

~!~

My relief was palpable when he came through the door.

Finding the key had thrown me for a loop.

What did it mean?

Could it be a clue to finding out what happened to Charlie or was it a dead end with no significance?

He came into the back room where we were sitting, and I stood as he approached. He leaned down, gave me a brief kiss, and said hello to Esme.

Without even waiting for him to ask, I handed over the key and watched as he placed it into an evidence bag before examining it.

He was silent as he turned it over and scrutinized it through the plastic.

I watched his face anxiously, wondering what he was thinking.

After a few more seconds, he put the bag in his pocket and looked at me.

"I don't recognize it." He said.

"It doesn't look like a safety deposit box key or P.O. Box key. I've seen enough of them over the years."

He leaned down and kissed me softly.

"We'll send it up and have it checked out. I'm sure they'll be able to tell what it belongs to quickly."

I looked up at him with anxious eyes, wondering what, if anything, the key would unlock, and whether it would be good or bad for Charlie.

He brushed my hair away from my face and kissed me again before gazing down at me.

"It's going to be all right, okay? It's a good thing. Hopefully, this will lead to something that will help us find your father."

I smiled up at him hesitantly, my anxiety dimming a bit from his words, but more so, just from his mere presence.

He bent his knees slightly so his eyes met mine.

"Okay?" He asked gently.

I nodded my head.

"Yes, okay."

"Good," he said as he gave my hand a light squeeze of reassurance and looked at his watch.

"Are you two ready to close? I can wait and walk you out to the car."

I looked up at the clock and realized it was later than I thought, and that Esme was already busying herself with the nightly ritual of shutting down.

"Yes, dear, that would be wonderful." She said. "Just give me a minute. and we'll be ready to head out."

"Take your time," Edward said as he placed his arm around my waist, and we walked to the front of the store.

I went to the closet and removed my coat before slipping into it. When I turned around, Edward leaned in and began to button it for me, murmuring distractedly about how it had started to snow.

I watched him with a small smile on my lips, touched by the endearing and unsolicited gesture.

It was an inconsequential act, that might not seem worthy of note, but I noticed.

He did it in a way that wasn't authoritative; I knew very well he didn't think I wasn't capable of buttoning my own coat; I didn't feel that way at all.

He did little things like this without even thinking about them, which demonstrated how much he cared about me.

I'd never experienced that with another person. Not like this.

Once he was finished, he looked up and caught me staring at him tenderly.

"What?" He asked with a wry smile.

I didn't respond, just stepped closer, wrapped my arms around his waist, and rested my head against his chest as we waited for Esme.

I breathed him in, wanting to say the words right then and there.

I Love you.

But I didn't.

Tomorrow, I thought.

… after the Gala.

Even if he didn't say it back, tomorrow would be the night I would tell Edward Cullen I loved him.

~!~

"Are you sure I look all right?" I asked Rose as I looked at my reflection.

She and Emmett arrived at the house a little while ago and we were all going to the party together.

I could hear Edward and Emmett in the living room and felt my heart race as I thought about what tonight would bring.

I stared at myself in the mirror, almost not recognizing the woman staring back. It had been a while since I'd attended a formal affair, but I had to agree with Alice; the dress really did look fucking great on me.

My hair hung in loose, soft, waves around my shoulders, and my makeup was subtle. The only jewelry I wore was a crystal-encrusted bracelet that complimented the broach on the shoulder of the dress.

I looked at myself from another angle and smiled. The long slit up the side put one leg on display. I had just enough skin showing in just the right places.

Fuck you, Tanya, I thought.

No one would mistake me for a child tonight.

I glanced at Rose who stood behind me, towering in her heels and midnight blue dress. She was a vision, someone who should have been on a movie screen; Veronica Lake, come to life.

"Should I use the lipstick that's a deeper shade of red?" I asked, suddenly feeling just a slight twinge of insecurity. Alice was always talking about the power of a good red lip.

Rose walked around and inspected me, looking up and down my body with an appraising eye.

"No. Your makeup is perfect." She said matter of factly as she continued her inspection.

She leaned over and reached out to smooth the bottom of the dress.

"You're sure?" I asked again.

"You look fucking awesome," she said with a wide smile.

"Edward's not going to know what to do with himself."

I chuckled.

"Well," she said with a smirk, "I'm sure he'll know what to do with himself ..."

She winked at me

"You two have been going at it like rabbits, haven't you?"

I felt my face heat up as I looked away from her, but she grabbed my arm before I could turn away completely, and her eyes narrowed.

Pretending to fiddle with the broach on my shoulder, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror instead of at her.

"Haven't you?" She asked again as she spun me around slowly to face her.

I remained silent and felt my face become the color of my grandmother's marinara sauce.

"Shut the fuck up." She practically whispered.

"Don't even fucking tell me you two haven't slept together yet."

I finally looked at her.

"Um … no. No, we haven't. We were waiting."

"Waiting for what exactly?" She asked incredulously.

