For those who are reading this, thank you.

CHAPTER 4

OH BOY

It's funny how one's perception can change in the blink of an eye, how a single look, and a few simple words, can make a person see things in a new and unexpected way.

In Bella's case, the sudden recognition had occurred a moment ago, during a jazzy slow dance on a crowded dance floor.

"It's like the song says…" Carlisle had murmured as the song had neared its end, the sweet expression on his face indicating that maybe, just maybe, her secret longing wasn't so hopeless after all. "You're unforgettable, Isabella."

Rendered speechless by the warmth and affection on his face, Bella now watched him watch her. Another song was starting. By the time he released her frame, their arms falling to their sides as they both stood there, the two were so enrapt, they only noticed the newcomer when the lady called out to Carlisle.

"Yoo-hoo! Dr. Cullen!" she said, laughing and waving a hand as she squeezed her way between the other dancers. "Pardon me. Excuse me. Here you are." She laughed and seemed winded.

"Edna, hi."

"Whew! This reception is pretty crowded, isn't it?" From the looks of it, the lady was in her sixties, with short grey hair, and a flowered dress. "I'm not one to stay up late, so I thought I would cash in my gift before I ducked out of here and called it a night. I hope that's okay. Or did you forget?"

Carlisle chuckled good-naturedly. "No, I haven't forgotten."

"Well, aren't you a sweetie, indulging an old bat like me." The woman's smile was undimmed. Turning to Bella, she looked like she was about to introduce herself when recognition suddenly dawned in her eyes. "Wait, I know you. I've seen you around I mean. You're Charlie's daughter."

"Bella Swan, yes."

"Edna is a medical admissions clerk at the hospital," Carlisle supplied.

Nudging her head toward the doctor, Edna said to Bella, "Last week, he asked me what I wanted for my retirement. Knowing we were both coming here, I said 'one dance'. You see, my husband and I used to take lessons at the community center. But that was before the cancer took him." Sorrow touched upon her features, and her chest rose on a sigh. But then, putting on a happy face, she went on. "Well… As much as I miss him, his absence hasn't dimmed my love for dancing. You don't mind if I borrow your fella for a few minutes, do you?"

Taken aback by the woman's assumption that Carlisle was her "fella", Bella blushed and stammered, "Not at all."

"I'll see you after?" Bella said to Carlisle, her heart warming at his nod, and the lingering gaze he gave her.

Moments later, Bella found her way to her father's table. Now that dinner was over, and half the guests had migrated to the dance floor, Charlie was sitting by himself.

"Where's Sue?" Bella asked as she pulled out a chair.

Pointing over his shoulder, he answered, "Lady's room."

"Ah."

Turning his beer bottle in a stationary circle, her dad glanced at the dance floor, then pursed his lips behind his mustache. "So… you and Dr. Cullen, huh?"

Heat crept up her neck, reaching her cheeks. "What about me and Dr. Cullen?" she feigned.

His drink halfway to his lips, Charlie said, "Hadn't seen you dance like that since… well… since ever. Looked like you were having fun out there."

"Yeah. It was fun, I guess." Her gaze reflexively wandered toward Carlisle just as he happened to glance in her direction. Now they both smiled.

"I'm not one to give advice. Not about this kind of stuff at least," Charlie continued. "But you could do a lot worse."

She blushed again. Unbeknownst to her father, Carlisle had very good hearing. What if he overheard them? "We're just friends, dad."

"Uh-huh." The arch of his brow and the twinkle in his eye told her he wasn't buying it.

As Bella's self-consciousness rose to the fore, her father went on. "The man seems to have a stable life, a good job. Since I've met him, he's been nothing but nice. And he can't be much older than you, can he?"

Oh, if you only knew, she thought before catching sight of Charlie's wife.

"Hi, Bella. Are you enjoying your evening?" Sue asked as she returned to the table.

Glad for the interruption, Bella returned her smile. "Hi, Sue. I am."

"Where's your handsome doctor?"

Not you, too. Bella wanted to dissolve in her chair. Carlisle's gonna overhear!

"Didn't they look cute out there?" Sue asked Charlie.

"Bella says they're just friends." Clearly, he still wasn't convinced.

"Oh. Shame," Sue replied then changed the subject, saying how impressed she was with the wedding.

And so the three of them talked for a minute more. But with a final sip of his beer, Charlie looked over at his watch, then addressed Sue. "So what do you think? Should we call it a night?" As close as he was with the groom, Charlie just wasn't one for this sort of thing.

Normally, Bella wasn't either. But tonight…

"I think that's a good idea," Sue concurred before explaining to Bella, "He's working the night shift tomorrow, so we're going to hit the road early in the morning."

"I understand that. Best to get a good night's sleep. You guys drive safe, okay?"

"We will."