"We were waiting for it to be right ... for us." I replied softly.

"... and that's tonight."

A slow smile began to spread across her face, and before I could react, she smacked me lightly on the ass.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I burst out laughing.

She laughed along with me before giving another conspiratorial wink.

"You better get used to it; it's going to be a long night."

I smiled at her in the mirror as I looked myself over one last time.

She was right … it was going to be a long, and wonderful night.

~!~

We walked out of the bedroom, and it was as if time stood still.

All I saw was Edward, standing in the living room, looking like he belonged on the red carpet at an awards ceremony.

I had tunnel vision and saw nothing but him. I didn't realize Emmett wasn't in the room, and I never even noticed when Rose brushed past me on her way to him in the kitchen.

If I thought Edward was handsome before, nothing could have prepared me for the sight of him in a tuxedo.

Much like Rose, he resembled and reminded me of one of those Hollywood movie stars … the ones from the golden age who just oozed class and sex appeal.

But as I continued to take him in, I realized even that comparison didn't do him justice … and I couldn't tear my eyes away.

He wore the suit with confidence and comfortability, his hands resting casually in the pockets, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him.

He had no idea how attractive he was.

And his hair.

I had to do a double-take. It wasn't in its usual disarray. It was brushed back from his forehead and parted on the side, making his green eyes more pronounced and penetrating.

He was a deadly combination of raw masculinity and grace, and it set my heart soaring.

I looked down with a small smile as a fleeting thought went through my head.

What if I just launched myself at him and we didn't even go to the party?

I felt a flush of warmth come over my entire body when I thought about what was going to happen later tonight.

When I looked back up, Edward's eyes were riveted on me.

His gaze traveled from my face, down over my dress, and then back up again.

He swallowed … hard, before he began to walk toward me.

When he finally stood in front of me, he reached out and gently brushed my cheek with his fingertips.

"You're exquisite," he murmured.

Even in heels, my head barely reached his chin, and I had to lift my face to look up at him.

"Thank you," I said softly, and I entwined my fingers with his.

"And you look incredibly handsome," I said as I smiled at him.

I was so enthralled with his clean-shaven face that I didn't even notice he held something in his other hand until I felt it brush lightly against my chin.

I glanced down to find him holding a single red rose, the petals delicate and soft.

He smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders.

"I was going to get you a corsage, but Emmett said that would be weird …"

I grinned at him and placed my palm against his face, enjoying the smoothness of it.

"Then, I thought about getting you a full bouquet … "

He placed his hand over mine, which still rested against his cheek.

"I mean, this is our first real date," he said softly. " … and you deserve flowers."

He glanced down.

"I … well, the truth is, I've never really done this before, but Alice always says, 'less is more,' so I don't know, I just thought … "

I raised up on my toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before plucking the flower from his grasp.

"I love it," I assured him.

"It's absolutely perfect."

He grinned down at me.

"You're perfect."

~!~

Emmett and Edward had driven separately, and we all walked out to the driveway and climbed into our respective vehicles.

Edward placed my bag in the trunk, and I waited in the front seat feeling another tingle of excitement shoot through me as I thought about spending the night at his house.

I was excited but also nervous. For the past few days, my insecurities about being intimate with him kept trying to surface.

I hadn't made love with anyone in a long time; it had been years.

What if Edward was disappointed? What if once we'd slept together, he decided it wasn't what he thought it would be … that I wasn't what he thought I'd be? Would he think he'd made a mistake?

I was certain he'd been with many women in his life. How would I compare? What if I couldn't meet his expectations?

I gave myself a mental shake before my thoughts could spiral any further.

I'd discussed all of these fears with Lauren during our sessions. We'd talked about the progression of my relationship with Edward and what it would mean once we decided to take the next step. I was confident in my feelings for him and his for me. I had nothing to worry about. When we made love later tonight, it would only bring us closer together.

I heard the trunk slam shut and forced myself to focus on the night ahead.

Edward made his way to the driver's side and opened the door.

"I'll just follow you over, Em," he called out before sliding into the car.

Once he'd buckled his seat belt, he reached over, grabbed my hand, and brought it to his lips. His eyes traveled over me slowly before coming to rest on my face, his smoldering gaze focused intently on me as he spoke in a hoarse tone.

"I feel like driving you straight to my house and forgetting all about this party."

I stared back at him, the sound of his voice doing funny things to me as he verbalized exactly what I had been thinking just a few moments ago.

He continued to stare and brush his lips against my fingers.

Emmett honked his horn, three loud blasts that caused us both to jump a little bit. It was enough to break our eye contact, and we turned and stared out the windshield at Emmett's taillights.

The spell was broken, and Edward smiled as he released my hand and put the car in gear.

"Okay," he said as he backed up.

"Let's go do this thing. I told my girl we're going on a date, and that's exactly what we're going to do."

I smiled at his profile as we pulled out onto the street, knowing tonight would be the beginning of the rest of my life.

A/N

Next up, the Gala and some lovin'!