No sooner had they left than Alice arrived. "I couldn't help but notice that you were blushing just now. Was it something they said?"

"Alice," Bella warned, knowing full well the pixie had overheard everything.

"Here." Alice set a glass on the table. "I thought you could use a drink. You like rosé, right?"

"Works for me," she replied, eager for some nerve-calming alcohol.

"So," Alice began, the knowing sparkle in her eyes having nothing to do with candlelight. "Nice moves out there. Didn't I say you'd have fun tonight?"

But Bella hadn't forgotten those "kill me now" moments with the staple guy. "Um yeah. About those place cards?"

"You're very welcome." Alice gave a self-satisfied nod. "If we hadn't traded places, Carlisle wouldn't have intervened, and you would have been bored out of your skull all night. This way, you got to have fun just now." Alice winked, then her gaze flitted over to Carlisle. "And the evening's not over yet."

Embarrassed by her friend's obvious attempt at playing matchmaker, Bella felt the mounting heat in her face. She'd danced with Carlisle, yes. And it seemed like they had connected just now. But the way Alice was now staring at her made it seem like she expected… what? That her and Carlisle would spend their entire evening together on the dance floor? Or that something might happen between them tonight?

Her heart quickening in her chest, Bella was hoping to sidestep when Alice's attention was drawn across the room. She gasped. "Oh my god, Bella. Look."

Following her friend's gaze, Bella saw that Edna had inadvertently started a trend. A line of women—presumably nurses—was now beginning to form, all of them waiting in clear hopes that the handsome doctor would dance with them, too.

"Oh my God," Bella echoed, trying her best not to laugh.

Poor Carlisle.

"Look at him," Alice said. "He doesn't even know where to look. He'd be blushing as bright as you if he could. Bella, he's much too polite for his sake. You have to do something."

"Like what?"

"Rescue him, of course!" Alice twisted to address her brother from across the room, her voice only low enough for Bella and the vampires to hear. "Do you need rescuing, Carlisle? Scratch your ear if you do."

He did.

"See? That's your cue, Bella."

"But Alice—"

"No buts." Now Alice rose and grabbed her hand. With a guiding touch to Bella's shoulder, she then angled her toward Carlisle. "Now go!"

Nervous as hell, Bella had barely taken two steps when Alice intervened once more. "No wait! Don't walk straight through the dancefloor. Take the long way around." She had that faraway gaze again, the one that indicated a vision. "On the left," Alice added as she snapped out of it.

Confused, but choosing to trust her friend, Bella arched a brow before circling the dancefloor in a counterclockwise direction. Her mind was racing. What would she say when she got there?

I'm going to get some air. Will you come with me? Shit, that line was lame. Excuse me, may I cut in? Nope. That was even worse. Aargh, focus, Bella!

Trying to play it cool, she was halfway there when her foot caught on something. Her heel. Her stupid stiletto heel had gotten wedged in a small ventilation grill on the floor. Trying not to fall over, Bella tried her best to get unstuck, pulling and pulling until—

Snap.

Shit, she thought and stared at her ruined sandal. Just my fucking luck. Then it clicked, Alice! She had known this would happen.

Bella looked around with a murderous stare, but her friend was nowhere to be seen. Embarrassed and panicked, she then looked up in time to see Emmett approaching Carlisle.

Tapping his brother's shoulder, he nudged his head in Bella's direction and said something. Emmett must have told him about her mishap, for Carlisle's gaze immediately snapped to hers.

Excusing himself, he left Edna just as the song was ending. The nurses who had gathered in line weren't as gracious as the older woman. They pouted and whined at his retreat. Then, when they saw Bella, their stares soured with jealousy.

"Are you okay?" Carlisle said as soon as he reached her.

"Yeah. I'm just the world's biggest klutz. That's two mishaps in one night." The same foot, too.

"May I?" he asked, indicating her ankle.

Grabbing a nearby chair, Carlisle waited until she was seated to examine her for possible injury. "Does this hurt?" he asked, testing the joint with careful motions.

Bella shook her head. "Uh-uh."

"And this?" He pressed on the underside of her foot.

"It doesn't hurt," she assured him, and saw his satisfied nod. "So much for my graceful rescue attempt," she said.

His smile revealed dimples in his cheeks. "But you rescued me all the same. I am in your debt, Miss Swan." With that, Carlisle rose and extended his hand.

Her embarrassment lessened somewhat. Bella placed her hand in his, and awkwardly gained her feet. Her gait was going to look funny with a broken sandal. "I guess my night of dancing is over."

"I suppose, but that doesn't mean your night has to end." Carlisle clearly had an idea in mind. Before she could ask him what it was, he said, "Wanna get out of here?"

A smirk found its way to her mouth, her heart nearly skipping a beat when she said, "Lead the way, Dr. Cullen."